Five Very Good Dogs in Horror Fiction - Reactor

I’ve previously written an article about post-apocalyptic books and movies that feature dogs, so it’s no secret that I love a canine character. In my opinion, basically any story is improved by the addition of a dog—even scary stories where their safety isn’t exactly guaranteed (always check doesthedogdie.com if you need warnings!). It’s not that I like animals being in peril, but I love the horror genre, and the inclusion of a pup gets me emotionally connected to a story like nothing else…

With that in mind, here are five horror books that feature dogs as characters. In these tales (or should I say tails? No…?) the dogs aren’t the source of the horror, so Stephen King’s poor rabies-infected Cujo doesn’t make the list. Rather, these furry friends stand faithfully by their humans, no matter what otherworldly threats are thrown at them!

The Twisted Ones (2019) by T. Kingfisher

T. Kingfisher’s folk horror novel The Twisted Ones draws inspiration from Arthur Machen’s short story “The White People” and, best of all, adds a dog into the mix. In Kingfisher’s take on the story, main character Mouse is tasked with cleaning out her deceased grandma’s house, which backs onto woodland. Grandma was a hoarder, so Mouse has a lot of work ahead of her, but at least she has Bongo, her Redbone Coonhound, along for company. Bongo may not be particularly smart, but he has a hilarious personality.

Early on in the decluttering process, Mouse finds a journal written by her step-grandfather, Cotgrave. His potentially senile ravings are a little unsettling, but things don’t get serious until Mouse starts venturing out into the woods (she doesn’t have much choice in this, Bongo needs to be walked!)…and then things in the woods start venturing to the house. The story progresses from pretty creepy to downright weird, but the horror is made easier to take by Mouse’s use of humor as a coping mechanism and Bongo’s silly antics.

The Shuddering (2013) by Ania Ahlborn

The Shuddering starts with twins Ryan and Jane Adler gathering their friends, plus Ryan’s beloved husky Oona, for a short skiing vacation at their family’s soon-to-be-sold luxury cabin in the Colorado mountains. Intended as a last hurrah, the festive atmosphere is soon dampened thanks to some messy social dynamics. While the main cast of characters bicker, we readers witness monstrous creatures making their way along the mountainside, slaughtering people as they go and edging ever closer to the cabin.

Things then go from bad to worse when a blizzard rolls in, leaving the group stranded, without power, and worst of all, vulnerable to the strange beasts waiting amidst the trees. What follows is a blood-splattered and pulpy tale of survival in the snow. The creatures are vicious and the weather is freezing, but Oona is a very good girl who proves herself to be a true hero.

Thor (1992) by Wayne Smith

German Shepherd Thor isn’t just a character in Wayne Smith’s novel, he’s the main character. While reading from a dog’s POV might seem off-putting to some readers, for me it’s a selling point. Thor sees himself as the protector of his Pack (his words, not mine), which is comprised of Tom and Janet, and their kids, Teddy, Brett, and Debbie.

Thor’s job as bodyguard is put to the test when Uncle Ted, Thor’s favorite non-Pack person, starts acting—and smelling—a little off. The human family members attribute Ted’s strange and withdrawn behavior to the unexpected death of his girlfriend, but Thor knows that something else is going on. While the humans are too caught up with what should be (werewolves don’t exist, duh!) to confront the threat, Thor simply follows his nose and intuition to deal with the grim realities.

Thor is both pure and brave of heart, as well as being steadfastly loyal, even when his family don’t treat him as he deserves. Reading from Thor’s perspective as he experiences frustration and setbacks (and worse) can be tough, but who doesn’t have room in their heart to root for a literal underdog? 

Nettle & Bone (2022) by T. Kingfisher

Yes, T. Kingfisher has already made an appearance on this list, but I can’t help that she’s really good at writing animal characters! Nettle & Bone is a fairy tale with a seriously dark edge. Marra is the youngest princess of a small kingdom and her two older sisters have successively been sent off to a more powerful neighboring kingdom to become the brides of a sadistic, Joffrey Baratheon-style prince. With one sister dead, and the other fearing for her life, Marra reaches her breaking point and sets off on a quest for revenge.

Along the way Marra meets many colorful characters, including a demon-possessed chicken and a dog made out of bones that she crafts with her own hands—he’s appropriately called Bonedog. Although Bonedog may not have a soft coat to pet, he’s always affectionate and unwaveringly faithful. Nettle & Bone is as sinister as it is magical, and to top it off, it’s shot through with Kingfisher’s pleasingly dry brand of humor from beginning to end.

Watchers (1987) by Dean Koontz

Dean Koontz has made no secret of his love of dogs, featuring them as characters in several of his books. In Watchers, the starring dog is a Golden Retriever called Einstein. Like the sheepdog named Einstein from Back to the Future (1985), who was the first being to time travel, Koontz’s canine character is also scientifically important, having been genetically altered to possess human levels of intelligence. At the start of the novel, Einstein escapes from the lab and finds his way into the arms and heart of a lonely man called Travis.

Unfortunately for Einstein, his amazing intellect has made him a target for not only the NSA, but also for a deranged hitman, and, worst of all, for a nightmarish creature that was created in the same lab and is known as the Outsider. The horror elements of Watchers are definitely on the lighter side—think of it as a techno-thriller with a dash of horror—making it perfect for readers who aren’t in the mood for viscerally gory descriptions.

With Watchers, it feels like Koontz is indulging in the fantasy that every pet owner has surely had—that of properly conversing with their furry companion. Einstein isn’t simply smart; he’s also kind and opinionated and funny, and I’m pretty sure I could happily talk to him for hours on end.

Honorable Mentions

I really can’t resist dogs in horror stories, so I thought I’d briefly mention a few other examples:

There’s the post-apocalyptic pups from the list I mentioned earlier—my favorites being the unnamed dog from Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend (1954), heroic Kojak from Stephen King’s The Stand (1978), and feisty duo Jip and Jess from C. A. Fletcher’s A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World (2019).

Jenny Kiefer’s This Wretched Valley (2024) sees a group of people venture into the Kentucky wilderness to study and climb an uncharted cliff face and a good dog called Slade is dragged along with them. I say “dragged” because his instincts warn him that this is a deadly mistake and he resists every step of the way—always trust your dog if they tell you something isn’t right!

Then there’s Ragtag from Grady Hendrix’s The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires (2020). Ragtag may not be heavily featured in this story of a vampire infiltrating a small Southern community, but he sure packs a punch—or maybe “takes a bite” would be more accurate—when he does appear.

I now pass the baton over to you: Which dogs in horror have I missed? Be they the main character or a minor part of the story, tell me about your favorites in the comments below!