What does the Bible say about dogs?

Dogs in the Bible are mostly scavengers or guard animals, not pets, and calling someone a dog was an insult. The Bible does not say whether pets go to heaven.

A few passages are gentler: the woman who answers Jesus that even the dogs eat the crumbs from their master’s table, and Proverbs’ word that a righteous man cares for the life of his animal.

The passages

1. Proverbs 12:10

   A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are only cruelty.

   KJV

   A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

2. Matthew 15:26–28

   But Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes, Lord,” she said, “even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” “O woman,” Jesus answered, “your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

   KJV

   But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

3. Luke 16:21

   and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

   KJV

   And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

4. Ecclesiastes 9:4

   There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion.

   KJV

   For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

5. Proverbs 26:11

   As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

   KJV

   As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

6. Proverbs 26:17

   Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

   KJV

   He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

7. Philippians 3:2

   Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh!

   KJV

   Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

8. Exodus 11:7

   But among all the Israelites, not even a dog will snarl at man or beast.’ Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.

   KJV

   But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.

Every passage is quoted in full from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain); tap KJV for the King James Version. Steady quotes the text and does not take sides where churches differ.