Pregnant Couple Let Rescue Dog Decide Baby's Name in the Most Adorable Way

A pregnant couple that couldn't decide on a name for their unborn son turned to an unusual source for advice: their dog.

Jessica Ann Caraway of West Michigan told Newsweek she and her husband, Spencer, were "on the fence" about whether to name their son Riggs or Wade. "We couldn't make up our minds," she said. "So we let Ranger be the final decision-maker."

There's no right or wrong way of choosing a name for a baby. As Natalie Costa, a parent and children's coach who is the founder of Power Thoughts, previously told Newsweek: "Choosing baby names is a very personal thing."

"Some parents may want to consult others, and some would prefer to keep it to themselves," she said. "I don't think there is a blanket rule for this, and the decision should be what feels right for the couple."

For Caraway and her partner, what felt right was involving their dog, whom they adopted from a rescue facility about five years ago.

"Ever since Ranger has been with us, he has been a loving part of our family," she said. When we couldn't decide between two baby boy names, we thought: Who would be better to help us than Ranger?"

Caraway credits her husband with coming up with the way of having their dog choose. "Ranger loves to play ball and fetch, so we decided to write the two names on the tennis balls, give them a throw into the woods and have him decide for us," she said.

Footage of the moment Ranger picked out his new little brother's name was posted to TikTok under the handle jessanncaraway. The video has received over 3.8 million views from people curious to see which name the beloved canine picked.

He ultimately went for Riggs, much to the delight of Caraway and her husband. "We are extremely happy with the name," she said. "As soon as our baby boy was born, the name Riggs fit him perfectly."

Caraway also confirmed that Riggs and Ranger are already well on their way to becoming best friends. And this might not be the last time their pup is called upon to help with difficult decisions.

"We have also debated on how often we can allow Ranger to help us with tough baby questions," Caraway said, joking. "Like should he get a second bowl of ice cream, can he stay up later on a weekend, can he get a raise with his allowance."

Caraway credits her video's popularity to "who doesn't love a good dog?" But she also credits its wholesome nature. "It's just a young couple who love each other and are happy to be building a family."

She has no qualms about getting Ranger involved and would encourage other expectant moms and dads with dogs to do the same. "You won't regret it," she said. "And make sure your dog only brings back one ball. Otherwise, it might be a sign you're expecting twins. Also, keep the winning ball as a memory to show your kid one day."

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.