Black Dogs

For centuries, particularly in the British Isles, western Europe, North America and parts of Latin America and Southeast Asia, there have been reports of supernatural, spectral, or demonic dogs.

These creatures are usually described as being unnaturally large and resembling a hound rather than a wolf. Most have uncanny, glowing eyes, and nearly all of them are jet-black.

Often regarded as an omen of death, it is said you only see Black Dogs when someone close is going to die. They are regarded as malevolent and sinister, though few (Barghest and Black Shuck) are directly harmful, and some, like Church Grims and the Gurt Dog of Somerset, are actually helpful, guiding travellers to the right path or protecting them from danger.

They have been associated with electrical storms, crossroads, barrows, places of execution and ancient pathways. Sometimes, they appear to guide you to safety. More often, it’s to guide you to your doom.

There are dozens of variations, each with their own unique attributes and regional flavour: Hairy Jack, Padfoot, Skriker, Mauthe Doog, Swooning Shadow, Gytrash, Hellhound, Capelthwaite and more.

One of the more interesting Black Dog legends is that of the Galleytrot from Northern England, which fulfils the criteria of the black dog legend in every way except one: these dogs are white, not black.

Some are spectres. Some are physical beings. But all of them will haunt your dreams.