Jet-Black Creature in Minnesota Woods

I’m not superstitious by any means. I don’t believe in paranormal stuff or creatures like

Bigfoot etc but this one I legitimately cannot explain. I grew up in northern MN and I used to

explore the woods all around our house basically every day. One fall day when

I was 12, my golden retriever and I went on our usual adventures way back in the

woods. We had walked pretty deep into the forest when suddenly my dog stopped in her

tracks and did the deepest guttural growl I have ever heard her make. I followed her stare

and about 50ft away was a jet black..creature? Bigger than a wolf, smaller than a black bear (we had lots

of those around, I’d see them often and this was not a bear).. it bolted away from