The proverb is based on the old common law rule (dating at least from the seventeenth
century) by which the keeper of a domestic animal was not liable for harm done by it unless he
knew of its vicious propensities. Quot. 1913 explains the thinking behind this.
1902 V. S. LEAN Collectanea I. 439 Every dog is allowed his first bite i.e. is not
punished. 1913 Spectator 15 Mar. 440 Every dog is allowed by the law one free bite.
After the dog has once bitten a person it is presumed that its owner knows it to be
‘savage’. 1968 P. FOOT Politics of Harold Wilson x. In March 1967.. Wilson rounded on
the Left at a Parliamentary Party meeting, warning them that ‘a dog is only allowed one
bite’ and threatening them with a General Election unless they came to heel. 1980 ’A.
BLAISDELL’ Consequence of Crime (1981) ii. She got arrested. ..They say every dog [is]
allowed one bite. .. But it was a vice thing. .. I told her to get out. reputationA DOG is for life, not just for ChristmasThe slogan of the UK’s National Canine Defence League, introduced in 1978 with the
intention of dissuading people from giving puppies as Christmas presents. Widely quoted in
its original form, it has also spawned any number of humorous by-forms.
1998 R. RAY Certain Age 344 A tree is for life, not just for decorating with small
shiny objects. 1999 Jewish Chronicle 30 July 42 And remember, a pet is for life, not just
for Rosh Hashanah. 2001 Country Life 29 Nov. 96 (advertisement) A Billiard table is for
life not just for Christmas. constancy and inconstancyThe DOG returns to its vomitThe expression is frequently found in various metaphorical and allusive forms, such as to
return like a dog to his vomit, as illustrated below. Before 1534 (see quot.), the proverb is used
in more or less similar forms in earlier versions of, and commentaries upon, the Bible. The
concept enjoyed wide popularity in the Middle Ages. The biblical passages involved are:
PROVERBS xxvi. 11 (AV) As a dog returneth to his vomit: so a fool returneth to his folly;
also 2 PETER ii. 22 (see below).
c 1390 CHAUCER Parson’s Tale 1. 137 Ye trespassen so ofte tyme as dooth the
hound that retourneth to eten his spewyng. 1534 W. TYNDALE tr. Bible 2 Peter ii. 22 It
is happened vnto them accordinge to the true proverbe: The dogge is turned to his vomet
agayne. 1832 S. WARREN Diary of Late Physician II. vi. His infatuated wife betook