The Dog and its Reflection
Seeing a dog reflected in the water holding a bigger bone, one greedy dog makes a foolish mistake. Will his greed cost him his tasty treat?
One bright afternoon, a hungry dog found a big, juicy bone. His tail wagged with joy as he picked it up. "What a lucky day!" he thought, firmly holding the bone in his mouth. He couldn’t wait to find a quiet spot to enjoy his tasty treat.
As he walked home, he reached a wooden bridge over a clear, gentle stream. The water sparkled in the sun. Curious, he looked down and gasped.
Below, another dog was staring back at him, holding a bone that looked even bigger and juicier! The dog’s eyes grew wide with excitement. "That bone looks better than mine!" he thought. "I want both!"
Without thinking, he barked loudly, "Woof!" trying to scare the other dog away.
But as he opened his mouth, plop! His bone slipped from his teeth and fell into the stream. He watched in shock as it sank into the water and floated away.
The dog leaned over the edge of the bridge, trying to grab his bone, but it was too late. It was gone. When he looked back at the water, the other dog had disappeared, too.
It wasn’t another dog at all. It had only been his own reflection!
With a heavy heart, the dog turned and walked away. He wished he had been happy with what he had, instead of trying to get more.
Audio available for B1 version
Read Along unavailable for this story
One bright afternoon, a hungry dog found a big, juicy bone.
His tail wagged with joy as he picked it up.
"What a lucky day!" he thought, firmly holding the bone in his mouth.
He couldn’t wait to find a quiet spot to enjoy his tasty treat.
As he walked home, he reached a wooden bridge over a clear, gentle stream.
The water sparkled in the sun.
Curious, he looked down and gasped.
Below, another dog was staring back at him, holding a bone that looked even bigger and juicier!
The dog’s eyes grew wide with excitement.
"That bone looks better than mine!" he thought. "I want both!"
Without thinking, he barked loudly, "Woof!" trying to scare the other dog away.
But as he opened his mouth, plop!
His bone slipped from his teeth and fell into the stream.
He watched in shock as it sank into the water and floated away.
The dog leaned over the edge of the bridge, trying to grab his bone, but it was too late. It was gone.
When he looked back at the water, the other dog had disappeared, too.
It wasn’t another dog at all.
It had only been his own reflection!
With a heavy heart, the dog turned and walked away.
He wished he had been happy with what he had, instead of trying to get more.
Ngenye imva kwemini eqaqambileyo, inja elambileyo yafumana ithambo elikhulu elinencindi enamnandi. Umsila wakhe washukuma luvuyo njengoko wayechola ithambo. "Usuku lwethamsanqa!" wacinga, ebambe ithambo emlonyeni wakhe ngokuqinileyo. Wayengakwazi ukulinda ukuze afumane indawo ezolileyo ukuze anambithe ukutya kwakhe okunencasa.
Njengoko wayegoduka, wafika kwibhulorho eyenziwe ngamaplanga phezu komsinga ocacileyo nothambileyo. Amanzi ayemenyezela elangeni. Enomdla, wajonga phantsi waza wakhefuzela.
Apha ngezantsi, enye inja yayimjongile, iphethe ithambo elikhangeleka lilikhulu kwaye linencindi! Amehlo enja akhula banzi ngenxa yochulumanco. "Ela thambo likhangeleka lingcono kunelam!" wacinga. “Ndiwafuna omabini.”
Ngaphandle kokucinga, Wakhonkotha kakhulu, “Hawu!” ukuzama ukoyikisa enye inja ekude.
Kwathi njengoko wayevula umlomo wakhe, Gxumfu! thambo lakhe latyibilika emazinyweni laza lawela emlanjeni. Wabukela ethukile njengoko ladada emanzini laze latshona.
Inja yangqiyama ngaphaya kwesiphelo sebhulorho, izama ukubamba ithambo layo, kodwa yayisele ishiywe lixesha. lalingasekho. Yathi yakujonga ngasemva emanzini, enye inja inyamalele nayo.
Yayingeyiyo enye inja kwaphela. Yayiyimbonakaliso wakhe kuphela!
Ngentliziyo ebuhlungu, inja yajika yahamba. Yayinqwenela ukuba yayikuvuyele oko yayinako, endaweni yokuzama ukufumana okungakumbi.
Something went wrong. Please try again.
Word Finder
Juicy
Full of tasty liquid, fresh and delicious.Firmly
Holding something strongly without letting go.Curious
Wanting to know or see something new.Gasped
Took a quick breath in surprise or shock.Excitement
A feeling of great happiness and energy.Scare
To make someone feel afraid or nervous.Slipped
Fell or moved suddenly by accident.Shock
A sudden feeling of great surprise.Floated
Stayed on top of water without sinking.Reflection
A picture of something seen in a mirror.
Understanding Questions
- What did the dog find at the beginning of the story?
- Where did the dog have to cross on its way home?
- What did the dog see in the water, and what did it think?
- What happened when the dog tried to bark at the other dog?
- How did the dog realize that the other dog in the water wasn't real?
Reflection Questions
- What did the dog see when it looked into the water?
- Why did the dog lose its bone?
- Have you ever wanted something so badly that you forgot to appreciate what you already had? What happened?
- What does this story teach us about being greedy or wanting more than we need?
- How can we remind ourselves to be grateful for what we have in our daily lives?
Fable Quotes
Greed makes us lose what we already have.
Being content with what you have leads to true satisfaction.
A moment's greed can cost a lifetime of happiness.
Just One More Fable
- Caution
- Consequences
The Fowler and The Viper
A Fowler chasing a bird stepped on a Viper, unaware of the danger beneath, ultimately falling into his own trap.
- Caution
- Responsibility
The Eagle and The Arrow
A strong Eagle was shot down, discovered its own feather on the arrow, realizing the unintentional contribution to its downfall.
- Consequences
- Humility
The Lion and the Jackal
A lion spares a jackal's life, they become friends, but the jackal's arrogance leads to his death.
- Identity
- Wisdom
The Donkey and His Purchaser
A man tries out an Donkey, but quickly returns it after realizing it will behave like the lazy Donkey it befriended.
Read it on paper, too
“The Dog and its Reflection” is one of the 25 illustrated fables in our book, 25 Fables for Fun Quality Time.
Every copy keeps stories free and ad-free for children, parents and teachers everywhere.
Get Your Book