What made you want to look up xenial? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Black dog is an oft-used phrase to mean depression. Here's a link that attributes the phrase to Winston Churchill, but I suspect he didn't invent it. I like the way they described it though: Black Dog was Churchill's name for his depression, and as is true with all metaphors, it speaks volumes.
Rating Newest Oldest. Best Answer: I'm thinking the black dog is a Black Russian Terrier, a fairly new breed that is basically the result of crossings of Giant Schnauzers and Airedales. http://www.fordogtrainers.com/ProductIma... The brown dog looks like a German Wirehaired Pointer, at least to me.