--- title: The dog that wags at last, and the one that never does — a lesson of Mova's school · trees and pragmatics description: «The dog that wags at last, and the one that never does», a lesson of the everyday course of Mova's primary school, sentence by sentence with dependency trees and pragmatics. It begins: Lily's new neighbour has a greyhound called Ghost, an ex-racing dog who never lived in a house before. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/) / [Everyday](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/) / The dog that wags at last, and the one… # The dog that wags at last, and the one that never does Lesson 459 of the everyday course of Mova's primary school: 39 sentences, each with its syntax tree and pragmatics. The lessons are written for Mova, and their agreed trees are part of Mova corpus 0.4 (CC BY-SA 4.0). How Mova does on its tests: [the lesson at school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/). - [0](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/0/) — Lily's new neighbour has a greyhound called Ghost, an ex-racing dog who never lived in a house before. - [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/1/) — When people visit, he hides behind the sofa, shaking. - [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/2/) — So every Saturday Lily sits quietly in the room with a book, never reaching out, never calling him. - [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/3/) — Week one, nothing. - [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/4/) — Week three, an eye round the sofa. - [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/5/) — Week five, Ghost walks over, puts his long nose on her knee, then leans on her with his whole weight. - [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/6/) — Lily nearly cries. - [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/7/) — Sam tries the same patience with Tank the bulldog: sitting on the wall outside number 14 every day. - [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/8/) — A year later, Tank still growls. - [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/9/) — Sam's dad says, «Not every dog's going to be your mate, son. - [10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/10/) — That's alright.» You can do everything right and an animal still never comes round. - [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/11/) — That's not your failure. - [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/12/) — On Lily's cousin's farm, the guard geese haven't liked a single visitor in twenty years. - [13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/13/) — «They hate the vicar most,» he says. - [14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/14/) — Even the vicar can't win. - [15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/15/) — Chloe's uncle in Cardiff has a rescue lurcher who took six months to let anyone but him touch her. - [16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/16/) — «She's tamping if you rush her,» he says — in South Wales «tamping» means furious. - [17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/17/) — On Chloe's third visit, the lurcher sniffs her shoe and gives one tiny wag. - [18](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/18/) — Chloe holds her breath like it's a miracle. - [19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/19/) — Small signs are real wins. - [20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/20/) — And Rocky, the corner-shop dog, ignored Jake for years — until Jake helped the shopkeeper carry boxes in the rain. - [21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/21/) — Dogs watch who their owner trusts. - [22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/22/) — Some dogs can't be trusted at all. - [23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/23/) — Kieran's nan's terrier Mitzi has bitten two people, so she wears a muzzle when visitors come. - [24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/24/) — «If she bites a third person, they might take her away,» Nan says. - [25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/25/) — «The muzzle keeps her home with me.» Connor's dog Rex bit a toddler who pulled his ears, so Rex is never left alone with little ones again. - [26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/26/) — And Kieran swears «rottweilers are killers» — until he meets Maddie's neighbour's rottweiler, owner there, and it flops on its back for a belly rub. - [27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/27/) — Judge the dog, not the breed — and always ask first. - [28](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/28/) — Shy or frightened dogs make friends on their own terms; quiet patience works better than treats, calling or grabbing. - [29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/29/) — A frightened animal's trust grows in small signs, like a sniff or a tiny wag, often over weeks or months. - [30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/30/) — Some animals never warm up to a person however kindly they are treated, and that is not the person's fault. - [31](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/31/) — Always ask the owner before touching any dog, even one that is wagging; a wagging tail does not always mean friendly. - [32](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/32/) — Dogs often follow their owner's lead, so being kind and trusted by the owner can help a dog accept you. - [33](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/33/) — A muzzle or a short lead on a dog means «don't touch»; it keeps people safe and can let a dog that has bitten stay at home. - [34](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/34/) — A dog that has bitten once can bite again, so grown-ups make rules like never leaving it alone with small children. - [35](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/35/) — Pulling a dog's ears or tail hurts it and is a common reason dogs bite children. - [36](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/36/) — Each dog should be judged by how it behaves with its owner present, not just by its breed. - [37](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/37/) — Some farm animals, like guard geese, are not pets at all and should be left alone. - [39](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/459-the-dog-that-wags-at-last-and-the-one-that-never-does/39/) — Ex-racing greyhounds often have never lived in a house and need time to learn that a home is safe. - ← previous: [Magpies, geese, ponies and swans: animals that are not your friends](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/458-magpies-geese-ponies-and-swans-animals-that-are-not-your-friends/) - next →: [The pet that loves you most](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/460-the-pet-that-loves-you-most/) - ↑ back to [Everyday](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/)