Reminds me of: when a girl I knew got an older dog named "Stoney" from some potheads, she changed the name to "Joanie".
I have always loved the name "Samson", but never have had the right dog to give the name to. It means "man of the sun" and I associate the name with strength.
Wow, that is a very in-depth response with a lot of meaning. And I thought we were all just screwing around...silly me
Sorry to hear about your buddy. How old was he? I was younger when I parted with my dearest cavalier-spaniel and I don't know how I can handle such a loss again the next time I get a pet.
I renamed a rescued dog long ago and I found the best name was one that rolled off my tongue easily and sounded different when I said it than when others said it. I just called him Rex and it rolled of my tongue with an emphasis where he always knew it was me. He did not respond well to his name when others called it because he heard my tone rather than understood the word. I later adopted an askal and called him Lick Lick but again, he responded to the way I said it rather than the name itself. So the suggestion is simply a one or two syllable name that rolls off you tongue in a way that is distinctive from the way others say the same word.
Rotti's are fantastic pets, ours (Turbo) thought he was a lap dog and my baby Grand-kids would climb all over him with out so much as a bad look or growl, an AWESOME Dog that despite many assuming he was viscous, he was anything but! (as was my Roman Nose Bull Terrier; 'Ajax') We owned a Red Cattle Dog which was the spawn of Satan himself (as was his Blue Heeler Mother!) and a more evil Dog I have never yet met! We called him 'Puss' and when calling him we would call; "Here Puss Puss Puss" which threw many off NOT expecting the Devil-Dog to appear! hehe (Might be great for any neighbors or passerby's who hear you calling him expecting a Cat to appear!)
OK, you read my serious suggestion. Now this "lighter side" may be what you need: A burglar broke into a house one night. He shined his flashlight around, looking for valuables, and when he picked up a CD player to place in his pack, a strange, disembodied voice echoed from the dark saying, "Jesus is watching you." He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight out, and froze. When he heard nothing more after a bit, he shook his head, promised himself a vacation after the next big score, then clicked the light on and began searching for more valuables. Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard, "Jesus is watching you." Freaked out, he shone his light around frantically, looking for the source of the voice. Finally, in the corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot. "Did you say that?", he hissed at the parrot. "Yep," the parrot confessed, then squawked, "I'm just trying to warn you." The burglar relaxed. "Warn me, huh? Who in the world are you?" "Moses," replied the bird. "Moses?" the burglar laughed. "What kind of people would name a birdMoses?" "The kind of people that would name a Rottweiller Jesus."
How about just going with "Aso" (Tagalog for "dog")? Not too difficult a change from "Oso", and he's probably going to be called that anyway