What role does the black dog play in Norse mythology?

Answer 1

There were several black dogs in Norse mythology, the most prominant of whom were the fell dog Garm and the Fenrir (or Fenris) wolf. Fenrir (Always known as "the Fenris wolf") was one of Loki's offspring and was responsible for the slaying of Odin during the battle of Ragnarok. He was in turn slain by Vidar, who, holding Fenrir's lower jaw to the ground with his steel shoe, rent the wolf's maw in two. Garm, another progeny of Loki was known as "the fell dog Garm" or "The hel hound". He resided within the underworld with another of loki's offspring; Hel (Goddess of the underworld), Garm fought with the god Tyr at Vigrid and both succumbed to mortal wounds from the encounter. The wolves Hati, Skoll and Managarm, nurtured into hatred by the giantess Iarnsaxa (or Angur Boda) in Ironwood were those who would chase Sol and Mani across the sky as they drew their chariots (Carrying the sparks that were the sun & moon) thence. When they were loosed, they quickly overtook Sol and Mani and devoured them both, plunging the world into a darkness that became synonymous with the Fimbul Winter.