pooch
n. B1 Intermediate US //ˈputʃ// UK //pˈuːtʃ// pooch
n. a friendly way to say 'dog'. You use this word when you want to sound casual or when talking to someone who owns a pet.
n. a colloquial term for a dog.
The neighbor's little pooch ran into the yard and started barking at the mailman.
Of uncertain origin. One (unsubstantiated) conjecture is that the word comes from Putzi, a common German name given to lapdogs. The name Putzi is possibly formed from German Putz + -i, influenced by German putzig (“funny, cute, small”, adjective).
Probably related to pouch.