Here are some assorted accounts (do a search on the page for the phrase), and you'll find one going back to the 1840's.
Full quotation:
“I think the time for a man to show himself worthy of the name is when he is in difficulty & for me to give up the ghost (as the saying is) until the Last dog is dead would be acting the coward & not using that Energy which is due from Every man to his family.”
My Google-fu is not turning up an origin for it, though.
Re: last dog is hung
Here are some assorted accounts (do a search on the page for the phrase), and you'll find one going back to the 1840's.
Full quotation:
“I think the time for a man to show himself worthy of the name is when he is in difficulty & for me to give up the ghost (as the saying is) until the Last dog is dead would be acting the coward & not using that Energy which is due from Every man to his family.”
My Google-fu is not turning up an origin for it, though.