Every time I bring a new pet into the house, I have a week or two of complete and utter panic, thinking I’ve made a huge mistake, this is a terrible match, and we’ll never make it work. Then we figure it out and all is well.
Honestly though, I haven’t had that moment yet with Kekoa. Granted it’s only been 2 days, but she has pretty seamlessly integrated into the house so far. Brody is jealous- make that insanely jealous- but they are getting along just fine, no arguments over resources or anything like that.
She does not inhale her food in 10 seconds flat. She does not eat Barbies. She asks to go outside. She is a perfect houseguest.
Her tail never, ever stops wagging. It takes out glasses on the coffee table. It knocks stuff off the shelves at work. She looks at you so imploringly with her bright brown eyes, almost desperate in her appeal for approval and love. “Please don’t leave me,” she begs. “I promise to be good and happy- see?”
I know that she has some separation anxiety issues, based on the report from her prior owner as well as her general barnacle-ness with me. All day, when I’d go into an exam room, I’d have to put her into a sit-stay to keep her from going in with me. Then about three minutes into the exam we’d hear some loud and indignant huffing and puffing from outside the exam room door. The clients were all very understanding of the heavy breathing.
She had to go into a run for a little while while we were working with some nervous cats, and then I heard what got her into trouble at her last home. This quiet little girl has a VOICE when she is alone and anxious. No one at work cares- we’re all used to tuning it out. If she barks at home when she’s alone, it’s OK too- the neighbors are set far enough back that they won’t hear it. Manageable.
Ideally, I’d like to reduce that anxiety of hers instead of just ignoring it. I have discussed separation anxiety with owners, though I haven’t had the “pleasure” of working through it myself. That is OK. It will be good practice for me to go through it, just like the unexpectedly difficult process of housebreaking Brody gave me more sympathy for clients than I had prior. We’ll figure it out.
So onto more important considerations:
Kekoa is very difficult to pronounce. The kids, when they aren’t calling her Licky, call her Kokea, or Ricola. I don’t want to change her name- she’s had enough instability in her life as it is- but I have to figure out which of two nicknames are going to work best. She responds to both:
Kiki, or Koa? Voting is open. 🙂
I vote for Koa:)
I’d go with Koa – it’s a softer sound, whereas Kiki is a bit clipped and harder to sing-song 🙂
I like both, but like I said on twitter, I’m partial to KiKi, only because that is what we call Akira. Thankfully she still answers to Akira when we do call her by her name, but I’m surprised she doesn’t think her name is just KiKi by now. It just comes out a lot faster/easier than Akira in some situations! I actually call her “KiKi Girl” more than anything. I wonder if I am giving her a name complex now that I think about it! lol.
I prefer Koa as well. Arwen explained why perfectly. But ultimately, it is up to you. You could use both if you want. My cat had so many nicknames- Muff, Marf, Marfy, Mon, Monmon, Mowmow, the list goes on. She still responded to all of them, so if you do decide you like to use one one day, and another another day, that might be okay as long as she knows you are talking to her.
I vote for Kiki!
I Like KiKi but Koa sounds closer to her name so I am split .hhhmmm
Our pup Charlie has many names , all to which he responds , Charlie , Cha , Cha – Cha, Chaz, Char, and “Charlie-No”..LOLOLOLOL
She is such a beautiful girl ( I love black labs , had a male a long long time ago ) , whichever name you call her , it will be just fine 🙂 Sometimes its all in the tone of your voice .
Just done call her “late for dinner” LOLOL..
When you say the name, do you think she responds to the first part or second part of her name? I’d do some tests to see and then go with that. I like Koa better but I’d go with whichever part she responds to more.
Piper definitely has some separation anxiety but it isn’t terrible. If we’re in an unfamiliar place, we make sure to close the blinds so she isn’t looking for us in the outside world (even if we’re not out there, she’ll look and bark for us otherwise).
So happy she’s adjusting so well for the most part! She looks positively awesome just from the few pictures you’ve posted.
I love Koa. It sounds very gentle, sort of mellow and sweet, which seems to (from your description) fit her very well. Congrats on your new doggy!
I’m with Kim — I’d try them both out and see which one she prefers. I kind of prefer Kiki just because you kind of have to smile to even say it and it sounds like she deserves that!
Ok, now I’m feeling a little guilty about re-naming every animal I’ve brought home. I still say Kekoa-Ricola-Kiki-Koa won the lottery when you picked his number.
BOTH! 🙂 I remember wanting to change Cookie’s name when I brought her home. I mean, really a Rottweiler named Cookie?! And if she heard it would it remind her of the 5 years of the crappy abusive home she came from? Remember, I used to call her NotCookie but she responded to Cookie so it stayed and she morphed into Cookiegirl.
It’s funny…you recounting the first few days of Kekoa/Kiki/Koa (which I sort of lean towards Koa to be honest, softer sounding) reminds me so much of Cookie. I knew I couldn’t give up on her and she had separation issues. I don’t think they were as dramatic simply because she had Blade. I think hers was a more of “don’t abandon me.” And she had issues again after Blade died for about 7 months but she’s back to normal (as normal as her neurotic self can be). I was saying bye to her this morning before I went to work and just sat down and nuzzled her. As we approach her 5 year adoptaversary, I’m amazed at how far she’s come and even how far I’ve come with her. It’s true what they say: the rescued dog ends up rescuing you.
