Brandon appears 65 times at rank 1588 on male pets. This is a generational human name in the pet registry, a top-10 baby name through the 1980s and 1990s, applied by owners naming their dog after someone they know, grew up with, or simply find the familiar warmth of the name appropriate for an animal they treat as family.
The 1990s Human Name Wave
Brandon peaked at #3 in the United States in 1992. The generation that grew up surrounded by Brandons, in school, on sports teams, watching Beverly Hills 90210, is now in prime dog-owning years. The name lands in pet registries as a familiar, comfortable choice rather than a deliberate one. The human name lives at /names/brandon.
The 90210 Connection
Brandon Walsh from Beverly Hills, 90210 was the idealized American teenager of his era: responsible, likeable, slightly boring in his virtue. For owners who remember the show, there's a specific nostalgic register at work. The name fits large, dependable breeds: Labradors and Golden Retrievers carry it naturally.
The Counter-Reading
Brandon on a dog will always prompt "Did you name him after someone?" because it's such a clearly human name. Most owners did. That personal connection is the name's primary meaning, and it's a perfectly good reason to choose it.