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thoughts-of-a-heathen · 2 years

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Werewolves in Scandinavian folklore

Forget all that you thought you knew about werewolves; this post is about Scandinavian werewolves, and they are quite different from the werewolves you can find in modern pop culture.

First of all, Scandinavian werewolves aren't necessarily wolves. According to Isof (the Swedish Institute for Language and Folklore), people transformed into the type of carnivorous animals that could be found within the local region. In southern Sweden, people turned into dogs, in central Sweden they usually turned into wolves, and in the northern parts of the country, people often took the shape of a bear. There are also stories of people turning into other animals, for example wolverines, but these are far less common. In Norway, it seems like people mainly turned into bears or wolves.

There are many regional names for werewolves:

hamnvarg (hamr wolf)

hamnbjörn (hamr bear)

hamløper (hamr runner)

fähusbjörn (cattle house bear)

knivskedsbjörn (knife sheath bear)

lappbjörn (racial slur¹ + bear)

manulv (man wolf)

manvarg (man wolf)

mankuse (man devil?²)

marulv (mare wolf)

vittvarg (vittra + wolf)

The act of being a werewolf could also be described like

gå björn (walk [around like a] bear)

gå i björn (walk in bear [hamr])

spå i björn ('divinate in bear'³)

löpa i björn (run in bear [hamr])

gå i björnham (walk in bear hamr)

vänd till björn (turn [in]to [a] bear)

(In cases where the person turned into a wolf, it would of course be called "löpa i varg" etc.)

(In standard Swedish, werewolf is 'varulv,' which means 'man wolf.')

"Stundum i vargs ham"

In Strengleikar (which probably was created around 1250), the Norwegian translator of Bisclaretz ljóð/ Bisclavret has added his personal experience to the story. In his childhood, he had known of a rich farmer who was "hamskiftisk" (a shapeshifter). "Stundum var han maðr. Stundum i vargs ham." ('Sometimes he was a man. Sometimes [he was] in wolf hamr.')

Three legs

"The werewolf looked like a large, shaggy dog with fiery red eyes, and who was running on three legs. The person who [...] has the tragic fate of trotting around at night as a werewolf, was transformed as soon as he fell asleep in the evening, [in such a way that] one of his arms turned into a tail, the other one a leg, and the head was made pointy like a wolf's head, and after [the transformation] was completed, he jumped, on his three legs, out of the bed, and began his horrid night walks."

- Nicolovius, Folklivet i Skytts härad

Now is probably a good time for me to mention that Scandinavian werewolves don't spread the curse by biting people. So put that notion aside for the rest of this read.

In Scandinavian folklore, people turn into werewolves because of magic. Werewolf transformation can be divided into two groups: voluntary and involuntary transformations.

Voluntary Transformations

The voluntary transformations usually involve magical objects - a belt, a salve, the skin of an animal etc. Many sägner talk about belts that were made of human skin. But any old belt made of human skin wouldn't suffice - oh no! The crafting process included several magical rituals, performed under the right circumstances, by the right kind of person. It must also be used correctly, or it won't work. The older generations often made sure to teach the younger about these (and other) rituals and spells before their confirmation. If people had "learned some of God's words" before they learned the traditional spells and rituals, the magic wouldn't be as powerful.

Some examples of voluntary transformations:

"If they put on a bear skin or wolf skin, they could turn into bears or wolves. They threw off the skin when they wanted to become human again."

Västra Emterviks socken, Värmland, Sweden

"[At Vargkluggbacka] there lived a merchant from Tukkum, Estonia, who had a wolf skin and inhabited [the shape of] a wolf, until they shot him dead. It didn't work until they made a bullet out of a button that was made from inherited silver."

Runö, Saaremaa, Estonia

"I don't know of any other werewolves than the one that spent a whole year hunting in Transtrand and Lima in Dalarna. They shot it here in this area on a Christmas morning. An old man had made a bullet from his wife's wedding ring, and that was the bullet that killed [the bear]. [....] It was a boy who had turned into a bear. It is said that they found the knife and the belt inside of the [bear] skin."

Dalby, Värmland, Sweden

"Some men had a bear skin [that they would] crawl into."

Mora, Dalarna, Sweden

People would typically want to become a werewolf so that they could get revenge. Therefore, they often turned into the animal that would cause the most harm.

Another reason could be starvation - people who didn't have enough to eat would allegedly turn into bears. (This explanation is very uncommon.)

The voluntary transformations could usually be reversed by performing the transformation ritual again, but - you guessed it - in reverse. People who shape shifted with the help of an animal skin would simply remove it when they wanted to return to their human form.

People who turned themselves into werewolves often went mad.

Involuntary Transformations

Involuntary transformations could happen for a number of reasons. It could be the result of a curse. These types of curses are common in medieval ballads, as well as in sägner. However, the most popular cure in the ballads (drinking the life blood of a family member) is almost unheard of in sägner. But the belief that a werewolf can lift the curse by eating a fetus from a pregnant woman can be found in medieval ballads and sägner alike.

In the ballad of the enchanted knight (Den förtrollade riddaren), the two gory cures are combined:

[A stepmother abuses her step son, and the turns him into a wolf and tells him to go live in the forest. He ambushes her and pulls her off the horse]:

"Then I with resentment / ripped the fetus out of her body.

When I had drunk my brother's blood / I turned into a good and noble knight."

In the Danish version of this story, the werewolf/protagonist is a young maiden. She rips her unborn brother out of the stepmother's womb, and then runs into the forest with the baby. But she doesn't kill him:

"I bit him in his pinky toe / [because I wanted] him to be baptized and christened."

It is said that a pregnant woman who got attacked by a werewolf could save herself by throwing a piece of clothing at the beast. The werewolf had to rip the garment to shreds, which hopefully would give the woman enough time to escape.

This is seemingly what the maiden is trying to do in the medieval ballad The Werewolf (Varulven):

[The maiden is going to meet her beloved in the forest. They have had premarital sex, and the maiden is pregnant. In the forest, she is attacked by a (were)wolf]:

"Dear wolf, don't bite me. / I will give you my silken sark.

- I don't care about your silken sark / Your young life and blood has to go."

[The maiden keeps pleading for her life, but the wolf refuses to listen. She climbs into an oak tree. The wolf digs up all the roots of the oak, and the tree falls over. The maiden screams. Her beloved hears this, and saddles his horse. But even though he is riding "a little faster than the bird was flying," it is too late]:

"On his way to the blooming grove, / he meets the wolf with the fetus in its mouth."

A band called Garmarna has recorded a version of this ballad (that doesn't include the verse about the fetus):

youtube

The belief that werewolves attacked pregnant women was so well established that some versions of these ballads don't even mention pregnancy or fetuses.

With this in mind, it's no wonder that many pregnant women didn't want to leave their homes alone, but would insist on bringing a man with them for protection:

"Werewolves were considered to be particularly dangerous to pregnant women, who they wanted to rip apart; and because of this, such women rarely dared to go out in the dark without being accompanied by a male person."

- Nicolovius, Folklivet i Skytts härad

But in some sägner, the werewolf (or rather: werebear) doesn't harm the fetus, because the werebear can break the curse by raising the child that it has ripped from the womb.

According to Dagligt liv i Norden i det sekstende århundrede by Troels Troels-Lund, this was a telltale sign that the bear was a transformed human:

"Rigtige Bjørne var derimod kendelige paa, at de med største Velbehag aad Fostret."

(Loosely translated: "Real bears, on the other hand, could be recognised by the fact that they ate the fetus with great pleasure.")

That being said, there are plenty of stories about real bears ripping fetuses out of the womb and raising them as their own.

Scandinavian folklore is diverse, and a little bit contradictory.

Other werewolf cures include:

telling the werewolf that they are a werewolf

calling them by their real name

showing them compassion and giving them food

hitting them across their mouth

convincing the person who turned them into a werewolf to lift the curse

destroying the magical objects that had been used to turn them into a werewolf (in case such things had been used)

In some cases, the curse is lifted automatically after a certain amount of time (usually seven years):

"The old woman in Sofigården turned her own son into a wolf. She was angry that he felt compassion for the wolves. When they were hungry, and approached [the house], he usually made sure that they got something to eat. One time he fed them a cat. Then the mother came and said: 'You will be allowed to [stay] with them too." He was transformed into a wolf, and traveled with the wolf pack. He was gone for seven years. Then he came [back] to Sofigården. When he walked through the door, the wolf skin fell from him. The mother took it and burned it. But then the boy started digging in the ashes and howled like a wolf. When it was the time of Christmas Eve, a throng of wolves came to the farm. When the boy saw the wolf pack, he cried and went out to them. He understood the language of the wolves. He took the largest goat and carried it out to them. Since it was Christmas Eve, his mother didn't scold him for it. The animals on that farm never ran the risk of being killed by wolves."

