House Dog Tells Wolf to Leave the Woods and Live Like Him, Just Then Wolf Sees Dog’s Chafed Neck

"The Wolf and the House Dog," illustrated by Milo Winter, from “The Aesop for Children,” 1919. PD-US

There was once a Wolf who got very little to eat because the Dogs of the village were so wide awake and watchful. He was really nothing but skin and bones, and it made him very downhearted to think of it.

One night this Wolf happened to fall in with a fine fat House Dog who had wandered a little too far from home. The Wolf would gladly have eaten him then and there, but the House Dog looked strong enough to leave his marks should he try it. So the Wolf spoke very humbly to the Dog, complimenting him on his fine appearance.