Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone? Lyrics
A dog is missing, and his owner describes him in the only way that matters: short ears and a long tail. It is one of the first songs many children learn about a pet.
Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?
Oh where, oh where is my little dog gone
Oh where, oh where can he be?
With his ears cut short and his tail cut long
Oh where, oh where is he?
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/oh-where-has-my-little-dog-gone/
- Type
- Animal Rhymes
- Tune
- Traditional (German folk tune)
- Best for ages
- 1 to 6 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Oh where, oh where has my little dog gone? | Shade your eyes and look all around the room. |
| With his ears cut short | Touch the top of your head with two small fingers for short ears. |
| And his tail cut long | Draw a long tail behind you with your hand and wag it. |
| Oh where, oh where is he? | Shrug with both hands out. |
What Does Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone? Mean?
Someone has lost their little dog and is asking everyone whether they have seen him. To help, they describe him: short ears and a long tail. "Tail cut long" is a small joke, because a tail cut long has not really been cut at all.
The words in this old songbook say "is my little dog gone", but most people today sing "has my little dog gone".
History and Origin
The first verse comes from a comic song by the American songwriter Septimus Winner, published in 1864. He set his words to an older German folk tune, which is why the melody sounds a little like a waltz. The song quickly became a nursery favorite, and the rest of Winner's original verses were forgotten.
Learning Activities
- Lost dog game: hide a toy dog and sing the song while your child searches. Sing louder as they get closer.
- Describe a pet: ask children how they would describe their own pet or favorite animal if it went missing.
- Draw a poster: make a "lost dog" poster with a picture of the dog in the song.