The Dog in the Manger from Aesop for ESL Students

The Dog in the Manger from Aesop’s fables with a podcast and vocabulary practice for advanced ESL students

The Dog in the Manger is now in the public domain available at: Gutenberg Project

The Video of The Dog in the Manger

The Dog in the Manger

A dog was lying in a manger on the hay which had been put there for the cattle, and when they came and tried to eat, he growled and snapped at them and wouldn’t let them get at their food.

• manger: eating trough for animals
• cattle: livestock, farm animals like horses, cows, donkeys, etc.
• growl: make a low nonverbal sound which is hostile
• snap at: bark, retort, shout at

“What a selfish beast,” said one of them to his companions; “he can’t eat himself and yet he won’t let those eat who can.”

• companion: friend