Bow, wow, wow!

Origin

The precise origins of this nursery rhyme are uncertain, but its connection with Little Tom Tinker and his dog suggests that it may have originally been an oral children’s game. Though the game could have been played as early as the 17th century, the first known recorded appearance of the rhyme is in the 1810 publication of Rhymes for the Nursery by Jane Taylor.

Bow Wow Wow Game

The nursery rhyme “Bow, Wow, Wow!” is best enjoyed as a children’s game that can be enjoyed by a group of kids. To play, children sit in a circle and one child is chosen to be “Little Tom Tinker” (or “Little Pam Tinker” if she’s a girl). Little Tom Tinker stands in the middle of the circle while the other players have a small stuffed dog that they keep hidden behind their backs, so that Little Tom Tinker can’t see it.

Everyone recites the rhyme together:

Bow, wow, wow!
Whose dog art thou?
Little Tom Tinker’s dog,
Bow, wow, wow!

As long as the rhyme lasts, the players hiding the toy dog pass it quickly from one to another as fast as they can. When the rhyme ends with the last “wow”, the passing of the toy stops. Little Tom Tinker must then guess who is holding the toy dog and ask the child: “Art thou holding my dog?” If Little Tom Tinker guesses correctly, they switch places and the game continues with a new Little Tom Tinker. If Little Tom Tinker doesn't guess correctly, the game continues with the same Little Tom Tinker.
This classic children’s game is sure to provide hours of fun and laughter for kids.