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Jason Kelce Wants to Name New Puppy ‘Gunda’ — But His Wife and Kids Don’t Like It
After mourning the loss of two beloved dogs, Jason and Kylie Kelce have opened their home to a new four-legged family member — a German Shepherd puppy adopted from the Pennsylvania SPCA.
The adoption carries special significance for a family still healing from grief. In March 2025, Kylie took to Instagram to share that her Irish Wolfhound named Baloo had died.
“We were lucky enough to have 7 years with the goofiest, sweetest, most lovable, and tolerant dog I’ve ever met. He wanted nothing more than carbs and pets,” she wrote in the post.
Baloo’s death came one year after the Kelce family mourned the loss of their other Irish Wolfhound named Winnie. The decision to adopt again — and to do so through the PSPCA — speaks to a family ready to give a shelter dog a second chance at a loving home.
Kylie Kelce Originally Named Her Bernadette
If there’s one thing the Kelces can’t seem to agree on, it’s what to call their new puppy.
Kylie first announced the adoption on the March 31 FAFO episode, saying she planned to call the puppy “Bernadette.”
By the April 2 episode of her Not Gonna Lie podcast, the dog’s name had shifted to “Matilda” — though Kylie sounded unsure.
During that same episode, Kylie revealed that “Broomhilda” had been a serious contender, a name Jason genuinely pushed for.
“And I’m not saying that to be funny. Jason deadass thought we were going to name a dog Broomhilda,” she said at the time.
Kylie went on to joke that people should remember Jason’s dog-naming instincts before criticizing how the couple named their four daughters.
“I want people to remember that the next time they come at me about how we named our four children, because do you see what I’m working with?” she joked.
Jason and Kylie share four daughters: Wyatt (6), Elliotte (5), Bennett (3) and Finn (1).
Jason Kelce Wants to Go a Different Route
Jason shared the latest update on the April 8 episode of the New Heights podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother Travis Kelce.
“This is Frida, or as everyone is calling Freddie. Everyone is calling her Freddie around the house,” he said of the puppy.
He confirmed that the dog’s name — for now — is Frida, with Freddie as her nickname. But Jason wasn’t quite ready to settle.
“I’m calling her Gunda,” Jason joked in a German accent. “Gunda. Because I like that name better. ‘Gunda, Gunda, sit! Gunda, sit!’”
When Travis asked why he was talking in a different accent, Jason said, “She’s German.”
According to the American Kennel Club, the first registered German Shepherd, Horand von Grafrath, was registered in Germany in 1899.
The family’s youngest name critic also weighed in. When Jason called the dog Gunda during the episode, Wyatt, who made a brief appearance, said, “It’s not Gunda—it’s Freddie!”
Jason and Kylie Kelce Ready for Fresh Start
For anyone who has lost a pet and wondered when — or whether — to welcome another, the Kelces’ story resonates.
Losing Winnie and then Baloo within roughly a year left a significant void in the family.
Choosing to adopt from the PSPCA rather than purchase from a breeder puts a spotlight on local rescue organizations and the countless dogs waiting for homes.
Whatever her name ends up being — Frida, Freddie, Gunda or something else entirely — this German Shepherd puppy has landed in a household with no shortage of love or strong opinions.
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