Two Little Dogs Sat by the Fire Lyrics
Two little dogs sit by the fire with nothing to say, until one of them decides that if Pompey will not talk, he will have to.
Two Little Dogs Sat by the Fire
Two little dogs sat by the fire,
Over a fender of coal-dust;
When one said to the other dog,
"If Pompey won't talk, why, I must."
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/two-little-dogs/
- Type
- Animal Rhymes
- Tune
- Spoken rhyme
- Best for ages
- 2 to 6 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Two little dogs sat by the fire | Hold up two fingers, side by side. |
| When one said to the other dog | Wiggle one finger as if talking. |
| If Pompey won't talk, why, I must | Put your hands on your hips. |
What Does Two Little Dogs Sat by the Fire Mean?
A fender is a low metal frame in front of a fireplace that stops coals and ashes rolling onto the floor. The two dogs are warming themselves there, and the joke is that they are having a conversation like two people. Pompey is the quiet one, so the other dog has to keep the chat going.
History and Origin
The rhyme comes from Walter Jerrold's The Big Book of Nursery Rhymes (1903). Pompey was a popular name for dogs at the time, after the Roman general Pompey the Great.
Learning Activities
- Dog chat: two children play the dogs. What would they talk about by the fire?
- Finger puppets: draw faces on two fingers and act out the rhyme.
- Fireplace talk: look at a picture of an old fireplace and find the fender.