350 Farm Dog Names + Western Cow Dog, Ranch Dog Names

Farm dog names

Whether your new canine companion will be working livestock, guarding them, or just riding shotgun with you on the ATV, a good farm dog starts with a commanding ranch dog name. Keep in mind, the best dog names are meaningful to the owner, short, and easy to call. To get you started on your shortlist of canine monikers, we have compiled the comprehensive list of all the best farm dog names! So read on to check out the classics, as well as the most unique farm dog, ranch dog and Western cow dog names.

Classic Farm Dog Names

Ace

Angus

Bailey

Bandit

Banjo

Barley

Beau

Bess

Bet

Ben

Bingo

Blue

Bubba

Cap

Checkers

Chip

Cowboy

Davey

Dot

Drift

Finn

Fly

Fox

Gyp

Honey

Jill

Kate

Keeper

Kim

Lad

Lass

Lassie

Lucky

Meg

Mist

Moon

Moss

Nap

Nell

Peg

Pip

Queen

Ranger

Roy

Rusty

Sage

Scout

Shep

Sky

Spot

Sweep

Tate

Tess

Tucker

Trooper

Trucker

Tweed

Winston

Wisp

Woody

Unique Farm Dog Names Female

Autumn

Barbie

Bayler

Brook

Chaff

Chisel

Cotton

Deere

Fallon

Fallow

Fleece

Gin

Maizy

Meadow

Milly

Riddle

Scion

Shade

Slip

Smudge

Stalker

Stover

Summer

Tipsy

Tops

Winter

ranch dog names
Best buddies, Cletus, Fly and Checkers, headed back to the homestead at the end of the day. Photo by Ani Adigyozalyan on Unsplash

Unique Farm Dog Names Male

Barny

Bolt

Brand

Buck

Bull

Cob

Colt

Cooper

Drover

Fielding

Gator

Granger

Harvester

Haymaker

Husker

Kubota

Maverick

Miller

Rake

Ridge

Rooster

Sawyer

Silas

Thresher

Tiller

Timber

Topper

Cow Dog Names from Westerns

These Western classics provide a wealth of options for meaningful names for your new cattle dog. From comedies, like Cat Ballou, to musicals, such as Oklahoma!, to gritty films, such as The Wild Bunch and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, finding the right name for your new pup here is surefire.

Angel: Angel and the Badman.

Annie: Annie Get Your Gun.

Apache: Fort Apache, starring John Wayne, Henry Fonda, and Shirley Temple.

Bart

Bean: Academy Award-winning role for Walter Brennan, as Judge Roy Bean, in The Westerner.

Blondie: The “Good,” played by Clint Eastwood in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

Buck: Andy Devine role in Stagecoach.

Butch: Butch Cassidy.

Call: Captain Woodruff F. Call, former Ranger in Lonesome Dove.

Canon: High Chaparral family surname.

Cash: The man in black.

Cherry: Marlene Dietrich’s character in The Spoilers.

Chester: Marshal Dillion’s assistant, played by Dennis Weaver.

Cleef: Lee Van Cleef, the consummate Western bad guy and the “Bad,” in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

Coffer: Strother Martin character in The Wild Bunch.

Cogburn: Marshall Rooster Cogburn of True Grit and Rooster Cogburn.

Connie: Veronica Lake’s character in Ramrod.

Crew: Donald Crisp character in Ramrod.

Deadeye: Expert marksman.

Dove: Lonesome Dove.

Dallas: Claire Trevor’s role in Stagecoach.

Deets: Former tracker and Ranger, Joshua Deets in Lonesome Dove.

Deke: Robert Ryan’s character in The Wild Bunch.

Destry: Destry Rides Again.

Dillon: Marshal Matt Dillon of Gunsmoke.

Django: Spaghetti Western.

Dodge: Dodge City, starring Errol Flynn and Olivia De Havilland.

Drifter: High Plains Drifter, starring Clint Eastwood.

Dude: Richard Widmark’s role in Yellow Sky.

Duke: John Wayne nickname.

Dutch: Ernest Borgnine’s character in The Wild Bunch.

Dutton: Yellowstone family surname.

Etta: Etta Place, played by Katherine Ross in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Unique Farm Dog Names
Border Collies are some of the top cow dogs. Consider naming yours Drifter. Photo By: sven de wit on Unsplash

Fargo: Unique Cow Dog Name from Tales of Wells Fargo.

Festus: Gunsmoke sidekick.

Flo: Judith Anderson’s role in The Furies.

Ford: John Ford, master director of the Western film.

Frenchy: Marlene Dietrich’s role in Destry Rides Again.

Gal: Female.

Gil: Gil Carter, Henry Fonda character in The Ox-Bow Incident.

Griff: Gunslinger in Forty Guns.

Grit: True Grit.

