82 Dog Poems to Appreciate Our Loyal Friends
Dogs have been man’s best friend for thousands of years, offering companionship, loyalty, and unwavering love.
The dog poems can evoke a range of emotions, from joy and laughter to grief and reflection.
According to a study by the University of Liverpool, dogs have a positive impact on our mental health and well-being, reducing stress levels and increasing feelings of happiness.
Join us as we search for a collection of poems about dog and quotes, celebrating the unique bond between humans and our loyal four-legged friends.
Famous Dog Poems
Famous poems about dogs took the hearts of readers throughout history. These poems reflect the loyalty, devotion, and unconditional love that dogs give.
1. Dogs Go to Heaven
by Megan Osburn
You’re the best friend I could ever ask for,
The one I can talk to.
You listen to everything I have to say;
I’m really going to miss you.
You’re growing old
And can’t walk as fast,
But don’t you worry,
I won’t forget about our past.
I love the comfort you offer,
Except when you chewed up my shoe.
But it’s okay, we all make mistakes.
I’m really going to miss you.
We loved to play ball,
Chasing it down the hill.
You’re the hairiest of them all,
But you still get the chills.
It’s almost time to go.
Don’t worry about me.
Just do it slow,
And forget about all the fleas.
I love you with all my heart,
The best friend I’ll ever have.
I’m really going to miss you.
I love you, and that will never change.
2. A Dog’s Life
by Anonymous
Yours a dog’s life, do you moan?
Courage, brother! cease to groan.
Many men, as on they jog,
Live much worse than any dog.
Yours a dog’s life? Then, my boy,
It’s a life crammed full of joy!—
Merry breezes, meadows fair,
Birds and brooks and sunny air.
Dogs? why, dogs are never sad!
See them capering like mad!
See them frisk their jolly way
Through the livelong laughing day!
Dog’s life? Then you’ll never rust.
Dog’s life? Then you’ll hope and trust;
Then you’ll say in jaunty glee,
“Bones have been, and bones will be.”
Cheery, active, trusting, true,—
There’s a canine goal for you!
Live a dog’s life, if you can:
You will be the better man!
3. I’ve Got a Dog
by Ethel M. Kelley
I’ve got a dog. The other boys
Have quantities of tools and toys,
And heaps of things that I ain’t seen
(Ain’t saw, I mean).
They’ve oars and clubs and golfin’ sticks; —
I know a feller that has six,
And gee! you ought to see him drive!
But I’ve
Got a dog!
I’ve got a dog. His name is Pete.
The other children on our street
Have lots of things that I ain’t got
(I mean, have not).
I know a boy that’s got a gun —
I don’t see why they have such fun
Playing with things that ain’t alive;
But I’ve
Got a dog!
I’ve got a dog, and so, you see,
The boys all want to play with me;
They think he’s such a cunnin’ brute
(I mean, so cute).
That’s why they leave their toys and games,
And run to us, and shout our names,
Whenever me and Pete arrive;
For I’ve
Got a dog!
4. Pals
by John E.Donovan
You see us every morning,
A common pair are we,
Each on a leash’s ending —
My little dog and me.
We amble village byways
In bright or dismal weather;
You may not think there’s much in that,
But we have fun together.
No many-stranded cable
Could bear the jokes that pass
Between my little comrade
And me — my! how we sass!
But how we give assurance
That we don’t really mean it!
(A dog-and-man companionship
Is balm to him who’s seen it.)
He greets his dog friends gayly,
While I to neighbors speak;
He sometimes finds a treasure —
A bone that’s lost its meat!
He talks with dogs or children,
While I swap views with master . . .
I had this thought the other day,
While visiting with Pastor.
“When dog and I have rambled on
Beyond this mundane scope,
And seen the Golden Gateway,
(From the inside, we hope!)
We won’t pause on the highway
Made smooth for feet more sainted,
But wander down some quiet land,
And start to get acquainted.
We hope there’ll be a hydrant,
A friendly tree or two,
Some drying leaves to shuffle,
A field to wander through.
We’ll glory in our freedom,
And need no leash of leather;
It really will be Heaven, Lord,
As long as we’re together.”
5. A Boy and His Dog
by Edgar A. Guest
A boy and his dog make a glorious pair:
No better friendship is found anywhere,
For they talk and they walk and they run and they play,
And they have their deep secrets for many a day;
And that boy has a comrade who thinks and who feels,
Who walks down the road with a dog at his heels.
He may go where he will and his dog will be there,
May revel in mud and his dog will not care;
Faithful he’ll stay for the slightest command
And bark with delight at the touch of his hand;
Oh, he owns a treasure which nobody steals,
Who walks down the road with a dog at his heels.
No other can lure him away from his side;
He’s proof against riches and station and pride;
Fine dress does not charm him, and flattery’s breath
Is lost on the dog, for he’s faithful to death;
He sees the great soul which the body conceals—
Oh, it’s great to be young with a dog at your heels!
6. Rhapsody on a Dog’s Intelligence
by Burges Johnson
Dear dog that seems to stand and gravely brood
Upon the broad veranda of our home,
With soulful eyes that gaze into the gloam,—
With speaking tail that registers thy mood,—
Men say thou hast no ratiocination —
Methinks there is a clever imitation.
Men say again thy kindred have no souls,
And sin is but an attribute of men;
Say, is it chance alone that bids thee,then,
Choose only garden spots for digging holes?
Why dost thou filch some fragment of the cooking
At times when no one seemeth to be looking?
Was there an elder Adam of thy race,
And brindled Eve, the mother of thy house,
Who shared some purloined chicken with her spouse,
Thus causing all thy tribe to fall from grace?
If fleas dwelt in the garden of that Adam,
Perhaps thy sinless parents never had ’em.
This morn thou cam’st a-slinking through the door,
Avoiding eyes and some dark corner sought,
And though no accusation filled our thought,
Thy tail, apologetic, thumped the floor.
Who claims thou hast no conscience, argues vainly,
For I have seen its symptoms very plainly.
What leads thee to forsake thy board and bed
On days that are devoted to thy bath?
For if it is not reason, yet it hath
Appearance of desire to plan ahead!
The sage who claims thy brain and soul be wizen
Would do quite well to swap thy head for his’n.
7. Welcome Home
by Louella C.Poole
I saw him coming up the street,
So spent and weary that his feet
Seemed like two heavy weights of lead;
Ah, he had known so hard a day,
Small wonder that he looked that way,
And slouched along with drooping head!
Then, suddenly, with frantic shout,
A little yellow dog rushed out
A yard, to greet the tired man;
He licked his hands, he kissed his face,
Then dashed ahead in eager race,
Then back again he gaily ran!
The tired worker laughed aloud,
Straightened his shoulders; through the crowd
Pressed on; his feet seemed to take wings
So fast he walked as he went up
The street toward home the yellow pup
All joyous leaps and caperings.
O little dog so fond and true,
Much good in life you surely do
When you can make a man so spent
Forget fatigue — make him so glad
He acts like any madcap lad,
And laughs aloud with merriment!
8. Lost Dog
by Margaret E. Sangster
I saw a little dog today,
And oh, that dog was lost;
He risked his anguished puppy life
With every street he crossed.
He shrank away from outstretched hands,
He winced at every hail —
Against the city’s bigness he
Looked very small and frail.
Distrust lay in his tortured eyes,
His body shook with fright;
(I wondered when he’d eaten last —
And where he’d slept at night!)
I whistled, and I followed him,
And hoped that he might guess
That all my soul reached out to him,
And offered friendliness!
So many times I have been lost,
And lonely and afraid!
I followed through the crowded streets,
I followed — and I prayed.
And then the God of little things,
Who knows when sparrows fall,
Put trust into the puppy’s heart
And made him heed my call. . . .
9. The Dainty Dog
by Amos Russel Wells
A dainty dog had chanced to note
The breakfast of a greedy goat,—
Half-rotten grass, a shocking pile.
“Fie!” said the dog; “what wretched style!
Good taste demands, you clownish beast,
A dish to eat from, at the least.
And as for food, that garbage foul
Would even make a camel scowl,
Would make a very buzzard groan,
Would —” Here the goat laid bare a hone,
Which when our dainty dog had spied,
“Your pardon, friend!” the critic cried;
“I’m quite near-sighted, neighbor mine.
