Dog quotes are an easy way to make a card feel personal for anyone who loves their dog. Below are famous dog quotes with their sources, short sayings, funny lines and puns, birthday wishes, thank you notes, new puppy messages, and gentle words for the loss of a dog.
We checked every quote with a name after it against the original text or a reliable source. The messages without a name are our own, so copy them or change a word to fit your dog.
Article contents
- How to Use a Dog Quote in a Card
- Famous Dog Quotes for Dog Lovers
- Short Dog Quotes and Sayings
- Funny Dog Quotes and Dog Puns
- Dog Birthday Wishes
- Thank You Notes for a Dog Sitter, Walker, Groomer or Vet
- New Puppy and Dog Adoption Messages
- Loss of a Dog Quotes and Sympathy Messages
- Frequently Asked Questions
How to Use a Dog Quote in a Card
- Pick a quote that fits the occasion. A funny line suits a birthday card, and a quiet one suits a sympathy card.
- Write the quote first and credit the writer. Put the words in quotation marks and add the person's name after them.
- Add a line or two of your own. Mention the dog by name or share a small memory, such as a favorite walk or a stolen sandwich.
- Sign off warmly. "Love," "Hugs" or "With love from all of us" works for most cards.
Example: "As Charles M. Schulz wrote, 'Happiness is a warm puppy.' Congratulations on bringing Daisy home! We can't wait to meet her and give her a belly rub. Love, Jen and Tom"
Famous Dog Quotes for Dog Lovers
These are some of the best known lines about dogs, with the writer and where each one first appeared. They work well in a birthday card, a thank you note or a card for a new dog owner.
- "A dog iz the only thing on this earth that luvs yu more than he luvs himself." (Josh Billings, Farmer's Allminax, 1871)
- "Happiness is a warm puppy." (Charles M. Schulz, Peanuts, 1960)
- "If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." (Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson, 1894)
- "Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit you would stay out and the dog would go in." (Mark Twain, quoted in Albert Bigelow Paine's Mark Twain: A Biography, 1912)
- "The one absolute, unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world ... is his dog." (George Graham Vest, Eulogy on the Dog, 1870)
- "He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince." (George Graham Vest, Eulogy on the Dog, 1870)
- "Histories are more full of Examples of the Fidelity of dogs than of Friends." (Alexander Pope, letter to Henry Cromwell, 1709)
- "The great 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, The Note-Books of Samuel Butler, 1912)
- "You are his pal. That is enough for him." (Jerome K. Jerome, Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow, 1886)
- "He hath a share of man's intelligence, but no share of man's falsehood." (Sir Walter Scott, The Talisman, 1825)
- "There are three faithful friends, an old wife, an old dog, and ready money." (Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack, 1738)
Josh Billings was a humor writer who spelled words the way they sound as part of the joke. Most people copy his line in standard spelling: "A dog is the only thing on this earth that loves you more than he loves himself."
Short Dog Quotes and Sayings
These common sayings have no single author, so you do not need to add a name. The first is an old proverb that has been in use for centuries.
- Love me, love my dog.
- Life is better with a dog.
- Home is where the dog runs to greet you.
- Be the person your dog thinks you are.
- All you need is love and a dog.
- Happiness is a long walk with a good dog.
- A house is not a home without a dog.
- Wet nose, warm heart.
Funny Dog Quotes and Dog Puns
A funny line fits a birthday card or a note to a friend with a new puppy. Jerome K. Jerome wrote the first quote below about cats and dogs together.
Funny Dog Quotes
- "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, Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow, 1886)
- My dog thinks I am a genius because I can open the treat jar.
- The dog has decided the couch is his. We have agreed to rent it from him.
- My dog has never met a stranger, only people who have not given him a treat yet.
- Behind every happy dog is a person covered in dog hair.
Dog Puns and Sayings for Cards
- You are pawsitively the best.
- Have a howling good birthday!
- Thanks a woof for everything.
- Wishing you a fur-tastic day.
- You make my tail wag.
- Thanks for being my best fur-iend.
- You're doggone wonderful.
Dog Birthday Wishes
Dog lovers enjoy a birthday card that mentions their dog. Write to the person, sign the card from the dog, or celebrate the dog's own birthday.
Happy Birthday Messages for a Dog Lover
- Happy birthday to the best dog mom I know. I hope Bella lets you have the whole couch today.
- Happy birthday! Give that sweet pup a belly rub for me.
- Happy birthday, dog dad! Cooper is lucky to have you, and so are we.
- Wishing you a birthday full of long walks, wagging tails and cake you don't have to share.
- Happy birthday! I hope your day is as fun as a dog's first trip to the beach.
Birthday Messages from the Dog
- Happy birthday! I promise not to eat your cake. Love, your dog
- I would share my treats with you, but it's your birthday, so I will share the couch instead. Love, Max
- Happy birthday to my favorite human. I got you a present. It is in the backyard. Love, Buddy
- Thank you for every walk, every treat and every time you let me sleep on the bed. Happy birthday! Love, Rosie
- I asked for extra treats for your birthday. They said no, so please ask again. Love, Daisy
- Happy birthday! I love you more than squirrels, and that is a lot. Love, Bear
Happy Birthday Wishes for a Dog
- Happy birthday, Biscuit! We hope you get a new squeaky toy and an extra long walk.
