Moral FablesAesop's Fables Extended

The Dog and His Reflection

A greedy dog loses his dinner after snapping at his own reflection in a stream.

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Illustration for The Dog and His Reflection - a aesop's fables extended Moral Fables story with moral lessons

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Story Summary

Read the classic Aesop's fable, The Dog and His Reflection. Discover how a greedy dog loses his real treasure while chasing a watery illusion in the stream.

A Dog once found a large, succulent piece of meat and carried it proudly in his mouth toward home. On his way, he had to cross a narrow bridge over a clear, running stream. As he walked across, he looked down and saw his own reflection in the water below. Thinking it was another dog carrying a much larger piece of meat than his own, he grew greedy. Without a second thought, he snapped his jaws at the reflection to snatch the bigger prize. But as he opened his mouth, his own piece of meat fell out, splashed into the river, and sank to the bottom. The Dog was left with nothing, having lost his real treasure in pursuit of a shadow.

The Moral

It is very foolish to be greedy; those who grasp at shadows often lose the substance of what they already possess.

“Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.”

Fun Fact

This fable is one of the most widely translated stories in history and has been used for centuries to teach children the dangers of envy and greed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the moral of The Dog and His Reflection?

The moral is that greed can lead to the loss of everything you already have. It teaches us to be content with our current possessions instead of chasing illusions or envy.

Who wrote The Dog and His Reflection?

This story is attributed to Aesop, a legendary Greek storyteller who lived in the 6th century BCE. His fables were passed down orally for generations before being recorded.

What happens to the meat at the end of the story?

When the dog tries to steal the meat from his reflection, he opens his mouth and drops his actual piece of meat. It falls into the deep water and is lost forever.

Is the dog in the water another character?

No, the dog in the water is merely a reflection of the first dog. The dog's greed blinds him to the fact that he is looking at his own image in the stream.

What does the dog symbolize in this fable?

The dog symbolizes human greed and the tendency to value what others have more than what we possess. He represents the folly of risking security for an imaginary gain.

Why is this story sometimes called The Dog and the Shadow?

In older English translations, the word 'shadow' was often used to mean 'reflection.' The title emphasizes that the dog was chasing something that wasn't actually there.