Harmonica: Charles Bronson’s character in Sergio Leone’s Once Upon A Time In The West.

Hatfield: The Hatfields and the McCoys.

Heath: Heath Barclay, illegitimate son on The Big Valley.

Hitch: The main character in Appaloosa.

Hoss: Big brother on Bonanza.

Jane: Calamity Jane.

Jud: Oklahoma! character played in the film by Rod Steiger.

Kane: Marshal Will Kane, played by Gary Cooper in High Noon.

Katie Edler: The Sons of Katie Elder, starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, Earl Holliman, and Dennis Hopper.

Kid: Kid Shelleen, Oscar award-winning role for Lee Marvin in Cat Ballou.

Kwai: Kwai Chang Caine, Kung Foo main character, played by David Carradine.

Jarrod: Jarrod Barkley, The Big Valley.

Josey: Outlaw Josey Wales.

Lancer: TV Series.

Liberty: The coldest blooded killer Liberty Valance.

Lili: Lili Von Schtupp, Madelaine Kahn’s character in Blazing Saddles.

Lucas: Lucas McCain, The Rifleman.

Lyle: Warren Oates’s character in The Wild Bunch.

Marshal

Mattie: Mattie Ross of Dardanelle County, True Grit.

Maverick

McCoy: The Hatfields and the McCoys.

Micah: Sherriff Micah Torrance on The Rifleman.

Munny: Clint Eastwood’s character in Unforgiven.

Paladin: Have Gun Will Travel.

Pawley: Romantic interest, Martin Pawley, played by Jeffery Hunter in The Searchers.

Pearl: Pearl Chavez, played by Jennifer Jones in Duel in the Sun.

Pike: William Holden’s character in The Wild Bunch.

Pompey: Tom Doniphon’s man Friday in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

Poncho: Poncho and Lefty.

Nash: Joel McCrae’s character in Ramrod.

Quinn: Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.

Ranse: Ransom Stoddard’s nickname.

Ransom: Ransom Stoddard, the man who takes credit for shooting Liberty Valance, and therefore gets the girl and Senate seat.

Raza: Jack Palance’s role in The Professionals.

Ringo: The Ringo Kid, breakout role for John Wayne in Stagecoach.

Rio: Rio Bravo, starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, Angie Dickenson, Walter Brennan, and Ricky Nelson.

Rip: Wendell Corey role in The Furies.

Rooster: Rooster Cogburn.

Rowdy: Rawhide character, Rowdy Yates, played by Clint Eastwood.

Rusty

Ryker: Rufus Ryker is a ruthless cattle baron, that Shane finds he must take down in the gunslinger classic, Shane.

Scar: Comanche Chief in The Searchers, who marries Ethan Edward’s abducted niece.

Searcher: The Searchers, named the greatest American Western by the American Film Institute.

Shade: Sam the Shade, Stubby Kaye role in Cat Ballou.

Shane: Alan Ladd’s most famous role as a mysterious gunslinger seeking a quieter life, yet drawn into using his talents to save a farm steading family.

Shooter

Slim: Slim Pickens, eventually rode the atomic bomb to Earth, cowboy hat in hand, waving and yee-hawing in Dr. Strangelove.

Sparks

Spur: The Naked Spur, starring Jimmy Stewart, Janet Leigh, and Ralph Meeker.

Stretch: Gregory Peck’s role in Yellow Sky.

Strother: Strother Martin, Western character actor, often in supporting roles to John Wayne and Paul Newman.

Sundance: The Sundance Kid.

Tex: Anybody from Texas.

Tonto: Lone Ranger sidekick.

Tuco: The “Ugly” played by Eli Wallach in The Good The Bad and The Ugly.

Vance: Barbara Stanwick’s role in The Furies.

Vienna: Joan Crawford’s role in Johnny Guitar.

Vin: Steve McQueen character in The Magnificent Seven.

Walker: Walker, Texas Ranger.

Wesson: Smith & Wesson pistols, revolvers, and rifles.

Winchester: Rifle manufacturer, how the West was won.

Wrangler: One who works or steals cattle.

Zorro: Masked Avenger.

Western-Inspired Cow Dog Names

Tough talk from way out West can make for some clever cow dog names. These unusual name ideas will vouchsafe the tough and cunning qualities you need in a working cattle dog!

Ace: Number one.

Badge: The Sheriff’s five-pointed star.

Ambush: A surprise attack from a hidden position.

Annex: To steal.

Auger: The big boss.

Ballast: Money.

Bandit: Thief or robber.

Banjo: Country and Western instrument.

Beef: To Kill.

Bounty: Bounty hunter, a private agent who works on commission.

Bronco: Wild horse.

Brush: Skirmish or fight.

Cannon: Revolver.

Cayuse: Cowboy’s horse.

Chap: Boy or lad.

Chink: Money.

