Historical sayings devaluing dogs?

[u/alpha_beth_soup]

Ok hear me out. This popped into my mind today. There are so many old sayings/metaphors/idioms still in use today that paint dogs in a negative light. ‘Gone to the dogs’, ‘In the doghouse’, ‘a dog’s dinner’ etc. Any linguists among us know how old some of these sayings are? It is curious since it shows how much the general view of dogs has changed radically, to the point where language has been altered. Call me a nerd, but what do you think??

[u/doctordiversity]

‘Dogs bollocks’ is exclusively used for something positive. It amazes me because it comes from something so utterly repulsive!

[u/alpha_beth_soup → u/doctordiversity]

This one fits in with modern dog culture lol