In The Far Side, dogs are considered to be "man's best friend" just as they are in the real world, but there's a bit more bite behind these pets' bark. Gary Larson tends to portray animals in absurd fashions in his work, and dogs are no exception, as they behave in hilariously human ways that show how they aren't too different from their owners after all.

The dynamic between humans and dogs is often viewed as wholly pleasant, but like any friendship, there are ups and downs at play behind the scenes. Dogs aren't always the most obedient, after all, and people are similarly difficult to live with at times. Over the years, Gary Larson has depicted the many sides to owner-pet relations with his trademark comedic sensibility. Now, without further ado, here are 10 of the funniest Far Side comics that illustrate the complex - yet ultimately loving, in spite of it all - relationship between dogs and their human owners.

10 What We Say to Dogs vs. What They Hear

First Published: October 25th, 1983

In this first cartoon, readers get to compare the perspectives of a human and of a dog. The top portrays an owner repeatedly commanding his dog to stay out of the garbage. He may think his message is getting across, but in reality, all the dog hears is gibberish followed by the occasional mention of their name.

Gary Larson, of course, is playing with the idea of how humans tend to speak to their pets as if they're capable of understanding every word they're saying. Dogs can only follow words they've been taught, and even then, their comprehension isn't too advanced. This owner won't get anywhere with his pet unless he finds a different way of getting his message across.

9 This Dog From The Far Side Doesn't Know What's Coming

First Published: May 25th, 1985

Building off the idea of the previous comic, one advantage that humans have over their dogs is that the animals don't always have a full grasp on what they're saying. This second cartoon demonstrates this as a dog announces, "Guess what? After we go to the drugstore and the post office, I'm going to the vet's to get tutored." This poor dog heard wrong, because he's clearly about to get "neutered" rather than tutored.

While the misunderstanding could have been unintentional, there are plenty of pet owners who lie to their dogs about where they're going when it's a place they actively dislike, such as the groomer's or the vet's. Even in The Far Side, dogs are susceptible to being tricked by their owners for the greater good.

8 Some Dogs Would Rather Not Undergo Training

First Published: July 20th, 1985

Dogs aren't always receptive to their owners' training, but the one in this cartoon takes that response to a seriously dark place. An owner is teaching his dog to be patient while balancing a treat on his nose, urging him not to move in a condescending tone. The dog then thinks to himself, "This is it...I'm going to kill him."

One of Gary Larson's trademarks in The Far Side involves exploring and complicating the relationship between humans and animals, causing readers to re-examine the way they perceive the creatures around them. This comic furthers that idea as a dog's feelings about being talked down to are called into question. As innocent as it may seem to train dogs by withholding treats, some might want to reconsider that method to avoid facing their pets' wrath.

7 The Far Side's Dogs Turn the Tables On Their Owners

First Published: November 25th, 1987

As mentioned before, Gary Larson enjoys questioning the natural dynamics between humans and animals, and this comic interrogates that perfectly. A man stumbles upon a letter written in sloppy handwriting that appears to be from his dog, which explains that he and his canine buddy have decided to take the car for a joyride. The next depicts the two dogs having the time of their lives as they drive the owner's car without a care in the world.

Like many comics from The Far Side's run, this one doesn't feature a caption, showing how Gary Larson trusted his readers to draw their own conclusions about his work.

Usually, humans leave their pets at home on short notice, but the dog gets to do so for a change here. He even writes, "Stay home! Stay!" This part is punctuated by written-out laughter, mocking a command that's often delivered by people to their pets.

6 The Far Side Tests Dogs' Loyalty...In the Courtroom?!

First Published: October 16th, 1980

Dogs are widely regarded as loyal pets who stick by their owners through thick and thin. In The Far Side, however, that loyalty isn't a sure thing. Here, for instance, a dog prepares to testify against his owner in a courtroom. The defendant bitterly remarks to his lawyer, "My friends all warned me that this breed will sometimes turn on you."

Seeing a dog in a court setting is delightfully ridiculous, and the laughs that spring from that ridiculousness is what makes The Far Side so funny. Gary Larson aims to activate the reader's "What-the?" reflex through his work, and he accomplishes this by making them do a double take at increasingly inane scenarios, such as a dog unloading his grievances about his owner in front of a jury.

5 The Far Side's Brightest Mind Invents a Canine Decoder

First Published: March 25th, 1992

One scientist in The Far Side decides to pull off the impossible and invent a device that allows him to understand what dogs are saying and finally communicate properly with them. The issue of misunderstandings and an inability to comprehend their feelings can at last be solved, or so he thinks. Unfortunately, once he activates the canine decoder, he discovers that dogs only have a single thing to say.

Every dog in Professor Schwartzman's vicinity echoes the same simple thought: "Hey! Hey! Hey!" Over and over, the dogs greet anyone and anything in their sight, translating their barks into the same word. At the end of the day, dogs are simply excited to see their owners, and that's all humanity needs to know about their innermost thoughts.

4 Two Dogs Await The Same Meal They Always Have

First Published: November 24th, 1982

Dogs' love for food is a known fact about them, but The Far Side isn't afraid to make fun of how their food isn't as great as they believe it to be. A woman is drawn preparing a meal for her two dogs in this comic, and they sit excitedly as she does so. One says to the other, "Oh boy! It's dog food again!"

Although there are some owners who share food with their pets, most stick to store-bought dog food when it comes to keeping their pets fed. These specific dogs don't seem to have experience with more gourmet delicacies, so for them, this canned food is the best it gets. Their owner would be wise not to expand their palates, otherwise they'll stop settling for slop.

3 The Far Side Warns Against Testing Dogs' Patience

First Published: June 3rd, 1987

The Far Side warns against testing dogs' patience in numerous comics that feature canines and wolves, and that warning reaches a horrifying extreme here. One dog has finally had enough of his owner not giving in when he begs for food, so he takes drastic measures and pulls a gun on him as he's trying to eat in peace. He declares, "Hey, bucko...I'm through begging."

Every dog begs at the table during owners' meals, but this time, that begging has become a threat more than anything else. This man may have no choice but to hand over his scraps of food and live to fight another day. Once again, Gary Larson has taken an ordinary snapshot of life with a dog and dialed up the shock factor.

2 This St. Bernard Is A Hero to The Far Side's Humans

First Published: November 2nd, 1990

Anyone who's familiar with St. Bernards knows that they're often seen with barrels around their necks, and Gary Larson toys with that concept in this cartoon. A man cries out for help from an outdoor bathroom, and "a very specialized breed of dog heard the cry of distress". With toilet paper attached to his collar, this dog is precisely the hero this man needs for his bathroom fiasco.

Historically, the barrel or keg that dangles from the neck of a St. Bernard has been worn to assist with rescues. In the spirit of The Far Side, Larson twists that idea by creating a new subsection of this dog breed that's tasked with rescuing those who don't have toilet paper on hand.

1 On The Far Side, Dogs Really Are Just Like Us

First Published: April 23rd, 1993

This last cartoon is perhaps the best visual demonstration of how dogs and humans are more alike than they realize. An old man sits on his porch, likely judging youths who by his front yard, while his two elderly dogs do the same to two spry puppies racing past.

Dogs acting like humans appears to be a favorite trope of Gary Larson's, as he employs it repeatedly throughout his work. It just goes to show that, despite their differences and the conflicts that fester between them, dogs and their owners share a heartwarming bond at their core. Growing old and grumpy with a canine companion doesn't sound half bad, and The Far Side proves that a dog can truly be a best friend for life.