The monstrous black dog reputed to haunt Bouley Bay in Jersey is depicted on this pub sign

A black dog is a spectral being found primarily in the folklores of the British Isles. The black dog is essentially a nocturnal spectre, and its appearance was regarded as a portent of death. It is generally supposed to be larger than a physical dog, and often has large, glowing eyes. Image File history File links Mergefrom. ... In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the yeth hound is an outsider from evil aligned planes. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... British folklore - see English folklore Scottish folklore Welsh folklore Irish mythology Celtic mythology Arthurian legend This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domestic subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. ...

It is often associated with electrical storms (such as Black Shuck's appearance at Bungay, Suffolk), and also with crossroads, places of execution and ancient pathways. Its Welsh form is confined to the sea-coast parishes, and on the Norfolk coast the creature is supposed to be amphibious, coming out of the sea by night and travelling about the lonely lanes. Black Shuck is the name given to a ghostly black dog which is said to roam the Norfolk and Suffolk coastline. ... Bungay is a small town in Suffolk (East Anglia, England), within The Broads National Park. ...

The origins of the black dog are difficult to discern. It is impossible to ascertain whether the phantom originated in the Celtic or Germanic elements in British culture. Throughout European mythology, dogs have been associated with death. Examples of this are the Cŵn Annwn, Garm and Cerberus, all of whom were in some way guardians of the underworld. This association seems to be due to the scavenging habits of dogs. It is possible that the black dog is a survival of these beliefs. The nature and functions of these ancient gods can be deduced from their names, the location of their inscriptions, their iconography, the Roman gods they are equated with, and similar figures from later bodies of Celtic mythology. ... In Welsh mythology, the Cŵn Annwn (hounds of Annwn) were the white, red-eared ghostly hounds of Annwn, the land of the dead. ... In Norse mythology, Garm was a huge dog that guarded Helheim, the land of the dead, living in a cave called Gnipa (Gnipahellir). ... This article is about the mythical three-headed dog. ...

Black dogs are almost universally malevolent, although few (such as the Barghest) are held to be directly harmful. Most are a portent of death, or are in some way associated with the Devil. Some, however, like the Gurt Dog in Somerset and the Black Dog of the Hanging Hills (below) may sometimes act benevolently. Barghest, Bargtjest, Bo-guest or Bargest is the name given in the north of England, especially in Yorkshire, to a mythical monstrous black dog with huge teeth and claws. ... This is an overview of the Devil. ... The Hanging Hills are a 1,000 foot high broken escarpment of traprock where Metacomet Ridge bends eastward across the Central Valley, just north of Meriden, Connecticut. ...

Black dogs by locale

Some of the better-known black dogs are the Barghest of Yorkshire and Black Shuck of East Anglia. Barghest, Bargtjest, Bo-guest or Bargest is the name given in the north of England, especially in Yorkshire, to a mythical monstrous black dog with huge teeth and claws. ... Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England. ... Black Shuck is the name given to a ghostly black dog which is said to roam the Norfolk and Suffolk coastline. ... Norfolk and Suffolk, the core area of East Anglia. ...

Various other forms are recorded in folklore:

England

• In Lancashire the spectre-hound is called Gytrash, Trash, Striker or Shriker.

• The Drummer of Tedworth sometimes manifested itself as a huge black dog.

• In Tring, Hertfordshire, a fierce-looking black hound with red eyes is said to haunt the middle of the road in the area where the gibbet once stood. Locally it is known as Lean Dog, and is the spirit of a chimney sweep executed for murder. When approached, the lean dog sinks into the ground.

• The Gurt Dog of Somerset is an example of a benevolent dog. It was said that mothers would allow their children to play unsupervised on the Quantock Hills because they believed that the Gurt Dog would protect them. It would also accompany lone travellers in the area, acting as a protector and guide.

• The Black Dog of Winchester.

• Padfoot of Wakefield.

• A black dog has been said to haunt the Newgate Prison for over 400 years, appearing before executions. According to legend, in 1596, a man named Scholler was sent to the prison for witchcraft, but was killed and eaten by starving prisoners before he was given a trial. The dog was said to appear soon after, and although the terrified men killed their guards and escaped, the beast is said to have hunted down and exacted revenge upon each murderer.^{[citation needed]}

• One has been said to have been Corsham in Wiltshire on April 28th 2008

• Ghost Dog of Oldbury.

Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea. ... This spirit from northern England haunts lonely roads awaiting travelers. ... The Drummer of Tedworth is a famous supernatural story told by Joseph Glanvill in his Sadducismus Triumphatus. ... Map sources for Tring at grid reference SP924117 Tring is a small market town in the Chiltern Hills in Hertfordshire, England with a population of 13,000. ... For the similarly named county in the West Midlands region, see Herefordshire. ... This article is about the county of Somerset in England. ... The Quantock Hills are a range of hills west of Bridgwater in Somerset, England. ... Winchester Cathedral as seen from the Cathedral Close Arms of Winchester City Council Winchester is a city in southern England, and the administrative capital of the county of Hampshire, with a population of around 35,000. ... For other uses, see Wakefield (disambiguation). ... Newgate, the old city gate and prison. ... , Corsham is a small mediæval town in northwest Wiltshire, England. ... Not to be confused with Wilshire. ... April 28 is the 118th day of the year (119th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 247 days remaining. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ...

Channel Islands and Isle of Man

• In the Isle of Man it is styled Mauthe Doog, or Moddey Dhoo (black dog in Manx). It is said to haunt the environs of Peel Castle. People believe that anyone who sees the dog will die soon after the encounter with the dog. It is mentioned by Sir Walter Scott in The Lay of the Last Minstrel--

"For he was speechless, ghastly, wan

Like him of whom the Story ran

Who spoke the spectre hound in Man."

• In the Channel Island of Guernsey, there are two named dogs. One, Tchico (Tchi-coh two Norman words for dog, whence cur), is headless, and is supposed to be the phantom of a past Bailiff of Guernsey, Gaultier de la Salle, who was hanged for falsely accusing one of his vassals. The other dog is known as Bodu or tchen Bodu (tchen being dog in Dgèrnésiais). His appearance, usually in the Clos du Valle, foretells death of the viewer or someone close to him. There are also numerous other unnamed apparitions, usually associated with placenames derived from bête (beast).

• In Jersey folklore, the Black Dog of Death is also called the Tchico, but a related belief in the Tchian d'Bouôlé (Black Dog of Bouley) tells of a phantom dog whose appearance presages storms. The story is believed to have been encouraged by smugglers who wanted to discourage nocturnal movements by people who might witness the movement of contraband.

• On mainland Normandy, the dog is referred to as the Rongeur d'Os (bone-gnawer).

Peel Castle is a mostly ruined castle built on St Patricks Isle near the town of Peel, Isle of Man. ... For the first Premier of Saskatchewan see Thomas Walter Scott Sir Walter Scott (August 14, 1771 - September 21, 1832) was a prolific Scottish historical novelist and poet popular throughout Europe. ... This article is about the British dependencies. ... Norman is a Romance language and one of the Oïl languages. ... In the Channel Islands of Guernsey the Bailiff is the first civil officer, serving as president of the legislature and the Royal Court. ... Dgèrnésiais, also known as Guernésiais, Guernsey French, Guernsey Norman French, is the variety of Norman language spoken in Guernsey. ... For other uses, see Normandy (disambiguation). ...

Wales

• In Wales its counterpart was the gwyllgi, the "Dog of Darkness", a frightful apparition of a mastiff with baleful breath and blazing red eyes. Also related are the spectral Cŵn Annwn, connected with the otherworld realm of Annwn referred to in the Four Branches of the Mabinogi and elsewhere; however they are described as being dazzling white rather than black in the medieval text.

This article is about the country. ... Gwyllgi is the legendary dog from Wales and parts of Great Britain that appears as a frightful apparition of a mastiff with baleful breath and blazing red eyes. ... Mastiff may refer to: Molosser, a group of several breeds of dog also known as Mastiffs. ... In Welsh mythology, the Cŵn Annwn (hounds of Annwn) were the white, red-eared ghostly hounds of Annwn, the land of the dead. ... Annwn or Annwfn (Middle Welsh Annwvn, sometimes inaccurately written Annwyn, Annwyfn or Annwfyn) was the Otherworld in Welsh mythology. ... The Four Branches of the Mabinogi are the best known tales from the medieval Welsh Mabinogion. ...

Cornwall

• A black dog appears in Penzance harbour as a foreteller of someone's death. The victim is the only one who can the see the dog, who is described as Labrador Retriever sized, but not actually of this breed.

• Shony is a Cornish ghost-dog whose appearance heralded a storm.

Penzance Harbour and surrounding area as seen from the air Penzance (Cornish: Pensans) is a civil parish and port town in the Penwith district of Cornwall, England, UK. Granted various Royal Charters from 1512 onwards and incorporated in 1614,[2] it has a population of 21,168[1] people and... The Labrador Retriever (also Labrador or Lab for short), is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. ...

USA

• In the U.S.A. a twin set of black dogs is said to roam the country sides of north middle Tennessee near the county of Macon. Legend has it that two black puppies were adopted by a cruel farmer who was so evil that the Devil would not allow him to enter Hell, but gave him the job of hunting down unsuspecting travellers after the stroke of midnight. Some stories state that death is quick; others say that death will fall days, months, or years (this last is considered a catch-all) after viewing the demonic beasts. Others say that death may not follow at all, but something "bad" will happen to someone close to those who set eyes on the twin hounds. Lastly, some stories skip the evil farmer and claim the hound to have multiple heads and is, in reality, Cerberus the hound who guards the gates of hell. This story may have been made-up to fit the satanic claims that some have made about the county.

