Black dog (ghost)

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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 British folklore. 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. 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.

[edit] Black dogs by locale

Some of the better-known black dogs are the Barghest (Yorkshire) and Black Shuck (East Anglia).

Various other forms are recorded in folklore:

In Wales its counterpart was Gwyllgi, the Dog of Darkness, a frightful apparition of a mastiff with baleful breath and blazing red eyes. A Welsh variant is Cŵn Annwn, or dogs of hell.

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

In the Isle of Man it is styled Mauthe Doog, or Moddey Dhoo (black dog in Manx). People believe that anyone who sees the dog clearly will die soon after the encounter. 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, from 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).

In Devon, the dog is referred to as the 'Yeth (Heath) or Wisht Hounds.[1]

The Demon drummer of Tedworth sometimes manifested itself as a huge black dog.

In Tring, Hertfordshire, a black, fierce-looking 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 Black Dog of Winchester.

Padfoot of Wakefield.

The Black Dog of West Peak in 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 West Peak 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 West Peak once is supposedly good luck, twice is bad luck and three times means death.

[edit] References

Folklore of Guernsey by Marie de Garis (1986) ASIN: B0000EE6P8
Folklore, Myths and Legends of Britain (1977) ISBN 0-276-00168-0
The Lore of the Land: A Guide to England's Legends, from Spring-heeled Jack to the Witches of Warboys Jennifer Westwood & Jacqueline Simpson (2005) ISBN 0-14-100711-7