A Dutiful and Faithful Dog: Completing Story with Moral, Vocabulary & 20 MCQs

A faithful dog protects its master’s money bag despite being misunderstood, teaching a powerful lesson about loyalty and devotion.

Hasty conclusions and unchecked anger often lead to tragic, irreversible mistakes. “A Dutiful and Faithful Dog” is a deeply touching classic moral story that illustrates the profound loyalty of animals and the terrible price of impulsive anger. When a hunter mistakenly assumes his loyal dog has turned rabid, a single rash bullet destroys a faithful companion whose only goal was to protect his master’s lost wealth.

Before reading the complete narrative, explore this quick-reference summary table outlining the main characters, plot dynamics, and key moral takeaways:

Once upon a time in Europe, there lived a nobleman who was very fond of hunting. He owned a magnificent hunting dog named Bulu. Bulu was not merely a pet; he was exceptionally intelligent, dutiful, and devoted to his master. Wherever the man traveled, Bulu followed him faithfully as his trusted companion.

One fine morning, the man set out on a long hunting expedition across the countryside. He rode upon his swift horse while Bulu ran happily alongside them. They traveled through deep forests, rolling meadows, and distant trails for several days in pursuit of game.

Eventually, the continuous journey took its toll. Feeling thoroughly exhausted, the huntsman decided to take a rest. He dismounted from his horse, tied the animal nearby, and lay down under the soothing shade of a large, leafy tree. Placing his heavy leather purse—which contained a large sum of gold coins—beside him, he soon fell into a deep, peaceful slumber.

After resting for a while, the man woke up feeling refreshed. Eager to return home before dusk, he untied his horse, mounted quickly, and set off along the road. In his hurry, however, he completely forgot to pick up his purse. The bag of money was left lying unattended on the grass beneath the tree.

Bulu immediately noticed the forgotten purse. Understanding its value to his master, the faithful dog ran ahead, barking loudly and whimpering. He ran back and forth between the horse and the path, trying desperately to draw his master's attention to the mistake. But the huntsman, absorbed in his thoughts, failed to understand Bulu's distress and urged his horse forward.

The bullet struck Bulu fatally. Crying out in agony, the wounded dog turned around and limped painfully back toward the distant woods. The master, shaking his head at what he believed was a mad dog, galloped away toward his estate.

Upon arriving home, the huntsman went to unpack his saddlebags and reached into his pockets. To his utter shock, his money bag was missing!

At that exact moment, the full, horrifying truth flashed across his mind like lightning. He remembered resting under the tree and leaving the purse on the grass. He instantly realized why Bulu had barked so frantically, why he had run back and forth, and why he had tried to stop the horse!

Filled with overwhelming dread and guilt, the man mounted his horse again and galloped back through the forest as fast as the animal could run. When he finally reached the shady tree, a heartbreaking sight awaited him.

There lay faithful Bulu, stretched out on the grass with the master's money bag clasped safely between his front paws. The devoted dog had dragged his bleeding body all the way back to guard his master's treasure with his dying breath.

The master rushed forward and called Bulu’s name, hoping his companion was merely sleeping. But to his profound grief, he found that Bulu was in eternal sleep.

Realizing that his beloved dog had sacrificed his life out of pure duty, the man knelt beside the lifeless body, clutched Bulu in his arms, and shed bitter, inconsolable tears of lifelong remorse.

Students can use this concise, high-scoring model for completing story assignments, examinations, and classroom revisions:

The tragedy in this fable stems from the sharp contrast between unconditional animal loyalty and human rashness:

This classic story delivers powerful ethical lessons that apply to everyday human relationships:

Mastering these descriptive literary vocabulary terms will enhance your storytelling and examination writing: