“Man’s best friend” typically refers to dogs, emphasizing the strong bond and loyalty between humans and dogs. This phrase highlights the companionship, loyalty, and unconditional love that dogs offer to their human owners. Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years, serving various roles such as working animals, protectors, and beloved pets. Their affectionate nature and ability to form deep emotional connections make them cherished members of many households.

The phrase “man’s best friend” is believed to have originated in the United States in the 19th century. The first known use of the phrase in its modern context is attributed to a court case in Missouri in 1870. During the case of **Burden v. Hornsby**, a farmer named Charles Burden was suing his neighbor, Dr. Horace Hornsby, for killing his dog, Old Drum. In his closing argument, Burden’s attorney, George Graham Vest, delivered a powerful speech in which he said, “The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog.”

This speech, known as “Eulogy of the Dog,” became famous and is often credited with popularizing the sentiment that dogs are man’s best friends. A monument to Old Drum stands in Warrensburg, Missouri, commemorating this landmark case and the bond between humans and dogs.