I see your meal is fair and fine.
Invite me, pray, with you to dine!”
10. It’s Just a Dog
by Sadie A. Gibbs
You may be a dog,
But to me you’re more.
You’re the light in my fog.
You put up with our war,
“It’s just a dog,”
Are the words from someone
Who has never seen fog
And whose wars have not begun.
Through thick and through thin,
You’ve stayed by my side.
Even when I can’t win,
Even when hope has died,
You’re the angel I wished for,
You’re the best friend I’ve had.
You’re all I wanted and more,
And I love you like mad,
I can’t thank you enough
For the things that you do.
When times are tough,
I’m so glad I have you.
Funny Dog Poems
These interesting poems about dogs offer a playful and entertaining perspective on the joys and challenges of dog ownership, making us laugh and smile along the way.
1. An Insectarian
by John B. Tabb
“I cannot wash my dog,” she said,
“Nor touch him with a comb,
For fear the Fleas upon him bred
May find no other home.”
2. The Little Dog’s Day
by Rupert Brooke
All in the town were still asleep,
When the sun came up with a shout and a leap.
In the lonely streets unseen by man,
A little dog danced. And the day began.
All his life he’d been good, as far as he could,
And the poor little beast had done all that he should.
But this morning he swore, by Odin and Thor
And the Canine Valhalla—he’d stand it no more!
So his prayer he got granted—to do just what he wanted,
Prevented by none, for the space of one day.
“Jam incipiebo, sedere facebo,”
In dog-Latin he quoth, “Euge! sophos! hurray!”
He fought with the he-dogs, and winked at the she-dogs,
A thing that had never been heard of before.
“For the stigma of gluttony, I care not a button!” he
Cried, and ate all he could swallow—and more.
He took sinewy lumps from the shins of old frumps,
And mangled the errand-boys—when he could get ’em.
He shammed furious rabies, and bit all the babies,
And followed the cats up the trees, and then ate ’em!”
They thought ’twas the devil was holding a revel,
And sent for the parson to drive him away;
For the town never knew such a hullabaloo
As that little dog raised—till the end of that day.
When the blood-red sun had gone burning down,
And the lights were lit in the little town,
Outside, in the gloom of the twilight grey,
The little dog died when he’d had his day.
3. Buttercup
by Don Johnson
hope life is like a buttercup
cos this old fool does care
if i was there I’d kiss you but
you might object “how dare”
perhaps I shouldn’t call the tune
and bring you to my sight
attraction brings the moth too soon
if I don’t employ it right
patience like a cattle dog
who lays there in the shade
connected not, just like the frog
before a prince was made
Francine made me do it.
4. A Puppy’s Problem
by Emilie Poulsson
When Midget was a puppy
And to the farm was brought,
She found that there were many things
A puppy must be taught.
Her mother oft had told her
The first thing to be known
Was how to gnaw and bite, and thus
Enjoy a toothsome bone.
So Midget practiced biting
On everything around,
But that was not approved at all,
To her surprise, she found.
The farmer spoke severely,
Till Midget shook with fright;
The children shouted “No, no, no!
Bad Midget! Mustn’t bite!”
‘Twas just the same with barking;
At first they all said “Hark!”
Whenever Midget tried her voice;
“Good puppy! That’s it! Bark!”
But then, as soon as Midget
Could sound a sharp “Bow-wow!”
Alas! the talk was changed to “Hush!
Such noise we can’t allow!”
Now wasn’t that a puzzle?
It seemed a problem dark
That it was right and wrong to bite
And right and wrong to bark.
A puppy’s hardest lesson
Is when to bark and bite;
But Midget learned it, and became
A comfort and delight.
5. The Partners
by Anonymous
Said the Puppy to the Elephant: “Let’s form a partnership,
And let us tour the country in a profitable trip.
For you and I together could prodigies perform,
And gather crowds of people and take them quite by storm,
For you could lift a mighty weight, and I could push below.
While all the crowd would hold their breath, and then they’d all say “Oh!”
And then they all would wave their flags and clap their hands and laugh,
Then you and I’d divide the cash, and I would give you half.
Our fortunes would he surely made, an overflowing cup.
If you would only lift the weights, while I would push them up.”
6. Bingo Was His Name-o
by Anonymous
There was a man who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
B-I-N-G-O
B-I-N-G-O
B-I-N-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a man who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-I-N-G-O
(clap)-I-N-G-O
(clap)-I-N-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a man who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-N-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-N-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-N-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a man who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a man who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a man who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
And Bingo was his name-o.
7. Why the Dog’s Nose Is Always Cold
by Anonymous
What makes the dog’s nose always cold?
I’ll try to tell you, Curls of Gold,
If you will good and quiet be,
And come and stand by mamma’s knee.
Well, years and years and years ago—
How many I don’t really know—
There came a rain on sea and shore,
Its like was never seen before
Or since. It fell unceasing down,
Till all the world began to drown;
But just before it began to pour,
An old, old man—his name was Noah—
Built him an Ark, that he might save
His family from a wat’ry grave;
And in it also he designed
To shelter two of every kind
Of beast. Well, dear, when it was done,
And heavy clouds obscured the sun,
The Noah folks to it quickly ran,
And then the animals began
To gravely march along in pairs;
The leopards, tigers, wolves and bears,
The deer, the hippopotamuses,
The rabbits, squirrels, elks, walruses,
The camels, goats, cats and donkeys,
The tall giraffes, the beavers, monkeys,
The rats, the big rhinoceroses,
The dromedaries and the horses,
The sheep, and mice and kangaroos,
Hyenas, elephants, koodoos,
And hundreds more—’twould take all day,
My dear, so many names to say—
And at the very, very end
Of the procession, by his friend
And master, faithful dog was seen;
The livelong time he’d helping been,
To drive the crowd of creatures in;
And now, with loud, exultant bark,
He gaily sprang abroad the Ark.
Alas! so crowded was the space
He could not in it find a place;
So, patiently, he turned about,
Stood half way in, half way out,
And those extremely heavy showers
Descended through nine hundred hours
And more; and, darling, at the close,
‘Most frozen was his honest nose;
And never could it lose again
The dampness of that dreadful rain.
And that is what, my Curls of Gold,
Made all the doggies’ noses cold.
Inspirational Dog Poems
These inspirational poems about dog are a heartfelt tribute to the loyalty, bravery, and selflessness of companions, inspiring us to be better humans.
1. Abandoned Dog
by Robert William Service
They dumped it on the lonely road,
Then like a streak they sped;
And as along the way I strode
I thought that it was dead:
And then I saw that yelping pup
Rise, race to catch them up.
You know how silly wee dogs are.
It thought they were in fun.
Trying to overtake their car
I saw it run and run:
But as they faster, faster went,
It stumbled, sore and spent.
I found it prone upon the way;
Of life was little token.
As limply in the dust it lay
I thought its heart was broken:
Then one dim eye it opened and
It sought to like my hand.
Of course I took it gently up
And brought it to my wife
Who loves all dogs, and now that pup
Shares in our happy life:
Yet how I curse the bastards who
Its good luck never knew!
2. When Farewell Must be Said
by Lindsay Laurie
I am gazing out across an empty land,
there is not a thing that interests me.
There is no happiness, in any tear I weep,
for it’s so hard to set your best friend free.
Simply there’s no choice in the time of life,
for nothing born can claim eternity,
so comes a time the head must rule the heart,
but it’s so hard to set your best friend free.
Comfort is to reminisce about the past,
and not dwell on what is a personal cost.
I should be celebrating for the love we had;
not mourning about what I have lost.
3. The Under-Dogs
by Robert William Service
What have we done, Oh Lord, that we
Are evil starred?
How have we erred and sinned to be
So scourged and scarred?
Lash us, Oh Lord, with scorpion whips,
We can but run;
But harken to our piteous lips:
What have we done?
How have we sinned to rouse your wrath,
To earn your scorn?
Stony and steep has been our path
Since we were born.
Oh for a sign, a hope, a word,
A heaven glance;
Why is your hand against us, Lord?
Give us a chance.
What shall we do, Oh God, to gain
Your mercy seat?
