Poppa is an informal term for father — a warm, slightly old-fashioned variant of Papa or Dad used primarily in American English. On a male dog, it's a name given by a family where the dog occupies a patriarch-adjacent role: the dog who was there first, who the younger pets defer to, who the owner thinks of as the family's founding male animal.
The Family Patriarch Naming Pattern
Some owners name pets according to the role they play in a multi-pet household. A dog who arrived first and is the oldest male gets a name like Poppa, Papa, or Senior — titles that acknowledge his position without irony. This is a functional naming tradition: the name explains the social structure of the household at a glance.
Sound and Affection
Poppa's doubled syllable — both the same — gives it a warm, babyish quality that feels affectionate rather than authoritative. Compare Papa, which is slightly more formal, and Daddy, which carries more American English weight in this category. All three convey the same patriarchal-affectionate dynamic.
The Counter-Reading: Confusing in Multi-Generational Households
In households where "Poppa" is also what children call a grandfather, naming the dog the same creates genuine daily confusion. Owners in those households usually discover this quickly and either rename the dog or find that the family adapts to context without difficulty. At 40 registrations, this is a niche but coherent naming choice.