Ferris lands immediately on Ferris Bueller — the 1986 John Hughes film about a charismatic Chicago teenager who takes the best day off in cinema history. A dog named Ferris is almost certainly lively, resourceful, and slightly manipulative in the way that the best dogs are. The name carries the film's irreverent, life-affirming energy with unusual precision.
The Bueller Effect
John Hughes gave us several pet-appropriate character names, Ferris being the most obvious. The association is specific enough to be a genuine wink for fellow fans but obscure enough that it doesn't read as costumey. High-energy, social, slightly mischievous breeds suit the name well: Beagles, Jack Russell Terriers, any dog that would absolutely find a way out of the yard and have a great day doing it.
Sound and Daily Use
Two syllables, soft F, strong ending R-sound. Ferris is easy to say, carries well across distance, and has no ambiguous syllables that could be misheard as a command. It's functionally a solid dog name entirely independent of the pop-culture angle. Ferris as a human name is rare in current registries, which leaves it comfortably available as a pet-only identity. Browse similar energetic male pet names for comparable options.
The Counter-Reading: One-Joke Risk
The Bueller joke — calling "Ferris? Ferris? Anyone? Anyone?" — will be made by every person who meets the dog for the first five years of its life. If you can enjoy that joke indefinitely, the name is perfect. If it would age poorly, consider whether a name with fresher pop-culture associations might serve better.