• The Black Dog of the Hanging Hills of Meriden, Connecticut is unique in that it does not take the guise of a large, fearsome hound. Instead, it appears as a small, sad black dog. The Black Dog of the Hanging Hills leaves no footprints and makes no sound, even when it appears to be barking happily or howling. It also appears to enjoy human company, somewhat ironically. Seeing the Black Dog of the Hanging Hills once is supposedly good luck, twice is bad luck and three times means death.

• Packs of black dogs with glowing yellow eyes are rumored to prowl U.S. Route 666, slashing the tires of passing motorists with their sharp teeth.

• Along Sweet Hollow Road on Long Island, NY, there is said to be a black dog apparition that walks on its hind legs and has glowing red eyes. Making eye contact with it is supposed to cause death within a month.

• 2 black dogs inhabit highway 97 from Madras Oregon to Sunriver Oregon

For other uses, see United States (disambiguation) and US (disambiguation). ... This article is about the U.S. state of Tennessee. ... Macon County is a county located in the state of Tennessee. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The Dog is a canine carnivorous mammal that has been domesticated for at least 14,000 years and perhaps for as long as 150,000 years based on recent evidence. ... This is an overview of the Devil. ... This article is about the theological or philosophical afterlife. ... This article is about the mythical three-headed dog. ... The Hanging Hills are a 1,000 foot high broken escarpment of traprock where Metacomet Ridge bends eastward across the Central Valley, just north of Meriden, Connecticut. ... Nickname: Location in Connecticut Coordinates: , NECTA Region Incorporated (town) 1806 Incorporated (city) 1867 Consolidated 1922 Government  - Type Council-manager  - Council leaders Mark Benigni, Mayor Matthew C. Dominello, Deputy Mayor Stephen T. Zerio, Council Leader Keith Gordon, Deputy Leader Patricia D. Lynes, Deputy Leader  - City manager Lawrence J. Kendzior Area  - City... U.S. Route 491 is a north-south United States highway. ... This article is about the island in New York State. ...

Latin America

• Black dogs with fiery eyes are reported throughout Latin America from Mexico to Argentina under a variety of names including the Perro Negro (Spanish for Black Dog), Nahual (Mexico), Huay Chivo (Mexico), Cadejo (Central America), Familiar (Argentina) and Lobison (Argentina). They are usually said to be either incarnations of the Devil or a shape-changing sorcerer.

• There were also recent reports of a huge black dog with flaming red eyes roaming the southeastern Brazil coast, haunting and scaring people. However, there were no reports of any kind of physical harm caused by it^{[citation needed]}.

Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Nagual. ... Cadejo is a legendary character of Salvadoran (El Salvador, Central America) folklore. ...

In fiction

• One of the most famous black dogs in fiction is the Hound of the Baskervilles from the book of the same name by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In the book, the villain uses the long-standing legend of a ghostly dog that haunts the Baskerville family in his plan to murder them.
• In Russell Hoban's novel Riddley Walker (1980), Riddley's post-apocalyptic quest is initiated by a dog sacrifice and a folktale, "Why the Dog Won't Show its Eyes." Death dogs are important in the "Eusa" story that guides Riddley's quest, as is a companion black dog later in the quest.
• In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling, Harry comes across what he believes is a Grim. He is told that it is a powerful omen of death.
• In the Patrick Swayze trucker movie Black Dog, the legend is updated for the motorized 20th century as a beast that is seen "when you've been on the road too long and pushing too hard. When you get greedy, it comes to take everything away from you."
• In The Mighty Boosh, Series 3 Episode 4 "The Strange Tale of The Crack Fox", Saboo mocks Dennis, the Shaman Council Leader, for his inability to handle drugs: "You once used a glue gun and thought you saw the Black Dog".
• In Goethe's Faust, the Devil Mephistopheles first appears to Faust in the form of a black poodle which follows him home through a field.
• In Supernatural (TV series) episode 2 "Wendigo" they mention the possibility of a black dog being the creature that is killing campers. They also encounter another mystery containing black dogs in season 2 episode 8 "Crossroad Blues"
• The Moddey Dhoo is one of the many "guides" to appear in the webcomic Gunnerkrigg Court.
• In Black Dogs by novelist Ian McEwan, a character encounters two black dogs that she believes to be evil incarnate.
• Dracula transforms into a black dog to leap from from the boat to land when he arrives in Whitby.
• In the movie No Country for Old Men the main character, Llewelyn Moss, comes across a stray black dog immediately before running into the botched heroin deal. Later, he will die under tragic circumstances, being hunted down for the money he found there.
• In the book Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson one of the pirates is called Black Dog. He is the first to threaten and harass Billy Bones. As soon as the unwelcome visitor is gone, Bones suffers a stroke. Also Jim Hawkins' father dies shortly after Black Dog's visit.
• In the movie The Omen, Damien the AntiChrist is guarded and protected by black dogs.

