My experience is that pets respond to less than 2 syllables. I have had many pets, but somehow I got voted down on: "you!"

Thus, the best name is "you!"

As my son says D'awwww!

Oh, he is a handsome boy!

oh my he's handsome. he looks so soft and cuddly. We had a black lab named Cole who was the sweetest most gentle dog we ever had. Our last dog had the same coloring as yours, all black with a white chest, his name was Jack.

Congratulations, he is one lucky pup!

Not Julius, he kind of looks like a Jules to me.

I vote for Cosmo - cause as a kid I loved the tv show "Topper" and your pup looks a bit sophisticated like he's wearing a tuxedo and Cosmo and his wife, Henrietta, were always going out all dolled up :)

He looks a lot like my neighbor's dog, Oreo!! Wishing you many happy years together.

f the names you are considering, I prefer MARTY. I love people names. Floyd? Wilbur?

Wow, what a long ordeal for your sweet boy, no wonder he looks so tired. After reading your update on his history and how good he is, my first thought was, “what a trooper”....so in amage to going through so much and finally finding his forever home, I think Trooper would be a great name. Congrats to all of you!

Congrats on your new furbaby. Thank you for adopting a rescue.

So happy for all! He is a handsome guy, for sure. If you are maybe considering Texas inspired names, Austin would be nice. Yup! That’s it! He looks like Austin to me. Great city, people, food, and very dog friendly.

socks: yes it a Temple sweatshirt, DS & DD2 attended, and their mascot is Stella. that's why Drexel is a contender b/c DD1 is an alum. they are putting him between year and year and a half. yes, got the vet report from the Texas vet after he was pulled from shelter and also have the shelter report. going to our vet Thursday night for a thorough check-up.

rusty: does not respond to Julius

the owner of the rescue said the shelter he was in euthanizes 125 dogs a day. that is simply unfathomable to me but unfortunately its true. so incredibly sad.. with statistics like that, i hope everyone rescues!!

Thank you for taking a rescue into your heart and home and please give him some loving for me. One of my black dogs was Yogi. I tend to use two syllable names.

Sounds like he was in the Houston pound.

I am soooo in love with your dog now !!!!! Rescues are precious :) Mine is a rescue from Alabama . My last one was from Kentucky . They have so much love to give ~~~~~~~ :)

Such sad eyes :o( Know your love will make them happy :o)

So happy for you and your new boy. My black and white cat was named Pepper and I think it would work for your dog with black and some white. You could call him Sergeant Pepper.

Awwww, hes so sweet and a good looking boy too! I love his golden eyes. He does look a tad wary, he's probably wondering how long he's going to stay with you. The day he realizes it's forever is gonna be a happy dance day!

Lots of great name suggestions. I'll be looking forward to hearing what you decide.

Congrats! He looks adorable! And I'm sure he's a happy boy to have found his forever home at last! : )

Looks like a Border Collie in his family tree! I too like Cosmo.

What an adorable dog! He reminds me a little of the mixed breed my mom had who had a lot of border collie, so have to agree with Sylvia Gordon there. I hope he is a fun bundle of energy for you and that you find his name soon :)

What a handsome dog! We rescued Wally from our local SPCA which regularly brings up pooches from Alabama. I am following to see what name you end up with. I like Marty and Drexel.

lindaohnowga: i like 2 syllables as well!

marilyn_c: nope he came from Donna County...looked it up - very near the border of Mexico

toomuchglass: totally agree, i think they 'know'......i swear our cat, who was abandoned on the jetties of Cape May, just 'knew'. it was right after christmas - freezing and sooo windy!!! still with us 15 years later and actually loving the dog. we had our previous dog prior to his arrival, so he is very 'dog savvy'!! i think he loves the attention and company. he is howling wwwaaayyy less. we think he was bored!!

and he still remains nameless.... sigh. nothing seems to 'fit'.... we are giving Zeus a go, but i like 2 syllables....it doesn't really matter b/c he responds to no name, hehe. so we say the 'chosen' name for a day and we decide if it fits.... i don't know why nothing is sticking. maybe b/c he's not a newborn puppy?

looking back on his original pic, i think he was just exhausted, not sad. he is a love bug and a nudge!!

Donna is actually a small city in Hidalgo County, TX. Yes, it is on the border. I guess their shelter could be a county shelter named after the city it is in. "Donna county" just threw me for a minute. :^)

How about "Donnie"? Two syllables, EE sound ending, and derived from his place of origin. (I didn't check to see if that had already been suggested).

Rusty

You seem to like 'Z' names. What about Zenda?

Or, Señor since he's Tex-Mex?

I see that blfenton suggested the name 'Lucky' as a possibility, because he is very lucky to have been rescued by you. I thought the same thing! But I'd alter the name a little, to 'Luca.' I love that name, as it sounds both gentle and sweet to me!

