[SunkenCiv]

Still no explanation for its emergence in Ye Olde English, but sounds reasonable to me. 🐩

• The Extinct Dog Breeds of Ancient Rome [06/28/2022]
• Early Romans may have been the first to breed flat-faced dogs [04/26/2023]
• Ancient puppy paw prints found on Roman tiles [04/21/2014]
• Roman dog with fur intact dug up at Vindolanda fort [09/02/2020]
• Viking Noblewoman Buried in Boat Alongside Her Dog [06/10/2025]

[SunkenCiv]

I wondered if it came from Sarmatian, since after they were defeated by the Romans, their horsemen were deployed as auxiliary cavalry in Britain. But the Brave AI sez that word is “spaka”. Gaelic is no help either:

https://search.brave.com/search?q=gaelic+word+for+dog&summary=1

https://search.brave.com/search?q=brithonic+word+for+dog&summary=1