Fairy dogs and the Welsh Corgi: Ghosts & Folklore podcast

Did you know that fairies used to ride fairy dogs into battle? Or that the name corgi might come from Welsh folklore?

The ninth episode of the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast is live NOW, and it’s all about fairy dogs (yes, fairy dogs)!

A “Happy Episode” of Ghosts and Folklore

We like to think of this as the “happy episode” of the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast because it’s crammed with cheerful folklore — well, mostly cheerful!

Recently, things have been getting quite grim and gritty. We’ve explored terrifying tales of:

Two-headed ghosts
Satanic statues
A bishop who filled a well with the blood of his victim

Amid these spooky stories, we noticed a recurring theme: dogs! From the dreaded Gwyllgi with blood-red eyes to the tragic tale of Gelert in Beddgelert, and even the real-life Scooby-Doo ghost-hunting dog (yes, that’s a thing!).

The Happy Fairy Dogs Episode

To balance things out, we decided to create a jolly, positive episode about — you guessed it — fairy dogs!

This episode explores the enchanting origins of the Welsh Corgi, a breed gifted to us by the fairies of Pembrokeshire.

Other Dog Folklore Highlights:

The Tylwyth Teg (Welsh fairies) rewarding those who are kind to their pets — and punishing those who aren’t!
A wizard’s friendly familiar that guided travellers safely over the mountains at night.
Spectral dog omens that reveal whether a dying soul is bound for a good place… or a bad one.

For the most uplifting podcast episode of the year — with just a sprinkle of spooky — hit the play button below.