Hounds in Tolkeins work?I admit it, I'm a Tolkein freak, and once a year, starting about this time of year, I read my way through the entire hobbit series, beginning with "The Hobbit". Probably because I've also been working on this website, I took special notice of an episode where he does mention "wonderous dogs" that just MIGHT be greyhounds. In Chapter seven of The Hobbit, they are sheltering with Beorn, a man who can shapeshift into a bear. He shuns the company of most people, but he appears to love animals and be surrounded by animals of surpassing intelligence. When it comes time for all to sit down to feast in his hall;
"Beorn clapped his hands, and in trotted four beautiful white ponies and several large long-bodied grey dogs. Beorn said something to them in a queer language like animal noises turned into talk. The went out again and soon came back carrying torches in their mouths, which they lit at the fire and stuck in low brackets on the pillars of the hall about the central hearth. The dogs could stand on their hind-legs when they wished, and carry things with their fore-feet. Quickly they got out boards and trestles from the side walls and set them up near the fire." Bilbo and the Dwarves enjoy Beorn's hospitality for several days, waited on by his marvelous animals, although the host was gone for part of the time. I have not read every single word Tolkein has written, so perhaps there are more hound mentions tucked away somewhere. If you're a bigger Tolkein freak than me and can point them out - email me! Meanwhile, I have a lovely modern myth and more of the old myths mentioning hounds to share...
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