[Idiom] Why "a dog's chance" means little chance?

[thedaffodils]

Hello! Could someone tell me why the idiom of a dog's chance means a slim chance? Thanks!

have a dog's chance - Idioms - by the Free Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

[Anglika]

Because until relatively recently, dogs scavenged for food and roamed around the streets, so were likely to get killed by traffic. It was only highly prized animals such as hounds or lapdogs that were kept safe and fed regularly. All other dogs had to take their chance in life.

[thedaffodils]

Originally Posted by Anglika

Because until relatively recently, dogs scavenged for food and roamed around the streets, so were likely to get killed by traffic. It was only highly prized animals such as hounds or lapdogs that were kept safe and fed regularly. All other dogs had to take their chance in life.

Hello Anglika,

Thank you for your answer. But I don't understand why " little chance" is linked to "all the other dogs have to take their chance in life" if I don't misconstrue your explanation.

Could you please elucidate it further for me? Many thanks.

[Anglika]

Well, if a dog is not carefully housed and fed, and is roaming the streets, picking up what it can to eat, the probability is that it will be killed/die sooner rather than later. It has a slim [little] chance of survival into old age.

[thedaffodils]

Hi Anglika,

Thank you for your help again. I am clear about it now.

Have a good one!