Norra Finnskoga, Värmland, Sweden

Xenophobia

Many sägner about werewolf curses are xenophobic. The Sami, as well as Finns, are often accused of turning people into werewolves:

"He got [the curse of being] transformed into a wolf in Finland. He obviously must have spoken with some Finnish woman and been cursed [by her]. He had to be a wolf until someone called him by his real name. His name was Lasse. His wife waited for him, but he never returned back home. One time, the wife was baking. Then she saw a wolf outside [the house]. She went out with her baker's peel to scare away [the wolf]. 'Why are you roaming around here?" she said, "Shoo on you, Lasse!" Then the man appeared in front of her. He was released from [the curse], but the tail was still on him, it never disappeared. Someone from Appuna told me. It is said to have happened during her grandmother's lifetime."

Högby socken, Östergötland, Sweden

"My aunt told me so many times about the one time, when she was standing by the Mösch lake, and she saw a wolf on the other side [of the lake] who was looking at her in a cunning way. My aunt was young back then. She said: 'Poor you, Per, are you standing there?' Then the wolf cloak fell from him, and he went around the lake and thanked her. It was [racial slur for Sami people] hags who turned people into critters. [People] could turn into wolves, and have to be with other wolves, and when they killed an animal, they had to eat, even though they didn't want to."

Älgarås socken, Västergötland, Sweden

The Sami and Finns were thought to have the ability to talk to animals. The story from Värmland that I have already quoted continues:

"There where wolves everywhere around here a long time ago, they came from the place where the Finns lived, they were wearing [animal skins] (transformed from humans!) Then a Finn came down here once, and when I told him how I dreaded the many wolves, he sent them back to the place they came from."

Västra Emterviks socken, Värmland, Sweden

The Roma people could also be accused of cursing people and turning them into werewolves:

"[...] a group of g*psies appears, and an old woman, who is their leader, enters [the house] and begs insolently. She is rejected and threatens [the tailor], but is driven out with a cane. Then she hits [the tailor] three times on the head with her magical wand, and he turns into a wolf and runs howling into the forest."

- En mycket märkwärdig Historia om en Wandringsman som i sjuttonde seklet blef, i tio års tid, förvandlad till en Warg. Mycket förunderlig att läsa (1846), as told by Ella Odstedt in Varulven i svensk tradition (1943)

These beliefs are racist, and they are understood and identified as such in Scandinavian discourse.

However, it is important to keep in mind that the folklore surrounding werewolves is older than the racist narratives that have since become a part of it. The xenophobia can often be traced back to specific historical events, like wars or societal changes. After a war with Russia, people in Sweden accused the Russians of turning Swedish soldiers into wolves and then sending them to terrorise Swedish farmers...

Werewolves tales that mention the Sami or Finns are more common in the northern parts of Scandinavia.

In some sägner, a Sami farmhand/servant/similar turns into a wolf or a bear at night, eats the livestock of the farmer who hired him, and then turns back into a human and goes back to sleep in his bed in the farmhouse.

It should be noted that members of any marginalized community could be accused of turning people into werewolves. This is a friendly reminder that the term vargamor is a slur in this context. The way it's currently being used on Tumblr has no basis in Scandinavian folklore.

But yeah. When society is destabilised, or things change, or when people feel scared, it's always handy to have a scapegoat.

Since the majority of my followers aren't from Scandinavia, let me give you some historical context:

Most people were either farmers or city dwellers (living in one place, not moving around)

The Bible (allegedly) tells people to live and work as farmers

Therefore, traveling people are not Good Christians™️

Criminals could literally be sentenced to "be driven out of town"

Which sort of explains why people didn't trust travelers

The world was also divided into cultivated land (where humans lived) and the wilderness (where animals and magical beings resided)

Travelers, or people who lived outside of the "human" realm were looked upon with suspicion

The Sami usually lived in "the wilderness"

So did many of the Finns who migrated to Sweden in the 17th century (they started cultivating forest land)

The Roma people traveled (because they weren't allowed to stay anywhere, basically)

Poor people often had to live in huts in or close to the forest

Lots of poor people also had to wander around and beg for food, clothes, shelter and so on

You cannot separate our folklore from our history - they are intertwined

Anyway, werewolves...

People who had been turned into werewolves, but then had the curse lifted, could still understand what the animals were saying. A different version of the story of the cursed tailor goes:

"A human could be forced to take the shape of an animal. It happened through someone else's magical arts. It is said that there was a tailor who got transformed into a wolf. But once the curse was broken, and he had become a human again, he understood the howls of the wolves. One night, he and the farmer who he was sewing for stood out on the porch and talked. Then the wolves started howling in the forest. "How the wolves howl! I wonder what they're saying?" said the farmer. "Oh, they said that they're going to kill your white mare tonight, so you should probably bring her home," the tailor said. But the farmer didn't listen to him, and left the mare out in the enclosure for the night. But in the morning, the wolves had been there killed her."

Lenhovda socken, Småland, Sverige

As mentioned in the sägen from Älgarås, [most] people could no longer control their own actions when they had turned into werewolves. This made them dangerous to the people around them:

"They didn't know where [Gråbein-Arne] came from. But there was still a rumour that said that he was a werewolf - that [someone] had cursed him in such a way that he sometimes turned into a wolf. And then he could become a danger to both humans and animals. One day, when Arne and a maid were harvesting hay together, he felt that the curse was coming over him. Therefore he warned the girl that he had to climb up in a tree. And no later than she had climbed the tree, Arne threw his scythe and clothing, and slipped into a wolf hamr, started howling like a wolf, and set off into the forest. It wasn't too long before he returned, in human form, put on his clothes again, and continued his work. But he told the girl that she had escaped up into the tree at the last minute, because when he had his wolf hours, he couldn't stop himself from ripping apart every living [thing]. After this kind of wolf hours, he was pale and limp, so it probably tool its toll on him. But otherwise he was compliant and friendly."

Tresfjord, Møre og Romsdal fylke, Norway

The notion that people could sense the transformation before it happened is quite widespread:

"At the farmer H---- [...], a beggar entered one night, who with the permission of the [farmer and his wife] lied down to rest on the bench next to the tile stove, while the farmer, his wife, and the servants, worked in candlelight; but as soon as [the begger] had fallen asleep, he yelled in his sleep: 'here grows a tail'; which made everyone who was present jump to their feet, as they knew that these words always⁴ preceded the horrible transformation, and watched in terror, as a large, thre-legged werewolf snuck out of the house."

- Nicolovius, Folklivet i Skytts härad

Interestingly enough, a sägen from Asarum, Blekinge (Sweden) states that "such a förhamning ('changing of hamn') didn't pose a threat to livestock, but to women."

"Through the Light-Headedness of the Mother"

Curses weren't the only thing that could turn people into werewolves. In southern Sweden, it was believed that you could make your labor process less painful if you crawled under a mare, gave birth to the baby on a spot where a mare had rolled around, or if you crawled through a horse harness or the foetal membrane of a foal. By doing this, giving birth would be just as easy for you as [people thought] it was for a horse. However, this practice was frowned upon, as it was believed that it harmed the unborn child. If it was a boy, it would become a werewolf. (If it was a girl, it would become a mare.)

(The mother would be blamed for all kinds of birth defects - real or imagined. Don't look a hare in the face while you're pregnant, or your child will have a cleft lip...)

As I have already mentioned in a post about cats, it was believed that a newborn baby would become a werewolf if a cat stared at the babies crib. And if a cat walked under a coffin, and then under a bed where someone was giving birth, this would also turn the child into a werewolf.

