"B & J" wrote:

-snip-
As for how the dogwood got its name, one explanation is that dog owners once
made a tonic from the bark to wash their pets. A more likely derivation
comes from the Old English term doggerwood, meaning "a stick once used to
skewer meats."

I knew about the legend, but does anyone know any other logical explanation
for the name?

#2 seems likely. Especially when you make 'doggerwood',
'daggerwood'.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=dogwood
\Dog"wood`\ (-w[oo^]d`), n. [So named from skewers (dags) being made
of it. Dr. Prior. See Dag, and Dagger.]

Jim