Andrew is a full-formality human name — no nickname, no softening — applied directly to a dog. At rank 1939 with 51 records, it's rare enough that it reads as a deliberate choice rather than a default, and the choice says something clear: this dog is a person, and they have a proper name to prove it.
The Full-Name-No-Nickname School
There's a distinct owner type who bypasses Max and Buddy entirely and goes straight to Andrew, or William, or Gerald. The aesthetic is deadpan-formal: the dog gets a name with weight, a name that sounds slightly absurd when called across the dog park, which is exactly the point. The human name Andrew has Greek roots meaning "manly" or "strong" — from andreios — and carries centuries of royal and apostolic authority.
Sound and Training Practicality
Andrew is three syllables but the primary stress falls on the first, AN, which dogs respond to well. Owners almost invariably end up using Andy as the call name, which is a perfectly functional two-syllable nickname. Andy on its own is cheerful and ageless. The formal Andrew stays for vet paperwork and formal introductions.
Counter-Reading: The Formality Gap
Naming a dog Andrew creates a permanent formality gap between the paperwork name and the actual daily name. If you're going to call the dog Andy anyway, consider whether Andrew on the license is doing any real work. For owners who specifically want the deadpan joke of a fully formal name, it absolutely does. For everyone else, Andy is the cleaner choice.