What makes the urban legend of the Michigan Dogman so compelling is its plausibility. These terrifying beasts have had far more sightings than Bigfoot – who is practically the poster-creature for cryptozoology. Sure there’s talk of supernatural origin but there’s far more realistic animal-based theories for this creature’s existence as well. Dogman sightings began in one area with similar accounts. As sighting spread, descriptions began to vary slightly but core characteristics remained intact. This pattern can be expected with any migrating and evolving species.
Dogman sightings typically occur in the standard settings one would expect for all creepy stories; deep in the forest, logging camps, and even more frequently, out on isolated roads at night. The mythical beast of backwoods folklore went mainstream in 1987 after the release of the song, ‘The Legend’ written by Traverse City radio deejay Steve Cook. Cook pulled lyrics from Dogman encounters and soon more people reported their sightings. But what are these witnesses actually seeing? Is it mass hysteria or a real creature? This list explores the history of this cryptid and various encounters with it.
The Earliest Known Sighting Of The Cryptid Was In 1887
The first documented Dogman encounter was in Wexford County. It was 1887, two lumberjacks were out in the woods when they spotted a creature they described as having the body of a man but the head of a dog. Other sightings began to trickle in throughout the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and locals found dog tracks in the dirt all around several dead horses who died of fright.
Robert Fortney Fired Shots At A Grinning Dogman
In 1938, a massive black dog confronted 17-year-old Robert Fortney, near the Muskegon River in Paris, Michigan. Fortney didn’t report his encounter until 49-years later but he swore the beast reared up on its hind legs and stared him down with its piercing blue eyes.
Terrified, he shot at the creature and it quickly fled. Fortney remained chilled by the event for years to come. Later he stated, “It may be that I was just scared, but I swear that dog was smiling at me.”
Dogman Busted A 13-Year Old Girl Trying To Sneak A Smoke
A memorable dogman account came from a 13-year-old girl named Courtney who lived out in Reed City, Michigan back in 1993. She decided to sneak out for a cigarette behind her house one winter and she got the scare of her life. Courtney claimed it was just a glint of light seeping out from the planks of an old abandoned barn. She followed its movement and slowly it dawned on her that something was there. As her eyes made sense of what they were seeing after a few minutes, she realized the six-foot-tall thing hiding in the barn had the head of a dog and was staring right back at her. She ran off, terrified. Later her neighbor confirmed that they too saw a creature out in that barn. They described it as a buffalo-sized dog lurking in that barn.
According To Legend, The Michigan Dogman Prowls In 10-Year Cycles
Descriptions of the Michigan Dogman have varied over the years so it’s safe to say (if it exists) it’s not a lone wolf and there are more of its kind. These creatures have glowing amber or icy blue eyes, the head of a dog with vicious fangs, and a human torso. They can stand up on two legs and are anywhere between six, and seven-feet-tall. They are fast and allegedly have a horrible scream-like howl.
According to local legend, the Dogman appears in ten-year cycles. Early sightings of the cryptid were reported all throughout Michigan. They soon spread to Wisconsin and now sightings pop up all over the country.
A Dogman Attack May Have Been Captured By OnStar
The famous Dogman OnStar Attack occurred in Troy, Michigan back in 2006. A man was driving down the road when suddenly, what he described as, “great big dog that was standing upright” appeared before him. He instinctively swerved to miss the creature and ended up running off the road and flipping the vehicle over on its side. Thankfully, no one was injured and they contacted OnStar for assistance. The OnStar recording of that conversation spread across the internet wildfire.
Dogmen Have Extraordinary Leaping Abilities
In the fall of 1986, out near Manistee, MI, Ray Greenway was driving home from the Manistee Army recruiting station late one night, when he noticed something off in the darkened field beside him. His headlights were reflecting off what appeared to be eyes that were far too high off the ground to be a deer.
Suddenly, the unidentifiable creature began running towards him and made an incredible leap clear across the two-lane road. “There is no animal that it could be. I know that this was not a deer,” Ray later recalled. He went on to describe its yellow eyes and impossible leaping ability. “I do remember that I saw both eyes as if it was looking at me, the whole time. That, along with the leaping ability, is what I will never forget.”
Dogman Likes To Creep Up On People In The Night And Stare Them Down
While driving on an isolated road in the Lansing, Michigan area back in May of 2006, a man named Ron slowed for what he thought was a deer. “All of a sudden, a human-like hand (except much larger than a normal man’s hand) reached over the edge of the hill and this huge silhouette came into view.” What came out of the darkened hillside was a massive man with a wolf-like face.
