Black Dog

Names and Appearance

Sightings of the ghostly dog, under many names, have been reported throughout Europe, Australia, and the United States. The Black Dog is often known as Black Shuck, Wisht Hound, Guytrash, Shriker, Barguest, or Grim. It is thought that the name Shuck is a derivation of the Old English word Scucca, meaning demon or spirit, and that Barguest comes from the German term Bargiest, which translates as spirit of the graveyard. Typically, he is a large black dog with fiery eyes, but sometimes he is headless. In other stories, he appears with a tall, ghostly woman. His hair may be smooth, or long and matted.

Territory and Origins

Most often the canine apparition patrols roads, bridges, and cemeteries or guards gates. In parts of America, the locals believe that visitors must leave the cemetery before sundown. If they stay after dark long enough for the dog to circle the graveyard three times, they will die before the sun rises.

Some cultures believe that the canine apparitions were people in life, who were so horrible that they have been condemned to roam the earth as the ghostly hounds in death. Others believe the Black Dog sightings are the spirits of dogs who were abuse or cruelly murdered. There are also stories of black canines, who were sacrificed in ancient rituals, haunting and protecting the area where they died.

Black Dog of Bungay

Most famous is the tale of the Black Dog of Bungay. It is said that on August 4, 1577, during a terrible storm, the devil took the form of a black dog and appeared in St. Mary’s Church in Bungay, Suffolk, and in another church seven miles away in Blythburgh. The dog killed three parishioners in each church. Tourists now visit both churches, and the church in Blythburgh still bears burn marks on the door, from the devil dog’s claws.

Black Dog of West Peak

In the U.S., Connecticut has its own dark dog legend. Dating back at least as far as the 1800’s and reported as recently as the 1970’s, the Black Dog of West Peak has been appearing to travelers and hikers. He is a small dog who leaves no footprints and makes no sound when he barks. To see him once brings great joy, twice brings great sorrow, and a third sighting results in death.

Modern Lore

In modern stories, the dog often appears unexpectedly in the road, startling unsuspecting motorists. Drivers swerve or brace for the impact, but never hit the dog. He simply vanishes without a trace. Others report the black dog appearing in their homes in the dark and vanishing when they turn on a light. This event inevitably precedes a death in the family or misfortune. The legend has not lost its grip and is still a popular subject in books and film.