The wild Dog Rose (Rosa canina) scrambles over hedge banks, scrub and the edges of woodland. Prolific and an important source of nectar.

 Plants are sometimes given the epithet 'dog' if considered inferior. It's hard to imagine that this lovely rose would be thought less worthy than others. Or it may be from the Old English 'dag' i.e. dagger in reference to the thorns. 

 Then again Pliny refers to a rosa canina whose root could cure the bite of a rabid dog. Most botanical nomenclature has been invented in the past few centuries by Linnaeus et al whereas the the name of our humble Dog Rose dates back to classical Latin.