Walking the Dog

"Walking the Dog"
Single by Rufus Thomas
from the album Walking the Dog
Released	1963
Format	Single
Genre	R&B
Length	2:30
Label	Stax Records
Writer(s)	Rufus Thomas
Producer(s)	Jim Stewart

"Walking the Dog" (or "Walkin' the Dog") is a Rufus Thomas song. It was released on his 1963 album Walking the Dog. It was his signature hit and also his biggest, reaching number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1963 and remaining on the Hot 100 for 14 weeks.^[1] The lyrics make frequent references to children's nursery rhymes.

The song was covered by The Rolling Stones in 1964. Unlike most Stones' recordings, the songs features harmony vocals on the chorus solely by Brian Jones (most early Stones songs feature either Jones and Bill Wyman joining on backing vocals, with Keith Richards replacing the two not long after) making their recording of the song unique among their catalogue.

Many other artists have covered the song, including Aerosmith, Roger Daltrey, Green Day, Hans Theessink, The Flamin' Groovies, The Kingsmen, The Sonics, The Trashmen, Luv'd Ones, Bob Paisley and the Southern Grass and Ratt. It was performed live occasionally by the Grateful Dead in 1966, 1970, and the mid-eighties.

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