- Happy first birthday, Luna! You chewed a lot of shoes this year, and we love you anyway.
- Another year of zoomies, naps and belly rubs. Happy birthday, Duke!
- Happy gotcha day, Pepper! The day you came home was one of our best days.
- Happy birthday to our gray-muzzled gentleman. Every year with you is a gift.
- Your birthday cake is peanut butter and the party is at the park. Happy birthday, Milo!
Thank You Notes for a Dog Sitter, Walker, Groomer or Vet
The people who look after a dog often get less thanks than they deserve. A short note is a kind way to tell them how much their help means.
- Thank you for taking such good care of Rocky while we were away. He came home happy, and we came home relaxed.
- Thank you for walking Sadie every day this year. She waits by the door for you, and that says it all.
- Thank you for loving our dog like your own. We could not have taken this trip without you.
- Thanks for the great haircut! Teddy looks like a new dog and seems very proud of himself.
- Thank you for your patience with Bruno at every grooming visit. We know he does not make it easy.
- Thank you for the care you gave Maggie during her surgery. Your kindness made a hard week easier for all of us.
- To everyone at the clinic, thank you for answering all of our questions and treating Oscar so gently.
New Puppy and Dog Adoption Messages
A card for a new puppy or a newly adopted dog should be cheerful and welcoming. Use the dog's name if you know it.
- Congratulations on your new puppy! We can't wait to meet her.
- Welcome home, Pepper! You picked a wonderful family.
- Congratulations on adopting Bear. You gave him a home, and he is going to give you a lot of love in return.
- Happy adoption day! Wishing you many years of walks, naps and happy tails.
- Congratulations on your rescue dog. I hope he settles in quickly and finds his favorite spot on the couch.
Loss of a Dog Quotes and Sympathy Messages
When someone loses a dog, a short, gentle card means a lot. Use the dog's name, say you are sorry, and share a memory if you have one. For more ideas, see our guide to pet sympathy messages.
Quotes for the Loss of a Dog
The first two quotes come from the monument to Lord Byron's dog Boatswain, who died in 1808, at Newstead Abbey, Byron's home in England. Byron wrote the poem on the monument, and his friend John Cam Hobhouse wrote the prose inscription above it.
- "The poor dog, in life the firmest friend, / The first to welcome, foremost to defend" (Lord Byron, Inscription on the Monument of a Newfoundland Dog, 1808)
- "Beauty without Vanity, Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, and all the Virtues of Man without his Vices." (John Cam Hobhouse, inscription on the monument to Boatswain, 1808)
- "When all other friends desert, he remains." (George Graham Vest, Eulogy on the Dog, 1870)
- "He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he can be near his master's side." (George Graham Vest, Eulogy on the Dog, 1870)
- "His faithful dog shall bear him company." (Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man, 1733)
Dog Sympathy Messages
- I am so sorry about Buddy. He was a very good dog and a true member of your family.
- Thinking of you and the years of love Sadie gave you.
- Your dog knew every day how loved he was.
- I am so sorry. The house must feel very quiet without her.
- I will always remember how Max ran to the gate every time I came over. I am so sorry for your loss.
- Losing a dog is losing a member of the family. Sending you love and a big hug.
- She was lucky to have you, and you gave her a wonderful life.
- I like to think of Rosie running free and happy, waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge.
Many pet owners love the idea of the Rainbow Bridge, where pets wait for their people. Who wrote the original poem is uncertain, so we have not reprinted it, but you can mention the idea as in the last message above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good quote for a dog lover?
Josh Billings wrote one of the best known: "A dog is the only thing on this earth that loves you more than he loves himself," shown here in standard spelling. For a lighter card, "Happiness is a warm puppy" from Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts is a good choice.
What do you write in a card when someone's dog dies?
Say you are sorry, use the dog's name, and share a memory if you have one. A short quote, such as Lord Byron's lines for his dog Boatswain, can help. Keep the rest of the card simple and warm.
Can I quote the Rainbow Bridge poem in a sympathy card?
You can mention it, but we suggest using your own words. More than one person has been credited with writing the poem, so it is hard to credit correctly. A line such as "I hope Rosie is running free at the Rainbow Bridge" gives the same comfort.
What do you write in a thank you card for a dog sitter?
Thank them by name, mention your dog, and add one specific detail, such as the photos they sent or how happy your dog was when you got home. Two or three sentences are enough.
Our dog cards are blank inside, so any of these quotes or messages will fit. The Assorted Dogs set has "Thank You" on the front, which makes it a good choice for a note to a dog sitter, walker, groomer or vet. For a birthday or sympathy card, try the Golden Retriever or German Shepherd note cards, or see all dog cards. Each set comes with 12 cards and envelopes made from 100% recycled paper.
For more ideas, read our guides to pet sympathy messages, cat quotes for cards and funny birthday wishes.
More quotes for cards: gratitude quotes, dog quotes, cat quotes, national park and nature quotes and ocean and beach quotes.
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