dog
/dɒɡ/ UK /dɒɡ/ · US /dɔːɡ/
A short o CVC word (ɒ) in the animals category. It belongs to the -og word family.
animalsHear dog
Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.
How to Say “dog”
Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /d/ – /ɒ/ – /ɡ/ → dog.
Example Sentences with Dog
- Walk the dog.
- A friendly dog.
- The dog barked at the mail box.
- My dog sleeps under the table.
- We walk the dog at six.
- The dog wagged its tail.
How to Spell “dog”
Children most often write this word as dawg, dogu, dop. Those errors are useful — each one points to a specific sound the child has not yet connected to a letter.
- The "o" in dog is a short o — the mouth stays wide open, like /ɒ/ in hot.
- Remember the "ck" rule: a short vowel followed by "ck" keeps the letter small, so there is no extra e.
- Practise "d-o-g" with the three sound boxes, saying each sound and clapping on it.
Phonics Tip for Dog
"dog", "log" and "fog" share the ending /ɒɡ/. Mixing these up is a sign the child is relying on the picture rather than the sound, so cover the picture and blend from the letters.
Fun Facts About Dog
A dog's sense of smell is up to 100,000 times more sensitive than a human's, which is why dogs can track a scent over long distances and why they often know when you are sad before you do.
More Words in the -og Family
Words that rhyme with dog and end with the same sounds:
Related CVC Words
More words with the short o sound that have their own picture guide:
Other Word Families
Move between families:
Where to Practise Dog
- All short o CVC words — 41 words
- The -og word family
- CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
- CVC multiple choice quiz
- CVC sentences — read the word in context
- CVC worksheets