What is "dog in the hunt"

n. 1 Literally, ownership of one of several canines participating in the group pursuit of game or fowl. 2 (context idiomatic English) Something to gain depending on the outcome; a position for which to campaign or cheer.. 3 This is often used erroneously to indicate that one has no stake in the outcome. As such this is a bastardization of two Southern idioms: "no dog in the fight," and "that dog won't hunt.” (The latter indicates something is a bad idea or prone to fail.) Use of the phrase "no dog in the hunt" when one wishes to indicate they have no "dog in the fight" will generate funny glances from any Southerners who overhear it.