According to Isof, certain physical characteristics could be a sign of someone being a werewolf: monobrows and bushy eyebrows, worn down or damaged teeth, facial scars, a lack of beard or body hair... If a person didn't have a shadow, that was a clear sign. If people ran up stairs or hills on all fours, they were probably werewolves. People who were tired during the day were also suspected of being werewolves.

The full moon isn't mentioned in Scandinavian sägner about werewolves. It is common for the transformation to happen at night, but it could also happen during the day. Some werewolves would transform every evening, others would have specific days, months, or times of the year (like Christmas). Some, like the boy from Sofigården mentioned above, would be werewolves for years.⁵ In other cases, they were cursed for life.

Killing a Werewolf

It was hard, almost impossible, to kill a werewolf:

"A [person] who walked in bear hamr was almost invulnerable."

Lima, Dalarna, Sweden

This was especially true for werewolves who had transformed voluntarily. During the transformation ritual, they would mention all human weapons, which would make the weapons ineffective and harmless.

Werewolves could be killed with silver bullets, or with ammunition containing pages from a psalmody, communion wafers, or other sacred [Christian] things.

Sometimes the werewolf was killed by a (seemingly random) household object that they forgot to mention during the transformation ritual. In one sägen, the werewolf is killed with a flax rippler.

Flax rippler, Nordiska museet

However, killing the beast wouldn't necessarily break the curse:

"If you shot a werewolf, he would die, because [the bullet] hit the person, and the hamr would stay [intact], [and therefore] nobody would know that it was a human [that had been shot]."

Älghult, Småland, Sweden

The plethora of phrases used to describe the hamr concept suggests that different regions/people had their own (local) take on it. (I will probably make a separate post about this eventually.)

Gender

Even though it is more common for men to become werewolves, there are some cases of women being transformed:

"[...] but still I remember that in my youth, there was a horrid old woman who was said to sometimes 'löpa björn' ('run bear'= turn into a bear), and who for that reason was called Biörngäntan ('the bear girl⁶').

- Glysisvallur by Olof Broman, Hälsingland

"A sägen has been told in Rissätra, about how someone from the village once shot a woman who had 'worn [a] bear hamr.' It was revealed because the she-bear had braided hair like a woman."

Rissätra, Dalarna, Sweden

This post is getting ridiculously long, so let's end it with an incredibly vague story:

"In Russia it is quite common for the entire wedding entourage to be turned into wolves, and afterwards, you can recognize the bridal couple by the white wreaths around their necks."

Ormsö, Läänemmaa, Estonia

TL;DR Scandinavian werewolves

Appear in the shape of wolves, bears, dogs, or wolverines, depending on the region

Usually have three legs

They aren't affected by the full moon

But it's common that they transform at night

They don't spread the curse by biting people

People become werewolves because of magic - their own or someone else's

There are many different ways to break the curse

¹This name probably comes from the belief that the Sami people were able to turn people into animals. You should under no circumstances refer to anyone (or anything) Sami using the word "lapp." However, "lapp" can also mean something like "a small piece of a flat material" (like paper or fabric); a note or a patch. You need to look at the context. This is especially true for compound words - "lapptäcke" just means quilt...

²Kuse has many translations. It could also mean wolf, thug, insect... (SAOB)

³But what this really means is "using magic to transform into a bear"

⁴This obviously isn't true for all of Scandinavia (or even Skåne). Folklore is very diverse and inconsistent.

⁵Usually seven years, according to Isof.

⁶Alternatively: the bear spinster

Sources:

Isof

Ella Odstedt: Varulven i svensk folktradition

#werewolves #scandinavian folklore #werewolf #folklore #norse heathenry #magic #curses #medieval ballads #varulvar #wolves #bears #dogs #wolverines #xenophobia #hamr

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zaryathelaika · 4 months

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The inflammatory tags on that blog post about the auction prices on working Kelpies is funny considering it's difficult to find traditional driving stock-dogs in North America.

When I was looking into adopting a Kelpie or a Heeler as a thru-hiking companion, the farmers just straight up told me the driving lines are being phased out in favour of chute-dogs because trucking cattle is easier (and cheaper) than driving livestock over long distances on horseback or with quads. In large part because the lands are fragmented and one requires permissions to cross locked off parcels of land. Especially with absentee landlords sitting in big cities (eg. New York City, Toronto) and notorious for not answering emails or phone calls. And becoming more difficult every year.

Trying to tie farm-dogs into labour politics of farmhands is nonsensical here.

If you really want to critique agricultural animals being commodified by capitalism, could at least brush up a bit on David Nibert or read any of the eco-Marxist, green anarchist and social ecologist critiques of consumerist animal liberation groups being incomplete in their analyses of animal exploitations.

Better yet bring up how the enclosure of the commons and industrialization of livestock created the modern Border Collie, at the detriment of tenant farmers (eg. the crofters) and the British landrace collies (eg. Welsh collie, Old-Time Scotch Collie, Patagonian Sheepdog) and abroad (in the case of the Swedish Vallhunds and other herding breeds after WW2); or the development of gundogs, leisure class and the landed gentry.

Or even touch on settler-colonialism, displacements of Indigenous people (and Indigenous dogs), loss of knowledge in land stewardships, as well as the effects of cattle and sheep on prairie ecosystems. Or even just the landlordism aspect of big agriculture or the petite bourgeois politics of the small landowners.

Sorry, even working dogs are losing their jobs. There are just so much better anti-capitalist critiques of animal exploitation, landownership, industrial agriculture and privatization of farming operations.

#working dogs #farm dogs #herding dogs #stock dogs #driving dogs

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endofherwildsideau · 11 months

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꧁◤𝕊𝕠𝕡𝕙𝕚𝕒◥꧂

Her Voice by Erza

Deadname: Monica Johns

Name: Sheriff/Mayor Sophia the Horse Alpha

Name Meaning: Wisdom.

Nicknames: Sophie, Sofia, or Sofi

Birthday: May 24

Cause of Death: gun shot

Age: 166 (die at the age of 15)

Species: a hybrid of Human, Camargue, and Sorrel Tovero Paint Horse

Race: American 🇺🇲

Gender: Female ♀

Relationship status: In a relationship

Sexuality: Straight Ally

Home World: Earth (Formley) Miracle Region (Currently)

Kingdom: Enchanted Gardens; a Patch of Heavens, Bravetown, Angelcreak, Harmony Field, and Grandville.

Home: Wooden farmhouse & Sheriff's office.

Role or Job: Horse Alpha. Ruler of Enchanted Gardens; a Patch of Heavens, Bravetown, Angelcreak, Harmony Field, Grandville, and Great Plain Alpha. Queen of Plains Tribe. Holder of Crown Jewel pieces. Master of Taming great plains animals. Sheriff & Mayor of Patch of Heavens. Gunsligher. Goddess of Teleportation & Portals.

Companion Pets:

Sheridan the Enchanted Eagle

Tucker the Border Collie

Hollie the Rough Collie

Pongo the Australian Shepherd

Coley the Catahoula Leopard Dog

Hazel the Australian Cattle Dog

Louisa the Texas Heeler

Louise the Swedish Vallhund

Spirit Animal/Sibling:

Sverre the Giant Bison (Spirit Brother)

Partner:

Pacer the Pronghorn (boyfriend)

Parents:

Unnamed parents

Unnamed aunt

Relative:

Eachna the Arabian Horse Alpha (Cousin)

Tesha the Arabian Foal (Cousin)

Abilities:

Alpha Physiology

Centaur Physiology

Equid Physiology

Horse Physiology

Human Physiology

Hybrid Physiology

Taur Physiology

Ally Empowerment

Animal Companionship

Animal Creation - Only the great plains animals.

Animal Training Mastery

Animalistic Vocalization

Assault Rifle Proficiency

Avian Companionship

Bioluminescence

Canine Companionship

Companion Allegiance

Creature Studies Mastery - Only the great plains animals.

Declaration Aging

Dual Gun Proficiency

Dual Pistol Proficiency

Enhanced Balance

Enhanced Gunmanship

Enhanced Hearing

Enhanced Leap

Enhanced Smell

Enhanced Speed

Enhanced Strength

Expanded View

Expressive Ears

Glowing Eyes - only when the power is active or glows in the dark.

Hair Growth

Handgun Proficiency

Hoof Protrusion

Infinite Digestive System

Lasso Proficiency

Mind Control - to control other Plains alphas

Mind Link - to control other Plains alphas

Mode Switching - Companion Form & Animal Mode.