The Hound of the Baskervilles is a crime novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, originally serialized in the Strand Magazine in 1901 and 1902, which is set largely on Dartmoor in 1889. ... Arthur Conan Doyle Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (May 22, 1859 - July 7, 1930) is the British author most famously known for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, which are generally considered a major innovation in the field of crime fiction. ... Riddley Walker is a novel by Russell Hoban, first published in 1980. ... HP3 redirects here. ... Joanne Rowling OBE (born July 31, 1965 in Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire), commonly known as J.K. Rowling (pronunciation: roll-ing; her former students used to joke with her name calling her the Rolling Stone), is a British fiction writer. ... The Church Grim or Kirk Grim is a figure from English folklore. ... Patrick Wayne Swayze (born August 18, 1952) is an American dancer, actor, singer and songwriter. ... Black Dog is a 1998 movie featuring Patrick Swayze as well as musicians Meat Loaf and Randy Travis. ... The Mighty Boosh is a British comedy television series and live show about two friends who go on a series of magical adventures. ... Front cover of Faust, Leipzig 1832 Johann Wolfgang von Goethes Faust is a tragic play and the best known version of the Faust story. ... Introduction Gunnerkrigg Court is the name of a webcomic written by Tom Siddell. ... Black Dogs is a 1992 novel by the Booker Prize-winning British author Ian McEwan. ... Ian McEwan CBE (born June 21, 1948) is a British novelist. ... This article is about the novel. ... No Country for Old Men is a 2005 novel by American author Cormac McCarthy. ... For other uses, see Treasure Island (disambiguation). ... Robert Louis (Balfour) Stevenson (November 13, 1850–December 3, 1894), was a Scottish novelist, poet and travel writer, and a representative of neo-romanticism in English literature. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ...

References

• Bord, Colin and Bord, Janet (1980) Alien Animals
• Burchell, Simon (2007) Phantom Black Dogs in Latin America, Heart of Albion Press, ISBN 978-1-905646-01-2
• de Garis, Marie (1986) Folklore of Guernsey , The Guernsey Press, ASIN B0000EE6P8
• McEwan, Graham J. (1986) Mystery Animals of Britain and Ireland, Robert Hale Ltd.
• Michell, John F. and Rickard, Robert J.M. (1977) Phenomena: a book of wonders, Thames Hudson Ltd, ISBN 0-500-01182-6 (hardback ), ISBN 0-500-27094-5 (paperback)
• Readers Digest (1977) Folklore, Myths and Legends of Britain Readers Digest Association, p.45
• Trubshaw, Robert Nigel (2005) Explore Black Dogs, Explore Books
• Westwood, Jennifer and Simpson, Jacqueline (2005) The Lore of the Land: A Guide to England's Legends, from Spring-heeled Jack to the Witches of Warboys, Penguin, ISBN 0-14-100711-7

The Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) is a unique identification number assigned by Amazon. ...

See also

• Puck
• Fairy
• Wild Hunt
• Garmr
• Cerberus
• Hellhound
• Beast of Bodmin Moor
• Cadejo
• Black Shuck
• Barghest

Look up puck in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... by Sophie Anderson For other uses, see Fairy (disambiguation). ... The wild hunt: Åsgårdsreien (1872) by Peter Nicolai Arbo The Wild Hunt was a folk myth prevalent in former times across Northern, Western and Central Europe. ... In Norse mythology, Garm or Garmr is a huge hound which guards Hel, the land of the dead, alongside of Hræsvelgr and living in a cave called Gnipahellir. ... This article is about the mythical three-headed dog. ... For other uses, see Hellhound (disambiguation). ... The Beast of Bodmin is a phantom wild cat (or possibly a number of them) which ranges in Cornwall in the United Kingdom. ... Cadejo is a legendary character of Salvadoran (El Salvador, Central America) folklore. ... Black Shuck is the name given to a ghostly black dog which is said to roam the Norfolk and Suffolk coastline. ... Barghest, Bargtjest, Bo-guest or Bargest is the name given in the north of England, especially in Yorkshire, to a mythical monstrous black dog with huge teeth and claws. ...

External links

• Mysterious Britain article on the Black Dog
• Monstrous.com article on the Black Dog, including theories as to its origin
• The Black Dog of the Hanging Hills at Haunted Connecticut
• Black Dog Bar Jersey
• Article on Black Dogs in Mexico