Dog lovers around the world understand the special relationship that we share with our canine buddies. It’s a relationship that’s been forged over thousands of years, as our faithful and loyal pooches have well and truly earned their place by our side and in our hearts. They have become ‘man’s best friend.’
Over time, many people have tried to capture this shared love by putting their thoughts down on paper. And through the magic of the Internet, we are able to gather them and share them with you.
If you’ve Googled dog best friend quotes, it’s pretty clear what you’re after, although it might be for several different reasons. Perhaps you want dog quotes or captions for social media posts about your puppy? Maybe you’re having a t-shirt or bandana printed and need some inspirational quotes? You might even be looking for something suitable as an inscription on a key fob, food bowl, dog collar, etc.?
Whatever you need them for, we’ve compiled a list of the best dog quotes around to save you from having to spend too long searching.
Before we dive in, let’s address a matter that might be a cause of contention in today’s world: the phrase man’s best friend that we used above. Though it might stand out as an anomaly in a modern society that is still struggling to find balance and equality, this phrase really isn’t as one-sided as some people might think. In this context, man is essentially short for mankind, meaning all humans, not just males!
It might seem archaic and antiquated, but it is inclusive, embracing female dog lovers as well as males, so don’t be afraid to use it.
Now, on with the dog best friend quotes!
Inspirational Dog Quotes
Our furry friends never cease to make us laugh or bring joy to our lives. They also make us cry at times. And they often inspire us, as these famous quotes illustrate:
“The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.”
— Mark Twain.
It’s hard to disagree with this one. It isn’t so much that all people are bad, but more a case that dogs are not shallow, cruel, cold-hearted, and selfish. They don’t hold grudges and never argue about religion and politics!
“The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.”
— Charles de Gaulle
It seems that the former French president shared Mark Twain’s opinion regarding humans and dogs.
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
― Josh Billings
Again, we can’t argue! That unconditional love is something we treasure. You can see it in those big eyes as your best friend watches your every move. It’s clear that you are their world, and there’s no feeling quite like knowing this.
“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent.”
— Milan Kundera
Okay, dogs can sometimes be a little jealous, but you get the idea. There’s something about dogs that sets them apart from us. It doesn’t take much to make them happy! And this happiness is infectious. Few people can stay sad, fed up, or angry when their best friend places their head on their lap or gives them a big, wet, doggy kiss on the face. And the rest is true: dogs are not evil and rarely show discontent. They point us in the right direction and make us better people, and that’s surely the road to paradise.
“The love of a dog is a pure thing. He gives you a trust which is total. You must not betray it.”
— Michel Houellebecq
Unconditional love is often mentioned in reference to dogs and will appear a few times in our dog best friend quotes. The bond between humans and dogs is unique, and we rarely see such a relationship with other species. Sadly, the last sentence in this quote is all too frequently ignored, as thousands of dog shelters and rescue centers prove. Thankfully, millions of loving dog owners worldwide value their furry friends and treat them as they deserve.
“The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.”
— M.K. Clinton
This quote goes hand-in-hand with the last two, highlighting precisely what makes dogs so special. Imagine a world where we did this!
“There is no faith which has never yet been broken, except that of a truly faithful dog.”
– Konrad Lorenz
Canine faithfulness is legendary, inspiring many of these quotes, as well as songs, movies, and books. It’s something you only understand when you own a dog, and it’s a trait that has been forged over thousands of years since humans tamed and domesticated the mighty wolf.
And it’s what makes dogs so amazing.
“Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.”
— Orhan Pamuk
Our furry friends communicate with us all the time, mostly through body language. But this quote goes beyond that, almost to a spiritual level.
“If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.”
— Harry Truman
This one says as much about human nature and the American political system as it does our furry pals! There’s a touch of wry bitterness about it that only serves to highlight the steadfast loyalty and love we get from our dogs.
“If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience.”
– Woodrow Wilson
Dogs seem to have an uncanny ability to read humans. They can sense when someone is not of good character. It’s often said that if your dog doesn’t trust someone, then it’s wise to avoid them! Some people don’t believe that dogs are judging us, just showing us the truth about ourselves. It’s up to us to make any changes.
