The Haunting Of Hill House: 9 Questions We Desperately Need Answers To
2. Were The Barking Dogs Real?
Hugh told Mr. Dudley that his children had been hearing barking dogs, but he tells him that there are no dogs on the property. Does this mean that the House was playing tricks on them, or did they perhaps hear real dogs passing by?
During the episode where the Crain children complain they saw something dog-like in the house, Steven says “Even I saw it.” He appointed himself the figure of reason, never believing or seeing anything supernatural himself, but that doesn’t mean it was real.
Some of the characters in the book are chased by phantom dogs, so maybe it’s just a nod to that. Or it could just be a reference to horror folklore, such as the Crain’s waking up at 3:30 am, which is known as the witching hour.
Will we ever know what the children saw that night?