I'm not going to let my wife name our kid after her childhood dog
Why would you want to stop her from naming your kid after a dog?
Cuz I named my first kid after my dad, who had died shortly after he was born.
I hear you, and I agree that naming a person after a dog is wrong, even if that dog was a beloved pet. You should try to talk to your wife and explain to her that it's a very bad idea, and find a new name that you both like.
She's doesn't want to discuss this. She wants to name the kid after her damn dog and that's final.
You need to try to convince her more. It would make the kid feel bad to be named after a dog.