What is the name of the dog that guards the gates of Hel? The dog is Garmr, a blood-stained hound associated with Hel and the entrance to the underworld. He is one of Norse mythology’s most fearsome guardians.
Garmr appears in traditions connected with both Hel and Ragnarök. In the poem Baldrs draumar, Odin encounters an unnamed howling dog during his journey toward Hel; commentators commonly identify that animal with Garmr. The name itself is also used in poetic references to hounds.
The Prose Edda gives Garmr a clear Ragnarök role. He is released from his bonds and fights the god Týr. Their battle is fatal to both: each kills the other. This makes Garmr more than a passive gatekeeper; he is also a participant in the final cosmic conflict.
Readers often confuse Garmr with Fenrir, since both are monstrous wolf-like creatures and some interpretations identify them. Traditional quiz references nevertheless use Garmr for Hel’s guardian, while Fenrir is the giant wolf who breaks free and kills Odin.