The phrase “a dog’s life” originated in the 16th century when dogs were not treated well. However, in the 20th century, pet ownership changed and dogs are now often pampered. Other dog-related expressions also originated in the 16th century.
The English expression “It’s a dog’s life” and its variants illustrate how pet ownership has changed in the Western world over the past 400 years. The most common meaning is of a life of poverty and want. Like other negative expressions involving the word dog, the phrase “a dog’s life” originates in the 16th century, when dogs and other pets did not lead enviable lives. In the 16th century, however, Americans and other people around the world began offering preferential treatment to animals that shared their homes. Consequently, the expression now sometimes means a pampered and easy life.
Dogs were domesticated by humans at least 15,000 years ago. Early companion dogs likely aided their human masters by guarding their homes, aiding hunting expeditions, and disposing of food scraps—roles still enjoyed by dogs today. However, this is not to say that dogs have always enjoyed privileged roles in human families. For most of human history, they were treated like any other livestock. Some cultures even ate dogs when other food was scarce; some cultures still do.
In 16th century England, dogs were kept by some wealthy landowners due to their well-known ability to snare or capture prey during a hunt. When not working, these dogs were often housed outdoors, in rude kennels or whatever cover they could find. They were fed table scraps, often vying with other dogs for these scraps. Fleas and other vermin had free run for the dogs, of course, as even human hygiene was far below modern standards. These conditions led the British of the time to describe anyone suffering from poverty and a poor standard of living as a “dog’s life”.
Aside from “a dog’s life,” many other common dog-related expressions originated in this era. “To go to the dogs” means to go from prosperity to poverty, while “to die like a dog” means to die in a miserable state. “Throw it to the dogs” recalls how animals survived on unwanted waste, while “in the doghouse” means to be excluded or ostracized. Various other phrases, such as “dirty dog,” are meant to insult or humiliate people by comparing them to these unfortunate 16th-century dogs.
The 20th century was the dawn of a new era for the dog. Many families have welcomed dogs into their homes and offered them increasingly ideal lifestyles. The lives of the high-profile excess often included dogs; in 20, New York real estate mogul Leona Helmsley left a fortune to her pet Maltese. This has led to a new definition of “dog life”, which means having a carefree and pampered lifestyle. This reversal of fortune recalls yet another common expression, that “every dog has his day.”
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