RUSTY: his paperwork said 'city of donna', so i just went by that.

ci_lantro: i know i do.... he looks like his should start with a Z. DS suggested 'Zuko' from Grease :)

amicus: my mom's cat was Lucky.... & truly he is so lucky and we are so blessed!! Luca which we LOVE is going to be the name of my unborn nephew's baby... sigh. we are thinking just calling him that and telling them his name is Luke, hehe :-)

Zorro? He's wearing all black like the caped crusader did.

Oops, sorry, didn't see earlier that Luca was going to be used for your nephew's baby.

My cat's name is Harley Catfish (yes, there is a little story!). But I like Harley.

kinda really like Zorro!! ..

last night we were between Theo and Leo.... i feel Leo is a stronger name and he would have to grow into it because right now is afraid of the vacuum -leaves a wide berth- so he needs some courage to be a Leo, haha....

but he gains confidence everyday as now he is not so scared of my Vitamix. he just needs to get accustomed to all the new noises!

i can't tell how obsessed we are with him!! he is just so incredibly awesome in every way. sits at the door to go out. yesterday i missed his signal and he barked right at me and looked at the door. his way of bopping me over the head, hehe. went right out, peed, and came right back in. my other dog would never come in...

he is a joy, a love bug and a nudge, always into whatever you are doing. yesterday i was cleaning the bathroom and he laid on the threshold and watched me.... aww, just pure joy!! i could wax on for hours about him! what pleasure he is giving us :)

sprtphntc7a

I am so happy for you and your new pup. Rescues are the best!

Dogs really do communicate if we pay attention. You will see changes in your pup over many months as he gains confidence and familiarity. Pets add so much joy to our lives. Don’t be stingy with the pics! Lol....

Well for what it's worth I really like Leo, and had considered it for Wally but the dog next door to my daughter is Leo so I thought it might get confusing when we visit. some things are just so complicated :)

No doubt about it, dogs do enrich our lives. He is a beautiful boy, no matter what you name him. How about Zavier?

Beautiful dog!! He looks very much like Kismet, a sweetheart we had decades ago. Kismet means destiny or fate.

Lucky dog, lucky you! He looks like a real sweetheart.

'Zero'? 'Ro' or 'Ro-ro' for the diminutive.

Or just plain 'Zee'?

I like Zorro too! Is that a white "z" I spy on his belly?

Layo and Tayo is how Theo and Leo are pronounced in Danish for a bit of difference in case you want different.

He is a handsome beast! Since he is from far south Texas, near the border, maybe Guapo (handsome, in Spanish) should be his name.

He looks like a "Mika" to me. He should relax and enjoy his new home soon. Such a handsome fella. Thank you for his rescue.

Well the decision is finally made; LEO it is!!

1. when he looks out the front windows he looks like he is surveying his land, kinda of like Mufasa (lion king)...

2. it was name we all agreed upon!! which is huge when 5 adults have a say!!

although i will say, i really loved Zorro!! but i am fine with Leo and i am sure he mature into it as he becomes more secure in our home :)

went to vet last night and he his putting Leo around 2 years old, which we are thrilled about. he said 'what u see is what u are getting'..!! couldn't be happier size wise and temperment wise. he is pure joy!!

i asked "what do u think he is" and reply "anything and everything". but felt lab - for color, golden for head, shepard and probably border collie when i told he likes to herd. and probably 20 other things!! did say "they are the best kind"

and also said 'you saved a life'.... i am humbled and blessed.

Well, hi Leo! You are a sweetie, of that there is no doubt. ((((Leo)))

Well congrats and all hail to Leo - a beautiful name.

sprtphntc7a

He looks like part lab. Gorgeous — I am envious.

Look up “St. Johns Water Dog” (white chest markings, white on feet or foot).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s_water_dog

I had a lab mix with a white chest star. He was the bestest. I got him at a local shelter — he,d been there for 6 months and had shelter shock for a while.

Enjoy your lucky pup!

Leo...you are a beautiful and lucky dog!!!!! Congratulations to the new loves that have found you!

Lucky! Because she is one lucky dog to have found a new home. Congrats.

Furbaby Leo! Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats to Leo for having found a loving home. And BIG hugs to you for choosing a rescue dog.

All of our dogs have been rescues (including two puppies) and we wouldn't have it any other way. There's always a bit of nervousness on their parts when they first arrive, but they soon settle in quickly.

Our two latest (Beulah and Bernadette, Bernie for short) have been a real joy. Thanks to them both Geo and I have lost over 60 lbs combined. They'll go out in the back yard, sniff, maybe wee, but then head right back in and go for the front door. It's like they're saying "What? You don't expect us to go out there do you?" Don't know who enjoys the walks more them, us or the neighbors. Rarely do we do a walk without being stopped a couple of times.

Naming them is always a challenge, but somehow the names seem to come out of thin air and always fit.

He has found the perfect home. So much love already. Congratulations.