Multiple Legs

Night Vision

Omnilingualism

Powerful Bite

Prey Instinct

Railgun Proficiency

Regeneration Healer Factor

Rifle Proficiency

Shotgun Proficiency

Sniper Rifle Proficiency

Submachine Gun Proficiency

Taming - Only the great plains animals.

Unique Hair Coloration

Unique Eye Coloration

Wallrunning

Western Embodiment

Zoolingualism

Zoological Mastery - Only the great plains animals.

Powers:

Desert Adaptation

Dimensional Storage - where she stores her guns & few items in her hats.

Elemental Teleportation

Plains Adaptation

Plains Magic

Plains Manipulation

Portal Creation

Portal Locating

Portal Manipulation

Tactile Teleportation

Teleportation

Teleportation Ball Projection

Teleportation Manipulation

Teleportation Negation

Teleportation Portal Creation

#end of her wild side au #end of her wild side oc #eohws #sketchbook app #digital art #emilythehybridwolf #artists on tumblr #my art style #oc info #my art 2023 #Sheriff Sophia the Great Plain Alpha #sophia the horse alpha #reference sheet #png art #ipadart

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blxsscd-x-fxrsakcn · 2 years

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hc that Lucifer has several dogs -

a nova scotia retriever, male, named Buckwheat / "Buck"

an irish setter, also male, named Boscoe / "Bo"

an australian cattle dog, female, named Sheba

and lastly, a swedish vallhund, male, named Monty

• all four are exceptionally bright and good at problem-solving, are housebroken, etc

• all love to run / slide on hardwood floors and are often seen "talking" with plushes

• they all eat dry kibble and - sometimes - sneak table scraps

• Boscoe never meets a stranger / is overenthusiastically friendly, whereas Buckwheat is more reserved

• Buck can entertain himself for hours on end with the simplest of toys

• Bo's farts are frequent, and can clear a room

• Buck likes to sit in the sink and occasionally falls asleep in the bathtub

• Sheba is a snuggler when not stinky, and her favorite scritch-spot is by her tail

• Monty will attempt the meticulous art of human food thievery from the hand or mouth

#❝ nothing is ever certain ❞ ✧☾ { headcanons }#❝ i've seen civilizations rise and fall ❞ ✧☾ { lucifer }

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meowk9 · 1 year

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Discover the Fascinating World of Scandinavian Dog Breeds

Discover the Fascinating World of Scandinavian Dog Breeds" is an intriguing and engaging title that promises to introduce readers to the diverse and interesting breeds of dogs that hail from the Scandinavian region. From the strong and loyal Swedish Vallhund to the energetic and playful Norwegian Lundehund, this article will take you on a journey through the fascinating world of Scandinavian dog breeds. Learn about their unique histories, physical characteristics, and temperaments, and discover why these breeds make such great pets and working dogs. Whether you're a dog lover or simply interested in learning more about these incredible animals, this article is sure to captivate and inform you with its in-depth exploration of the world of Scandinavian dog breeds.

Introduction

Scandinavian dog breeds have been gaining in popularity in recent years, and for good reason. These dogs have unique physical and personality traits that make them stand out from other breeds. In this article, Meowk9 will explore the world of Scandinavian dog breeds, including their characteristics, history, and care needs. Whether you're considering adding one of these breeds to your family or you're simply curious about them, Meowk9 have got you covered.

The Characteristics of Scandinavian Dog Breeds

Scandinavian dog breeds are known for their hardiness, intelligence, and independence. These dogs were bred to work in harsh climates and difficult terrains, which has led to the development of certain physical and personality traits. Physical Characteristics Most Scandinavian dog breeds have thick, double-layered coats that keep them warm in cold weather. They also tend to have pointy ears and curled tails. These physical traits have evolved over time to help these dogs survive in the harsh Nordic climate. Temperament and Personality Scandinavian dogs are typically independent and self-reliant. They are often described as being "aloof" or "reserved" with strangers, but they are deeply loyal to their families. These dogs are also known for being intelligent and curious, which can sometimes lead to mischief if they're not given enough mental stimulation. Trainability and Intelligence Scandinavian dog breeds are highly intelligent and trainable, but they can also be stubborn. They were bred to work independently, which means that they may not always follow commands blindly. However, with consistent training and positive reinforcement, these dogs can excel in obedience and agility competitions.

The Most Popular Scandinavian Dog Breeds

There are several different breeds of Scandinavian dogs, each with its unique characteristics and history. Here are some of the most popular ones: Norwegian Elkhound The Norwegian Elkhound is a large, spitz-type dog that was originally bred to hunt moose and other large game. These dogs are highly independent and energetic, which means they need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. They are also known for being loyal and protective of their families.

Breed Overview: - GROUP: Hound (AKC) - HEIGHT: Around 20 inches - WEIGHT: 48 to 55 pounds - COAT AND COLOR: Thick, smooth double coat in shades of silver - LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12 to 15 years Swedish Vallhund The Swedish Vallhund is a small, spitz-type dog that was originally bred to herd cattle. These dogs are highly intelligent and trainable, and they make great family pets. They are also known for being affectionate and playful with children.

Breed Overview: - GROUP: Herding (AKC) - HEIGHT: 12 to 14 inches - WEIGHT: 20 to 35 pounds - COAT AND COLOR: Dense coat in gray and red - LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12 to 15 years Finnish Spitz The Finnish Spitz is a medium-sized dog that was originally bred to hunt small game. These dogs are highly energetic and require plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. They are also known for being loyal and affectionate with their families.

Breed Overview: - GROUP: Non-Sporting (AKC) - HEIGHT: 15.5 to 20 inches - WEIGHT: 20 to 32 pounds - COAT AND COLOR: Medium-length dense double coat that comes in shades of red - LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12 to 14 years Icelandic Sheepdog The Icelandic Sheepdog is a small, spitz-type dog that was originally bred to herd sheep. These dogs are highly intelligent and energetic, and they require plenty of exercise and playtime to stay happy and healthy. They are also known for being affectionate and loyal with their families.

Breed Overview: - GROUP: Herding (AKC) - HEIGHT: 16 to 18 inches - WEIGHT: 25 to 30 pounds - COAT AND COLOR: Long or short double coat that's thick and weatherproof; typical colors are tan, brown, gray, and black; white markings always accompany the main color - LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12 to 14 years Finnish Lapphund The Finnish Lapphund has a strong herding instinct and was originally bred to herd reindeer. They are intelligent and independent, but also have a strong desire to please their owner. These qualities make them well-suited to herding and working as a farm dog.

Breed Overview: - GROUP: Herding (AKC) - HEIGHT: 16 to 21 inches - WEIGHT: 30 to 50 pounds - COAT AND COLOR: Thick, harsh double coat in a variety of colors - LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12 to 15 years

Caring for Your Scandinavian Dog

Scandinavian dogs have specific care needs that should be addressed to keep them happy and healthy. Here are some important aspects of caring for your Scandinavian dog: Exercise and Playtime Scandinavian dogs are highly energetic and require plenty of exercise and playtime to stay healthy and happy. They enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, running, and playing fetch. Without adequate exercise, these dogs may become bored and destructive. Grooming Most Scandinavian dogs have thick, double-layered coats that require regular grooming to keep them healthy and clean. Brushing your dog's coat regularly will help prevent mats and tangles, and it will also distribute natural oils throughout the coat. These dogs also shed heavily twice a year, so be prepared for extra grooming during those times. Nutrition A healthy diet is important for all dogs, but it's especially crucial for Scandinavian breeds. These dogs are prone to certain health issues, such as hip dysplasia and obesity, which can be exacerbated by poor nutrition. Feeding your dog a high-quality, balanced diet that meets their specific needs is essential for their overall health and wellbeing. Health Concerns Scandinavian dogs are generally healthy and hardy, but like all breeds, they are prone to certain health issues. Some common health concerns for these breeds include hip dysplasia, eye problems, and obesity. Regular veterinary checkups and preventative care can help keep your dog healthy and catch any health issues early on.

