Dog quotes that tug at your heartstrings
Unconditional love. It’s the credo our dogs live by. They’re the most loyal friends we’ll have ever have. Their love and affection know no limits—but it sure doesn’t hurt to sweeten the pot with a good belly rub or homemade dog biscuit! Regardless of treats, fancy dog beds, or chew toys, dogs are there in times of joy, deep sorrow, and everything in between. And it’s those in-between times that give us the best material for our dog Instagram captions. We shake our heads and laugh when the madcap dog zoomies hit, and ohh and ahh over their adorable dog sleeping positions.
To celebrate our cherished pups, we gathered some of the best puppy quotes, funny quotes, and pull-at-your-heartstring dog best friends quotes we could find. Fair warning, these dog quotes will make you laugh and cry—simultaneously at times! You may even want to include a dog quote with one of the best gifts for dog lovers for your friend at the dog park. After you’re done scrolling, keep the good vibes going and check out the loyalty quotes, dog jokes, one-liners, dog memes, and just for kicks, cat quotes, even your dog will appreciate.
1. “There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.”—Bernard Williams
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2. “Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring–it was peace.”― Milan Kundera
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3. “If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater, suggest that he wear a tail.”—Fran Lebowitz
5. “Yet in writing about your dogs, you very quickly realize that you are writing about all aspects of your life, because there isn’t really a part of it that the dogs don’t touch. They entwine themselves around it all—the serious matters and trivial, the fun and the less so. As you have read, they are there for the exciting adventures but also for the mundane. They are with you for everything, and everything is all the better for them.”—Andrew Cotter, Olive, Mable and Me: Life and Adventures with Two Very Good Dogs
8. “Dogs rule and cats drool.”—Michael J.Fox as Chance, a dog, in Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco
9. “The dog is the perfect portrait subject. He doesn’t pose. He isn’t aware of the camera.”—Patrick Demarchelier
10. “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
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11. “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
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13. “I suppose there’s a time in practically every young boy’s life when he’s affected by that wonderful disease of puppy love. I don’t mean the kind a boy has for the pretty little girl that lives down the road. I mean the real kind, the kind that has four small feet and a wiggly tail, and sharp little teeth that can gnaw on a boy’s finger; the kind a boy can romp and play with, even eat and sleep with.”—Wilson Rawls
14. “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
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15. “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
17.”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
20. “Dogs don’t like to be left alone. It’s not like when you leave he goes, “Great, time to finish writing my novel!”. No, when their humans leave, dogs get depressed, and they show it.”—Janeane Garofalo as Abby in The Truth About Cats and Dogs
21.”My cats inspire me daily. They inspire me to get a dog!”—Greg Curtis
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23. “Those of us with dogs will tell you that our dogs define the neighborhood culture and social scene. The dogs are the great equalizers, bringing people together every day. It often starts with the very simple request: “May I pet your dog?” There is no phrase that brings together people any better than that one does. Diplomats should all get dogs and get to working making friends with each other.”—David Frei, Angel on a Leash, Therapy Dogs and the Lives They Touch
29. “Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul, chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we’re the greatest hunters on earth!” —Anne Tyler
32. “If your dog thinks you’re the greatest person in the world, don’t seek a second opinion.” — Jim Fiebig
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35. “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 man.” ―Mark Twain
38. “In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn’t merely try to train him to be semi-human. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog.” —Edward Hoagland
41.”It’s hard not to immediately fall in love with a dog who has a good sense of humor.” —Kate DiCamillo
43. “Buy a pup, and your money will buy love unflinching.”—Rudyard Kipling
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44. “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
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45. “I heard somebody define heaven once as a place where, when you get there, all the dogs you ever loved run to greet you.”—Robert B. Parker
47.”Dogs are wise. They crawl away into a quiet corner and lick their wounds and do not re-join the world until they are whole once more.” —Agatha Christie
48. “They [dogs] 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
49. “Dogs are my favorite role models. I want to work like a dog, doing what I was born to do with joy and purpose. I want to play like a dog, with total, jolly abandon. I want to love like a dog, with unabashed devotion and a complete lack of concern about what people do for a living, how much money they have, or how much they weigh. The fact that we still live with dogs, even when we don’t have to herd or hunt our dinner, gives me hope for humans and canines alike.”―Oprah Winfrey
54. “One of the greatest gifts we receive from dogs is the tenderness they evoke in us. The disappointments of life, the injustices, the battering events that are beyond our control, and the betrayals we endure, from those we befriended and loved, can make us cynical and turn our hearts into flint—on which only the matches of anger and bitterness can be struck into flame. By their delight in being with us, the reliable sunniness of their disposition, the joy they bring to playtime, the curiosity with which they embrace each new experience, dogs can melt cynicism, and sweeten the bitter heart.” —