The UK's top dog inspired quotes

They've been man's best friend for centuries, so it's no wonder there are lots of brilliant dog quotes out there. Writers, comedians, politicians and even psychiatrists have all expressed their opinions – sometimes cute, sometimes funny, and always relatable. So, whether you're looking for the perfect caption for your latest Instagram picture or some gentle words to write in a sympathy card, this list of inspirational quotes about dogs includes something for every occasion.

Dog love quotes

There's nothing quite like the bond we have with our dogs. They're there to greet us with a waggy tail, they know our deepest secrets and they always seem to know when we feel blue. It's no wonder that the love we have for them is similar to how we feel about our friends and family members. These dog love quotes sum up those feelings perfectly.

1. "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself."  – Josh Billings
2. "Nobody can fully understand the meaning of love unless he's owned a dog. A dog can show you more honest affection with a flick of his tail than a man can gather through a lifetime of handshakes." – Gene Hill
3. "A dog will teach you unconditional love. If you can have that in your life, things won't be too bad." – Robert Wagner
4. "Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the centre of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made." – Roger A. Caras
5. "The love of a dog is a pure thing. He gives you a trust which is total. You must not betray it." – Michel Houellebecq
6. "The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog." – M.K. Clinton
7. "Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them and filling an emptiness we didn't ever know we had." – Thom Jones

Related article: Quotes on loving dogs: 50 quotes for a dog lover

Funny dog quotes

Being a dog owner is full of laugh-out-loud moments. The sheer joy that dogs approach life with has inspired plenty of hilarious quotes throughout the years, and each one of these funny dog quotes is bound to raise a chuckle.

1. "Everyone thinks they have the best dog. And none of them are wrong." – W.R. Purche
2. "The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs." – Charles De Gaulle
3. "A well-trained dog will make no attempt to share your lunch. He will just make you feel so guilty that you cannot enjoy it." – Helen Thomson
4. "A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down." – Robert Benchley
5. "My fashion philosophy is, if you're not covered in dog hair, your life is empty." – Elayne Boosler
6. "The average dog is a nicer person than the average person." – Andy Rooney
7. “If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons.” – James Thurber
8. "When your children are teenagers, it's important to have a dog so that someone in the house is happy to see you." – Nora Ephron
9. “Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.” – Groucho Marx

Dog best friends quotes

When you adopt a dog, you've got an instant best friend. This special bond between a person and their dog hasn't gone unnoticed, and there are plenty of quotes out there to show that special kind of friendship between you and your pupper.

1. "The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog." – George Graham Vest
2. "When the dog looks at you, the dog is not thinking what kind of a person you are. The dog is not judging you." – Eckhart Tolle
3. "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
4. "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
   

Cute dog quotes

Is there anything more adorable than a big pair of puppy dog eyes? Try to read these cute dog quotes without saying "awww". We dare you.

1. "Dogs are how people would be if the important stuff is all that mattered to us." – Ashly Lorenzana, author
2. "If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." –Will Rogers
3. "There is no faith which has never yet been broken, except that of a truly faithful dog." – Konrad Lorenz
4. "No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich." – Louis Sabin
5. "Be the person your dog thinks you are." – C.J. Frick
6. "My little dog—a heartbeat at my feet." – Edith Wharton
7. "Money can buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail." – Kinky Friedman

Short dog quotes

Sometimes you don't need a lot of words to say what you need to say. These short and snappy quotes are perfect for adding to a personalised pet portrait, captioning a photo on social media or writing inside a greetings card.

1. "Everything I know I learned from dogs." – Nora Roberts
2. "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." – Mark Twain
3. "If I could be half the person my dog is, I’d be twice the human I am." – Charles Yu
4. "Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen." – Orhan Pamuk
5. "Happiness is a warm puppy." – Charles Schulz
6. "Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." – Roger Caras
   

Loss of a dog quotes

Saying goodbye to a four-legged best friend is one of life's most painful experiences. These loss of a dog quotes can help to sum up the pain, showing us we're not alone in our grief. 

1. "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
2. "Dogs die. But dogs live, too. Right up until they die, they live. They live brave, beautiful lives. They protect their families. And love us, and make our lives a little brighter, and they don't waste time being afraid of tomorrow." – Dan Gemeinhart
3. “If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went.” – Will Rogers
4. “I guess you don’t really own a dog, you rent them, and you have to be thankful that you had a long lease” – Joe Garagiola
5. “A good dog never dies. He always stays. He walks beside you on crisp autumn days when frost is on the fields and winter’s drawing near. His head is within our hand in his old way” – Mary Carolyn Davies
6. “The one best place to bury a good dog is in the heart of his master” – Ben Hur Lampman
7. "Dogs' lives are too short. Their only fault, really." – Agnes Turnbull
8. “Someone asked me what the most difficult thing about having a dog was. I replied – the goodbye” – Anon

If you're struggling to find the words to support someone through the loss of a pet, get inspiration from our collection of quotes for grieving pet parents.

So many great minds have been inspired by their dogs over the years, it was hard to narrow down the best dog quotes. We hope you enjoyed our selection, and found the perfect words to express your feelings about your best pal. 

These quotes show how much love and affection our dogs have for their owners. It's only fair that we leave them with people who'll give them the same sort of love when we have to head off on a trip. Find a pet sitter today and relax, safe in the knowledge that your pet is with someone who can give them the adoration they deserve.