“So in other words the dog was most likely slaughtered to be laid at the feet of the women.”
I think it was common to send the dead to Valhalla with their prized possessions.
Had to pay the boatman.
Boatman: "OK, lady, nobody gets into Vahalla without something to pay for the boat trip. What'ya got"
Viking woman: "Well, I have this dog. It's dead, but it's gotta be worth something, right?"
Boatman: "So you're offering me a dead dog to break my back rowing you across. You're not exactly a slim maiden, if you know what I mean,"
Viking woman: "That's all I have! He was a good dog. Never chewed my sandals."
Boatman: "Sorry lady, ain't runnin' no charity here. Even in Vahalla we got standards, you know. Go back an haunt somebody until you can bring back some Saxon loot or something."