The Benefits of Owning a Scandinavian Dog

Owning a Scandinavian dog can bring many benefits to your life. Here are some of the most notable benefits: Loyal Companionship Scandinavian dogs are deeply loyal to their families and make great companions. They are affectionate and loving, and they form strong bonds with their owners. These dogs will protect their families and provide a sense of security. Guarding Abilities Many Scandinavian dogs were originally bred as guard dogs, and they still have strong guarding instincts today. These dogs will protect their homes and families from intruders, making them excellent watchdogs. Outdoor Adventure Buddies Scandinavian dogs love the great outdoors, and they make great adventure buddies. They enjoy hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities, and they will happily accompany you on your adventures.

Conclusion

Scandinavian dog breeds are unique and fascinating, with a rich history and specific care needs. Whether you're considering adding one of these breeds to your family or you're simply curious about them, we hope this article has provided you with valuable information. With their intelligence, loyalty, and hardiness, Scandinavian dogs make great companions for those who are up for the challenge.

FAQs:

Are Scandinavian dogs good with children? Yes, many Scandinavian dogs are great with children. However, it's important to supervise interactions between children and dogs to prevent any accidents or injuries. Are Scandinavian dogs good for apartment living? It depends on the individual dog and their exercise needs. Many Scandinavian dogs are highly energetic and require plenty of exercise and playtime, so they may not be suitable for apartment living. Do Scandinavian dogs have any specific health concerns? Yes, like all breeds, Scandinavian dogs are prone to certain health issues, such as hip dysplasia and eye problems. Regular veterinary checkups and preventative care can help catch any health issues early on. Do Scandinavian dogs shed a lot? Yes, many Scandinavian dogs have thick, double-layered coats and shed heavily twice a year. Regular grooming and brushing can help manage shedding. Are Scandinavian dogs easy to train? Many Scandinavian dogs are highly intelligent and trainable, but each dog is unique and may have different training needs. Consistent, positive reinforcement training can help ensure success with any breed of dog. Read the full article

#Meowk9 Dog_Breeds Scandinavian

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safereturndoubtful · 2 years

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Day 66 - at Lierne National Park

The Lierne National Park is one of Norway’s smaller parks, and half of it lies in Sweden. It’s renowned for its lynx, wolverines, bears and the rare Arctic fox around its mountains, but the area I visited today was wetlands, much to Roja’s delight. To him it was like a giant aqua theme park.

Though the rain had stopped during the night, the cloud was low and there was always moisture in the air. Once or twice it threatened to lift, but soon after set in low again. The track I followed is used mainly by fishermen, and leads to a couple of isolated cabins that are not for public use, but must be rented from the Park Authority. I saw no one all day, except the moose hunters who are renting the cabin next to where I am parked. Surprisingly, their dogs, Norwegian Elkhounds get in very well with Roja. They have one Jämthund, a Swedish moose dog, which they keep separately, on a leash, she and Roja get on particularly well. They also have a Bloodhound equipped with a GPS collar to smell out the moose. This technology has ‘gps recall’ so the dogs roam free over huge distances. It works like the ‘no fence’ technology for cattle, giving them when required, an electric impulse, or shock, to urge the, home. This has had a significant effect on the ‘success’ of the hunter. Your average occasional city slicker who visits just once a year to shoot, is now four times more successful than they were prior to the technology. Bloodhounds have by far the strongest sense of smell of any dog, his owner told me he can trace a moose from more than 50 kilometres away. Fortunately for them, there are plenty a lot closer than that.

We stayed put this afternoon. I still do some remote work, and had a few hours of that to attend to, then the cricket from Lahore. It really is a great stopover place, enough kilometres from any road or habitation for it to be totally silent.

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bookio · 2 years

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Tender Is the Flesh (2017) Agustina Bazterrica

Swedish title: Exquisite Carcass (2022)

Not a story for fainthearted, you really have to mentally prepare yourself going into this book because it's a disturbing dystopian novel where a virus wiped out all the animals, so humans have evolved into a cannibalistic society. Some humans are specifically grown to become meat, skinned for clothing and other stuff we normally treat cattle.

We follow on the shoulder of a male worker (who's name i forgot, maybe it was Marco?) who's basically a team leader in one of the biggest slaughterhouses. He check cattle conditions, does some meat chopping, handle paperwork and manage new recruits. There are two main plots surrounding this main character. One is that, his wife has left him temporary because they recently lost their baby son and are in mourning. And the second one is that, he receives a living "exclusive meat" in form of a young woman as gift, to keep in his barn.

A lot of things happen so i'm going to mention the parts that stuck with me, because they're jumping around in my head and need to be let out. So, SPOILERS:

• How cow and pig slaughterhouses work today, is exactly how this human-meat is sorted and prepared too in this book. They're in cages, sorted, mistreated and shaved. However it seems the female humans are often in risk of getting raped - this is illegal, but mostly because the company call this "contaminated meat" and have to destroy them later. I think the rapist may be turned into meat too as punishment? Not sure.

• On page 83, it's dramatically presented like a big twist that the human-meat cannot communicate, because their vocal cords are genetically removed. But when it hit i went "wait, you already told us this" and had to double check, and yes on page 32 they casually talk about it quickly. So the suspense built up for the reveal came as if the author had forgot she already wrote it.

• "Exclusive meat" is human-meat that has been chemically injected and modified to grow quickly, but been treated more carefully and set on strict diets to "flavor" the meat. Like rare expensive food. This is the woman MC receives, she's been on almond diet and is physically around twenty years old but mentally like a child.

• Some human-meat are skinned to make fashion or furnitures. Black people are most wanted for that. While others are fattened up drastically, to harvest fat from.

• A common problem the factory has is fake unemployed people sneaking in to record the process for kicks, to spread on the web. MC despise this very much and isn't shy to call or kick them out.

• Mosquitoes, birds and dogs are present in the book, but is too hazardous to touch due to the virus. Some people wear umbrellas because of fear to be hit with contaminated birdpoo.

• Homeless or poor people are named "scavengers" and are allowed to take whatever they want from the slaughterhouse's disposable pile of "rejected meat".

• The government allows cults to make "sacrifices" to the slaughterhouses to calm the religious hysteria. Them thinking their meat will be blessed in family's bellies, but in reality their meat go to scavengers. It was kinda scary but entertainment to read how the cult mightly chant about being the bigger person and powerful, but then totally freak out when realizing the slaughter process is very real and mechanic. Nothing magical about it.

• "Urlet" is a hunting ground for rich people. They make me sick! They buy athletics or black males and pregnant women for their meat hunting games, and then celebrate with BBQ. They also have this shady side business where they'll loan you money, and if you are unable to pay back, you have (i think) 24 hours to avoid the hunters to clean your debt. When MC visit, they've just shot and killed a rockstar who'd failed to pay what he owed.

• If one doesn't want your family elders or passed away friends to end up on a platter, you have to witness the cremation and sign legal papers by their passing, to prove they didn't get eaten.

• MC randomly visits a experimental hospital. It's very out of character but it's noticeable the author really wanted to show the medicine aspect of human-meat society. Firstly, the female doctor has a really cringy introduction. I had to read it twice to be certain how absurd it was. She present herself as "not like other woman that blindly follows the call of their natural biology", therefore is a independent female scientist. Why. Why did you write it like that, so weird.

Here's some of the experiments they make: how the brain respond to getting injected with heroine every day, how long a heart can beat with the human alive but heart exposed, no eyes, only breathe in nicotine, a kid's reaction to unresponsive mother that has been sedated. MC asks what we all are thinking "Isn't the purpose of these experiments already kinda obvious?" which makes us realize is basically a torture factory.

I think it's important to state the question, in a society where consuming humans is the new norm, are there anyone with good morals left? MC likes to think so, and the story really wants him to be that good example.

Even though he go against the mistreatment of human-meat, his actions speak otherwise. He claims to be vegetarian, but eat meat to please others. When finding some hidden puppies, he pet and imagine giving them a home but then turns his back when the puppies are found out and killed infront of his eyes.

He first take care of his given gift (the living naked woman-meat), but when cleaning her up, he get so aroused that he quickly has to have sex with the butcher woman he knows. He later can't control himself and rapes the female-meat anyway, but claims it's for pity and out of love. Yeah right.

When MC realize she's pregnant, he names her Jazmine and keeps her locked inside a room with water bowl and food. Like a hamster in a giant cage. He caress and sleep next to her, til the point of her developing Stockholm syndrome.

An annoying thing i have to mention, is MC's constant definition of himself as "the man with a dead son, married to a broken women". I can't tell if it's to remind the reader or just simply self-pity for his character, very repetitive to the point of awkwardness.

His sister is the "bad guy" of this book, for not caring about their demented father and for recently buying a full frozen human to keep in special freezer, for food consumption. As if him having sex with his human-meat isn't just as bad.

The book ends with MC calling his wife over for the secret birth of his child with Jazmine. She's overjoyed having a baby after the loss of their son and we think they're gonna be some sort of poly relationship, but no. Immediately when the kid is born, MC kills Jazmine, showing he's just a bad as everyone else. And his wife being a caring nurse, also showing her true colors by exclaiming "hey, she could have given our more babies!!". Disgusting!

It's disturbing how normal everything is presented despite many of the characters showing sign of instability (cause by cannibalism i guess). But even if the book was really awkward at times, it was 100% fresh and terrifying. I definitely won't look at meat the same way again tbh. 4/5 stars

- - - - -

Sensor (2019) by Junji Ito

One of the prettiest hardback books of Junji Ito, however not one of his strongest works imo. It's definitely a personal preference, but space aliens doesn't scare me much, idk why!

It also awkwardly reminded me of a story i wrote in high school? My story was called "Key of the Universe" ("Universums Nyckel", sorry for cringe) and surrounded a character that one day landed on earth with no memory, but had the ability to communicate and see through space & time. Sent by the souls of other planets to save earth from incoming danger! In my story, they had a human sidekick and could run really fast, always chased by crazy agents! The end of the story would have the main character fulfilling it's purpose and sacrificing themselves to save earth, but also through this act find tranquility. I outgrew this alien plot but..

..that's basically the story of Sensor too !!

A woman is born from golden volcanic ash (in shape of strings of hair) and can sense a great monster approaching earth. Her sidekick is a journalist man and she's chased by a cult that worship the incoming monster.

She however see through time and space, to connect with another guardian, a Christian preacher called Miguel (it's Jesus) who was taken by the cult and crucified (like Jesus) when trying to introduce tranquility mindsets . He became one with the universe and with the main girl too.

The book doesn't really have a proper explained ending, like most of Ito's work, things are just described to fade away without any explanation after many days of madness. 2/5 stars

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stressfossil · 3 years

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Trolls unlike the the internet trolls we talk about today were humanoid supernatural beings who lived in the forest and mountains in Nordic folklore. In Sweden they were called bergtroll or bergfolk, berg being the word for mountain in Swedish. These nature beings have been intertwined with the Nordic countries folklore and mythology for centuries with lullabies and folk songs written about them still being sung to this day. The trolls were mostly talked about in south and mid Sweden, the oral traditions stories differ a lot from today’s portrayal of the creatures. Today they are seen as clumsy, slow and grotesque looking as seen in movies like Trollhunter or John Bauer’s famous paintings as seen above. In the old farmer societies at the base of these mountains, these beings were seen as crafty and clever able to hide among humans. The trolls just like a lot of nature beings could shapeshift, mostly presenting as stunningly beautiful and well dressed. Even the iconic tail are unusual to find in the old stories. Oftentimes the stories about trolls comes from foresters, miners or hunters who had seen elegantly dressed ladies standing on mountaintops. This of course was absurd, seeing women dressed in satin and adored with expensive jewellery hike through the deep forest. This of course meant you had to be careful as not to be seen, the best way to keep the beings at a distance would be to read a prayer or signing the cross. The trolls also liked to turn into animals, so if one saw an unknown cat or dog they should tread with caution. Just like other nature beings trolls are usually invisible to humans, some tales said that all trolls owned a hat that hid them from the human gaze. Even if unseen the villagers of these farming communities could still smell the smell of cooked meat coming from their mountain holes often accompanied by shouts and yells at night. The bergtrolls lived collectively in both small and big groups, most of the time they had fun making the humans existence tumultuous. Suddenly the trolls could’ve gone down in the village to steal food and drink. There were ways for the wise protect themselves from these antics, carrying anything made of steel would keep them at a distance. Putting a sharp tool also made of steel in the barn protected the harvests and cattle. Of course these sly antics of stealing or pranks by the supernatural beings created issues for the villages but much darker things could also happen. From time to time a person would disappear out in the wilderness and this was attributed to the trolls as they were known to bergata humans and animals alike. Bergta is when the trolls would tempt a human or animal into their homes and keep them captive for different lengths of time. For a troll to be able to keep the human captive the human themselves would generally have had to make a mistake of some kind, for example accepting food from a stranger that came and offered them. People who had been bergtagna and came back talked about the beautiful homes, filled with silver, gold and gemstones, how they had been well taken care of. Even if the relationship between humans and trolls might be seen as a hostile one today, it was actually surprisingly normal for being between creatures so extremely different. It wasn’t unusual for humans and trolls to spend time together or exchange goods and services like normal human relationships. Trolls were just an easy creature to blame for all the bad things that happened to the people. It’s important that these are the beliefs of the local folklore and people’s beliefs and not the trolls out of the fables. In the fables they are portrayed as evil and extremely dangerous not at all like the nuanced perspective of the local oral tales. Sources: Älvor, troll och talande träd, Ebbe Schön Folklore och litteratur i Norden, Ebbe Schön

#history #trolls #nordic folklore #swedish folklore #bolded text #for my sake #and all the neuroatypical peeps #faecore #gremlincore #goblincore #forestcore #cryptidcore #sorry for my bad english #sorry for bad grammar #sorry if tagged wrong #not my native language #long post #essay #learning

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wazafam · 3 years

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Dragons have always been an integral part of fantasy and fiction, with many cool dragons gracing myriad television shows, movies, and books. The magical world of Harry Potter is no different, with dragons being one of the most feared magical creatures that exist in the wizarding world. Introduced in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, in the form of Norbert (or Norberta), many dragons have since then made an appearance in the stories.

RELATED: All The Patronuses Of The Harry Potter Characters

Despite being the most famous magical beast to exist in this world, even regular wizards do not risk keeping a dragon in their household and leave the care of these creatures to professionals known as Dragonologists. The primary reason for this is that dragons are temperamental and quite dangerous. The second reason is that even among wizards, not many know about them in detail or how to care for them. With many unanswered questions about dragons, it might make sense to learn some of the most interesting and lesser-known facts about these winged wonders.

10 Female Dragons Are More Dangerous

Amongst the many things that J.K. Rowling has made cannon about Harry Potter, is one fascinating fact about female dragons, as revealed in Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them. It is quite obvious that a giant fire-breathing animal with sharp claws and teeth is supposed to be dangerous.

However, as explained by Newt Scamander in his book, females are to be feared more than males. In fact, a female dragon is larger in size when compared to a male, and is arguably more aggressive. Despite the difference, wizards lacking specialized training shouldn’t approach either of the two genders.

9 There Are 10 Distinct Types Of Dragons

In the world of Harry Potter, dragons (like many other animals in the muggle world) have distinct breeds. There are ten most prominent breeds that have been classified.

These include the Chinese Fireball (also known as the Liondragon), the Antipodean Opaleye, the Hebridean Black, the Common Welsh Green, the Hungarian Horntail, the Peruvian Vipertooth, the Romanian Longhorn, the Ukrainian Ironbelly, the Swedish Short-Snout, and finally, the Norwegian Ridgeback. Although it is an infrequent occasion, mating between two different breeds has happened once in a while, resulting in the birth of a magnificent and extremely rare hybrid dragon.

Fanart by Kali Nelson, Dan Mumford, and Weronika Sobczyk.

8 Dragon-Egg Trading Is Strictly Prohibited

Being a magical creature, it is a given that dragons possess magical properties. In fact, many of their body parts such as scales, livers, blood, and even horns are utilized to make magical artifacts. Many powerful wizarding wands have Dragon Heartstring as their core.

RELATED: 10 Interesting Things Only Harry Potter Book Fans Know About The Marauder's Map

However, one of the things that have been strictly prohibited is the trading of dragon eggs. As written in Newt’s book about magical creatures, dragon eggs are in fact a Non-Tradable Commodity of Class A.

