There’s not a lot of folklore (that’s not the same source reused in various ways) of the Aufhocker on the internet or even in folklore books. The only original folklore of this creature is in German (and in print books), so I couldn’t access those. But this shapeshifting Black Dog is quite interesting.

Folklore

The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures by John and Caitlín Matthews

A gigantic demon dog in the folklore of Germany. The name Aufhocker may be translated as ‘Leap Upon’ – and the creature is often seen to do this to its victims. Once it has leapt upon the back of its prey, it grows heavier and heavier until the person is virtually crushed to death. At other times, it will come upon an unwary traveller and walk for a time by his side, then suddenly rise up upon its hind legs until it is tall enough to tear out his throat. These characteristics are similar to that of the Black Dog in British folklore and the Kludde in Belgian tradition.

Though generally portrayed as a dog, the Aufhocker may occasionally appear as a wild black horse, which invites weary travellers to ride on its back. Once mounted, they find that they cannot dismount, while the horse gallops faster and faster, usually ending by throwing them from its back into deep water or swamp. It thus resembles the Kelpie or water horse of Scottish folk tradition. The Aufhocker almost always attacks at night, and it is believed that if its victims can survive until morning they may get free.

*More can be read in the book.

Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore by Theresa Bane

Aufhocker (Off-hocker), plural: Aufhöcker
From German folklore comes the tale of the aufhocker (“leap upon”), a huge and black vampiric dog which walks upon its hind legs and singles out those who travel alone at night, typically attacking them at a crossroads and ripping out the throat of its victim. The aufhocker is said to have the ability of therianthropy allowing it to shape-shift into other animals and on rare occasions it can assume human form. Although it cannot be killed, it can be driven off by the pealing of church bells; it will also retreat with the rising of the sun.

*More can be read in the book.

Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology by Theresa Bane

Aufhocker (OFF- hocker), plural: Aufhöcker
From Germany comes the tale of a huge and black vampiric dog (see GERMAN VAMPIRES). It singles out those who travel alone at night, typically attacking them at a crossroads. Standing on its hind legs, it rips out the throat of its victim.

*More can be read in the book.

Further Reading:

• Aufhocker
• Monster Monday: Aufhocker
• The Aufhocker [German folklore]
• What is an Aufhocker? | German Myths

Folklore in a Nutshell by Ronel

The Aufhocker is a giant black dog from German folklore. It is said to attack lone travellers at night, either ripping out their throats or leaping upon them and staying put until the person suffocates from its weight. It is especially active at crossroads.

Some believe the Aufhocker is a vampiric creature that rises up on its hind legs before ripping out their throat and drinking the blood of their victim, and fleeing with the rise of the sun or the sound of church bells.

There are even whispers that this black dog can change shape – usually into that of a horse. Though here it acts similarly to phoukas and kelpies, deviating from everything else known about the Aufhocker.

A lot of the time, the Aufhocker finds a lone traveller on a dark road and walks with them for some time before suddenly attacking. And though this stalking behaviour of this black dog is similar to that of British black dogs, there isn’t much more to find about the folklore behind it unlike most others of its kind.

So just stay away from crossroads at night and don’t travel alone if you want to stay safe.

Aufhocker in Modern Culture

Not much that I could find…

A book

Check it out on Goodreads.

Aufhocker in My Writing

Origin of the Fae: Aufhocker

Singular: Aufhocker. Plural: Aufhöcker.
Aufhöcker are black dogs that guard crossroads. They sometimes wander off and patrol nearby roads. As crossroads are places where faery bargains can be struck and where, on occasion, mortals can move through realms, the Aufhocker needs to make sure that the balance of the realms are kept – no-one wants a repeat of the Rumpelstiltskin disaster.
This black dog usually appears as a Giant Schnauzer as to not terrify anyone until needed. It does rip out throats and drinks blood, but it is only to fuel its glamour and the protections around the crossroads, not out of gluttony. It usually hunts criminals of all sorts, leaving the innocent unharmed. Unlike what folklore suggests, sunlight doesn’t harm Aufhöcker.

I think this Black Dog looks like a black Giant Schnauzer.

See it in action:

Workers of Death (Origin of the Fae #5)

Have you heard of Aufhocker before? Any folklore about Aufhocker you’d like to share? Check out my Pinterest board dedicated to the subject.

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