Who came up with 'dog years?

16 years ago,Scary story?!! a story about a man who lived in the swamp with his dogs, and this thing that was like just a tail with teeth came and snuck up his blankets and ate his dog, or something like that.. sound famillar??? please help!!!

• Answer:

  That's the story of Tailypo, a beast composed of different body parts of several recognizable forest animals, such as wolves, bears, foxes and badgers, but the construction of the beast can vary. The one thing it always has is an unrecognizable tail which is a key to the story, and long sharp claws. In some stories it doesn't have the Frankenstein syndrome, but might be totally imagined. It originates from North American folklore, although I have no idea who originally rendered it famous through literature. The story can also vary, but it's usually this hunter with his hunting dogs living in the woods who can't find anything decent to kill for food, comes against this creature, manages to cut off its tail and he cooks it up, has some and feeds his dogs with it. Later in the night, Tailypo wants its tail back, and speaks to the hunter from outside his shack, demanding the return of its tail. ''Tailypo, Tailypo, you have got my Tailypo, you have it, this I know, give me back my Tailypo!'' The hunter being scared out of his wits refuses, and the story goes on until all dogs, sent after the beast by their owner, get killed one by one, where finally he's alone to face the beast... I originally read it in French, its name was Queuelalo, I completely fell in love with the tale. (NO PUN INTENDED HA HA.) Ahem. EDIT- A lot of short horror stories have borrowed Tailypo's concept for their own, such as one I read about a boy who finds a toe in the garden, brings it to his mom and they make soup out of it. Later in the night, the corpse who was buried in the garden comes stalking back for his toe. Actually that one was so damn ridiculous that I couldn't stop laughing while reading it, and got told to shut up by the teacher at school.