7 Dragon Breeding Is Also Strictly Prohibited

Being highly dangerous and temperamental in nature, even wizards fear these scaly fire-breathing lizards. As revealed by Ron Weasley when Harry tells him that Hagrid has always wanted a dragon, owning or breeding a dragon is illegal according to wizarding law.

This was a decision taken during 1709’s Warlock Convention; the breeding of dragons was not only outlawed because these creatures were extremely hard to tame but also because the risk of a wizard getting detected by a Muggle was much higher if he/she happened to have a pet-dragon lounging in his/her backyard.

Art from Pottermore.

6 Dragons Are Spread All Over The Globe

While some dragons are more powerful than others, it cannot be denied that each and every one of them is a rugged creature capable of thriving in the harshest of environments. Although their common habitats are mountains, dragons have been spotted in many different locations and climates all across the globe.

As the names of each of these dragons suggest- they can be found in places ranging from New Zealand, Australia, Wales, Britain, Norway, Hungary, Peru, Romania, Sweden, to the harsh and icy Ukraine. However, it needs to be noted that they are extremely territorial creatures, and seldom like to share their territories with others, including other dragons.

5 The Most Beautiful

Despite being dangerous creatures, dragons are magnificent in their own right, with some of these breeds deserving appreciation for their incredible beauty. The most beautiful among the different dragon breeds have to be the Antipodean Opaleye. Its scales are pearly and iridescent, and its eyes do not have pupils, housing multicolored and glittering eyeballs, which grant the dragon its distinctive name.

RELATED: Main Harry Potter Characters, Ranked By Character Arc

The Hebridean Black is also quite beautiful owing to its jet-black body with an arrow-shaped tail and stark purple eyes. Another dragon that is quite attractive is the Swedish Short Snout, known for its small size and silvery-blue scale.

Fanart by Kali Nelson and Weronika Sobczyk.

4 The Rarest

While the dragon population is closely monitored by the wizarding community, who sometimes cull and sometimes breed these creatures to sustainably maintain their numbers; certain breeds are rarer than others. The Norwegian Ridgeback is one of these rare breeds. However, the reason for their scarce numbers is the dragons themselves. Known to be strikingly aggressive towards their own kind, they have managed to kill many of their brethren, leading to their rare status.

However, the rarest is the Romanian Longhorn. Unlike the Ridgeback, the Longhorn’s diminishing population is directly caused by wizard-interference, who have unapologetically killed many of these grand creatures just to harvest their scales. The numbers of Longhorns had dropped so much in recent years that a program for intensive breeding was established by wizards to save this endangered species of dragons.

Fanart by Kali Nelson.

3 The Most Aggressive

All dragons are inherently aggressive. However, while some do not attack unless provoked, others are simply born dangerous. The most aggressive amongst the dragon breeds include the Hebridean Black, the Norwegian Ridgeback, the Hungarian Horntail, and the Chinese Fireball.

These dragons have been known to attack human populations, fight amongst themselves, carry off cattle and large dogs, and even fishing boats, on some occasions. The Chinese Fireball, however, has an exception to its aggressiveness, being particularly inclusive of its own species. As many as three Fireballs have been known to share a single region; something which is rare for these extremely territorial creatures.

Fanart by Kali Nelson.

2 Encounters With The Outside World

Most dragons tend to remain within their territories and unless provoked do not interact with the outside world. However, their penchant for human flesh, as well as certain notable incidents in wizarding history clearly indicate these creatures coming in close contact with the outside population. The most notable of these include the 1970s incident whereby a number of kangaroos were reportedly killed by a male Opaleye. The Ilfracombe Incident also happened because of the Common Welsh Green. In 1802 a Norwegian Ridgeback was reported to have picked up a whale-calf from Norway’s coast.

Furthermore, during the later years of the nineteenth century, a rise in the population of the Peruvian Vipertooth- known for its liking of human flesh- the International Confederation of Wizards had to intervene and exterminate a large portion of their population. Similarly, the Ukrainian Ironbelly has also had its native wizarding community keep a close eye on its activities and population after an Ironbelly reportedly ambushed and carried off a fishing boat from the Black Sea, back in 1799. Thankfully, the boat was relatively empty.

Art from Pottermore.

1 Unique Method Of Incubation And Raising A Young Dragon

Unlike other animals, dragons have a unique method of incubating their eggs. As revealed by Hagrid, from what he had read in the antiquated Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit, dragon mothers do not keep their eggs inside nests.

To incubate them, and make them ready for hatching, these mothers are known to breathe fire on their eggs, an alternative of which could be placing them on direct fire or a burning-hot utensil hung over the fire, as Hagrid had done with Norbert. Upon hatching, a dragon chick usually craves dragon milk, which if not available can be replaced by a mixture of brandy and chicken blood. This concoction needs to be fed to the young dragon once every half an hour.

NEXT: 10 Most Powerful Witches In The Harry Potter Universe

Harry Potter: Interesting & Little-Known Facts About Dragons from https://ift.tt/3dhbnjY

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sinister-bob · 4 years

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Mare

The mare was also believed to "ride" horses, which left them exhausted and covered in sweat by the morning. She could also entangle the hair of the sleeping man or beast, resulting in "marelocks", called marflätor ("mare-braids") or martovor ("mare-tangles") in Swedish or marefletter and marefloker in Norwegian. The belief probably originated as an explanation to the Polish plait phenomenon, a hair disease.

Even trees were thought to be ridden by the mare, resulting in branches being entangled. The undersized, twisted pine-trees growing on coastal rocks and on wet grounds are known in Sweden as martallar ("mare-pines") or in German as Alptraum-Kiefer ("nightmare pine").

Mares include witches who took on the form of animals when their spirits went out and about while they were in trance (see the Icelandic example of Geirrid, below). These included animals such as frogs, cats, horses, hares, dogs, oxen, birds and often bees and wasps.

Common protection practices included:

drinking coffee grounds before sleeping

taking the mare's hat

throwing a piece of a noose at the demon

sleeping with a leather, wedding belt or a scythe

inviting the mare for breakfast

changing one's sleeping position

smearing feces on the front door

leaving a bundle of hay in one's bed and going to sleep in another room.

To protect the cattle, horses etc., people hanged mirrors over the manger (to scare the mare with its own face) or affixed dead, predatory birds on the stable's door. Sometimes the horses were given red ribbons, or they also were being covered in a stinking substance.

Credit: Ain-Individual

#Halloween #Monster #Monster Mash

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dantesinfurno · 4 years

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inktober dog breeds list to pull from:

dogo argentino

great dane

cane corso

malamute

tibetan terrier

tervuren

laekenois

irish wolfhound

kelpie

saluki

italian greyhound

foxhound

dalmation

springer spaniel

ibizan hound

papillon

bull terrier

rat terrier

mudi

swedish vallhund

xoloitzcuintle

saint bernard

duck tolling retriever

brittany

australian cattle dog

greater swiss mtn dog

catahoula

shar pei

chow chow

anatolian shep

west siberian laika

#inktober 2020 #dogtober

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endofherwildsideau · 11 months

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Great Plain Alphas:

Sheriff/Mayor Sophia the Great Plain Alpha & Horse Alpha

Carmen the Pig Alpha

Peck the Rabbit Alpha

Faye the Sheep Alpha

Guards:

???

Citizens:

Pacer the Pronghorn

???

Companion Pet:

Sheridan the Enchanted Eagle

Tucker the Border Collie

Hollie the Rough Collie

Pongo the Australian Shepherd

Coley the Catahoula Leopard Dog

Hazel the Australian Cattle Dog

Louisa the Texas Heeler

Louise the Swedish Vallhund

Spirit Animal/Sibling:

Sverre the Giant Bison

#end of her wild side au #end of her wild side oc #eohws #emilythehybridwolf #oc info

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orcinus-ocean · 5 years

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How long do our dogs really live?

If you read articles online about specific dog breeds or about dog breeds in general, they usually say this and that breed lives “12-14 years”, “10-12 years”, or, for the biggest and heaviest breeds, “8-10 years”.

But rarely if ever are sources mentioned. Instead it seems to mainly be a copy-paste assumption passed around the internet, where of course the heaviest and least healthy breeds are assumed to live “8-10 years”, the smallest and healthiest breeds “12-16 years”, and the rest somewhere in between.

