Easy expression of such aspects of ourselves as aggression – maybe because they show their teeth easily – sexuality, especially male sexuality, friendship; our easy flowing natural feelings; devotion, perhaps to a lover or child. For some people a dog was the only source of expressive love in their childhood, so may well depict this. Like the cat, the dog can be a substitute baby for childless women, or represent affection or caring. See: cat. Dog on lead: Restrained or controlled urges. The dog appears more often than other animals in dreams. Black dog: The black dog figures in quite a lot of people’s imagery. Bernard Levin uses it to represent depression. For some people it is death. The sense or meaning the dog gives in relationship to depression or death is that it is a living energy in us which has gone ‘bad’ which causes the depression or death. Woman’s dream – attacked by dog: Could well be feelings about male sexuality or a relationship with a male. Possibly the dreamer is holding back her own female strength and cannot meet the male strength. Idioms: Die like a dog; dirty dog; dog eared; dog eat dog; dog in the manger; gay dog; go to the dogs; let sleeping dogs lie; etc.
