proverb · Words worth keeping
A man may cause his own dog to bite him.
A man may cause his own dog to bite him.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
A person can provoke a harmful response from something or someone previously familiar and trusted. The dog image directs attention to one’s own contribution to conflict.
What the words are saying
The saying gives the owner a role in the bite rather than treating the animal’s response as inexplicable. As a metaphor, it can encourage examining whether pressure, neglect or unfair treatment has damaged trust. It should not become a rule that an injured person caused the harm done to them. Responsibility depends on the actual conduct of everyone involved. The useful question is what part of a particular interaction one can acknowledge and change.
Everyday example
A manager realises that repeatedly ignoring reasonable concerns has contributed to a breakdown of cooperation.
When to use it
Use it to examine one’s own avoidable contribution to a conflict.
What it does not mean
This is not animal-handling advice, and it must not be used to blame victims for abuse.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 1203 · Own dog
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- English