True Blood Dog Names

This might be one of the least conventional approaches to a famous dog in pop culture we’ve attempted in recent memory, but it’s certainly difficult to dismiss. We could go on about the relationship between dogs and wolves and the impact those werewolves had on the overarching plot lines within the show, but it seems much more pertinent to approach one of the series’ most endearing characters, who (spoiler alert), happens to be able to shapeshift into the form of a dog: Sam Merlotte.

For much of the early parts of the series, Sam largely keeps his identity hidden, not only from the viewers at first, but from members of his family as well. Only Sam’s mother, father (deceased) and younger brother retain their shapeshifting ability, thus leaving them to keep their animalistic second lives a secret from Sam’s stepfather, other brother and sister. When he does finally begin to reveal his true identity, it is shown that his favorite and most frequent form to take is that of a Collie, largely due to his desire to remain both inconspicuous and friendly. 

It should come as no surprise then, that in his human form, Sam is almost always friendly towards other dogs, let alone other animals, hinting at his relationship with beasts that he certainly feels deserve more than the appreciation and consideration they are regularly given, whether they are shapeshifters or simply one species. But unlike numerous other characters who are able to change their form with efficiency and regularity, Sam is one of few characters who uses his abilities for good (or mostly good, when they’re not secretly manipulative), which is a stark contrast to his troublemaking younger brother, who uses his ability to his advantage more often than anything else. 

Because Sookie is also a well-intentioned and good-hearted lover of animals as well, Sam uses his Collie form to get close to Sookie, keep an eye on her, and at times, act as her protector without her knowledge, which in part helps him maintain both his secrecy and his relationship with her, especially since she quite often rebuffs his overt human offers of father-like advice. Because his identity is further defined by his actions as a dog, he is blessed with inherent trust and sympathy from the viewers, which helps to balance his sometimes wavering likability that often pivots on his occasional selfishness and less-than-open-minded stance on vampires.