I've accrued a list of dog names over the years, but when it comes down to it a dog really names itself. We spent our first evening referring to each other with vague gestures and generic titles: boy, kiddo, baby, etc. But it was clear he needed a name, and nothing on my list fit.
While admiring his big, floppy puppy paws, I noticed he stands with his toes spread, the fur between them making his feet look webbed.
Hmmm.
On three occasions, he purposely knocked his water dish over, turning the kitchen into a giant slip-and-slide.
Hmmm.
He doesn't like being separated from me, even for something as trivial as a shower, so he jumped in with me.
Hmmm.
So I've taken to calling him Dagon, after the ancient Semitic fish god, re-popularized in the short story by H.P. Lovecraft. It seems appropriate.