Thankfully, Kennel Clubs have conducted studies on this exact topic, giving us a better picture. The United Kingdom’s KC did one study in 2004 and one in 2014.

The median among all dogs in the KC 2004 study was 11.25 years, and in the 2014 study, only 10 years. This is of course not a benchmark as “good lifespan”, simply the average among the purebred dogs in the Kennel Club surveys.

I will sort them by longest to shortest, and the studies are 2004 / 2014, and for some breeds, an additional Finnish Kennel Club study. The decimals are by %, not months. (I.e. 3 months is 25% = .25, 9 months are 75% = .75, etc.).

Of course, this is by no means perfect, as the surveys usually had fairly low response rates, and the numbers of deceased dogs reported are sometimes very small (those that consist of a sample of less than 20 dogs are marked cursive, and those with less than 10 dogs were mostly discarded, as they are highly unreliable).

In the 2014 study, the KC itself omitted the median age at death for any breed with less than 30 deceased dogs reported.

The KC also notes that the two studies were carried out differently, and that the second had only a third of the data of the first one, so they should not be compared directly.

The studies also include deaths caused by accidents, like being hit by a car or being killed by another animal, as well as being put down for behavior problems.

It is however likely to be far more reliable than a quick Google or Wikipedia search.

Very long-lived breeds

Toy Poodle: 14.7 years / N/A Tibetan Spaniel: 14.4 years / N/A Lhasa Apso: 14.3 years / N/A Swedish Vallhund: 14.2 years / N/A Miniature Poodle: 13.9 years / N/A Basenji: 13.6 years / N/A Italian Greyhound: 13.5 years / N/A Bedlington Terrier: 13.4 years / N/A Norwich Terrier: 13.4 years / N/A Cairn Terrier: 14 / 12.5 years Fox Terrier: 13.2 years / N/A Shih-Tzu: 13.2 years / N/A Schipperke: 13 years / N/A West Highland White Terrier: N/A / 13 years Border Terrier: 14 / 12 years Bearded Collie: 13.5 / 12.5 years

Average lifespan breeds

Bichon Frisé: 12.9 years / N/A Brittany: 12.9 years / N/A Hovawart: 12.9 years / N/A Manchester Terrier: 12.8 years / N/A Dachshund: 12.7 years / N/A Welsh Terrier: 12.7 years / N/A Norwegian Buhund: 12.7 years / N/A Siberian Husky: 12.6 years / N/A Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier: 12.5 years / N/A Belgian Shepherd: 12.5 years / N/A Samoyed: 12.5 years / N/A Welsh Springer Spaniel: 12.6 / 12 years Maltese: 12.25 years / N/A Sealyham Terrier: 12.25 years / N/A Welsh Corgi Pembroke: 12.25 years / N/A Welsh Corgi Cardigan: 12.2 years / N/A Dandie Dinmont Terrier: 12.2 years / N/A Tibetan Terrier: 12.2 years / N/A Keeshond: 12.2 years / N/A Border Collie: 12.25 / 12 years Golden Retriever: 12.25 / 12 years Basset Griffon Vendéen: 12.1 years / N/A Australian Terrier: 12.1 years / N/A English Toy Terrier: 12 years / N/A Standard Poodle: 12 / 12 years Griffon Bruxellois: 12 years / N/A Saluki: 12 years / N/A Rough Collie: N/A / 12 years

Afghan Hound: 11.9 years / N/A Tibetan Mastiff: 11.9 years / N/A Staffordshire Bull Terrier: 12.75 / 11 years Pharaoh Hound: 11.8 years / N/A Labrador Retriever: 12.25 / 11 years Shetland Sheepdog: 12.5 / 11 years Lancashire Heeler: 11.75 years / N/A Dalmatian: 12.5 / 11 years Pointer: 12.4 / 11 years Field Spaniel: 11.7 years / N/A Australian Cattle Dog: 11.7 years / N/A Whippet: 12.8 / 10 years Gordon Setter: 11.1 / 12 years English Springer Spaniel: 12 / 11 years Irish Setter: 12 / 11 years Affenpinscher: 11.4 years / N/A Pekingese: 11.4 years German Pinscher: 11.4 years / N/A Irish Red and White Setter: 11.4 years / N/A Beagle: 12.7 / 10 years Grosser Münsterländer: 11.3 years / N/A Bouvier des Flandres: 11.3 years / N/A Basset Hound: 11.3 years / N/A English Setter: 11.6 / 11 years German Spitz: 11.3 years / N/A Sussex Spaniel: 11.2 years / N/A Finnish Spitz: 11.2 years / N/A Briard: 11.2 years / N/A Cocker Spaniel: 11.2 / 11 years Miniature Schnauzer: 12.1 / 10 years German Shorthaired Pointer: 12 / 10 years Vizsla (smooth): N/A / 11 years Skye Terrier: 11 years / N/A Pug: 11 years / N/A

Lower than average lifespan breeds

Boston Terrier: 10.9 years / N/A Old English Sheepdog: 10.75 / 11 years Pyrenean Sheepdog: N/A / N/A / 10.8 years Anatolian Shepherd: 10.75 years / N/A Airedale Terrier: 10.75 / 10 years Chesapeake Bay Retriever: 10.75 years / N/A Curly-coated Retriever: 10.75 years / N/A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: 11.4 / 10 years Alaskan Malamute: 10.7 years / N/A Weimaraner: 11.2 / 10 years Glen of Imaal Terrier: 10.4 years (only 6 dogs) / N/A Basset Fauve de Bretagne: 10.4 years / N/A American Cocker Spaniel: 10.3 years / N/A Scottish Terrier: 10.25 years / N/A Chinese Crested: 10.1 years / N/A Rhodesian Ridgeback: 11 / 9 years German Wirehaired Pointer: 10 years / N/A German Shepherd: N/A / 10 years Giant Schnauzer: 10 years / N/A Maremma: 10 years / N/A

Flat-coated Retriever: 9.8 / 10 years Newfoundland: 9.7 / 10 years American Akita: 9.8 years / N/A Wirehaired Vizsla: 9.8 years / N/A Pomeranian: 9.7 years / N/A Boxer: 10.25 / 9 years Polski Owczarek Nizinny: 9.6 years / N/A Irish Water Spaniel: 9.3 years / N/A Japanese Chin: 9.25 years / N/A Dobermann: 10.5 / 8 years Komondor: 9.2 years / N/A Borzoi: 9.1 years / N/A Greyhound: 9.1 years / N/A Australian Shepherd: 9 years / N/A French Bulldog: 9 years / N/A Spinone: 9 / 9 years

Very short-lived breeds

Scottish Deerhound: 8.7 years / N/A Finnish Lapphund: 7.3 (only 5 dogs) / N/A / 10 years Bull Terrier: 10 / 7 years Rottweiler: 8.9 / 8 years Bernese Mountain Dog: 8 years / 8 years Český Terrier: 8.4 (only 9 dogs) / N/A / 8.75 years Leonberger: 7.1 / 9 years Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever: 8 (only 9 dogs) / N/A / 7.9 years Bullmastiff: 7.5 / 7 / 6.75 years Kooikerhondje: 3.9 years (only 7 dogs, the oldest was 13.9 years old) / N/A / 7.3 years Bloodhound: 6.75 years Irish Wolfhound: 7 / 6.5 years Great Dane: 6.5 / 7 years Saint Bernard: 7 / N/A / 5.75 years Miniature Bull Terrier: 6.1 years / N/A English Bulldog: 6.25 / 6 / 5.3 years Dogue de Bordeaux: 3.8 years (only 5 dogs, the oldest was 16 years old) / N/A / 6 years, and yet another study put them at 5.3 years Neapolitan Mastiff: N/A / N/A / 4.9 years Russian Black Terrier: 1.75 (4 dogs, the oldest was 11.5 years old) / N/A / 4.5 years

I know we don’t like to anthropomorphize, but this is the equivalent of a number of families or clans of humans - that are all equal in wealth, diet, and access to healthcare - but their average lifespan differs from 95 years to 38 years simply due to genetic illnesses.

It’s THAT extreme.

While diet can certainly affect the decrease in longevity in dogs overall, there is no reason to think that certain breeds usually get poorer food or healthcare than other breeds.

#dogs #dog health #qualzucht #dog lifespan

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