# Where did the "dog ate my homework" excuse originate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 16, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861 "2011-01-16T21:05:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BomTek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bomtek/32/21364_2.png) [@BomTek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BomTek)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861/1 "2011-01-16T21:05:12Z")
I guess the thread title pretty much says it all, but I’m mostly curious how it came to be the go-to, and then cliched, excuse that it apparently was. I haven’t been able to turn anything up. Sub-question: Was it ever actually legitimately used as an excuse, or was it just something that Hollywood and book writers cooked up? Any older Dopers who remember using this or hearing it used in school? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861/2 "2011-01-16T21:10:44Z")
I remember this in school back in the 60s, I think starting in the 2nd grade when we were first assigned homework. I imagine it was first used as an actual excuse, and could have been fabricated or genuine. Maybe it goes very far back: Miss Ig: Oggy, where learning bone? ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861/3 "2011-01-16T21:21:36Z")
I dunno, but once when I was a kid the dog actually _did_ eat my homework. Nobody believed me. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861/4 "2011-01-16T21:29:39Z")
One of our cats will shred with her teeth any paper that she finds on the floor and will occasionally steal some if she’s going through withdrawal . We’ve mailed in bills that are half-chewed. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861/5 "2011-01-16T23:18:59Z")
Google Books doesn’t give any cites earlier than 1982 with I search on “dog ate my homework.” But if I leave off the quotes it frequently finds that phrase before then. And if you don’t confine the search to the exact words of the phrase, you can find ever earlier variations. > [@](#): > > The New York Times biographical service: Volume 11 > 1980 - Snippet view > “If I didn’t do my homework, what would I say,” she shrugged. “My dog ate it?” > > St. Patrick’s Day with Mayor Daley and other things too good to miss > Eugene C. Kennedy - 1976 - 238 pages - Snippet view > But, as the third tape unwinds, he and the President are working on the greatest American excuse since “The dog ate my homework.” > > Senior scholastic: Volume 104 > 1974 - Snippet view > … bug me- my teachers don’t understand me m/ face always breaks out before a date- the dog ate my homework - my best friend ran aivay with my true love- my allowance has been cuh nobody cares whether I live or die l can’t cope BLUES? … > > New teachers in urban schools: an inside view > Richard Wisniewski - 1968 - 241 pages - Snippet view > Any teacher gullible enough to fall for the inevitable story, “my little sister ate my homework,” without demanding a new version of the same, deserves the reputation she will soon have to live with. > > Quill & quire > 1965 - Snippet view > "I lent it to Mary Jan so she could get her project done, too. “The dog ate my book, I’m awful! sorry.” “My father took the book t read on the train and he left it in th hotel room in New York.” It takes tim and patience to listen to … ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861/6 "2011-01-17T00:05:43Z")
I’m fairly certain, that excuse, and a host of others, appeared in the novel “Up the Down Staircase” (1965). It takes place in a high school. There was a movie version a few years later. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861/7 "2011-01-17T01:09:43Z")
Google Books has “I’m very sorry, but my dog’s eaten your Greek prose” in Frank Fletcher’s _After Many Days: A Schoolmaster’s Memories_, 1937 (p. 37). ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861/8 "2011-01-17T01:20:34Z")
And there seems to be another reference from 1911, but I can’t see it in full: Fire Underwriters’ Association of the Northwest - 1911 - Snippet view Donald, on hearing the excuse, replied: “And so, Mr. Minister, the reason your sermon was brief was because a dog ate it.” “Well,” replied the minister, "yes, Mr. McPherson, that is practically true. … ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861/9 "2011-01-17T02:17:31Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > I’m fairly certain, that excuse, and a host of others, appeared in the novel “Up the Down Staircase” (1965). It takes place in a high school. There was a movie version a few years later. “The dog went on my homework.” ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861/10 "2011-01-17T05:24:04Z")
St. Ciaran. Around 550AD-ish. No, really. It seems Ciaran had befriended a wild fox. It being a very long walk to the home of Ciaran’s mentor, and he having duties around his parents home, he sometimes tied his writing tablet around the fox’s neck, who would then carry notes and tablets back and forth between the two. When the fox grew up, however, and was tempted away (by a lady fox, presumably) he chewed off the leather strap and took off, leaving Ciaran’s homework in some unknown spot in the woods. There being some much-quoted celebrity named “Ciaran Fox” I am unable to provide a cite, but the truth is out there. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861/11 "2011-01-17T10:08:32Z")