Shall we live out our lives in pain
And dark defeat?
Shall we in servitude bow low
Unto the end?
How we would hope, could we but know
You are our friend!
We are the disinherited,
The doomed, the lost.
For breath with dust and ashes fed,
We pay the cost.
Dumb mouths! Yet though we bleed, with prayer
We kiss the sword;
Aye, even dying we forbear
To curse Thee, Lord.
4. Lessons from Dogs
by Bettina Van Vaerenbergh
Have you ever wondered
Why dogs don’t live that long?
It’s because their souls are true
And their love is strong.
Dogs give their heart away
Totally for free.
They love us as we are,
Unconditionally.
We people are slow learners,
So we need many years
To figure out life’s purpose,
What we’re doing here…
How to be gentle and kind,
And to be rich in love,
And how to live a good life –
Dogs know well enough.
Our loyal canine friends
Can teach us lots of things,
Like taking delight in nature;
The simple joy it brings.
Dogs enjoy the smell of grass
And the warmth of the sun.
They dig a restful midday nap
As much as a good run.
They’re always very eager
To welcome a brand new day;
Always full of enthusiasm
For whatever comes their way.
All they ask is our attention;
Just a cuddle or a touch.
To be happy and content,
They really don’t need much.
Dogs greet their special humans
Very passionate and loud;
They’re not the least bit afraid
To let their emotions out.
No matter their age,
They keep a keen sense of play.
Dogs live mindful, in the now,
Seizing each and every day.
Dogs are always faithful;
The love they give is true;
That’s why dogs don’t have to live
As long as humans do!
5. What the Dog Perhaps Hears
by Lisel Mueller
If an inaudible whistle
blown between our lips
can send him home to us,
then silence is perhaps
the sound of spiders breathing
and roots mining the earth;
it may be asparagus heaving,
headfirst, into the light
and the long brown sound
of cracked cups, when it happens.
We would like to ask the dog
if there is a continuous whir
because the child in the house
keeps growing, if the snake
really stretches full length
without a click and the sun
breaks through clouds without
a decibel of effort,
whether in autumn, when the trees
dry up their wells, there isn’t a shudder
too high for us to hear.
What is it like up there
above the shut-off level
of our simple ears?
For us there was no birth cry,
the newborn bird is suddenly here,
the egg broken, the nest alive,
and we heard nothing when the world changed.
6. An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog
by Oliver Goldsmith
Good people all, of every sort,
Give ear unto my song;
And if you find it wondrous short,
It cannot hold you long.
In Islington there was a man
Of whom the world might say,
That still a godly race he ran—
Whene’er he went to pray.
A kind and gentle heart he had,
To comfort friends and foes;
The naked every day he clad—
When he put on his clothes.
And in that town a dog was found,
As many dogs there be,
Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound,
And curs of low degree.
This dog and man at first were friends;
But when a pique began,
The dog, to gain some private ends,
Went mad, and bit the man.
Around from all the neighbouring streets
The wond’ring neighbours ran,
And swore the dog had lost its wits
To bite so good a man.
The wound it seemed both sore and sad
To every Christian eye;
And while they swore the dog was mad,
They swore the man would die.
But soon a wonder came to light
That showed the rogues they lied,—
The man recovered of the bite,
The dog it was that died!
7. The Dog Lovers
by Spike Milligan
So they bought you
And kept you in a
Very good home
Cental heating
TV
A deep freeze
A very good home-
No one to take you
For that lovely long run-
But otherwise
‘A very good home’
They fed you Pal and Chun
But not that lovely long run,
Until, mad with energy and boredom
You escaped- and ran and ran and ran
Under a car.
Today they will cry for you-
Tomorrow they will but another dog.
8. My Dog
by Daniel Turner
Every time you look at me
Brown eyes say, “I love you”
When you’re lying next to me
Your snuggle says it too
That soft brown skin’s inviting smell
I pull you to me tighter
I hope you know, somehow can tell
You make my days much brighter
So playfully, you steal a kiss
Like a child, I wipe my face
What have I done to feel such bliss
This gift of “amazing grace”
Each day you show me in some way
The meaning of true love
For you my friend, each night I pray
And thank The Lord above.
Short Dog Poems
Short dog poems offer a quick and powerful glimpse into the bond between humans and dogs. These short poetries about dog are perfect for those who appreciate the beauty of simplicity.
1. Answer to a Dog’s Invitation
by Marty Hale
Faithfullest of a faithful race,
Plainly I read it in thy face
Thou wishest me to mount the stairs
And leave behind me all my cares.
No; I shall never see again
Her who now sails across the main;
Nor wilt thou ever, as before,
Rear two white feet against her door.
Therefor do thou nor whine nor roam,
But rest thee and curl round at home.
2. My Best Friend
by Abby Jenkins
Black and white
Thick and furry
Fast as the wind
Always in a hurry
Couple of spots
Rub my ears
Always comes when his name he hears
Loves his ball; it’s his favorite thing
What’s most fun for him? Everything!
Great big tongue that licks my face
Has a crate, his very own space
Big brown eyes like moon pies
He’s my friend till the very end!
3. Unsatisfied Yearning
by R.K. Munkittrick
Down in the silent hallway
Scampers the dog about,
And whines, and barks, and scratches,
In order to get out.
Once in the glittering starlight.
He straightway doth begin.
To set up a doleful howling.
In order to get in.
4. The Faithful Dog
by Anonymous
With eye upraised his master’s look to scan,
The joy, the solace, and the aid of man;
The rich man’s guardian and the poor man’s friend,
The only creature faithful to the end.
5. Doggy Heaven
by Larry Huggins
All doggies go to heaven (or so I’ve been told).
They run and play along the streets of gold.
Why is heaven such a doggie-delight?
Why, because there’s not a single cat in sight!
6. The Dog
by Ogden Nash
The truth I do not stretch or shove
When I state that the dog is full of love.
I’ve also found, by actual test,
A wet dog is the lovingest.
7. A Dog’s Life
by Rob Lamberton
Despised man, black dog
Operating by night, barking mad
Going to and fro, lying doggo
Sick as a dog, barking up the wrong tree
Let sleeping dogs lie, or let slip the dogs of war
If you lie with a dog, even on dog days
Fleas will be on you, bottom dog
Every dog has its day, but you can’t teach an old dog
8. The Black Lab
by Heather
The black Lab runs gracefully,
Down the yard, looking for me.
This black lab is a special friend,
He is there for me until the end.
But the thing that matters the most to me,
This black Lab is my little Sammy.
9. Top Dog
by Rob Lamberton
Tired of working like a dog
Or living a dog’s life; dog it
Pull yourself out of the doghouse
Dog eat dog; let dog see rabbit
Out with the tail wagging the dog
Go see a Man about a dog
Long Dog Poems
Long dog poems tell more about the relationship between humans and dogs. These long poetries about dog reflect on the profound impact that dogs have on our lives.
1. Only a Dog
by Marty Hale
“He left no relatives,” they said,
“He didn’t have a friend
Who knew about his sorry plight —
Was with him at the end!” . . .
And so they raked the stove fires out,
And closed the old shack door,
For grouchy, crusty old Tom Dare
Would open it no more.
Then each went to his own home-fires,
Forgot the lonely shack,
And not a soul was near to see
An old form stumble back
And crouch, sad-eyed, beside the door,
His bony length stretched flat —
He waited for his master’s voice,
His friendly little pat.
Days had been lean for Old Tom Dare,
Not food enough for two —
But Old Tom whispered to his dog,
“I’ll share along with you,
Since Jennie went away from us
There’s been no one to care —
No one but you to give a thought
For lonely old Tom Dare.”
And so the two of them had shared,
If it be feast, or fast,
That morning Rover had a bone —
It was their very last,
And there was nothing left for Tom —
It didn’t matter so,
Because he lay upon his bed,
And knew that he must Go.
The careless villagers passed by,
As they were pleasure-bound,
But none of them took time to see
The faithful, hungry hound.
Too tired and true to leave his post,
He stayed there to the End . . .
And folks had said of Old Tom Dare,
“He didn’t have a friend!”
The days have passed, but no one stops
Of all that come and go,
Old Rover lies beside the door,
Half-hidden in the snow . . .
