Stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1) plays a pivotal role in the mobilization and homing of stem cells, indicative of its potential in myocardial regeneration after heart damage. The use of large animal models in cardiac surgery research plays an essential role in the translation of results from basic studies into clinical trials. Considering the aforesaid two reasons, for the first time, we cloned dog SDF-1 cDNA and characterized the constitutive expression pattern of SDF-1 gene in normal dog tissues and the dynamic expression pattern in a dog model of myocardial infarction (MI) by means of ELISA test, real-time RT-PCR, and Western blotting. In a dog model of MI, We also examined and compared the differentially expressed pattern of SDF-1 between infarct area and border zone of myocardium in order to explore the implication of differentially distribution of SDF-1 in the mobilization and homing of stem cells to the damaged heart. Our results provide insights into expression pattern and pathophysiologic significance of dog SDF-1 in normal and heart-damaged dogs.