Poker glossary
Dog
Dog is short for underdog—the player or hand with the lower chance to win.
Full explanation
Dog is short for underdog—the player or hand with the lower chance to win.
Explanation. Calling someone a “dog” or saying you’re the “dog” reflects being the statistical underdog: your hand is the weaker pre‑showdown. The name comes from betting parlance where the underdog has longer odds. For example, if A‑6 is up against K‑K you’re the “dog.” It’s used to describe disadvantage and estimate pot odds or implied power.