I know that Old Tom had a friend,
A loyal friend, because
Today I found Old Rover dead,
The bone between his paws.
2. To Flush, My Dog
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Loving friend, the gift of one,
Who, her own true faith, hath run,
Through thy lower nature;
Be my benediction said
With my hand upon thy head,
Gentle fellow-creature!
Like a lady’s ringlets brown,
Flow thy silken ears adown
Either side demurely,
Of thy silver-suited breast
Shining out from all the rest
Of thy body purely.
Darkly brown thy body is,
Till the sunshine, striking this,
Alchemize its dulness, —
When the sleek curls manifold
Flash all over into gold,
With a burnished fulness.
Underneath my stroking hand,
Startled eyes of hazel bland
Kindling, growing larger, —
Up thou leapest with a spring,
Full of prank and curvetting,
Leaping like a charger.
Leap! thy broad tail waves a light;
Leap! thy slender feet are bright,
Canopied in fringes.
Leap — those tasselled ears of thine
Flicker strangely, fair and fine,
Down their golden inches
Yet, my pretty sportive friend,
Little is ‘t to such an end
That I praise thy rareness!
Other dogs may be thy peers
Haply in these drooping ears,
And this glossy fairness.
But of thee it shall be said,
This dog watched beside a bed
Day and night unweary, —
Watched within a curtained room,
Where no sunbeam brake the gloom
Round the sick and dreary.
Roses, gathered for a vase,
In that chamber died apace,
Beam and breeze resigning —
This dog only, waited on,
Knowing that when light is gone,
Love remains for shining.
Other dogs in thymy dew
Tracked the hares and followed through
Sunny moor or meadow —
This dog only, crept and crept
Next a languid cheek that slept,
Sharing in the shadow.
Other dogs of loyal cheer
Bounded at the whistle clear,
Up the woodside hieing —
This dog only, watched in reach
Of a faintly uttered speech,
Or a louder sighing.
And if one or two quick tears
Dropped upon his glossy ears,
Or a sigh came double, —
Up he sprang in eager haste,
Fawning, fondling, breathing fast,
In a tender trouble.
And this dog was satisfied,
If a pale thin hand would glide,
Down his dewlaps sloping, —
Which he pushed his nose within,
After, — platforming his chin
On the palm left open.
This dog, if a friendly voice
Call him now to blyther choice
Than such chamber-keeping,
Come out! ‘praying from the door, —
Presseth backward as before,
Up against me leaping.
Therefore to this dog will I,
Tenderly not scornfully,
Render praise and favour!
With my hand upon his head,
Is my benediction said
Therefore, and for ever.
And because he loves me so,
Better than his kind will do
Often, man or woman,
Give I back more love again
Than dogs often take of men, —
Leaning from my Human.
Blessings on thee, dog of mine,
Pretty collars make thee fine,
Sugared milk make fat thee!
Pleasures wag on in thy tail —
Hands of gentle motion fail
Nevermore, to pat thee!
Downy pillow take thy head,
Silken coverlid bestead,
Sunshine help thy sleeping!
No fly ‘s buzzing wake thee up —
No man break thy purple cup,
Set for drinking deep in.
Whiskered cats arointed flee —
Sturdy stoppers keep from thee
Cologne distillations;
Nuts lie in thy path for stones,
And thy feast-day macaroons
Turn to daily rations!
Mock I thee, in wishing weal? —
Tears are in my eyes to feel
Thou art made so straightly,
Blessing needs must straighten too, —
Little canst thou joy or do,
Thou who lovest greatly.
Yet be blessed to the height
Of all good and all delight
Pervious to thy nature, —
Only loved beyond that line,
With a love that answers thine,
Loving fellow-creature!
3. The Power of the Dog
by Rudyard Kipling
There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.
Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie —
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.
When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet’s unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find — it’s your own affair —
But . . . you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.
When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!)
When the spirit hat answered your every mood
Is gone — wherever it goes — for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.
We’ve sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we’ve kept’em, the more do we grieve;
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long —
So why in — Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?
4. The Ballad of Rum
by Peter R Wolveridge
A dog wandered into our garden one day,
A friendly old mutt, didn’t look like a stray.
We never discovered whence he had come,
But we brushed him and fed him and the kids called him Rum.
Now as family members, even dogs must work hard,
So we put Rum on duty next door in our yard,
Bright eyed and watchful by night and by day,
But not much of a guard dog, I’m sorry to say.
He barked at the cats and he’d bark at a toad,
He barked at the cattle outside on the road,
He barked at the horses – so where did he fail?
You see, Rum liked people, and he just wagged his tail.
He liked the yard labour, an amiable bunch.
They fed our dog tidbits and scraps from their lunch.
Rum wolfed it all down, but to our dismay
He seemed to get fatter with each passing day.
Then one night when Rum was laid at his ease,
A burglar crept in just as quiet as you please.
He saw no alarms, heard no siren howling,
No guard dog for sure, there’d be barking and growling.
But Rum was awake and he’d seen him alright,
Delighted with company this time of the night,
He flew through the yard, his new friend to greet,
And his weight bowled the burglar right off of his feet.
The intruder got up and ran off with a wail
And Rum right behind him still wagging his tail.
He departed the yard he’d come in to burgle
Like a champion athlete clearing a hurdle.
But Rum couldn’t jump gates, so sadly instead
He picked up the thief’s wallet and went back to bed.
Next morning the evidence everyone viewed,
When Rum brought it to us, (just a little bit chewed).
Once given the wallet, the police didn’t fail
To capture the burglar and put him in jail.
His confession like wildfire spread through the town,
How a big vicious guard dog had knocked the thief down.
We all howled with laughter when we heard the story,
And Rum was our hero, he was basking in glory.
There’s been no attempts since to burgle our yard,
For everyone knows now that Rum is on guard.
5. Our Imperfect Dog
by Cynthia C. Naspins
We love our dog with all our hearts,
But not so much her stinky farts.
Her doggy breath is less than fresh,
Yet we hug her nonetheless.
From barking she will not refrain.
The house and yard are her domain.
Park on the street or walk on past,
And you will likely cop a blast.
Meter readers, couriers,
Serve to make her furious.
Possums, lizards, neighbour’s cat,
Will not be shown the welcome mat.
In the name of crime prevention,
Airspace gets the same attention.
We feel safe, it must be said,
From birds that dare fly overhead.
She wages war with the lawn mower,
Outdoor sweeper and leaf blower.
And switching on the vacuum cleaner
Won’t bring out her best demeanour.
This causes some embarrassment,
This doggy form of harassment,
But she does provide protection,
And for that we feel affection.
Once introductions make the rounds,
Her friendliness, it knows no bounds.
Though not all guests are fully rapt
With thirty kilos on their lap.
Should you leave your nice warm chair,
On your return you’ll find her there.
And when she’s urged to please vacate,
She’ll turn into a limp, dead weight.
To baths she has a strong aversion,
Desperate to avoid immersion.
Yet she’ll display her dive technique
In any muddy pond or creek!
We give her scratches, make her smile.
Give an inch, she’ll take a mile.
Stop and she’ll demand still more,
Prodding you with paw and claw.
“She’s got character!” we all say.
At times it’s just a nicer way
Of saying she’s our problem child,
Kinda crazy, kinda wild.
For all her faults we love her dearly
And in turn she loves us clearly.
She’s our funny, gorgeous girl.
We wouldn’t trade for all the world.
6. Fidelity
by William Wordsworth
A barking sound the Shepherd hears,
A cry as of a dog or fox;
He halts—and searches with his eyes
Among the scattered rocks:
And now at distance can discern
A stirring in a brake of fern;
And instantly a dog is seen,
Glancing through that covert green.
The Dog is not of mountain breed;
Its motions, too, are wild and shy;
With something, as the Shepherd thinks,
Unusual in its cry:
Nor is there any one in sight
All round, in hollow or on height;
Nor shout, nor whistle strikes his ear;
What is the creature doing here?
It was a cove, a huge recess,
That keeps, till June, December’s snow;
A lofty precipice in front,
A silent tarn below!
Far in the bosom of Helvellyn,
Remote from public road or dwelling,
Pathway, or cultivated land;
From trace of human foot or hand.