“No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you feel rich.”
– Louis Sabin
Dogs don’t care about money. They don’t care if you’re rich or poor – they’ll stick by you anyway. And when you have a friendship like that, it’s hard to feel that you have nothing.
“The dog has seldom been successful in pulling man up to its level of sagacity, but man has frequently dragged the dog down to his.”
— James Thurber
Another one that shows how we have much to learn from our pooches!
“I have found that when you are deeply troubled, there are things you get from the silent devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source.”
– Doris Day
Your dog plays many roles in your life: clown, comforter, exercise buddy, and therapist! Just by being there, your pooch lifts your spirits without uttering a word. And that’s the best kind of friendship there is.
“Everything I know, I learned from dogs.”
– Nora Roberts
While this quote might seem to stretch the bounds of truth, there are many lessons you can learn from owning a dog. When you take all of these dog best friend quotes together, you’ll find deeper wisdom that says dogs are great teachers. All we have to do is follow their example, and the world would be better for it.
“The poor dog, in life the firmest friend. The first to welcome, foremost to defend.”
— Lord Byron
Byron, who was described as ‘mad, bad, and dangerous to know,’ took time from partying hard 1800s style to write an epitaph to Boatswain, his beloved Newfoundland that had just died of rabies. Byron nursed his pet until the end without fear of being bitten. This eulogy is worth reading in full when you get the chance, essentially saying that dogs have ‘all the virtues of men, without the vices,’ echoing many of the quotes above.
“To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs.”
– Aldous Huxley
This quote is deeper than you might think at first glance. It illustrates the loyalty of dogs but also shows a human need for their companionship. We love the way dogs love us unconditionally! And for that reason, dogs will always be popular.
“The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.”
– Andy Rooney
It’s perhaps a little exaggerated but true in a lot of ways. We all need to examine how we treat others at times and perhaps learn to be as nice as our doggy friends! However, you might want to draw the line at licking your neighbor’s hand.
Funny Dog Best Friend Quotes
Dogs are forever making us laugh, often unwittingly. Their antics keep us amused for hours, and you only have to check the thousands of reels and vines (looped video clips, for those who don’t know) online featuring crazy canines to see what we mean.
So, it’s only right that we include some humorous examples in our list of dog best friend quotes!
“What do dogs do on their day off? Can’t lie around – that’s their job.”
— George Carlin
It’s true! It’s a funny dog quote, but perhaps there’s a lesson here too. We need to learn to take it easy and approach life as our furry pals do.
“The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him, and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.”
— Samuel Butler
Most dogs have a playful side, even if it takes some coaxing to bring out. But many pooches launch into crazy mode at a moment’s notice.
Dog lovers everywhere will know all about the zoomies when a dog suddenly takes off and speeds around at high speed, running in circles and jumping on or over everything in sight. The great thing about dogs is that they don’t care what anyone thinks. And when we lose our inhibitions, joining in the fun and games, our dogs never judge us, saying ‘huh, aren’t you a little old for this?’ or ‘whatever will the neighbors think?’.
“No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does.”
— Christopher Morley
Dog’s eyes are so deep. Gaze into them, and you’ll see only love, devotion, and loyalty. Watch them as you speak, and they hang on every word, even if they only understand one in every ten of them!
Your dog loves everything you say and appreciates every word. Okay, it probably has much to do with the tone and your mood at the time.
Watch your dog’s tail wag as you speak. Listen for those little woofs of agreement and playful growls. It’s all part of the special bond between you, which is why they are our best friends.
“They never talk about themselves but listen to you while you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being interested in the conversation.”
— Jerome K. Jerome
Similar to the previous quote, this one is as sweet as it is funny. We can share anything with our dogs, and they’ll lap up every word!
“You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, ‘Wow, you’re right! I never would’ve thought of that!’”
— Dave Barry
Another example of how dogs love to hear what we have to say, even though they have no clue what we’re talking about.
“I’ve seen a look in dogs’ eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically, dogs think humans are nuts.”
— John Steinbeck
Then again, they’ll look at you like you’re mad, which is hilarious!
“A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down.”
