Raider is a male pet name in the action-verb compound category alongside Hunter, Ranger, and Scout, appealing to owners who want a name with forward momentum. Sports fans will also hear the Las Vegas Raiders NFL franchise behind it, making this one of the more common team-tribute pet names in the American West.
The Sports Fan Angle
Raiders fans naming pets Raider is a documented pattern across NFL team cities. The Las Vegas Raiders have a large national fanbase. If this is the source, it's a clean tribute that works as a name in its own right. German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois are the natural breed match for the name's working-dog energy.
Sound Fit
RAY-der is two syllables with a strong first syllable that carries across distance. The -er ending puts it in good company with other working-register names: Hunter, Tucker, Ranger. It doesn't blend with commands.
Counter-Reading: Aggression Signal
Raider's raiding connotation signals an energy that may not match your actual dog. If you have a soft Lab who is scared of thunderstorms, Raider creates an ironic gap. Ranger covers similar territory with slightly softer associations if the full-send aggression register isn't what you're after.