Book Inspired Dog Names

Dogs can be found throughout both modern and classic literature. They are a big part of our lives, and it only makes sense that they play major roles in the stories we tell. From children’s books to full-length adult manuscripts and everything in between, our canine companions are represented in countless works of both fiction and nonfiction.

One of the most famous dogs in modern literature is Marley, the troublesome yellow Labrador Retriever in the novel Marley and Me by Josh Grogan. Affectionately known as “the world’s worst dog,” Marley drives his family crazy with his antics but becomes a much-loved member of the family despite his unruly behavior.

Marley is described as boisterous, high-strong and somewhat uncontrolled. Powerful, strong and endlessly hungry, he often gets himself in trouble for destroying his family’s possessions and property. He even fails obedience school. Despite his behavior, though, it is clear that Marley has no malicious intent and has a heart of gold. The book follows all 13 years of Marley’s life and chronicles how he becomes an important member of the family despite his problematic behavior.

Marley & Me has been rewritten into three books, including Marley: A Dog Like No Other for young readers, Bad Dog, Marley!, a picture book for lower grade levels and a holiday tale called A Very Marley Christmas. The original book was also adapted into a comedy-drama film. There is also a prequel called Marley & Me: The Puppy Years.

Buck, the narrator in Jack London’s The Call of the Wild, is one of the most famous dogs in classic literature. He is half sheepdog and half Saint Bernard and is a powerful dog who was sold from a California state before being sold as an Arctic sled dog. In the novel, he grows from a pampered pet into a fierce dog who can hold his own in the cruel Arctic. He comes to love his final master, a man named John Thorton, but he feels called away from civilization by the wild and desires to reconnect with his primitive roots. Buck is extremely loyal to Thorton and the two form a perfect man-dog relationship. Both are committed to protecting each other, and Buck’s devotion to Thorton proves to be strong enough to keep him from acting on the urges he feels to return to his wild roots. These are just a few of the many dogs that can be found throughout hundreds of years of literature.