My first nephew named me Aunti Kiki because I was the person wiht the cat that he could come and play with. As my name is Karen, Kiki doesn’t bothere me at all. I would go woth Koa. Kiki is really a cats name or a nickname for a beloved, lol, aunt. Koa is a strong dog name and easy to say, sing out happily, and scream when neccessary.
lots of luck with the seperation anxiety. We use Rescue Remedy at our house for our fosters that go through that. It just helps to take the edge off while they lear that you will always come back.
I prefer Kiki. 🙂
Koa is way more unique and soooo pretty and I think it suits her lovely face, but I have always had better luck with names for animals that repeat a sound… or just saying their name over and over. My cat answers to Lololo better than her actual name (Lolita) and my mom’s dog is named Yoyo… he likes that better than when I just call him “Yo.” I may be seeing things that aren’t actually there, though 🙂
Kiki! Like Miyazaki’s Kiki’s Delivery Service!
You’re the second person to reference that movie! I have to check it out. 😀
I like Kiki, too. But both are nice!
Sounds like your commenters are pretty split between the options! I personally like Koa better but only because it is more unique than KiKi. Sounds like she is adjusting quite well and has lots of love to offer! I’m happy for you and for Koa/Kiki/Kekoa/Ricola! 🙂
Koa, definitely. You talk about her big brown eyes, and I just think of Koa wood from Hawaii.
! I didn’t realize it was a Hawaiian word! That may have just sold me.
How about KOKO? It was our last dog’s name (honouring the smart gorilla). I just had to suggest it! Eeer, “kiki” is slang in Spanish for “shag”, iiih…
Any name will go well in the end, she’s a beauty indeed so congratulations to you and all your family 😀
ROFL I had no idea about Kiki. Thank you for the heads up!
I like KONA!!! Kiki is too… Something… Just a thought.
Too this? http://www.kikispetspa.com/ lolol!
I vote Koa!
Kiki!
Koa, for exactly the same reason as casacaudill said!
I like Ricola…
But I agree animals get used to a variety of names, I call my dog Finnegan, Finn, Finns, Puppy, and Puddles. He answers to all of them.
KiKiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!
Wasn’t “Kiki” the nickname of one of the characters on The O.C.? 🙂 I vote for Koa. Also, I really look forward to hearing how you help lessen her separation anxiety. I have a cat who has the same issue, and I’ve never really known what to do about it.
I vote for Kiki.
I am so glad to read the beginning of your post. I’ve felt the same way each time we have adopted — like this utter panic of “oh no! what have we done!” and watch the dog’s every move. Then, things settle in and I realize, hey, it’s cool. I thought it was just me, and I’m so glad to read someone else writing about these thoughts and emotions. Thank you, sincerely.
Of course. It’s so funny looking back- I can’t imagine my life without any of them! But we had some SERIOUS adjustments with almost all of them.
I’m going with Koa! Kiki sounds like she’s a blonde… 😉
Um yes, this, exactly. And gangs out with Muffie.
hangs out. Not gangs out.
I’m in the Koa camp 🙂
She sounds like such a gentle soul and it just warms my heart that she has taken to you guys with such aplomb (as well as you to her). I’m very interested in Brody’s reaction as I am interested in eventually adopting another pooch but am afraid of what it would do to Miss Pru of the GIMME ATTENTION NOW. How have you been dealing with the jealous Brodster?
I like Koa, short, soft and simple. We named our dog Chip but he answers to Chippy, Chipster, Chipper or even Chipper Bartholomile Dog (named after Bart Simpson for trouble making nature of his)
I’d definitely be calling her Koa. My one kiddo, Ruthie (see my avatar) routinely goes by Rufus in my house. I think Koa is a much more regal nickname than Kiki. Just my 2 cents 🙂
I like Koa.
As for separation anxiety, try googling it in combination with ‘Greyhound’. I’ve adopted 2 of them, and while I’ve been lucky enough to avoid it, it does seem to be a common issue in the breed. I know a LOT of people who have been able to successfully train it out of their dogs. If you can’t find a good google source, try the behavior board at greytalk.com – a bunch of wonderful people hang out there.
Thank you for that tip Emily! I’ll have to check out the forum.
congratulations on landing an excellent choice for #2! amazes me how many dogs go from home to home and yet are worth their weight in gold. i’m my third home for my dog and cat both – never would have thought anyone would give them up once, let alone twice!
i vote for “koa’. makes me think of hawaii which makes me think of igneous rock which is dark (sometimes black). so there you go. plus, i know too many birds named kiki or kiwi – if that helps sway you. 🙂
Argh! You said the b word! lolol so true though, birds or poodles- that’s what one of my techs said.
i said the b word on purpose! i’m learning how to push your buttons! ha ha!
Koa for sure!!
Another vote for Koa!! 🙂
Koa! It’s actually what I said (cause I talk to pictures of animals too) when I saw the picture of her. “What a sweet Koa girl.”
My vote is for Koa!
first of all, wanted to let you know your post about the orca was right on the money. thank you.
i know i already voted for koa, but you do need to sit down on the sofa with apollo (and your kids) and watch kiki’s delivery service (as someone else mentioned). can’t believe you haven’t seen it!
I don’t think dogs care at all what you call them. Most of our dogs have had several names.
I think they are fine with whatever you call them, as long as you don’t call them late for dinner. 🙂