The Dog Days of Summer
© Chalabala/iStock

Tail-Wagging Wisdom in Dog Sayings   From Around the World

Let’s face it. Things have been a little ruff in the world lately. But anything is paw-sible when you add some humor to the mix.

Embracing the essence (and humor) of a human’s best friend
© William Wegman (Courtesy of the Artist)

Let’s rise to the challenge and see how dogs enter our life and our language—with dog sayings from around the world.

Rising to the Challenge Like Sirius, The Dog Star

The Dog Days of Summer are upon us (at least for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere). These are languid summer days of sultry heat, where we conjure images of dogs lying in cool shade, panting heavily, and wishing they didn’t have quite so much fur.

Staying cool in the Dog Days of Summer
© Meredith Mullins

In fact, the phrase “Dog Days of Summer” is based historically in ancient Greece. It was the time when Sirius, the Dog Star, rose in the sky near Orion. This occurrence signaled the arrival of summer—the hottest time of the year and a period that had connotations of catastrophe to the Greeks, with possibilities of drought, sickness, or war.

Now, the phrase has taken on other, less sinister meanings—when heat has the potential to make us all just a little lazier and crazier.

A human’s best friend (with a mind of his own)
© Meredith Mullins

A Canine Tribute

Idioms, puns, and literary quotes have often incorporated animals as a theme, but none more so that our canine best friends. (OK. In deference to cat lovers, maybe cats are a close competitor.)

Most quotes recognize that dogs have the qualities we admire. Our four-pawed friends are loving, loyal, and nonjudgmental. They help us through troubled times.

Comfort in troubled times
© Meredith Mullins

In Russia, Собака – лучший друг человека (Dogs are a human’s best friend). They are often called “younger brothers.”

The same sentiment is no doubt true in Italy, but idiomatically, the Italians just don’t want dogs in church. Their saying Un cane in chiesa is another way of saying an “unwanted guest.”

As French writer Alphonse de Lamartine said, “Partout où il y a malheureux, dieu envoie un chien” (Wherever there is an unhappy person, God sends a dog) and “Quand un chien est dans ta vie, il y a toujours une raison de rire” (When a dog is in your life, there is always a reason to laugh).

When a dog is in your life, you have good company . . . and often a reason to smile.
© Meredith Mullins

In fact, during the recent COVID confinement in France, the government urged the adoption of animals. Dogs can be an integral part of life.

Victor Hugo said, “Regarde ton chien dans les yeux et tu ne pourras pas affirmer qu’il n’a pas d’âme” (Look your dog in the eye and you will not be able to say he has no soul).

And Turkish author Orhan Pamuk said, “Dogs speak, but only to those who listen.”

Can anyone say this dog does not have a soul?
© Meredith Mullins

Why Are Dogs Maligned in the Idiom World?

With all these accolades, it’s hard to understand why dogs take a beating in the idiom world.

To say someone has a “dog’s life” means a miserable, thankless existence. The same idiom exists in French (une chienne de vie) and in Czech (Život je pes).

Something that has “gone to the dogs,” or someone who is “working like a dog,” “sick as a dog,” “dog tired,” or “in the doghouse” are all elements of a less than desirable life.

Sometimes being in the doghouse can be a good thing, but not in the world of idioms.
© gecko photos/iStock

In the French language, to treat someone like a dog (traiter quelqu’un comme un chien), to say someone has the character of a dog (caractère de chien) or a bad temper, or to say someone has a dog’s pain (avoir un mal de chien) which can mean literal pain or the pain of doing something difficult—all of these idioms are negative.

A dog’s life according to French idioms is not always so happy.
© Rawf8/iStock

It’s worth noting, however, that in France “to have some dog” (avoir du chien) is the ultimate compliment for a woman. It means not only is she attractive and intelligent, but also that she is charming inside and out—quite a special person.

The phrase “If you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas,” appears in many cultures.  This idiom has a consistent meaning: if you hang out with unsavory company, you may begin to experience problems of your own. In Spanish, Quien con perros se echa, con pulgas se levanta. In Czech, kdo se psy líhá, s blechami vstává.

What happens when you lie down with dogs?
© Korneeva_Kristina/iStock

Speaking of reclining dogs, if you refrain from interfering with something that’s causing no problems or if you don’t want to uncover unexpected surprises in a situation, you “let sleeping dogs lie.”

In France, however, you “do not wake the sleeping cat” (ne reveillez pas le chat qui dort). (Score one for the cat lovers.)

If someone is a celebrity or a unique character, some cultures compare that person to a colorful dog. In German, the person is as well-known as a colorful dog (Sie ist bekannt wie ein bunter Hund). In Spanish, the person is stranger than a green dog (Ser más raro que un perro verde).

In Germany, a celebrity is “as well-known as a colorful dog.”
© GJ Quinlan/iStock

Dog Idioms of a Poetic Nature

A few dog idioms stand out as sheer poetry.

In Japan, “to have your hand bitten by a dog” (飼い犬に手を噛まれる or Kaiinu ni te wo kamareru) means someone you were helping betrayed you.

In Spanish, if someone is lying to you, you can respond by saying “give that bone to another dog” (a otro perro con ese hueso).

In Spanish, if you know someone is telling a lie or pulling your leg,
you can tell them to “give that bone to another dog.”
© Chalabala/iStock

In Chinese, 狗拿耗子, 多管闲事  translates to “a dog’s effort to catch a mouse is unnecessary; it is beyond his duty because it is a cat’s job.” This is a diplomatic way of saying “Mind your own business!” (Score another one for cats.)

And the final philosophic mystery comes from Portugal. “A dog that has been bitten by a snake fears sausages” (Cão picado por cobra, tem medo de linguiça).

Snakes? Sausages? What does THAT idiom mean?
© kaz_c/iStock

Dog Lessons for People

It has been said that dogs have a way of finding the people who need them. Even if we haven’t been “found” yet, we can learn much from the way dogs live their life (the positive side, not the idiomatic negatives).

Here are five life lessons from dogs to ponder during these challenging times.

1. Enjoy the simple pleasure of a walk.
2. Be loyal, faithful, and quick to forgive.
3. Keep digging until you find what you want.
4. Avoid biting when a growl will do.
5. Accept life’s treats with gratitude.

Dogs seem grateful for everything in life, especially food, company, and walks.
© Meredith Mullins

To finish this OIC story of dog sayings around the world, go for a grand finale of humor and watch the outdoor “Walk of Shame” competition of Olive and Mabel, as narrated by their human, British sportscaster Andrew Cotter.

Oh, I see. Dogs do give us reason to laugh . . . and can be noble best friends. An ideal remedy in challenging times.

If video does not display, watch it here.

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

See more of Olive and Mabel (and Andrew Cotter) on youtube.