Can You Change Your Pet’s Name in Stardew Valley?

Getting a pet in Stardew Valley is one of the early joys for any player starting their farm life. These companions add a touch of liveliness to your daily routines. While your pet requires minimal care – no feeding needed, and their water bowl is mostly for show – one thing that might bug some players is the inability to rename them after the initial adoption. With the significant 1.6 update bringing a host of new features and even more pets to Stardew Valley, many players are wondering: can you change your pet’s name in Stardew Valley now?

Unfortunately, the core game mechanics still do not offer a straightforward way to rename your furry, feathered, or shelled friend. So, if you were hoping the Wizard’s Shrine of Illusion would offer a magical name-changing service for your pet, you’re out of luck. While the Shrine does let you alter your own appearance and name for a fee, it only allows you to change your pet’s style for 500g, not their given name.

The PC Workaround: Editing Your Save Files

For those playing Stardew Valley on PC, there is a silver lining. While not an in-game feature, you can actually rename your pet by directly editing the game’s save files. This method involves a bit of file manipulation but is relatively simple to follow. Here’s how you can give your pet a new moniker:

1. Access the Run Window: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Navigate to Save Files: Type %appdata%StardewValleySaves into the Run window and press OK. This will open the folder containing your Stardew Valley save files.
3. Choose Your Save: Select the specific save folder where you wish to change your pet’s name. Each save file is usually named after your character and farm.
4. Open the Save File: Inside the save folder, you’ll find several files. Open the first file (the one without a file extension) using Notepad or any text editor.
5. Find Your Pet’s Data: Press Ctrl+F to open the Find dialog. Type “Dog” or “Cat” (or the type of pet you have) and click Find Next. For a more precise search, you can also search for <name>PetName</name>.
6. Edit the Name: Once you locate the pet’s section in the code, you will see your pet’s current name listed within <name>PetName</name> tags. Simply replace the existing name with your desired new name.
7. Save and Launch: Save the modified text file. Launch Stardew Valley and load your game. Your pet should now sport its brand-new name when you check your character menu!

Rename Farm Animals Too!

This file editing trick isn’t just limited to your house pet. You can use the same method to rename any animal on your farm in Stardew Valley. With update 1.6 allowing players to have more than ten pets, renaming might become even more relevant for organizational purposes or simply for fun.

Stardew Valley game cover art showcasing various aspects of farm life and characters.

While it’s a bit of a workaround, PC players can indeed change their pet’s name in Stardew Valley. Hopefully, future updates might introduce an official in-game feature for pet renaming for all platforms, but for now, file editing is your go-to solution.