There is a type of legendary dog Yokai (spirit) in Japanese mythology and folklore, called an Inugami, which is a combination of deity, spirit and demon.
The Inugami is often a guardian and a familiar spirit helper, or companion, to their human owner. Often created by a ritual of burying a living dog, leaving only the head exposed above ground. Then food would've been put near it but out of reach of the dog, causing grief and torment to the animal. It would be left there for days until it dies, which then would turn the dog into an Inugami, belonging to its master, the person responsible for the ritual.
Although cruel, it was believed that the food around the dog would become an offering to its Inugami spirit, making it bound to its owner. Another story is about an old woman who buried her beloved dog alive, with only its head stuck out, needing an Inugami spirit to help her get revenge on someone.
Some people, such as from the Oki Islands believe that the Inugami is a spirit of good luck, blessings and fortune. Plenty of villages in Japan will have a story about these spirits. However, the Inugami has a dark side. It can possess the owner, causing them to go mad. The Inugami is also capable of turning on its owner. Inugami has also been regarded as a type of werewolf, a much more bloodthirsty fearsome version of the spirit. The origin story of the Inugami is sad but the spirit of the dog is treated as both a familiar and a demon. More on this strange dog creature at Symbolsage.
She Wolf Night
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