• 犬いぬ — dog
• 犬死いぬじに — pointless or wasted death
• 愛犬あいけん — beloved dog
• 番犬ばんけん — guard dog
• 猟犬りょうけん — hunting dog
• 犬小屋いぬごや — doghouse
• 子犬こいぬ — puppy
• 忠犬ちゅうけん — loyal dog

The kanji “犬” is a pictograph of a dog with its tail raised. It appears in many compound words related to dog types, loyalty (忠犬), and metaphors (e.g., watchdogs, “political dogs”). It's also used symbolically in the Chinese zodiac.

犬いぬが庭にわで走はしって います。
The dog is running in the yard.

忠犬ちゅうけんが 主人しゅじんを守まもりました。
The loyal dog protected its owner.