– Robert Benchley
As much as we laugh at our fur babies for their weird ways, we can learn a lot from them. This habit of turning around before lying down is a natural instinct left over from their days as wild animals. Curling up nose to tail protected their soft belly area while they slept, and they would turn around before lying down to find the best position to help them ward off an attack. These days, it just looks cute!
“Scratch a dog, and you’ll find a permanent job.”
— Franklin P. Jones
We all know about this one! When you give a dog any kind of attention, they’ll come back for more. How many of us have been prompted into action by a paw scratching gently at our arm, or a nudge of the nose on our leg, simply because we stopped petting our dog thirty seconds earlier?
“I like dogs. You always know what a dog is thinking. It has four moods. Happy, sad, cross, and concentrating. Also, dogs are faithful, and they do not tell lies because they cannot talk.”
– Mark Haddon
With dogs, it’s a case of what you see is what you get. There’s no pretense, and they don’t hide their feelings. And they don’t lie!
“If aliens saw us walking our dogs and picking up their poop, who would they think is in charge?”
— Anonymous
No one seems to know who first said this, but it captures the relationship between dogs and humans pretty well. We imagine the dog to be something of a sidekick, a loyal servant. But when you look at it, we do everything for them and treat them like kings and queens!
“Anybody who doesn’t know what soap tastes like never washed a dog.”
—Franklin P. Jones
Baths. Dogs either love them or hate them! If your dog is in the latter category, then you’ll sympathize with Franklin Jones. It’s all part of the fun of being a pet parent!
“Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.”
— Groucho Marx
Who can resist the genius of the Marx brothers? Hidden within this funny, lighthearted quote is an indisputable truth: knowledge is a good thing, but the love and companionship of a dog are priceless.
“Dogs never bite me. Just humans.”
— Marilyn Monroe
Another way of saying that dogs never let you down. Sadly, we can’t say the same about humans!
Cute Dog Best Friend Quotes
Our canine friends have stolen our hearts, and there’s nothing we can do about it. Without fail, when we see a puppy, whether in real life, on TV, or on a website, we go ‘Awww!’ and turn to goo.
As a result, there’s no shortage of cute dog quotes, and there’s sure to be thousands more written in the future!
So, let’s look at some sentimental and cute dog best friend quotes:
“Happiness is a warm puppy.”
― Charles M. Schulz
Schulz was one of the most influential cartoonists of all time, creating the massively popular comic strip, Peanuts. Much of its appeal came from the character Snoopy, a loyal Beagle with a penchant for literature and adventure. There’s a lot of humanity in Schulz’s comic strip, and he certainly understood the close relationship we share with our canine friends.
“A dog will teach you unconditional love. If you can have that in your life, things won’t be too bad.”
— Robert Wagner
There’s something about having a dog with you that makes you feel better. This is one of the reasons therapy dogs are so effective! They make us feel happy, and when you’re happy, your body begins to heal.
“The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth will ever be.”
— Konrad Lorenz
You haven’t really experienced loyalty until you’ve owned a dog. It’s a bond that takes a matter of days to form but lasts for a lifetime through good and bad. It’s this fact that makes it so very hard to bear when they leave us.
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”
― Anatole France
It’s true that pets (dogs, in particular) have a way of touching our souls. There’s no guile or deceit in them, and they love unconditionally. It’s hard to love a dog for long without becoming a better person.
“Fall in love with a dog, and in many ways you enter a new orbit, a universe that features not just new colors but new rituals, new rules, a new way of experiencing attachment.”
— Caroline Knapp
Another way of saying that dogs improve and enrich our lives beyond measure! Anyone who has ever loved a dog will understand just how true this is.
“My little dog – a heartbeat at my feet.”
— Edith Wharton
We love our dogs, whatever their size. But little dogs have a slight edge in the cuteness stakes, probably because we regard them as more vulnerable. And small things often seem cuter than big things. This quote captures the relationship between us quite well: a heartbeat at my feet. It shows the dog’s loyalty as well as the fact that this is a living, loving creature that longs to be with you always.
“A true friend leaves paw prints on your heart.”
— Anonymous
Although nobody has claimed credit for this quote, it’s made its way around the world via the Internet and has become a favorite among dog lovers everywhere.
