Lie Down With Dogs, Get Up With Fleas

     If you associate with bad people, you acquire their faults.

His Bark Is Worse Than His Bite

     Uncle Bob's bark is worse than his bite.  If I tell you this about Uncle Bob, what I mean is that his threats are worse than his actions.  It really is a reassuring statement because if you use it in reference to anyone, you are saying that they are really not as unpleasant as they seem.

You Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks

     This expression means to do something much more than one can manage.  I personally wish I had a nickel for every time I have heard or said this phrase...

Barking Up The Wrong Tree

     When you, being a human, are accused of "barking up the wrong tree," that simply means that you have made a mistake or a false assumption.

"Every Dog Must Have His Day"

     This is a quote from Jonathan Swift.  It is another way of saying that everyone has a moment of triumph or success.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

     Do not instigate trouble;  leave something alone if it might cause trouble.

   

Dog Days of Summer

     Ever wonder what the phrase, "Dog Days of Summer," means?  I've heard this saying off and on my entire life.  The phrase refers to the sultry days of summer.  It is usually the hottest days of the summer during July and August in the Northern Hemisphere.
     In history, dog days were popularly believed to be an evil time when the sea boiled, the wine turned sour, and dogs grew mad.  All creatures grew languid, and man risked acquiring diseases such as burning fevers, hysterias, and insanity.  It seems like the making of a Stephen King movie to me!
     In latter years, the stock market is referred to as suffering from the Dog Days of Summer.  Some of the stocks become volatile while others only seem to wilt.  The stocks are called "dogs." 

     Upcoming in future weeks, I will contemplate many more dog phrases.

Man's best friend has certainly left his mark on our daily use of language.