- Shadow: [after Sassy is lost in the river] I shouldn't have made her come.
- Chance: It's not your fault, she wanted to come.
- Shadow: But it's my responsibility. I had a responsibility to Sassy - to love her and protect her - the same as I have to you... and to Peter. And the same as you have to Jamie.
- Chance: But we didn't ask for this job.
- Shadow: We didn't have to. It's built in. Has been ever since the dawn of time... when a few wild dogs took it upon themselves to watch over man, to bark when he's in danger, to run and play with him when he's happy, to nuzzle him when he's lonely. That's why they call us man's best friend.
- Chance: [narrating] Looking at him that night, he seemed so wise... and ancient, like the first dog who ever walked the earth. I just hope that one day, I can be like him.
- [first lines]
- Chance: My name is Chance. I know, it sounds odd, but most names do if you think about it long enough... maybe even yours. I was abandoned when I was very young. I lived on the streets scrounging for food sleeping wherever I could; that seemed like fun at first, but pretty soon, it landed me behind bars. But I don't like to talk about that; let's talk about after that... when I got my second chance... and my name. You see, this family came along, and I guess you can say they rescued me, because they adopted me and brought me to live at their house. But it was their home, not mine. Still, it was an improvement over that other place: lots of space, fresh air, plenty interesting things to explore, and all the underwear I could eat.
- 1st Dog at Pound: Hey, kitty!
- 2nd Dog at Pound: Yeah! Shake that tail, baby!
- Sassy: I don't believe it. Cat calls.
- Chance: [to Shadow] You pushed me this far, now I'm pushing you the rest of the way. You know, back in the woods, even when things looked really *bad*, I always thought we'd make it because I thought *you* were too stubborn to quit. Well, you're not going to quit, not now, not when we're this close.
- Chance: Look! You've pushed me this far, now I'm pushing you the rest of the way! You know, back there in the woods, even when things looked really bad, I still believed we'd make it because you were too stubborn to quit! I'm not gonna make you quit. Not now. Not when we're this close. Now, try again!
- Shadow: You think it's easy for me to admit I can't do it? I'm too old.
- Chance: That's not true! There's nothing you can't do!
- Shadow: I have nothing more to give, Chance, and it's time for you to be on your own.
- Chance: But I want you with me. I love you, Shadow.
- Shadow: You've learned everything you need, Chance. Now all you have to learn is how to say goodbye.
- Chance: I won't let you give up.
- Shadow: [Shadow watches Chance chase a rabbit] There goes the bunny... There goes the pup... There goes breakfast.
- Chance: [to a couple of ladies] Ladies! Ladies, ladies, please, you gotta help me! I'm starving, and I can't remember when I had my last meal, and I'm an orphan, and I'm weak, and I'm helpless, and if you don't feed me, I'll shrivle into a pile of bleached bones, so please!
- [the ladies shoo him away]
- Chance: What? Do you want to shake a paw? Shake hands? How's that? Is that worth most of your food? All of your food? A little bit? Please?
- [They continue to shoo him away then leave]
- Chance: Ah, she doesn't even know how to shake right! You need training!
- [Chance is chewing apart an old shirt]
- Sassy: Chance, stop! The blouse is dead!
- Chance: That's right! And I have to shred it into teeny, tiny little pieces and I...
- [gulps]
- Chance: - I swallowed a button.
- Sassy: Oh, what a shame... Too bad it wasn't a zipper!
- Chance: Hey, you better beat it powder puff before I turn you into dog meat!
- Sassy: Oh, is that any way to speak to a petite dewdrop... you big flat-faced butt-sniffer?
- [Chance barks and chases Sassy]
- Chance: [running away from the turkey after he tries to scare the hens] Ah! It's Birdzilla! I swear I'll never eat a McNugget again!
- Sassy: Oh, Chance. When will you grow up? That bear could've eaten you. Don't you realize how painful that would've been... for the bear?
- Shadow: Up and at 'em, you two. I found our breakfast.
- Chance: Good, I hope it's garbage
- Shadow: No, even better.
- Sassy: With you two gourmets, I can just imagine
- Chance: Well fine, just sit here and diet.
- Sassy: Are you calling me fat?
- Chance: Course not, for a hippopotamus!
- [Runs into a tree]
- Chance: I meant to do that!
- Sassy: Ha ha! Serves you right.
- Hope Burnford: Hungry?
- Sassy: No.
- Hope Burnford: But it's shrimp. You like shrimp.
- Sassy: Yeah, well, I've still got those four pesky ounces still hanging on from last Christmas.
- [Chance's stomach growls]
- Chance: I think... I need to eat some grass.
- [vomits]
- Peter: Eww!
- Jamie Seaver: That's Grandma's cake!
- Peter: Ugh! Come on, Shadow.
- Chance: [voice-over] I learned an important lesson that day: cake and polyester don't mix.
- Shadow: [growls at Chance as he noses the turkey]
- Chance: Oh, back off, old man! You were just jealous cos I smelled it first.
- Shadow: Would a rolled up newspaper mean anything to you?
- Chance: No. Why?
- Shadow: [barks]
- Chance: All right! Okay! I just wanted to... smell it.
- Shadow: [barks]
- Chance: ...to make sure it was safe for people.
- Shadow: I'm keeping my eye on you, pup.
- Chance: Yeah, well I'm just gonna go mingle.
- Chance: You want to shake a paw? Shake hands? Is that worth most of your food? All of your food? She doesn't even know how to shake right. You need training.
- Sassy: You need the training.
- Chance: Ah, great. And I suppose you know a better way?
- Sassy: Yes. I'll get food by acting like I don't want food.
- Chance: That's stupid.
- Sassy: I'll prove it.
- Chance: Oh, you don't have to prove it. I believe you're stupid.
- Chance: Cats are smarter than dogs, huh? Right. She doesn't even know the meaning of the word, "stay".
- Chance: I can't sleep. I'm too tired to sleep. And this place is spooky. I don't like it here. It gives me the creeps.
- Sassy: Oh, fraidy cat. I mean dog!
- Shadow: You two pipe down and go to sleep.
- [Chance hears a sound and sits up with a start]
- Shadow: Now what?
- Chance: There's somethin' out there.
- Sassy: [trying to scare him] Oooooooohh!
- Shadow: Enough, Sassy. Now sleep.