The song "Who Let the Dogs Out" was originally written by Trinidadian musician Anslem Douglas in 1998 under the title "Doggie." Douglas has explained that the song is actually a feminist anthem criticizing men who catcall women, with the "dogs" referring to these men rather than literal dogs
. The phrase "Who let the dogs out?" was reportedly inspired by Douglas's brother-in-law, who would shout the phrase, prompting Douglas to write the song from a woman's perspective calling out disrespectful men
. The song became internationally famous when it was covered by the Bahamian band Baha Men in 2000. Their version turned into a worldwide hit, winning a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2001 and becoming a cultural phenomenon, especially in sports events
. In summary:
- Written by Anslem Douglas (Trinidad) in 1998 as "Doggie"
- Theme: Women calling out men behaving badly (catcalling)
- Popularized globally by Baha Men in 2000
- Became a Grammy-winning dance hit and sports anthem
So, "Who let the dogs out?" is a metaphorical question about who allowed disrespectful men ("dogs") to behave poorly, rather than literally about dogs being let out
