As one would expect, dogs played an important role in Celtic life. They represented loyalty and friendship. Dogs were used in hunting and herding. Celts also used dogs, probably wolfhounds, in battle. Some myths revolve around the use and misuse of dogs. One of the central myths in Celtic lore (Cu’ Chulainn…the hound of Culann) revolves around the killing of Culann’s hound by Cu’ Chulainn. His atonement for that deed was to make an oath to perform the dog’s protective duties. His eventual death has to do with violating an aspect of his atonement oath.
Stylized depictions of dogs appear in Celtic documents. They are quite prominent in the Book of Kells, for instance.
