The Black Dog of British Folklore

Often we hear of black dogs in rescue centres and, most frequently greyhounds being the hardest dogs to re-home.  It could be that the black dog’s features are less distinct and therefore they look less appealing or that there is a subconscious fear instilled into people’s minds through British folklore.

The mythical Black Dog is an apparition that appears at night and is considered to portend death.  These ‘canine ghosts’ have appeared under several different names and guises across Great Britain, the Isle of Man and in the Channel Islands.  Generally they are said to be larger than the normal dog with glowing red eyes.  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is said to have based his tale ‘the Hound of the Baskervilles’ on the ancient Devon myth of a huntsman, named Squire Cabell who sold his soul to the devil.   When he died in 1677, the black dogs appeared in his burial chamber and from that time on they would be seen running with the huntsman as he rode his horse across the moor at night.

According to legend the Black Dogs of Britain include the Barghest of Yorkshire and the Black Shuck of East Anglia.  Black Dogs are said also to appear in Lancashire where the Barguist roams, Tring in Hertfordshire where the ‘Lean Dog’ is thought to be the spirit of a chimney sweep who was hanged for murder, the Gurt Dog of Somerset, the Black Dog of Twyford, Padfoot of Bradford and surrounding areas and Hairy Jack of Lincolnshire.  The Betchworth Castle in Surrey is said to be haunted by a dog that prowls its ruins at night and both a railway station and hill were named after the Wiltshire black dog.

In London’s famous Newgate prison, legend told of a scholar who was imprisoned for witchcraft but was killed and eaten by starving prisoners before his trial.  The dog was said to appear soon after and then appeared before every execution that took place from that time onwards terrifying guards and prisoners alike.

Naturally both Cornwall and Wales, areas famed for superstition have their own respective Black Dogs.  In Wales it is called the gwyllgi and is described as having baleful breath as well as blazing red eyes!

The Isle of Man, known for its fairy residents and other mythical creatures is home to Moddy Dhoo that haunts the grounds of Peel Castle.  In the Channel Islands there are two named dogs in Guernsey, the Tchico that is minus glowing eyes as its head appears to be missing too and the Bodu that foretells of the death of any man who sets eyes on him.  Jersey has a Tchico too, possibly related to the Black Dog of Bouley, whose appearance is said be an omen of violent storms. The story was thought to be encouraged by smugglers to prevent anyone from witnessing their nocturnal movements of contraband.

Famously Churchill described his condition of manic depression as his ‘black dog’ and although he is given credit for this simile, it was a phrase had already been used in correspondence to describe a similar state by Hester Thrale, Samuel Johnson and James Boswell in the 18th century.

It is no small wonder that the poor innocent black dog at the rescue centre is so often overlooked in favour of the brighter and more optimistic coated hound.  Hopefully by making prospective dog owners aware of the origins of Black Dog phobia, they will realise the utter nonsense of the legend and will recognise the gentle, beautiful and loving nature of black dogs waiting for someone to take them into their hearts and give them a home.