Chiseler: Cheater.

Cinch: Girth for a Western saddle; to make certain of.

Colt: Firearm.

Crack: The best.

Desperado: Desperate or reckless person.

Deuce: The devil.

Draw: Pull one’s gun.

Equalizer: Pistol.

Faro: Card game from the word Pharaoh.

Fice: Worthless dog.

Fix: Predicament.

Flapjack: Pancake.

Frolic: Party or celebration.

Gad: Spur.

Game: To have courage and guts.

Gaucho: Cowboy of the South American Pampas.

Gig: Put spurs to the horse.

Gotham: New York City.

Haze: Rioting.

Hook: To steal.

Kick: To complain.

Lash: To whip. Lash makes a lovely female dog name, especially for a girl who is smart as a whip.

Lasso: Rope for catching livestock; a brilliant dog name particularly for a gathering dog.

Loco: Crazy.

Macho: A strong sense of masculine pride.

Marinos: Spurs.

Nibbler: Petty thief.

Nipper: Small child.

Pied: Painted horse.

Pilgrim: Novice cowhand.

Pinkerton: A Pinkerton man was a private guard, chiefly hired to protect payroll and gold shipments.

Pistol: Revolver.

Posse: Group of people, armed and in hot pursuit, explicitly to deliver the law.

Quirt: Whip.

Raft: A large quantity.

Raider: Desperado or bandit.

Randy: Rude or lecherous.

Ranny: Top cowhand.

Rattler: Rattlesnake.

Rawhide: Stiff, untanned leather, often made into a whip.

Rod: A revolver.

Sharps: Any firearm made by Sharps Rifle Company.

Snuffy: Spirited horse.

Star: Badge.

Surry: Carriage with a fringe on top.

Trat: A pretty gal.

Waddy: A cowboy who drifts from ranch to ranch.

Cattle Dog Names from Western Locales

These western town names naturally evoke images of cattle drives, cowboys and Indians as well as shootouts at the O.K coral.

Austin: Music capitol of Texas.

Arizona: Naturally, a good name for a red dog.

Bandera: Bandera, Texas, self-proclaimed Cowboy Capital of the World.

Bear: Bears Ears National Monument.

Bodie: Bodie, California, once known as the wildest town in the West.

Carson: Carson City, Nevada.

Cheyenne: Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Cody: Cody, Wyoming, rodeo capital of the world.

Dallas: Home of the Mavericks.

Deadwood: Deadwood, South Dakota; name your dog Deadwood, and you can call him Woody.

Dodge: Dodge City, Kansas.

Driftwood: Driftwood, Oklahoma.

Durango: Durango, Colorado.

Fargo: Fargo, North Dakota.

Houston: Sam Houston’s namesake.

Santa Fe: Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Sturgis: Sturgis, South Dakota.

Laredo: Laredo, Texas, a border town.

Reno: Reno Nevada.

Sedona: An especially clever name for a red female dog.

Stockton: Stockton, California; the Barclay Ranch on The Big Valley was located near bye.

Tombstone: Tombstone, Arizona, site of the shootout at the O.K. Corral.

Vegas: Las Vegas, Nevada, originally known as a refuge for desperados and outlaws.

Virginia: Virginia City, Nevada.

Waco: Waco, Texas.

Worth or Worthy: Fort Worth, Texas.

Border Collie named Moss, ready to get back to working cattle. Photo by Echo Grid on Unsplash

Southern Farm Dog Names

Grab yourself a tall glass of sweet tea and kick back on your porch, in your favorite rocking chair, to ponder over these classic Southern names for dogs. Consider names that remind you of a favorite town like Nash or Knox or a favorite Southern novel like Atticus, Boo, Skeeter or Jem.

Atticus

Beau

Belle

Boo

Brick

Bricker

Bubba

Buddy

Bufford

Cade

Cletus

Duke

Finch

Forrest

Goober

Gomer

Harlan

Hattie

Hazel

Huck

Jasper

Jed

Jethro

Junior

Kirby

Knox

Lorne

Maggie

Mason

Mercer

Nash

Nellie

Otis

Palmer

Porter

Remy

Rhett

Roscoe

Sailor

Scarlet

Scooter

Shiloh

Skeeter

Tildon

Tucker

Tyson

Waylon

Wren

Wynn

Zach

Zane

Zeke

Final Thoughts on Farm Dog Names

As you can see, farm dog names come from many diverse inspirations. Undoubtedly, we can choose from our favorite westerns, gothic southern novels, and even our most beloved towns and natural monuments to find great dog names. If you have a favorite ranch dog or cow dog name, feel free to share it in our comments section, along with a little bit about your best boy or girl. We love to hear about them!

If you are still seeking inspiration, check out our Nature Themed Dog Names or click here for hundreds of dog name suggestions by coat color, personality and breed type.