The Dog Days of Summer
\u00a9 Chalabala\/iStock<\/p><\/div>\n

Tail-Wagging Wisdom in Dog Sayings \u00a0 From Around the World<\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Embracing the essence (and humor) of a human’s best friend
\u00a9 William Wegman (Courtesy of the Artist)<\/p><\/div>\n

Let\u2019s rise to the challenge and see how dogs enter our life and our language\u2014with dog sayings from around the world.<\/p>\n

Rising to the Challenge Like Sirius, The Dog Star<\/h4>\n

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\u2019t have quite so much fur.<\/p>\n

Staying cool in the Dog Days of Summer
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

In fact, the phrase \u201cDog Days of Summer\u201d 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\u2014the hottest time of the year and a period that had connotations of catastrophe to the Greeks, with possibilities of drought, sickness, or war.<\/p>\n

Now, the phrase has taken on other, less sinister meanings\u2014when heat has the potential to make us all just a little lazier and crazier.<\/p>\n

A human’s best friend (with a mind of his own)
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

A Canine Tribute<\/h4>\n

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.)<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Comfort in troubled times
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

In Russia, \u0421\u043e\u0431\u0430\u043a\u0430 – \u043b\u0443\u0447\u0448\u0438\u0439 \u0434\u0440\u0443\u0433 \u0447\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0435\u043a\u0430\u00a0<\/em>(Dogs are a human\u2019s best friend). They are often called \u201cyounger brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The same sentiment is no doubt true in Italy, but idiomatically, the Italians just don\u2019t want dogs in church. Their saying Un cane in\u00a0chiesa\u00a0<\/i>is another way of saying an \u201cunwanted guest.\u201d<\/p>\n

As French writer Alphonse de Lamartine said,\u00a0\u201cPartout o\u00f9 il y a malheureux, dieu envoie un chien\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(Wherever there is an unhappy person, God sends a dog) and \u201cQuand un chien est dans ta vie, il y a toujours une raison de rire\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(When a dog is in your life, there is always a reason to laugh).<\/p>\n

When a dog is in your life, you have good company . . . and often a reason to smile.
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

In fact, during the recent COVID confinement in France, the government urged the adoption of animals.\u00a0Dogs can be an integral part of life.<\/p>\n

Victor Hugo said, \u201cRegarde ton chien dans les yeux et tu ne pourras pas affirmer qu\u2019il n\u2019a pas\u00a0d\u2019\u00e2me\u201d\u00a0<\/i>(Look your dog in the eye and you will not be able to say he has no soul).<\/p>\n

And Turkish author Orhan Pamuk said, \u201cDogs speak, but only to those who listen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Can anyone say this dog does not have a soul?
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

Why Are Dogs Maligned in the Idiom World?<\/h4>\n

With all these accolades, it\u2019s hard to understand why dogs take a beating in the idiom world.<\/p>\n

To say someone has a \u201cdog\u2019s life\u201d means a miserable, thankless existence. The same idiom exists in French (une chienne de vie)\u00a0<\/em>and in Czech (<\/em>\u017divot je pes)<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Something that has \u201cgone to the dogs,\u201d or someone who is \u201cworking like a dog,\u201d \u201csick as a dog,\u201d \u201cdog tired,\u201d or \u201cin the doghouse\u201d are all elements of a less than desirable life.<\/p>\n

Sometimes being in the doghouse can be a good thing, but not in the world of idioms.
\u00a9 gecko photos\/iStock<\/p><\/div>\n

In the French language, to treat someone like a dog (traiter quelqu\u2019un comme un chien),\u00a0<\/em>to say someone has the character of a dog (caract\u00e8re de chien)\u00a0<\/em>or a bad temper, or to say someone has a dog\u2019s pain (avoir un mal de chien)\u00a0<\/em>which can mean literal pain or the pain of doing something difficult\u2014all of these idioms are negative.<\/p>\n

A dog’s life according to French idioms is not always so happy.
\u00a9 Rawf8\/iStock<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s worth noting, however, that in France \u201cto have some dog\u201d (avoir du chien)\u00a0<\/em>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\u2014quite a special person.<\/p>\n

The phrase \u201cIf you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas,\u201d appears in many cultures. \u00a0This 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\u00a0<\/em>levanta.\u00a0<\/i>In Czech, kdo se psy l\u00edh\u00e1, s blechami vst\u00e1v\u00e1<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n

What happens when you lie down with dogs?
\u00a9 Korneeva_Kristina\/iStock<\/p><\/div>\n

Speaking of reclining dogs, if you refrain from interfering with something that\u2019s causing no problems or if you don\u2019t want to uncover unexpected surprises in a situation, you \u201clet sleeping dogs lie.\u201d<\/p>\n

In France, however, you \u201cdo not wake the sleeping cat\u201d (ne reveillez pas le chat qui dort).\u00a0<\/em>(Score one for the cat lovers.)<\/p>\n

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 (<\/em>Sie ist bekannt wie ein bunter Hund<\/em>).\u00a0<\/em>In Spanish, the person is stranger than a green dog (Ser m\u00e1s raro que un perro verde<\/em>).<\/p>\n

In Germany, a celebrity is “as well-known as a colorful dog.”
\u00a9 GJ Quinlan\/iStock<\/p><\/div>\n

Dog Idioms of a Poetic Nature<\/h4>\n

A few dog idioms stand out as sheer poetry.<\/p>\n

In Japan, \u201cto have your hand bitten by a dog\u201d (\u98fc\u3044\u72ac\u306b\u624b\u3092\u565b\u307e\u308c\u308b or Kaiinu ni te wo kamareru<\/em>) means someone you were helping betrayed you.<\/p>\n

In Spanish, if someone is lying to you, you can respond by saying \u201cgive that bone to another dog\u201d (a otro perro con ese hueso<\/em>).<\/p>\n

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.”
\u00a9 Chalabala\/iStock<\/p><\/div>\n

In Chinese, \u72d7\u62ff\u8017\u5b50, \u591a\u7ba1\u95f2\u4e8b \u00a0<\/strong>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.)<\/p>\n

And the final philosophic mystery comes from Portugal. \u201cA dog that has been bitten by a snake fears sausages\u201d (<\/em>C\u00e3o picado por cobra, tem medo de lingui\u00e7a<\/em>).<\/em><\/p>\n

Snakes? Sausages? What does THAT idiom mean?
\u00a9 kaz_c\/iStock<\/p><\/div>\n

Dog Lessons for People<\/h4>\n

It has been said that dogs have a way of finding the people who need them. Even if we haven\u2019t been \u201cfound\u201d yet, we can learn much from the way dogs live their life (the positive side, not the idiomatic negatives).<\/p>\n

Here are five life lessons from dogs to ponder during these challenging times.<\/p>\n

\n
1. Enjoy the simple pleasure of a walk.<\/li>\n
2. Be loyal, faithful, and quick to forgive.<\/li>\n
3. Keep digging until you find what you want.<\/li>\n
4. Avoid biting when a growl will do.<\/li>\n
5. Accept life\u2019s treats with gratitude.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
   

   Dogs seem grateful for everything in life, especially food, company, and walks.
   \u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

   To finish this OIC<\/strong> story of dog sayings around the world, go for a grand finale of humor and watch the outdoor \u201cWalk of Shame\u201d competition of Olive and Mabel, as narrated by their human, British sportscaster Andrew Cotter.<\/p>\n

   Oh, I see.\u00a0<\/strong>Dogs do give us reason to laugh . . . and can be noble best friends. An ideal remedy in challenging times.<\/p>\n