Short Dogs Grow is a San Francisco based alternative rock band known for their power-chord harmonies, bold time changes, and strong, unconventional imagery

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 Tom Pitts and Carmela Thompson formed Short Dogs Grow in 1985. Tom and Carmela were bike messengers at the time. They drew their band's name from the lyrics of the Tom Waits song “On the Nickel” from the 1980 album Heartattack and Vine. The song's title refers to Fifth Street in Los Angeles, long known as a slum, and a "short dog" is a small bottle of cheap wine favored by winos. Pitts and Thompson felt it symbolized the band's philosophy of "not being tied to anything and giving yourself room to grow." Joe Pethod played drums and Greg Foot joined on lead guitar and vocals after a year. 

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Short Dogs Grow released two albums on Rough Trade US records, Self Entitled with drummer Joe Pethoud and Matt Dillion with drummer George Fenley. 

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The band took a long hiatus between 1990 and 2006 when they reunited for The Chatterbox video release party.  Following multiple reunion shows, the band reformed with Chewy Marzolo on drums and Joe Dean on guitar. 

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In 2025 they release a new EP, Quit While You’re Young. This album continues Short Dogs’ humorous and insightful takes on themes of love, loss, and the absurdity of humanity. Short Dogs Grow continue to write music, and are known for their high energy, jocular live performances.