“It was much larger than a normal man and it had a wolf-like face and its eyes reflected in my headlights, it just sat there and looked across the field on the other side of the road and then it just very calmly turned its head and looked right at me.”
He sat frozen in fear until it began moving down the hill, then Ron sped away before it could come any closer. “I hit the gas and flew past it and when I got to the stop sign, I stopped and looked in the rearview mirror and it was sitting in the middle of the road just looking at my car.”He bolted again and this time didn’t look back.
Dogman Has A Thing For Darting Out In Front Of Cars
Rhonda of Three Lakes in Michigan had a Dogman encounter in the fall of 2009. She was traveling on US-41M with her son when the beast ran across the highway near Tioga Creek.
“We were very puzzled and thought it might be some mutant wolf and could not figure out what we witnessed. It ran fairly fast about 50 feet in front of our truck. It was so strange because the front of it was much higher up than the back, larger than a wolf.”
She claimed she’d never heard of the Dogman until this incident. It took reading descriptions and stories online to be able to confirm to herself what she saw. She felt validated. She has no doubt the creature she encountered was a Dogman.
Dogman Possesses Both Agility And Stealth
At first, Chuck thought he spotted a moose as he approached Nestoria Road in Baraga County. The world was a bit foggy and dewy that early morning in 2011. But Chuck knew he saw movement just off the edge of the road and into the woods. He stopped at the intersection, waited, watched, and nothing happened so he began to move. As soon as he picked up speed the creature reemerged. “Immediately this animal ran out of the woods in front of my car and jumped across the road to the south side. I mean it took 3 long strides and was gone – almost like it vanished through an invisible wall!”
In a state of shock he pondered the creature, he’d never seen anything like it. “It was on all fours and had back legs like those of a large man. It had jet black fur and looked like a very large wolf other than the back legs and the human-like rump. There was no tail. The profile of the head and snout were that of a wolf. It didn’t make a sound.”
The Black-Furred Beast Of Cass County Screams Like An Infant In The Night
One witness claims a Dogman was stalking up the hill behind their house in the late fall of 2001. “My stepdaughter and I were looking out the french doors. Only to see a creature, black in color, like a big bear with haunches and the head of a wolf”.
While that was the only visual Cass County Michigan residents experienced, they can still hear it. The sound of splashing and shrieking can be heard in the 20-acre swampland at night. “It has the scream of an infant…Loud and hysterical.”
Some Say Dogman Is The Spirit Of Cheyenne Warriors Known As Dog Soldiers
Back in the 1860s, the Cheyenne established their own group of warriors known as the Dog Soldiers or Dog Men. Native Americans spent years studying or becoming one with their spirit animal; taking on the mannerisms and strength of wolves or wild dogs.
Allegedly, all the Cheyenne Dog Men were killed off by the US Army. However, according to lore passed down from the elders, not all of them died. According to legend, some of the Dog Men actually shape-shifted into dogs and now roam the woods and swamplands. It’s worth noting, that while witnesses admit feeling terrified, there hasn’t been any known deaths attributed to a Dogman. This is thought to be because of the Indian belief that one must invite the evil unto themselves; it cannot just harm you.
The Legendary ‘Beast Of Bray Road’ Just May Be A Dogman
The bipedal, dog-headed, humanoid creature known as the Michigan Dogman, was originally only spotted throughout Michigan (hence the name). But, it’s possible the same species has been given different names in various areas. The most prominent example would be Wisconsin’s Beast of Bray Road. Which has been described by some eyewitnesses as a werewolf-like creature and others have likened it to a Sasquatch.
The Beast of Bray Road is said to be about 7-feet tall when standing on its hind legs. It has an estimated weight between 400-700 pounds. The creature possesses a combination of human and wolf qualities. Like its neighboring cryptid the Dogman, it likes to jump across roads scaring motorists in the night.
There Are Scientific Theories As To Its Origins
Clearly, the most obvious explanation, if one believes they exist, is that they’re an undiscovered breed of wild dog. Many have claimed the Dogman is actually a prehistoric wolf similar to Amarok, or a coydog.
Assuming the sightings are genuine, it’s possible normal creatures of abnormal size are being misidentified. Or multiple creatures are being wrongfully labeled as the same creature. This would account for the variation is appearance. Most witnesses describing a wolf-like animal. Others described a massive, malformed (possible) member of the bear family.
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