Gary Larson's 25 Funniest Far Side Comics About Dogs

Throughout its run, The Far Side depicted all kinds of animals, such as cows and cats. However, Gary Larson recognized that, beyond being known as "man's best friend," dogs are also great companions for eliciting plenty of laughs. That's why pooches have starred in many iconic panels of The Far Side that even non-dog lovers can enjoy.

The newspaper comic strip went beyond simply portraying them as pets, also presenting anthropomorphized dogs dealing with all sorts of cohabitation issues and living in their own canine societies. The Far Side also lived up to its absurd sense of humor by putting a spin on surefire dynamics explored in other media, with scenarios dog owners can easily relate to, such as rivalries with cats or eternal battles against mail carriers. Thus, readers who want to see funny situations involving dogs and their curious way of looking at life in The Far Side comics have plenty of options.

When Life Betrays a Dog on a Date

First Published: December 13, 1993

Canine courtship takes on a more human quality in The Far Side, yet it plays on the struggles dogs face in hilarious ways. In this comic, Sparky has the worst luck when the car's glove compartment pops open, revealing his deworming medication, "Worms Away." Perhaps Sparky has nothing to be ashamed of (since it’s something that could happen to any dog), but it certainly may be too much information that doesn't make for a good impression on a date.

That’s the beauty of The Far Side; Sparky didn’t even have to wait to see his date’s reaction to realize it was probably time to call it a night. Maybe the charm he displayed up to that point will be enough to secure another date once his treatment is over.

Pampering Your Dog Could Prevent a Murder

First Published: February 21, 1994

Larson knew how to use dark humor with dogs, contrasting their adorable appearances with macabre jokes. The positive thing is that they don't fail to be hilarious. This Far Side comic strip goes against the saying that "a dog will never betray you" by showing three poodles conspiring to get rid of their owner, while one called Fluffy is implied to have second thoughts.

Fluffy is less concerned with the morality of the decision than with the fact that the pampering from her owner will stop. What’s funny is the other dog’s expression as this is pointed out as the only downside and how all this unfolds while the owner is happily drying dishes just a few steps away, completely unaware that a little doting on her pets could mean the difference between life and death.

A Superstitious Canine Comes Out On The Wrong End Of Dog Math

First Published: August 3, 1987

With The Far Side, Gary Larson excelled at providing a delightfully skewed perspective on familiar tropes and folk sayings, as exhibited in this panel, where two dogs superstitiously lament the breaking of a mirror as bad luck.

The humor of the comic comes from the fact that – since dogs are said to age seven years for every human year – "Rusty" is in for nearly half a century's worth of suffering. "Bummer..." his canine cohort says, before working out the math, as the pair of hounds stand in the yard on their hind-legs, shoulders slumped, the broken mirror at their feet.

Even A Puppy Can't Disrespect The Boss Like That

First Published: February 13, 1980

This Far Side panel also stands out as an oblique movie reference, something Gary Larson loved to do throughout the comic's historic run. "He bit the godfather," the caption reads, as a trio of mafiosos stand on a bridge watching a dog – weighed down with cement shoes – plummet toward the surface of a river.

Not only is this an example of a dark Far Side installment where one character is totally doomed, it also brazenly pokes fun at the popular conception of the mafia, which remained a powerful force at the time of the comic's publication.

Hopefully This Sled Racer Has Pet Insurance

First Published: March 27, 1980

In this panel, Gary Larson skillfully remixes a common problem for car owners, by depicting it as an issue for a sled-dog driver. "Egads...another flat!" the man on the sled cries out, as all the air has gone out of one of his dogs.

What makes this panel especially brilliant are the contrasting looks on the other dog's faces, with the leader of the pack looking entirely indifferent, while the others stare at their deflated comrade in evident horror. The human on the sled, meanwhile, cries out in indignation familiar to any driver whose tires need to be replaced.

Somebody Should Tail This Customer Around The Store

First Published: May 14, 1980

"Keep your eye on that guy..." one butcher says to another in this strip, leaning on the deli counter and gesturing to a suspicious character in the foreground of the frame. "He hasn't said or bought a thing for over an hour."

This is one of Gary Larson's signature multilayered jokes. The "guy" is in fact a dog, meaning he can't say anything. However, the suspicion the speaker treats him with is warranted, as the dog – wearing a trenchcoat, and hunched over in suspect posture – is certainly there to pilfer some unsanctioned meats.

City Dogs Know To Walk Quickly Past A Crime Scene

First Published: February 23, 1987

Gary Larson often delivered Far Side panels that didn't need any words to be successful. Famously, Larson explained that The Far Side was designed to test his readers' "reflexes" – that is, to get an immediate reaction out of them. Rather than holding meaning to be deciphered, this panel is intended to make the audience go "What the?"

In the cartoon, dogs dressed in human clothes pass the chalk outline of a dog on a city sidewalk. Rather than attempting to communicate something deeper beneath its surface, this Far Side panel is all about the immediate, and lasting, impact of the image.

St. Bernard Dogs Perform Rescues in Various Ways

First Published: November 2, 1990

The St. Bernard is a breed with a long-standing reputation as a legendary Alpine hero, famously associated with the myth of the small brandy barrel tied around its neck. Here, Larson gives the dog a new role far removed from icy mountains, placing it on a desolate hillside where a different kind of problem exists: the need to restock bathroom supplies.

A St. Bernard, equipped with a roll of toilet paper around its neck, hears cries for help coming from an outhouse. The funniest part isn't the dog's determined look before heading to the rescue, but the fact that the loose end of the toilet paper isn't hanging in the "over" position, making it harder for the people in need to grab it.

Rubbing His Nose In It Afterward Won't Help

Dogs aren't always the most graceful animals, and their destructive behavior has spelled doom for many pieces of furniture over the years. The "Blow Up the House" panel shows off Larson's signature skill for exaggeration and makes it very clear what some people think about dogs in the house.

The front lawn was often a scene that Larson returned to again and again, and in the panel, he shows off his artistic ability to draw the reader's eye across the page. The visual of a dog standing over a dynamite plunger is funny enough as it is, but the reaction of the dog's owner is what really puts it over the top.

First Published: October 3, 1986

One of the deepest human fears is saying something inappropriate at the wrong moment and being exposed before a crowd, and Larson explores this within the context of a canine social gathering. In this Far Side comic strip, dogs are chatting away with drinks in their paws until one of them decides the best conversation starter is mentioning that he was found to have worms the day before.

This is a prime example of a comic strip that seems to have its own sound; it tricks the reader into imagining the party music coming to a sudden halt the moment everyone turns to stare at the dog who committed the social blunder. Here, the concepts of time, place, and occasion take on real significance, illustrating that oversharing is hardly the best way to have casual conversation.