There sometimes doth a leaping fish
Send through the tarn a lonely cheer;
The crags repeat the raven’s croak,
In symphony austere;
Thither the rainbow comes—the cloud—
And mists that spread the flying shroud;
And sunbeams; and the sounding blast,
That, if it could, would hurry past;
But that enormous barrier holds it fast.
Not free from boding thoughts, a while
The Shepherd stood; then makes his way
O’er rocks and stones, following the Dog
As quickly as he may;
Nor far had gone before he found
A human skeleton on the ground;
The appalled Discoverer with a sigh
Looks round, to learn the history.
From those abrupt and perilous rocks
The Man had fallen, that place of fear!
At length upon the Shepherd’s mind
It breaks, and all is clear:
He instantly recalled the name,
And who he was, and whence he came;
Remembered, too, the very day
On which the Traveller passed this way.
But hear a wonder, for whose sake
This lamentable tale I tell!
A lasting monument of words
This wonder merits well.
The Dog, which still was hovering nigh,
Repeating the same timid cry,
This Dog, had been through three months’ space
A dweller in that savage place.
Yes, proof was plain that, since the day
When this ill-fated Traveller died,
The Dog had watched about the spot,
Or by his master’s side:
How nourished here through such long time
He knows, who gave that love sublime;
And gave that strength of feeling, great
Above all human estimate!
7. Child Saved by Dog
by James McIntyre
Johnston he is an engineer,
He always looks if track is clear,
For he hath a keen eagle eye,
Danger afar he doth espy.
And he hath too a warm true heart,
Of others woes he sharas a part;
One day he gazed far down the line,
And a large dog he could define.
So eager busy on the track,
In mouth it seemed to lift a pack,
But it oftentimes did fail
For to raise it o er the rail.
The engineer put on his steam
And he loud made his whistle scream,
So that the dog would take alarm
And thus preserve his life from harm.
This noble dog, it feared not danger,
Fear to him it was a stranger,
His mistress child he wished to save,
And all the danger he would brave.
His last great effort did prevail,
He raised it safe beyond the rail,
Into a snug and hollow spot,
A place seein’d formed for a child’s cot.
This dog of noble mastiff breed,
For his own safety took no heed,
But at approaching train did bark,
To make them to his troubles hark.
The engineer did sad bewail,
To see the dog still on the rail,
A moment more the beast is slain,
Cut in two by the cruel train.
The engineer now shuts off steam
For to investigate the theme,
That caused the dog to die at post,
Finds to save child its life it lost.
Faithful in the cause of duty,
Saving life of little beauty,
A little darling three year old,
More precious than her weight in gold.
On track she wandered for4to play,
But soon she in quiet slumber lay,
And all the efforts of old Towser,
Were not able to arouse her.
The mother now in agony wild,
Rushed down to train to find her child,
There she found it sweetly sleeping,
While some for faithful dog were weeping.
And a brave man was engineer,
For he himself knew not of fear,
But his heart was failed with pain,
Because the noble dog was slain.
8. She Was Just My Dog
by Anonymous
She was my other eyes that could see above the clouds;
my other ears that heard above the winds.
She was the part of me that could reach out into the sea.
She had told me a thousand times over that I was her reason for being;
by the way she rested against my leg;
by the way she wagged her tail at my smallest smile;
by the way she showed her hurt when I left without taking her along
(I think it made her sick with worry because she was not along to care for me).
When I was wrong, she was delighted to forgive.
When I was angry, she clowned to make me smile.
When I was happy, she was joy unbounded.
When I was a fool, she ignored it.
When I succeeded, she bragged.
Without her, I am only another person.
With her, I was all powerful.
She was loyalty itself.
She had taught me the meaning of devotion.
With her, I knew a secret comfort and a private peace.
She had brought me understanding where before I was ignorant.
Her head on my knee could heal my human hurts.
Her kisses on my tears washed away my bad feelings.
Her presence by my side was protection against my fears of dark and unknown things.
She had promised to wait for me…whenever…wherever…in case I need her.
And I expect I will — as I always have — she was just my dog.
9. Two Dogs Have I
by Ogden Nash
For years we’ve had a little dog,
Last year we acquired a big dog;
He wasn’t big when we got him,
He was littler than the dog we had.
We thought our little dog would love him,
Would help him to become a trig dog,
But the new little dog got bigger,
And the old little dog got mad.
Now the big dog loves the little dog,
But the little dog hates the big dog,
The little dog is eleven years old,
And the big dog only one;
The little dog calls him Schweinhund,
The little dog calls him Pig-dog,
She grumbles broken curses
As she dreams in the August sun.
The big dog’s teeth are terrible,
But he wouldn’t bite the little dog;
The little dog wants to grind his bones,
But the little dog has no teeth;
The big dog is acrobatic,
The little dog is a brittle dog;
She leaps to grip his jugular,
And passes underneath.
The big dog clings to the little dog
Like glue and cement and mortar;
The little dog is his own true love;
But the big dog is to her
Like a scarlet rag to a Longhorn,
Or a suitcase to a porter;
The day he sat on the hornet
I distinctly heard her purr.
Well, how can you blame the little dog,
Who was once the household darling?
He romps like a young Adonis,
She droops like an old mustache;
No wonder she steals his corner,
No wonder she comes out snarling,
No wonder she calls him Cochon
And even Espèce de vache.
Yet once I wanted a sandwich,
Either caviar or cucumber,
When the sun had not yet risen
And the moon had not yet sank;
As I tiptoed through the hallway
The big dog lay in slumber,
And the little dog slept by the big dog,
And her head was on his flank.
Dog Poems That Rhyme
These poems about dog with rhyming words use the power of rhyme to add a musical quality to the verses, making them all the more enjoyable to read and recite.
1. Little Boy Blue
by Eugene Field
The little toy dog is covered with dust,
But sturdy and stanch he stands;
And the little toy soldier is red with rust,
And his musket molds in his hands.
Time was when the little toy dog was new
And the soldier was passing fair,
And that was the time when our Little Boy Blue
Kissed them and put them there.
‘Now, don’t you go till I come,’ he said,
‘And don’t you make any noise! ‘
So toddling off to his trundle-bed
He dreamed of the pretty toys.
And as he was dreaming, an angel song
Awakened our Little Boy Blue,-
Oh, the years are many, the years are long,
But the little toy friends are true.
Ay, faithful to Little Boy Blue they stand,
Each in the same old place,
Awaiting the touch of a little hand,
The smile of a little face.
And they wonder, as waiting these long years through,
In the dust of that little chair,
What has become of our Little Boy Blue
Since he kissed them and put them there.
2. Are There Paw Prints in Heaven?
by Missy Davis
I hear of a place that is made of gold,
a place where we shall never grow old,
but one answer I have not heard at all,
will there be paw prints from my little dog?
He promised us joy right from the start.
I just wonder if she’ll be a part.
So as I sit here and dream of the day,
I wonder if in heaven she will stay?
When you’re walking down with the saints of old,
take a glimpse of that new road,
and if there you shall see,
maybe a paw print just for me.
3. Pooper Scooper
by Little Learning Corner
My dog is a pooper.
Good thing I brought a scooper.
I don’t want to step in poo,
with my brand new shoe.
Let’s keep the grass green,
and the scooper clean.
4. Dogging His Steps
by Amos Russel Wells
“To dog his steps”—there’s libel in the phrase,
A slander on the faithful doggish ways.
By it men mean to follow like a thief,
To tremble at the crackling of a leaf,
To crawl and sneak to spy and wait and gloat.
And hide a dagger ready for a throat.
No, no! To “dog his steps” is to pursue
With endless loyalty and purpose true;
To leap with love and eagerness and joy,
Be ready for the heartiest employ;
To worship him as if he were a god,
And follow every step that he has trod;
To hang upon his whistle or his word;
To skim along as happy as a bird;
With shining eyes and with a heart of cheer
To he a comrade and a friend sincere;
That never mind what stupid men may say—
That is to “dog his steps” the doggish way!
5. Best Birthday Ever!
by Zorian Alexis
“Amazing!” was all I could say
Because I finally got my puppy today.
Chocolate brown with soulful eyes,
Definitely the perfect birthday surprise.
