On a bright and sunny afternoon, a dog wandered into a large barn. Inside, he found a soft bed of hay piled high for the cows to eat. Even though he wasn’t hungry for hay, the dog thought it looked like the perfect spot for a nap. So, he curled up on top of the hay, making himself comfortable.

Soon, the cows returned from the fields, ready to eat their fresh meal of hay. As they approached the barn, eager for their dinner, they saw the dog lying right in the middle of it. The cows were confused but walked closer, hoping the dog would move.

But instead of letting them eat, the dog jumped up, growled, and barked at the cows, warning them to stay away from the hay. The cows, startled by the dog’s growling, backed off, unsure of what to do.

One cow spoke up, “Why is the dog lying on the hay when he doesn’t even want to eat it?”

Another cow nodded and sighed, “He’s keeping all the hay to himself even though it’s of no use to him. He just doesn’t want us to have it.”

The cows stood there, hungry and frustrated, while the dog continued to guard the hay he couldn’t eat. The dog felt proud of himself for keeping the hay away from the cows, but the cows shook their heads in disappointment.

The dog didn’t realize how selfish he was being by hoarding something that wasn’t useful to him but was so important to the cows. And because of his stubbornness, everyone was left unhappy.

Moral:

Don’t begrudge others what you can’t use yourself. If something isn’t helpful to you, let others enjoy it.

Parenting Tip: Help your child understand the importance of sharing and why it’s unfair to withhold something they don’t need when it could benefit others. Encourage empathy and generosity in everyday situations.

Fun Questions For Curious Kids

• Why do you think the dog didn’t want the cows to eat the hay?
• How would you feel if someone kept something from you even though they didn’t need it?
• If you were one of the cows, what would you say to the dog?
• Have you ever seen someone not share something they didn’t need? What happened?
• What could the dog have done differently to make everyone happy?
• Can you think of a time when you shared something and it made someone else happy?
• Why is it important to let others enjoy something you don’t need?
• What do you think the cows might do next to solve the problem?

Did You Know? Fun Facts About Dogs and Cows!

1. Dogs love naps: Dogs can sleep up to 12–14 hours a day, which might explain why the dog in the story was so cozy on the hay!
2. Cows eat a lot of hay: A single cow can eat up to 24 pounds of hay in a day, making it a crucial part of their diet.
3. Dogs can be territorial: Some dogs guard their belongings or spaces, even when they don’t need them—like the dog in the story!
4. Cows are social animals: Cows form close bonds with each other and have best friends they like to spend time with.
5. Dogs and cows can be friends: In farms around the world, dogs often help herd cows, and they sometimes develop special friendships.
6. Cows have great memories: Cows can remember faces (human and animal) for a long time and recognize their caregivers.
7. Dogs communicate through body language: Growling, barking, and wagging tails are ways dogs express emotions, just like the dog in the story did.
8. Cows chew cud: After eating, cows regurgitate partially digested food and chew it again to aid digestion.
9. Dogs have a keen sense of smell: They can detect scents 10,000 times better than humans, helping them locate food or friends.
10. Cows have panoramic vision: With their large eyes, cows can see nearly 360 degrees, which helps them stay alert to danger.

Download Free Coloring Pages Related To This Story

Bring the story to life with coloring pages designed to spark creativity and make story time even more fun. Coloring helps kids express their creativity, improve focus, and reinforce the story’s themes in a fun, engaging way. After reading together, let them bring the story to life with colors!

Click on any of the free coloring pages below to download or print it!