The common name “dogfish” originated from fishermen who described these fish as chasing smaller fish in large dog-like “packs”.

Why are they called dog fish?

The name "dogfish" stems from their habit of feeding in packs — sometimes numbering in the hundreds or thousands. Gathered together, they sweep an area, eating the fishes in front of them. They'll eat almost anything they can get their strong jaws and teeth on.

What else are dogfish called?

The Spiny Dogfish is also known by many other names including piked dogfish, spiky dog, and rock salmon. It belongs to the Squalidae family and is in the Chondrichthyes class. There are 40 different species in the Squalidae family.