More Dog Proverbs, by Country—
Folk Wisdom of the Ages

Have you ever wondered what "the people" thought about dogs? Well, these 26 additional dog proverbs, by country, will shed some light (and maybe some hair) on your questions. Or maybe not (some of these proverbs left me wondering).

Some are about dogs, and some use canines to describe human behaviour. And others, even more obliquely, use canine behaviour as advice on human relations.

There is another page of proverbs. Click on the link at the bottom of the page to read them.

Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun.

Indian Proverb

A dog with two homes is never any good.

Irish Proverb

It is bad to awaken a sleeping dog.

There is no dog so bad but he will wag his tail.

Italian Dog Proverbs

If a man be great even his dog will wear a proud look.

One dog yelping at nothing will set ten thousand straining at their collars.

Japanese Dog Proverbs

A dog that steals sells its body.

Kenyan (Luyia, West Kenya) Proverb

Beware of a silent dog and still water.

The dog that fetches will also carry.

When the old dog barks it is time to watch.

While a dog gnaws the bone, companions would be none.

Latin Dog Proverbs

Do not respond to a barking dog.

Moroccan Jewish Proverb

The greatest love is a mother's; then a dog's; then a sweetheart's.

Polish Proverb

A house without either a cat or a dog is the house of a scoundrel.

The dog wags his tail, not for you, but for your bread.

Portuguese Dog Proverbs

If you are a host to your guest, be a host to his dog also.

Russian Proverb

If you stop every time a dog barks, your road will never end.

Saudi Arabian Proverb

A dog that intends to bite does not bear its teeth.

If skill could be gained by watching, every dog would become a butcher.

Turkish Dog Proverbs

A good dog deserves a good bone.

Even a dog knows the difference between being stumbled over and being kicked.

Every dog is allowed one bite.

If you play with the dog, he will lick your face.

Vietnamese Proverb

Three things it is best to avoid: a strange dog, a flood, and a man who thinks he is wise.

Welsh Proverb

A dog without teeth will also attack a bone.

Show a dog a finger, and he wants the whole hand.

Yiddish Dog Proverbs