There was a brewer in the state of Song whose wine was excellent.
He gave fair measure, was civil to his customers, and has his sign up in a most conspicuous place. Yet he could not sell his wine, which was said to be sour.
He asked an elder whom he knew well, what the reason for this was.
“Is your dog fierce?” asked the elderly man.
”As a matter of fact, it is,” replied the brewer. ”But what has that to do with my wine not selling?”
”People are afraid of your dog. When a boy is sent with money and a pot to buy your wine, the dog rushes out to bite him. That is why your wine turns sour and will not sell.”
Allegorical Meaning
A wine shop’s owner keeps a vicious dog to guard his store, but the dog scares away all customers. Over time, his wine turns sour from lack of sales. The very measure meant to protect the wine destroys it.
Misplaced Priorities:
The owner prioritizes security (the dog) over core business needs (customer access), undermining his own success.
Systemic Failure:
Highlights how one dysfunctional element (the dog) can ruin an entire system (the business), akin to toxic workplace cultures.
Short-Term vs. Long-Term:
Excessive focus on immediate threats (theft) blinds the owner to gradual collapse (lost revenue).
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