Every year I had asked for one.
Finally my mom hit a home run.
Getting me this perfect gift
Has given me such a joyful lift.
I will forever cherish my little boy
Just like I did my favorite stuffed toy.
Keeping him oh so near to me,
Loving him oh so tenderly,
Making him a promise that I will never break:
Nothing will harm him while I’m awake.
Our bond has already begun to grow,
Pure love that all pet owners know.
Quietly he is sleeping in my arms,
Rendering me helpless to all of his charms.
Staring at my little bundle of joy,
Thinking of the perfect name for my boy.
Undecided, I’ve come up with a few
Various possibilities what should I do.
Winchester or perhaps Chester for short.
Xander or maybe a bold name like Cort.
You deserve the perfect name.
Zorian means happy, and I hope you are the same.
6. Pet Porta Potty
by Kathy J. Parenteau
I took a walk in the city today
to try to pass the time away.
Saw lots of people walking too.
Stepped right in a pile of doggy doo.
I thought for a moment just what could be done
to clean up the streets of doggie dung.
Maybe I’ll invent something really super,
even finer than a pooper scooper.
A port a potty for our four legged friends
on every street corner where every road bends.
Then I’ll become famous for this awesome invention.
At the monthly town meetings my name will be mentioned.
They’ll throw a big party and dance in the streets
because never again will there be poop on our feet!
7. Where I Want to Go
by Daniel Turner
I’d love to buy a boat and sail the seas
Just loaf and let the string of life unwind
Drop anchor anytime or place I please
To visit every island I can find
I’d sail from cape to cape, from gulf to strait
Each bay and channel up and down each coast
My dog would be companion and first mate
Most likely, he’d be sleeping at his post
But every night we’d find a still lagoon
Perhaps we row ashore and build a fire
On first appearance, I’d harpoon the moon
And hold him hostage until we retired
A life at sea, beneath large wind filled sails
With peaceful friends, the dolphins, gulls and whales.
8. Down Behind the Dustbin
by Michael Rosen
Down behind the dustbin
I met a dog called Ted.
‘Leave me alone,’ he says,
‘I’m just going to bed.’
Down behind the dustbin
I met a dog called Roger.
‘Do you own this bin?’ I said.
‘No. I’m only a lodger.’
Down behind the dustbin
I met a dog called Sue.
‘What are you doing here?’ I said.
‘I’ve got nothing else to do.’
Dog Poems for Kids
Dog poems for children offer a fun and engaging way for young readers to learn about the joys and challenges of owning a dog. These poems are designed to capture the attention and imagination of children.
1. French Doodles
by Denise Rodgers
If you go to Paris, you must take a scoop
and watch where you step so you won’t step in poop.
There are dogs on the sidewalks, the side streets, and more;
dogs at the bakeshop and grocery store.
There are dogs in the cafes, asleep by the tables,
and happy dogs pictured on grocery labels.
There are dogs in the bookshops, and dogs in the park,
dogs in the daytime, and dogs in the dark;
dogs getting ice cream and eating French bread,
(not like my dog who eats dog food instead.)
So if you go to Paris and like dogs an oodle,
then have a good time, but watch out for the doodle!
2. A Dog for All Seasons
by Denise Rodgers
Some like San Diego
where the weather’s always great
I prefer the seasons
that we have near our great lakes.
In winter, when I walk my dog
it’s freezing, but we go
He sticks his head in snowbanks,
and his facelifts up the snow
when spring is here, the leaves sprout forth
My dog is such a pain
He dashes out and tromps into
the puddles in the rain.
The summer’s warm and humid
and the sun shines hot and bright.
I take my dog out, walking
in the coolness of the night.
when autumn comes, we really like
the brisk October breeze
We crunch the leaves together
as they float down from the trees.
Some, like San Diego
say it has the perfect weather
But we prefer four seasons
that’s my dog and I together!
3. My Dog And I
by Alice J. Cleator
When living seems but little worth
And all things go awry,
I close the door, we journey forth—
My dog and I!
For books and pen we leave behind,
But little careth he,
His one great joy in life is just To be with me.
He notes by just one upward glance
My mental attitude,
As on we go past laughing stream
And singing wood.
The soft winds have a magic touch
That brings to care release,
The trees are vocal with delight,
The rivers sing of peace.
How good it is to be alive!
Nature, the healer strong,
Has set each pulse with life athrill
And joy and song.
Discouragement! ‘Twas but a name,
And all things that annoy,
Out in the lovely world of June
Life seemeth only joy!
And ere we reach the busy town,
Like birds my troubles fly,
We are two comrades glad of heart—
My dog and I!
4. Monroe
by Allie
My loving puppy, Monroe,
is a snowball falling from the sky.
Monroe, a living puffball
running across the field.
As I listen to my canine pup
I hear a kettle ready on the stove.
When I feel Monroe
I love the wetness of his tongue.
Monroe, like a comforter blanket at night,
Monroe, like a pillow after a 20-mile run,
The smell of him is a bath in the sink,
Monroe, outside on a warm summer day,
Monroe, like fresh snow straight from the ground,
My puppy can be tasted even from far away,
Monroe, fresh brown sugar straight from the store,
Monroe, my lifelong dream come true!
5. My Dog Likes to Disco
by Kenn Nesbitt
My dog likes to disco
on TikTok for fun.
He’d rather start dancing
than go for a run.
My dog likes to wiggle
and jiggle and jump.
He bobbles his noggin
and wriggles his rump.
And when he’s done dancing,
this doggy of mine
will pick up his cell phone
and post it online.
He puts up a video
once every day
so people can watch
as he wiggles away.
He started on TikTok
for something to do,
and now he’s on YouTube
and Instagram too.
He’s trending on Twitter
and Facebook as well.
I guess that I should have
been able to tell.
You see when I rescued
my dog from the pound,
the sign said, “Purebred
social media hound.”
6. My Dog
by Stevan Hanson
My family got a new dog
Its fur is short and white
I absolutely love him
But something is not right.
His ears are soft and long
and flop along the side.
His tail is quite short
But also very wide.
He’s positively quiet
He never makes a sound
He’s got a real cute jump
When I put him on the ground.
I’m sure when he grows up
He’ll be massively strong.
His favorite food’s carrots
He eats them all day long!
7. Dogs Are My Friends
by Anonymous
Dogs are the best buddies,
who like to hug and cuddle.
They take care of you,
when things are difficult to handle.
Dogs like to stick around,
with you all the time.
They try to jump on things,
even when it is hard to climb.
Dogs love eating biscuits and,
anything prepared at home.
They have beautiful fur,
which you like to comb.
Dogs are most loyal
and trustworthy animal.
They like to react and play
on things that are musical.
Dogs wait for you
to reach home.
They like to take bath
in a pool with lots of foam.
Dogs are always there for you
through thick and thin.
Is there anything left
that you want to begin.
8. My Dog Glory
by Ashley
My dog Glory is oh, so nice
She has sugar and a little spice.
Whenever I see her
it brightens my day,
The clouds in the sky go away
She would never hurt anyone.
She would never bite,
She is my love
My one delight.
If anything happened to her, I would cry,
I probably would die.
I love her so much
And she loves me,
If you saw us together
you would drop to your knees.
That is the poem that cheers me up,
It helps me when things are tough.
She is the one I kiss good night
We would never get in a fight
9. My Dog
by Danielle
My puppy dog’s color is gold,
He does not like the smell of mold.
He chases his tail and begins to wail,
and then gets very cold.
Happy Dog Poems
Happy dog poems celebrate the simple pleasures of life, capturing the joy and exuberance that dogs bring to our daily lives. These poems are filled with positivity and gratitude.
1. A Little Dog That Wags His Tail
by Emily Dickinson
A little Dog that wags his tail
And knows no other joy
Of such a little Dog am I
Reminded by a Boy
Who gambols all the living Day
Without an earthly cause
Because he is a little Boy
I honestly suppose —
The Cat that in the Corner dwells
Her martial Day forgot
The Mouse but a Tradition now
Of her desireless Lot
Another class remind me
Who neither please nor play
But not to make a “bit of noise”
Beseech each little Boy —
2. My Puppy Is a Handful
by Ann Davies
My puppy is a handful,
So full of energy.
