Mushu is Mulan's small red dragon from the 1998 Disney film — not the ancestral guardian he was supposed to be, but the scrappy, loud, deeply loyal companion who helped Mulan save China anyway. For a male pet at rank 1171, the name is entirely anchored to that character: owners who choose Mushu know exactly what they're signing up for, and they usually choose it because the personality fits.
The Character Template
Mushu is small but convinced of his own greatness, impulsive but ultimately devoted. That combination maps onto a specific type of dog — particularly small breeds with outsized confidence. Chihuahuas, Dachshunds, and Pomeranians are natural Mushus: breeds where the Napoleon complex is part of the appeal. Eddie Murphy's voice performance gives the name an additional layer of warmth and humor that owners consciously invoke.
The Food Name Coincidence
Moo shu (木须) is a stir-fry dish in Chinese-American cuisine, which means Mushu occasionally gets read as a food name rather than a Disney name. This is mostly an observation rather than a problem — the name functions perfectly well either way, and the culinary version gives it a second source of charm for owners in culinary households.
Sound and Function
MOO-shoo is easy to call, distinctive from commands, and has the kind of warm vowel sound that animals respond to readily. It also ages well: a puppy named Mushu grows into the name rather than out of it. Compare Simba for the classic Disney-pet-name register.