house dog

From house +‎ dog.

house dog (plural house dogs)

1. A dog used to protect a house, a watchdog; (later also) a dog kept as a pet. [from 16th c.]

   Synonym: watchdog

   • a. 1749 (date written), James Thomson, “Summer”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768, →OCLC:

     The house-dog, with the vacant greyhound, lies, / Out-stretch'd, and sleepy.

• dog house, doghouse, housegod