She jumps around to greet us
And wags her tail with glee.
She digs when in the garden,
Getting muddy from her head to her toes.
Whatever goes on in her mind,
Heaven only knows.
She bolts her food so quickly
And barely chews at all.
She saves her chewing for the rug,
Our shoes and the kitchen wall!
Everyone tells me she will improve,
And I want to believe what they say,
So I’m hoping our dear little puppy
Will become docile one day.
We want to create a harmonious home,
So we’ll try exercise, discipline and rest,
And trust that she will calm down,
For we can only do our best.
Remember the saying,
“Let sleeping dogs lie.”
Now I have my own puppy,
I can understand why!
3. My Doggie and I
by Bettina Van Vaerenbergh
My doggie makes me happy,
I love her so much!
My little furry friend;
So soft to the touch.
She came into my life
(Coincidence or not)
When I was feeling low,
As a gift sent from God.
She’s always good-humored,
Always ready to play.
Attentively she listens
To all I have to say.
I know her body language
Inside and out –
When she wants a cuddle,
Her brown eyes speak so loud.
Together we’re having
All kinds of childish fun…
We go for endless walks;
We laugh and we run.
Late at night she loves
To curl up on my lap.
She watches TV with me,
Or takes a restful nap.
We understand each other,
My doggie and I.
Without words she comforts me,
Whenever I cry.
It’s only been three months,
But it seems so much longer;
And the bond between us
Is still daily getting stronger.
I used to be a cat person,
But now I’m into her –
I couldn’t miss her for the world,
My little ball of fur.
I believe every good gift
Is sent from God up above;
So thank You, dear God,
For the doggie that I love!
4. Happy Dog
by Flying Lemming
I’m a happy dog at the beach
If I had the power of speech
I would tell you all
To throw my ball
I’m a happy dog at the beach
I’m a happy dog at the beach
There are no new tricks you can teach
I’m bouncy and glad
And my tail wags like mad
I’m a happy dog at the beach
I’m a happy dog at the beach
My joy is always in reach
Whatever the talk
It’s the best place to walk
I’m a happy dog at the beach
I’m a happy dog at the beach
As I hear the seagulls screech
I chase and I bark
Long into the dark
I’m a happy dog at the beach
I’m a happy dog at the beach
And I don’t want to start to preach
But if you ask me
The best thing to see
Is a happy dog at the beach
5. The Furl of Fresh-Leaved Dog Rose Down
by Gerard Manley Hopkins
The furl of fresh-leaved dogrose down
His cheeks the forth-and-flaunting sun
Had swarthed about with lion-brown
Before the Spring was done.
His locks like all a ravel-rope’s-end,
With hempen strands in spray—
Fallow, foam-fallow, hanks—fall’n off their ranks,
Swung down at a disarray.
Or like a juicy and jostling shock
Of bluebells sheaved in May
Or wind-long fleeces on the flock
A day off shearing day.
Then over his turnиd temples—here—
Was a rose, or, failing that,
Rough-Robin or five-lipped campion clear
For a beauty-bow to his hat,
And the sunlight sidled, like dewdrops, like dandled diamonds
Through the sieve of the straw of the plait.
. . . . . . .
6. My Dog’s Tail
by Arthur Wallace Peach
What put the wiggle in a little dog’s tail
I’d like to know!
That gay little wiggle, that glad little waggle —
How did it grow?
It starts in his mind and it runs out behind
To the tip of his tail, and then
That glad little waggle, that gay little wiggle
Begins all over again.
The day may be sunny or dark with rain,
The wiggle is there just the same;
It needs just a whistle to set it a-wiggle
Or the sound of his favorite name.
No doubt I shall never, in any way ever
Find out how that wiggle got there,
But I’m very sure, while tails shall endure,
That tail will wig-wag in the air!
Dog Poems about Death
These Loss of a Dog poems express the pain and sadness that comes with the loss of a furry friend, while also celebrating the life and legacy they leave behind. They spread comfort to those who are grieving.
1. For Binky
by Raymond Stewart
Today we had to let you go.
It broke our hearts in two.
We had to leave you at that place,
Alone and feeling blue.
The only thing that we could do
Was drive back home and cry,
For we just couldn’t keep you,
No matter how we tried.
You’ll never be forgotten,
As long as we live.
You gave us all the love
A little dog could give.
We’ll think about you often,
And wonder where you are,
And in our hearts we’ll hear your bell
Tinkling from afar.
2. A Void Left Behind
by Anonymous
A house feeling empty
Now that you’re gone
No more barks filling up the room
Or watching you being cute as you yawn
It was a delight to have you in our lives
And in our memories, you will live on
3. A Dog Has Died
by Pablo Neruda
My dog has died.
I buried him in the garden
next to a rusted old machine.
Some day I’ll join him right there,
but now he’s gone with his shaggy coat,
his bad manners and his cold nose,
and I, the materialist, who never believed
in any promised heaven in the sky
for any human being,
I believe in a heaven I’ll never enter.
Yes, I believe in a heaven for all dogdom
where my dog waits for my arrival
waving his fan-like tail in friendship.
Ai, I’ll not speak of sadness here on earth,
of having lost a companion
who was never servile.
His friendship for me, like that of a porcupine
withholding its authority,
was the friendship of a star, aloof,
with no more intimacy than was called for,
with no exaggerations:
he never climbed all over my clothes
filling me full of his hair or his mange,
he never rubbed up against my knee
like other dogs obsessed with sex.
No, my dog used to gaze at me,
paying me the attention I need,
the attention required
to make a vain person like me understand
that, being a dog, he was wasting time,
but, with those eyes so much purer than mine,
he’d keep on gazing at me
with a look that reserved for me alone
all his sweet and shaggy life,
always near me, never troubling me,
and asking nothing.
Ai, how many times have I envied his tail
as we walked together on the shores of the sea
in the lonely winter of Isla Negra
where the wintering birds filled the sky
and my hairy dog was jumping about
full of the voltage of the sea’s movement:
my wandering dog, sniffing away
with his golden tail held high,
face to face with the ocean’s spray.
Joyful, joyful, joyful,
as only dogs know how to be happy
with only the autonomy
of their shameless spirit.
There are no good-byes for my dog who has died,
and we don’t now and never did lie to each other.
So now he’s gone and I buried him,
and that’s all there is to it.
4. My Source of Solace
by Anonymous
From puppy dog eyes
To looking at me so wise
You could sense whenever I was upset
And what I’ll never forget
Is how you comforted me with your presence
Your little snout always reassuring
It would get me over whatever I was enduring
Watching your tail wag away
Would get me through any bad day
I could always count on you being there
Whatever sadness I had, you would repair
It’s amazing an animal has the ability
To provide us with a state of tranquility
You could always calm me down
And not having you around
Will be difficult to get used to
You were with me when you were small
And I watched with joy as you grew
I loved you through it all
And love you, I always will
5. Dog’s Death
by John Updike
She must have been kicked unseen or brushed by a car.
Too young to know much, she was beginning to learn
To use the newspapers spread on the kitchen floor
And to win, wetting there, the words, “Good dog! Good dog!”
We thought her shy malaise was a shot reaction.
The autopsy disclosed a rupture in her liver.
As we teased her with play, blood was filling her skin
And her heart was learning to lie down forever.
Monday morning, as the children were noisily fed
And sent to school, she crawled beneath the youngest’s bed.
We found her twisted and limp but still alive.
In the car to the vet’s, on my lap, she tried
To bite my hand and died. I stroked her warm fur
And my wife called in a voice imperious with tears.
Though surrounded by love that would have upheld her,
Nevertheless she sank and, stiffening, disappeared.
Back home, we found that in the night her frame,
Drawing near to dissolution, had endured the shame
Of diarrhoea and had dragged across the floor
To a newspaper carelessly left there. Good dog.
6. A Little Dog Angel
by Noah M. Holland
High up in the courts of heaven today
a little dog angel waits;
with the other angels he will not play,
but he sits alone at the gates.
“For I know my master will come” says he,
“and when he comes he will call for me.”
The other angels pass him by
As they hurry toward the throne,
And he watches them with a wistful eye
as he sits at the gates alone.