“You can usually tell that a man is good if he has a dog who loves him.”
– W. Bruce Cameron
If you want to know someone, watch how their dog acts around them. Dogs are great judges of character.
“Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate.”
— Sigmund Freud
A relationship with a dog is usually black and white. They love you, and that’s that. Humans always have to complicate things! That’s another reason we love dogs so much.
“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.”
— Roger A. Caras
No dog lover would ever argue otherwise! There’s something special about having a dog in the home. It changes the dynamic, improves the atmosphere, and makes things feel complete.
“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive.”
– Gilda Radner
Again, we’re back to the theme of unconditional love and the fact that we could learn some lessons from dogs about how we live our lives.
“Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one is a life diminished.”
― Dean Koontz
If you’ve lost a beloved pet, you’ll understand the truth of this quote. You can mask the pain by getting another dog, but that loss will stay with you. And if you don’t replace your precious pooch, then your life will always seem robbed of color in some way.
“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went.”
– Will Rogers
The bond between dogs and humans is so strong that some people believe it stretches beyond the physical realm. They hope that they’ll somehow be reunited with their canine buddies in the afterlife. Well, that’s too big a subject to discuss here, but few dog lovers would disagree with Will Rogers!
“Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really.”
— Agnes Sligh Turnbull
Following on from the previous quote, this one highlights the one thing that makes owning a dog so difficult: the day they leave us.
“You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us.”
– Robert Louis Stevenson
It’s almost as if he were replying directly to Will Rogers! Whatever your spiritual beliefs, this quote illustrates that dogs have pure hearts, completely free from the vices that affect humans. If anyone deserves to go to heaven, it’s our furry friends.
“It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them.”
— John Grogan
More evidence that dogs improve our lives! The happier we are, the more likely it is that we’ll treat each other better, and that’s good news for us all.
“When an 85-pound mammal licks your tears away, then tries to sit on your lap, it’s hard to feel sad.”
— Kristan Higgins
True enough! Dogs are sensitive to our moods and will often try to comfort us when we are down. It’s at those times that we really appreciate just how loving our pets are.
“Money can buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail.”
— Kinky Friedman
This one is a shout-out for the mutts and mongrels that fill our lives with love and laughter. They’re not purebred, and they don’t have a pedigree as long as your arm, but they’re full of character and are worth just as much as any dog from a breeder. It doesn’t matter where your dog came from. In the end, it’s all about how much it loves you.
“Puppies are nature’s remedy for feeling unloved, plus numerous other ailments of life.”
– Ann Landers
This quote highlights once again just how good dogs are for us! Cortisol is a stress hormone that causes a lot of damage and ill health. When we pet our dogs, cortisol levels are reduced, making us feel better. Also, oxycontin is created, which is a feel-good hormone that bonds a mother and her baby. Petting your dog will also lower your blood pressure. So, Ann Landers is spot on!
“You know, a dog can snap you out of any kind of bad mood that you’re in faster than you can think of.”
– Jill Abramson
We’ve seen why this is in the previous quote. Petting your dog just makes you feel great. In many cases, all they need to do is walk through the door. The very sight of your fur baby will lift your spirits better than most other things. And that’s something very special.
“If I could be half the person my dog is, I’d be twice the human I am.”
– Charles Yu
We return to the theme of how great dogs are and how we should emulate them. It’s a recurring theme, and it makes you wonder why we don’t take our own advice.
Photo from: @sikari_kashyyyk_tamaskan
“Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love. They depart to teach us about loss. A new dog never replaces an old dog – it merely expands the heart.”
– Erica Jong
How many of us have had our hearts expanded? Yep, a lot of heads are nodding sadly out there. It’s a tragic part of being a pet parent, knowing that they’ll break your heart one day.
But does this stop us from going ahead and getting another? Of course not!
Dogs bring so much joy, laughter, love, and fun into our lives, and that’s what matters. The fact that the time we share with them is limited only serves to make it all the more special.
We hope that these dog best friend quotes have been useful in some way and that you have enjoyed reading them. Each one teaches us something about the bond between humans and dogs and proves beyond doubt that they truly are our best friends.
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