h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I remember hearing a story about a lane (alleyway, twitchell, whatever) somewhere in England termed Dog Lane. The local myth says that the 'victim', walking down the lane at night, sees a small black dog following them. They walk on, turn back and the dog has grown in size. A few yards on, they turn again and it's a large dog. By now they are pretty scared, and start to run, to no avail: the dog when it finally catches them is the size of a bull as it slavers over them.

Does anyone know where this myth originated?

I've never heard of that one. Do you know where abouts in England this Dog Lane is supposed to be?

No idea whatsoever....that's why I asked! It's a good story, though.

Yeah, it is good. It could also be 'scared-up' a bit to make it a truly terrifying tale to be told around campfires!

Of course, there's a flaw in the logic here. Assuming that the big dog always gets to eat what it caught, who lives to tell the tale afterwards??

There's a similar story I've heard involving the White House and a black cat. In a certain tunnel in the basement, a person sees a black cat following them. The cat gets larger and larger, and scares the crap out of whoever sees it, but doesn't eat the person. It is interesting to note the similarities between two sides of the ocean, isn't it?

I never thought of that, Monk. Maybe... someone saw? It could happen. In the countryside, everybody always knows everybody else's business and there's bound to be someone watching. Maybe a man or woman out walking their dog?

FYI:
http://www.belinus.co.uk/fairytales/English/English067.htm