Using Heritage for inspiration:
Have you ever noticed how certain dog breeds cry out for particular names? For example, those ringing with the sounds of France work well for Poodles: Clarisse or Yolanda for a girl, Pierre or Marcel for a boy. (Poodles, by the way, were originally bred as a duck hunting water dog; sort of an unglamorous beginning for such an elegant breed.) Other French breeds are the Papillon, French Bulldog, Bouvier, Basset, and Briard.
German dog names are appropriate for Shepherds, Dachshunds, Rottwielers, Short and Wirehaired Pointers, Weimaraners, Dobermans and Schnauzers. Consider Guenther or Sergius for a boy, Frieda or Leisel for a girl.
Possible Italian dog names for a Bichon Frise or Spinoni are Marco or Flavio, Isabella or Bettina. (Did you know . . . the Italian Greyhound isn't really Italian. The breed has its origins in the Mediterranean basin, possibly in the area of present day Greece and Turkey. These miniature greyhounds earned their name in the 16th century when the dogs became very popular in Italy.)
Dogs of breeds originating in the British Isles, such as the Cocker Spaniel, Corgi, Sheepdog, Mastiff and Whippet might do well with Winston or Spencer, Lillian or Hazel.
Gillean and Tatiana are beautiful Scottish dog names for girls. For boy dogs, consider Brody or Murray. Scottish dogs include the Scottish Terrier (Scottie), of course, the West Highland Terrier, Deerhound and Gordon Setter.
Declan and Shamus, Caitlin and Kerry-Ann are Irish names to consider if you have a Kerry Blue Spaniel, Irish Wolfhound or Setter.
Japanese dog names, such as Nanako and Kyoto are suitable for breeds of Japanese heritage, including the Akita, Shiba, Chin and Spitz.
Names with the feel of the Far East are suitable for such breeds as the Shih Tzu, Kuvasz, Lhasa Apso, Chow Chow, Pug, and Pekingese. How about Chen or Liang for a girl, Bao or Jun for a boy?
Middle-Eastern dog breeds such as the Samoyed and Afghan Hound may be suited for Abi or Sofya for a girl, Zeki or Rashid for a boy.
Getting a puppy of Egyptian heritage? Perhaps an Ibizan, Borzoi, Saluki, Basenji, or Greyhound? Consider Hathor or Tahemet for a girl, Amun or Seti for a boy.
For the strong and sturdy Husky and Malamute breeds, Alaskan dog names are appropriate. Central Yup'ik is the most common language spoken by the native peoples of Alaska. Popular dog names among these peoples include Taqukaq (grizzly bear), Ataneq (king), and Panik (daughter).
You get the idea. The most important component is to pick something you enjoy and can identify with. Your dog, after all, doesn't really care what his or her name is, just that you say it with love in your voice.
