Shai (pronounced "shy" or "shay" depending on origin) works in two traditions simultaneously: it's a Hebrew name meaning "gift," and it's also associated with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder point guard who has become one of basketball's most elegant players. Either reading makes for a genuinely distinctive pet name.
The Basketball Angle
SGA's rise to MVP-level play in the mid-2020s brought his unusual given name into wider recognition. Sports-named pets are a real phenomenon — Kobe had a documented surge after Bryant's fame peaked. Naming a fast, agile dog Shai as a subtle sports nod lands well with basketball fans who want something less on-the-nose than LeBron.
Sound and Brevity
One syllable, clean consonant ending, zero ambiguity in a crowd. Shai is the kind of name that works If you're calling across a dog park or murmuring to a cat. Whippets and sleek short-haired breeds suit the name's efficient, athletic feel. The human name Shai is rising in American usage as well.
The Counter-Reading: Pronunciation Confusion
"Shy" versus "shay" divides people unfamiliar with the name. Expect to explain it once per new acquaintance — a small tax for a genuinely original choice.