The Small-Tooth Dog: A Tale of Loyalty, Magic, and Transformation
A Forgotten Fairy Tale
From the Household Tales and Other Traditional Remains comes The Small-Tooth Dog, a story that opens with a familiar motif: a traveller attacked on a lonely road. In this version, the hero is saved not by a gallant knight or passing farmer, but by a fierce and loyal dog with small, sharp teeth.
As told in Addy's own words:
“He was sorely wounded, and might have died, had not a great dog came and drove the robbers away. 'What can I do to thank you?' said the man. ‘Give me the first thing you see when you get home,’ said the dog.”
The man, of course, agrees—only to find that the “first thing” he sees is his beloved daughter.
Thus begins a story not of loss, but of transformation. The daughter must go with the dog, who is, in truth, a cursed prince. Through kindness, companionship, and the passage of time, she breaks the enchantment. The prince is returned to his human form, and the two are married.
Loyalty, Sacrifice, and Hidden Magic
Like Beauty and the Beast or East of the Sun and West of the Moon, The Small-Tooth Dog follows the classic folktale structure of the ‘animal bridegroom’—a beastly creature redeemed through love and faith. Yet unlike its more glamorous counterparts, this story is gentle and provincial in spirit. It’s not castles and courtly romance—it’s hedgerows, hearthsides, and forgotten lanes.
This grounded charm is what inspired our design for The Small-Tooth Dog scarf, part of The Enchanted Heritage Collection. A loyal hound sits poised at the centre, surrounded by curious botanicals and secretive woodland creatures—each one a whisper of the tale’s deeper message: appearances deceive, and love, freely given, transforms.
A Scarf as Storytelling
Each scarf in our collection is a piece of wearable narrative. With The Small-Tooth Dog, we hoped to capture that rare combination of whimsy and wisdom that makes British folklore so enduring. Crafted from pure silk twill and finished by hand in heritage mills of Derbyshire, the silk scarf embodies the story’s themes: craftsmanship, transformation, and devotion.
Wearing it, you carry with you a tale older than memory—a fable of trust and quiet magic.
In the spirit of the tale, we invite you to rediscover the enchantment waiting in everyday things.
Whether it’s a loyal companion at your side or a Silk Twill scarf folded delicately at your neck, there is always wonder just beneath the surface.
Further Reading:
🔗 The Small-Tooth Dog – Full article on Wikipedia
