The Dogman: Creepy Encounters

Investigate the Unexplained Instead of
Explaining the Uninvestigated

The Dogman legend has captivated me for years. From my own experience to research and eyewitness testimony, I’ve come to form some strong beliefs about this elusive cryptid. While definitive proof remains out of reach, I believe there is something out there—a creature or creatures that leave a haunting mark on those who encounter them.

It’s clear that Dogman sightings are not a one-size-fits-all phenomenon. Witnesses consistently describe different forms, leading to theories about distinct types or variants. These descriptions, though varied, often share strikingly similar traits. The most common depiction is of a creature resembling the black werewolf from Van Helsing (2004):

• Six to eight feet tall, with some reports up to ten feet
• A body so muscular it dwarfs human bodybuilders
• A narrow waist and small, pointed ears atop its head
• Abnormally large, razor-sharp canine teeth
• Long arms that reach down to its knees
• Huge hands like raccoon paws, tipped with sharp claws
• Bipedal legs bent backward like a dog’s hock
• Massive dog-like feet
• A small tail or no tail at all

Yet, these aren’t the only forms of Dogman being reported. Some experiencers describe hybrids—creatures that seem to blur the line between Dogman and Bigfoot, or even between Dogman and humans. Researchers and investigators categorize Dogmen into two main groups: Type 3 Dogmen and Canine Dogmen. Within these groups, there are seven distinct types that witnesses have described.

Type 3 Dogmen

Variant 1
This variant is tall and lean, with traits of both Bigfoot and Dogman. Its legs are straight, like a human’s, lacking the backward bend typical of other Dogmen. Its facial features resemble a baboon or ape but with a pronounced snout. Common fur colors include black, gray, brown, and occasionally orange or reddish.

Variant 2
With a human-like body and a protruding dog-like snout, this type has a head resembling that of a Chow.

Variant 3 (Gugwe)
Often described as a Sasquatch with a snout, this variant also has straight legs, unlike the bent hock of canine variants.

Canine Dogmen

Variant 1
This type closely resembles a standing dog or Timber Wolf. It has a thinner build compared to others and is commonly reported with fur colors ranging from black to white, brown, or gray.

Variant 2
Hyena-like in appearance, this variant features a spotted muzzle, a humped back, and shorter front legs. Its coloration ranges from black to brown.

Variant 3
Often considered the classic Dogman, this variant matches the werewolf-like depictions from Van Helsing or Underworld. Standing six to eight feet tall (sometimes ten), it is massively muscular, with sharp canine teeth, small pointed ears, long arms, and large dog-like feet. It may have a small tail or none at all.

Variant 4 (Fatheads or Soldiers)
This imposing variant has an enormous head and no neck. It is the largest of the Dogmen, standing seven to ten feet tall, with human-like hands tipped with claws. Lean, tall, and powerful, it has backward-bent legs and fur colors ranging from black to gray.

While there is no definitive evidence to substantiate that Dogmen exist, there are a tremendous number of anecdotal eyewitness accounts. I happen to give a lot of credence to those accounts. I had my own experience in 1981 in Iowa with “something” that I believe was a large bipedal canid. Are there seven kinds of Dogman? I have no idea, but I do believe that experiencers are seeing different types of a large creature that we in the cryptid community refer to as Dogmen. The mystery continues, as does my research into this most fascinating and yet terrifying creature.