Storytelling for Week 10: Why the Dog's Ears Flop

Why the Dog's Ears Flop

The dog has always been different than his wild cousin the wolf, but his urge to please and fit in prevented him from being himself. Thanks to their very similar appearance, he hid it very well. His ears stood up straight and his tail held high just like the wolf. 

Struggling to find food, the dog wandered into the camp of a tribe of Indians. He was attracted to the camp by the sweet and savory smell of deer and bear meat. Salivating uncontrollably, the dog was astonished at how much food there was. The men, women, and children of the tribe pleasantly greeted him. The dog was in heaven as they rubbed his back, head, and belly. He had never experienced such a feeling while living with the wolf. The petting felt so good that he nearly forgot about his hunger. It was then he realized that he was where he was supposed to be. 

Making his way through all of the rubs, he reached a man that was skinning some of the meat. The dog politely said to the Indian that he would fight off all other animals for some food. Protecting their food was difficult for the tribe, so the Indian gladly agreed and gave some meat to the dog. Their agreement went on for many days, as the dog fought off bears and wildcats. He even began to assist the Indian in hunting for rabbits. The relationship between the dog and Indian quickly blossomed into a great friendship.

One night some of his wild cousins, the wolves approached the camp. He was growling and refused to let them pass. Asking what they wanted, the wolves responded by telling him that they just wanted to see how he liked his new friends, the Indians. Thinking they were telling the truth, the dog put his guard down and the wolves sprinted after some of the hanging meat. 

He began barking as loud as he could to wake up the tribe and ran after the deceitful wolves. He attacked the wolves, scratching, clawing, and biting with all of his might. The wolves were forced to forget about the meat and defend themselves, or surely face death. 

The wolves were now angry and began to surround the dog. Although a few were badly injured, there were still a good number left. Once he was surrounded, the wolves pounced on him and bit him repeatedly until the Indian ran out with a spear. The wolves fled, having got none of the meat. If the Indian came out any later, the dog may not have survived. As he stood up he realized that his ears no longer stood straight up on their own. One of the bites severed part of the muscles that held his ears upright. He was consoled by the Indian and explained what had happened. The Indian was so impressed by his bravery and loyalty that he told the whole tribe what had happened. Everyone was joyful and made him a permanent home at the camp. This is the story of why the dog’s ears flop.

(Golden Retriever)

Author's Note

I chose this story because I really like dogs and thought I could retell it in a way that makes the dog look better. In the original, the dog first lives with his cousin, the wolf, until he became very hungry after not finding food for a few days. He then walks into the camp of an Indian tribe after seeing strips of deer and bear meet hanging from a pole. There was an Indian turning the poles so the meat would dry. The dog approached him and made an agreement to protect his food in exchange for some food. Everything was going well until some of his wolf cousins came one night and misled him. The wolves told him that they just wanted to see how he was liking his knew friends, the Indians, but they ended up raiding the food. He became so ashamed that his ears flopped down and his tail then went between his legs every time men shouted at him.

Bibliography

Title: Why the Dog's Ears Flop
Author: Florence Stratton
Year Published: 1936
Web Site Source: Mythology and Folklore Un-Textbook