British Slang For Dog (Explained!)

The British use common slang terms for dogs such as pooch or mutt. These are among the only slang terms for dog used throughout Britain. Other more regionally specific terms exist, like the Cockney rhyming slang “Cherry Hogg”. More recent terms like “doggo” are also often used in Britain.

The British have a few different words for dog, then.

For the most part, though, they are not exclusive to Britain and British slang although they do take on their own uniquely British character.

The history of these terms is interesting in any case, so let’s find out more.

In This Article

What do the British call dogs?

The British have a few different slang terms for dogs that may be applied in different circumstances.

The most common slang terms for dog are pooch and mutt.

These are used and understood throughout Britain, from the north of Scotland to the south of England.

Not everyone will use them, but you would have trouble finding a British person who did not understand either of these terms at all.

That said, both of these terms are often a bit more specific than just a catch-all term referring to dogs.

Let’s start with pooch.

This one is the more likely one to simply be used for any dog.

However, it might more often be used for smaller or cuter dogs, or on the flip side as a kind of joke way to refer to a larger or more “tough” seeming dog.

“He’s a handsome little pooch, isn’t he?” for example.

Mutt, on the other hand, tends to be a bit more specific.

Mutt by definition refers to a dog without a pedigree, one that’s an indeterminate mix of many breeds than a purebred.

At the same time, many people use it outside of this sense as a general slang term for dog.

It might be used in a neutral sense, but some might also use it who dislike dogs.

“Can you get that mutt out of here?” for example.

Other slang terms for dog are occasionally used, such as hound or mongrel.

But these are both quite archaic now and not very often used.

One other slang term you may hear but which is certainly a lot more regionally specific is “Cherry Hogg”.

This is an example of Cockney rhyming slang, so you’re unlikely to hear it outside of the East End of London.

Where do we get these terms, then?

Why do the British say pooch?

The word pooch was actually originally an American slang term. It is first recorded in the early 20^th Century and is of uncertain origin.

The first written example we have comes from 1917, so we can presume that the word predated this by at least some decades and perhaps a lot longer.

Some believe that the term derives from the German putzi, which referred to a lap-dog.

Others think it might be a variant of pouch dog, which was a term used for small dogs used to carry small amounts of supplies.

Others point to the fact that “pooch” was an old Alaskan term for whiskey and that there may be an uncertain connection there.

Ultimately, the origin of this term has been lost, and we may never know for sure.

It spread to Britain fairly early on, and was well-established by the middle of the 20^th Century.

Why do the British say mutt?

Mutt is an older term with a clearer etymology, although still far from certain.

By 1901 and probably a lot further back than that, the word meant a stupid or foolish person.

This was most likely an abbreviation of “muttonhead”, used as early as 1803.

This was very similar to the term “meathead”.

By 1898, it was established as a term you would use for a dog, and particularly for a stupid dog.

It probably derives from the same root, although it may be entirely independent.

We don’t know for sure.

Eventually, its meaning became a bit more specific and it was used to refer to dogs of unclear pedigree, which would often be thought of as being particularly stupid.

It’s also thought it might be related to sheepdogs, since “mutton” is the term used for the meat of a sheep.

It certainly was a rustic and rural term at first.

Why do the British say Cherry Hogg?

Finally, we have the term “Cherry Hogg” which I’ve mentioned.

This one, again, is much more regionally specific than the others, and you won’t hear outside London, indeed outside the East End of London.

In Cockney slang, a common practice is to have as stand-in words slang terms that rhyme with the original word and are otherwise unconnected.

This is the case with Cherry Hogg.

It is Cockney rhyming slang simply because the phrase rhymes with “dog”.

It’s not entirely certain where the term itself originally came from or what it meant, but it’s thought that it’s a reference to the Hogg Norton cherry liqueur.

So all bases are more or less covered when it comes to British slang for dog.

That said, the extent to which these terms are actually used can certainly vary quite a lot.

Some are more old fashioned than others and not used as much now as they once were.

It can depend on where you are in the country, the kind of person you’re speaking to, and indeed whether they own any dogs themselves.

More in British Slang

Founder - @PollyWebster

Polly Webster is the founder of Foreign Lingo and a seasoned traveler with a decade of exploration under her belt.

Over the past 10 years, she has journeyed to numerous countries around the globe, immersing herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and languages.

Drawing from her rich experiences, Polly now writes insightful articles about travel, languages, traditions, and cultures, sharing her unique perspectives and invaluable tips with her readers.

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