The Michigan Dogman Revisited

We're going back to the beginning of Twisting the Myths!

Welcome to 2025 and the 2 year anniversary of Twisting the Myths! I decided to celebrate I wanted to go back to my very cryptid I covered here, the Michigan Dogman and uncover more.

Are you a first time visitor to Twisting the Myths? Join me and over 500 myth hunters to discover more mysteries and monsters like the one below, enjoy a quick tale, or get inspired.

In the cyrptozoology world, there is one creature that stands above all. He is the cryptid that people all over the world have heard about. There hundreds—nay—thousands of people who have stories of crossing paths with him. There is video and photographic evidence galore! Casts of his feet are a dime a dozen that you can purchase if you so desire. There are even sightings of him in Michigan itself! He is the star of documentaries. The main character of movies, TV, and books. His legend has fascinated all who hear it. He is an icon as much as the Beatles or Taylor Swift. As well known as George Washington.

I’m talking about Bigfoot.

But while Bigfoot may be a house hold name, there is another cryptid who roams the woods of Michigan. A creature who people have crossed paths with and have their lives changed forever as a result. He may not be as well known as Bigfoot, but he has made his mark on Michigan.

THE MICHIGAN DOGMAN.

The first official sighting of the Michigan Dogman was in 1887 in Wexford County, Michigan. (Some claim sightings go back further to when the Odawa Native American lived in the area.) Two lumberjacks claimed to see a bipedal creature with a man’s body and the head of a dog in the woods.

The Michigan Dogman stands over seven feet tall. He’s often described as having vivid blue or amber eyes, and his shrieking howl sounds all too human. Like many other cryptids, he is said to have a terrible odor. Probably the most unique fact about him is that he supposedly appears in ten year cycles that end in seven. But not always as many of the following stories prove.

There have been a few sightings of the Michigan Dogman in Upper Michigan, but the bulk of them occur in the upper part of Lower Michigan.

In Paris, Michigan in 1938 a man said he was attacked by a pack of dogs. One of the dogs, he claimed, stood on two legs and glared at him. Allegan County in the 1950s, and Manistee and Cross Village in 1967 also had similar stories of a bipedal dog creature.

Another notable sighting of the Michigan Dogman was in 1961 near Big Rapids, Michigan. A night watchman was on patrol at a manufacturing plant when he saw what he thought was an intruder. Then he noticed the dog-like features. Initially, he pulled out his gun and was going to shoot it, but since he had a camera, he opted to take a picture of the strange beast instead. To this day, people are still debating if the photo is real or faked.

Of course, I would be remiss to ignore the fakes out there. One of the most well-known is called The Gable Film that surfaced in 2007. It started off innocently, showing winter activities, but ended with a creature attacking the cameraman. The film made the rounds on the internet with people debating its authenticity until a man named Mike Agrusa stepped forward to say he made it and it was a hoax.

That hasn’t deterred true believers, though. They continue to hunt for evidence of the Michigan Dogman, collecting eyewitness reports and cataloging photos in hopes of proving his existence once and for all.

In 2012, a movie simply titled Dogman was shot in Michigan by film maker, Rich Brauer. A sequel titled Dogman 2: The Wrath of the Litter followed two years later. He finished the third movie, Dogman 3: Fight to the Finish in 2024.

But the defining incident that really shot the Michigan Dogman into the spotlight wasn’t a sighting or encounter.

IT WAS MUSIC.

In 1987, Steve Cook, a friend of Rich Brauer and a disc-jockey at WTCM-FM in Traverse City, Michigan recorded a song about the Michigan Dogman. The Legend was an April Fool’s joke. (And a hit with many people requesting it be played.) He based the song on legends and myths he had heard. As far as he knew, no such creature existed.

Listeners of his station begged to differ.

Calls began coming in of people claiming they had seen the Michigan Dogman. Although he remained a skeptic, he cataloged over 100 reports of the beast! After all, who was he to say what exactly those people saw. The late author, Linda Godfrey, who had written many books on the subject before she passed away in November 2022, had collected hundreds of eyewitness sightings as well.

It all begs the question.

DOES THE MICHIGAN DOGMAN ACTUALLY EXIST?

To this day, people have reported seeing the Michigan Dogman. Blogs and Youtube channels are dedicated to the history of the Michigan Dogman and sharing people’s tales. Television shows like Monster Quest and Monsters and Mysteries in American have episodes dedicated to uncovering the truth about the Michigan Dogman. There are photographs and video—some compelling. Others…you might have to squint a little.

Like many cryptids, it’s hard to discount stories that sound eerily the same despite the people not knowing each other, but there is also a lack of solid evidence. Like hair or tissue samples. DNA would go a long way in helping prove any cryptid is real. A live specimen would be even better!

While I’d love to say I am a full believer. That, yes, the Michigan Dogman is out there. I have to cop out and say I’m not sure if he is real or not.

But I’m not without hope of finding out the truth one day. It wasn’t long ago that sightings of big cats like cougars in Michigan were thought to be a hoax. Now, we know that’s not true. Will the Michigan Dogman be next big discovery? Will he beat Bigfoot in coming out of the shadows and dethrone the cryptid king? Only time will tell.

Just remember, if you’re in the woods of upper Lower Michigan, it’s best to keep an eye out for what’s lurking in the trees. The Michigan Dogman may be waiting for you.

DID YOU ENJOY RETURNING TO THE MICHIGAN DOGMAN?

Did you learn anything new? I had fun returning to this famous Michigan cryptid for my second anniversary and I look forward to bringing you more mysteries and monsters in 2025.

My next email will drop on the 28th. Keep your eyes peeled because I will be sharing some new inspiration!

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Thank you for reading.

Until next time, stay spooked!

~Patricia J.L.