We had a dog that did in fact chew up my sister’s homework. When the teacher didn’t believe her, my mom brought the remnants of the assignment in to prove it (not sure why my sister didn’t just bring it with her.) Not long after, the same dog did a job on one of my homework assignments as well, and I ended up turning it in with a chunk missing an an explanation. I got an eyebrow raise, but I seem to recall that she accepted that explanation (particularly since I’ve never been a good liar when it comes to covering up my own oversights. If I forgot to do something, I’ve always been up front about it.) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861/12 "2011-01-17T14:25:45Z")
I don’t think St. Ciaran is relevant here. From the 1876 edition of his life by John Hogan: > [@](#): > > One day that the wild fox, who was lustful, cunning, wicked, and evilly disposed by nature, met the saint’s sandals and stole them, and immediately left the community and went towards his own den, where he began to eat the sandals. But on this being made known to Ciaran, he sent another of his monks—the badger, to bring back the fox; but on arriving at the fox’s den he found him eating the sandals—for he had the latchets and fongs already gnawed off. The badger beseeched him to return to the monastery, and both came in the afternoon to St. Ciaran with the sandals. > > “Brother,” said Ciaran, addressing the fox, "Why didst thou commit this shameful theft, which is not becoming a Christian monk to do; for we have water here in abundance, and food also; and if your natural propensities overcame you, God would make flesh meat for you of the very bark of those trees which surround us. The fox then implored Ciaran to forgive him his sins, and begged to have penance imposed upon him, which was accordingly done, and the fox never after tasted food till he got leave from Ciaran to do so; and he then became pious like the rest of the animals ever after. I don’t know what latchets and fongs are, but the only things in common are a canid eating a non-food item. I think it’s more likely to be related to an old joke. From James Wells, _Bible Addresses to the Young_ (1877): > [@](#): > > Robert Moffat, the missionary, tells that an African chief once came to him lamenting that his best hunting dog had eaten his New Testament. “Oh! I’ll give you another,” said Mr Moffat. “Ah!” said the hunter, "my fear is not that the dog has spoiled the book, but that the book has spoiled my best dog. I can imagine the joke being adapted to schoolkids with homework spoiling the dog. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861/13 "2011-01-17T15:30:02Z")
There is also the story about the kid who was raising a pig for his 4-H project. His dog got into the pen one day and attacked the pig. The pig killed and ate the dog. This lead to the excuse that, “My homework ate my dog.”. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861/14 "2011-01-17T15:39:54Z")
I found it as early as 1962 in Google News Archives. It seemed to start picking up steam in the 1970s. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861/15 "2011-01-17T15:41:48Z")
I seriously used this excuse myself in the mid-70s. I thought it up all on my own, and honestly thought it would work. It didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861/16 "2011-01-17T20:21:53Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > “The dog went on my homework.” I think the line was “My dog pead on it” ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861/17 "2011-01-17T23:23:24Z")
> [@Jake](#): > > I think the line was “My dog pead on it” Not in the edition I checked. But that book has gone through a million editions. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861/18 "2011-01-18T02:29:20Z")
A few students in the lower grades tried it at my school. One teacher required the chewed paper. The others required a note from the parent. Occasionally it was true. Dogs do destroy a lot by chewing. I think the first time this excuse would have been used was in Egypt with the use of papyrus. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861/19 "2011-01-18T03:09:53Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > A few students in the lower grades tried it at my school. One teacher required the chewed paper. The others required a note from the parent. Occasionally it was true. Dogs do destroy a lot by chewing. I think the first time this excuse would have been used was in Egypt with the use of papyrus. I dunno, how hard were the clay tablets they used to record information on? Soft enough for a dog to chew it up maybe? If I were a teacher, I’d let it happen maybe once (depends on the circumstances), and I’d make it very clear that it is their responsibility to keep their work in a safe place (ie: not leaving it on the floor if they have a dog or a Roomba) ---
**Author:** ![bahimes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@bahimes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bahimes)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861/20 "2011-01-18T04:38:40Z")
At least one “Little Rascals” film. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-dog-ate-my-homework-excuse-originate/567861.md?page=2)