“But I know if I just wait patiently
that someday my master will call for me.”
And his master, down on earth below,
as he sits in his easy chair,
forgets sometimes, and whispers low
to the dog who is not there.
And the little dog angel cocks his ears
and dreams that his master’s voice he hears.
And when at last his master waits
outside in the dark and cold,
for the hand of death to open the door,
that leads to those courts of gold,
he will hear a sound through the gathering dark,
a little dog angel’s bark.
7. Lend Me a Pup
by Anonymous
I will lend to you for awhile a puppy, God said,
For you to love him while he lives
and to mourn for him when he is gone.
Maybe for 12 or 14 years, or maybe for 2 or 3
But will you, till I call him back
take care of him for me?
He’ll bring his charms to gladden you and
(should his stay be brief)
you’ll always have his memories
as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise that he will stay
since all from Earth return,
But there are lessons taught below
I want this pup to learn.
I’ve looked the whole world over
in search of teachers true,
And from the fold that crowd life’s land
I have chosen you.
Now will you give him all your love
Nor think the labor vain,
nor hate me when I come to take
my pup back again?
I fancied that I heard them say,
“Dear Lord, They Will Be Done,”
For all the joys this pup will bring
the risk of grief you’ll run.
Will you shelter him with tenderness,
Will you love him while you may?
And for the happiness you’ll know
forever grateful stay?
But should I call him back
much sooner than you’ve planned,
please brave the bitter grief that comes
and try to understand.
If, by your love, you’ve managed
my wishes to achieve,
In memory of him that you’ve loved,
cherish every moment with your faithful bundle,
and know he loved you too.
8. Expression of Affection
by Anonymous
We didn’t speak the same language
But your ears would go up
Every time I said your name
And with your departure
Life will never again be the same
If I could bring you back I would
And all the times I said I loved you
I hope you understood
Memory of a Dog Poems
The poems offer a nostalgic reflection on the special moments and memories we shared with our furry friends. These I miss my dog poems evoke the deep sense of love we feel for our dogs, even long after they have passed away.
1. To a Dog
by John Jay Chapman
Past happiness dissolves. It fades away,
Ghost-like, in that dim attic of the mind
To which the dreams of childhood are consigned.
Here, withered garlands hang in slow decay,
And trophies glimmer in the dying ray
Of stars that once with heavenly glory shined.
But you, old friend, are you still left behind
To tell the nearness of life’s yesterday?
Ah, boon companion of my vanished boy,
For you he lives; in every sylvan walk
He waits; and you expect him everywhere.
How would you stir, what cries, what bounds of joy,
If but his voice were heard in casual talk,
If but his footstep sounded on the stair!
2. Wag
by William Henry Venable
He was only a dog, and a mongrel at that,
And worthless and troublesome, lazy and fat,—
Was Wag, who died yesterday night;
Yet now that his barking forever is o’er,
And his caudal appendage can waggle no more,
His elegy I will indite.
3. A Belated Memorial
by Anonymous
Forty years of varied weather
(How the impish decades fly!)
Since we lived our lives together,
My dog and I.
Forty years of thought and action.
Failure, struggle, pain, success,
Play and passion, friendship, faction,
Curse me, and bless.
Back through all the mess of living,—
Time’s commingled sun and fog,—
Merry, faithful, fond, forgiving,
I see my dog.
He was one who knew no meanness,
Nor the shadow of a lie;
Lived we two in spirit-cleanness,
My dog and I.
He was one who, always sunny,
Never knew an anxious thought;
Counted glory, counted money,
As less than nought.
He was one who knew no other
Praise or blame than I might bring;
I was father, I was brother,
His judge and king!
How we frolicked, single-hearted,
Over meadows, through thr wood!
How my frets and fears departed,
And all was good!
Not a word, yet that dear creature,
By his bearing and his looks,
Said in each expressive feature
Far more than books.
Forty years of varied going.
Highway, byway, steady jog;
Few men better worth the knowing
Thau that old dog.
Few have been so loyal to me,
Few have I so truly served,
Few to hearts unfailing drew me,
And never swerved.
This memorial belated,
Let it stand for men to see,
Till in heaven, recreated,
He bounds to me.
4. Best Friend
by Justina M. Hoerner
Remember all the good times,
Remember all the bad.
You stuck with me through everything,
The best friend I have had.
Through trying times you stayed with me.
You’ve sure improved my life.
You cheered me up when I was down,
Stuck with me through my strife.
Think about the good stuff, too,
Remember when we met?
I knew that I could trust you,
The best friend anyone could get.
Why is it that good things
Never seem to last?
You try to think about them,
But time erases past.
Sometimes I feel your presence,
I seem to hear your voice.
Memories flood back to me,
And I sit and rejoice.
Just know that I miss you.
I never will forget
The times I spent together
With you, beloved pet.
5. With Regard to Dogs
by Nancy Byrd Turner
Only the human dead may lie
In God’s good acre wide and fair;
Those of an humbler kind who die
May not have shelter there: —
Not Dan, who spent his lifetime in
Such deep devotion, such warm trust
Toward man, — ‘twould seem there might have been
Some corner for Dan’s dust;
Not Chum, a little blind boy’s guide,
Not Mike, who raced on eager feet
When school was out, to walk beside
The youngest on his street;
No place for Jack who, neighbor-wise,
Shared with a hungry cur his bone,
Nor Pete, whose heart was in his eyes
To hear his master’s tone;
Nor Watch, who longed to range around
With brother dogs, but wanted most
To keep good guard, — Watch, always found
Faithfully at his post;
No place for Sam, too small to teach
Great lessons to, whose only art
Was loving well one small lad, which
He did, with all his heart;
No room for Sandy down the road,
Who never, through the whole long span
Of his good life transgressed the code
Of courteous gentleman. . . .
Nor Max, who leapt a life to save
And lost his own, with peril near:
Look somewherre else for Max’s grave,
The human dead lie here.
* * * *
Sleep well, you dead who never knew
Humanity. The Love on high
Who marks the faithful and the true
Remembers where you lie!
6. Where Do All the Good Dogs Go?
by Larry E. Myers
It wasn’t the end of the world when she up and died,
But I admit I had to talk a tear from sloshing over the side.
The crow quit calling her names over his drifting shadow.
Does anyone know where all the good dogs go?
Brown eyes, big feet and a short tail,
a biscuit’s nightmare, she could follow any trail.
A free roaming spirit, she feared no foe.
Does anyone know where all the good dogs go?
She scattered the squirrels and ran the rabbit.
She shook the possum from his dreams and shooed the egret.
Not a cat chase missed and she rolled the armadillo.
Does anyone know where all the good dogs go?
It must be a happy place, a place without a care.
For a week or a month, I would like to visit her there.
Dogs have no soul; some say it to be so. Then,
does anyone know where all the good dogs go?
7. Epitaph on a Lap-dog
by Robert Burns
In wood and wild, ye warbling throng,
Your heavy loss deplore;
Now, half extinct your powers of song,
Sweet Echo is no more.
Ye jarring, screeching things around,
Scream your discordant joys;
Now, half your din of tuneless sound
With Echo silent lies.
8. Tribute to a Best Friend
by Anonymous
Tribute to a Best Friend, Dog poems for kidsSave
Image: Image: Shutterstock
Sunlight streams through window pane onto a spot on the floor…
then I remember,
it’s where you used to lie, but now you are no more.
Our feet walk down a hall of carpet, and muted echoes sound…
then I remember,
it’s where your paws would joyously abound.
A voice is heard along the road, and up beyond the hill,
then I remember,
it can’t be yours — your golden voice is still.
But I’ll take that vacant spot of floor and empty muted hall,
and lay them with the absent voice and unused dish along the wall.
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I’ll wrap these treasured memories in a blanket of my love,
and keep them for my best friend until we meet above.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, dog poems are a great way to express our love and appreciation. From funny poems to emotional ones, there is a poem for every dog lover.
Whether you want to cherish the memory of a beloved pet or simply celebrate the joy that dogs bring to our lives, there is no shortage of dog poems to choose from.
We hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and that it has inspired you to discover new dog poems to cherish.
Don’t hesitate to leave a comment and share your favorite poems for dogs with us!
