Scripture has a surprisingly warm view of animals. God made them and called them good. In the book of Jonah, God spares Nineveh partly because of “much cattle.” And the Psalms say the Lord “preservest man and beast.” There’s nothing silly about thanking God for a dog at the end of the day.
Historical Context
A Bedtime Prayer for My Dog
Lord, thank you for my dog,
for the wagging tail at the door,
the company on walks,
and the love that never holds a grudge.
Give them a good night’s sleep and happy dreams.
Keep them healthy and safe,
and help me take good care of them.
Amen.
A Child’s Goodnight Prayer for the Dog
Goodnight, God. Goodnight, puppy.
Thank you for my dog and all the fun we had today.
Keep us safe while we sleep,
and wake us up to play tomorrow.
Amen.
A Dog’s Own Prayer (Just for Fun)
Dear God, thank you for my people.
Thank you for dinner, and for the bit of chicken that fell off the table.
Help me guard the house from the mail carrier.
And please let tomorrow have a walk in it.
Amen.
For an Old Dog
Lord, my dog is getting old and slow.
Ease their stiff joints, and keep them comfortable.
Thank you for every year.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer
- At bedtime, with your dog curled up nearby.
- With children, as part of their nighttime prayers.
- On 4 October, the Blessing of the Animals.
Scripture Connection
“Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.” — Psalm 36:6
God’s care reaches from the mountains to the depths, and to the dog asleep on your rug.
Related prayers
For dogs, see the Dog Prayer and Pit Bull Prayer. For St Roch, the St Rocco Prayer. For cats, the Prayer for a Sick Cat.