Whenever I hear an ambulance, I touch a button. (You know, on something I’m wearing.) That’s so the ambulance-related incident won’t involve anyone you know. And I still turn the first cigarette of a new pack upside down, and make a wish. I have to smoke that cigarette last (hence the turning upside-down, so I can tell which little cancer tube that was), and the wish comes true.
But, weirdly (given how much of my life is taken up by canines), I don't have any superstitions about dogs. For your enjoyment today: a selection of weird dog superstitions. [Sources: The Your Dog Blog, Rover.com, and Animal Fair]
- In India, it’s believed that a dog bite can impregnate a human with puppies—who will then give rabies to the human.
- If you step in dog poop, good luck is coming your way. But it has to be with your left foot. (And, apparently, it’s only valid in France.)
- Seeing three white dogs together also brings you luck.
- A baby licked by a dog will be a fast healer.
- A dog eating grass, rolling on the ground, or scratching obsessively means rain. (Man, I wish.)
- In the USA, a dog sleeping with its tail straight out and paws upturned is supposed to foretell the arrival of bad news: the direction the tail is pointing in indicates the direction the bad news will come from.
- In Ireland it’s unlucky to meet a barking dog first thing in the morning.
- Dogs are able to see ghosts.
- In Scotland, it’s good luck for a stray to follow you home. Double brownie luck points if it’s a black dog. But if it's raining, it's very bad luck. (Go figure...)
Speaking of color, did you know there's a Big Black Dog — aka BBD — Syndrome? Yep... turns out we humans are racist with animals, too. Superstition, like any kind of magical thinking, is anathema to rational behavior—and, for homeless animals, it can be deadly. (Read more about that here and here.)
Were you familiar with any of these superstitions? Got any of your own you want to share? How superstitious are you?
Thanks for coming by, y'all. I'm volunteering at the vet in the morning, but in the afternoon I'll be coming round to you... We've got some catching up to do ;)
Oh dear. We have one dog (Trevor) who regularly eats grass and rolls on the ground, and one (Eos) who is an obsessive scratcher. That explains all this rain we've been having!
ReplyDeleteWhen I recently stepped in the offerings of one of our dogs, my wife told me it was lucky. When I asked her how, she said it was lucky it wasn't she who stepped in it!
Hahahahahaha... Keith, I love your wife's sense of humor :D (And, really, who can argue with that logic? ;) )
DeleteHehehe Keith! And lucky you, you're in France so that one's good for you. Or, at least for your wife.
DeleteI also laughed at your wife's comment thanks for the smile of the day Keith!
DeleteThe one I've always heard is when you see a cow laying down in the field, it means it's going to rain. I don't believe it, or any other superstitions but I will 'knock on wood' from time to time as a joke. Such wild superstitions. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI knock on wood, too :D Yeah, these cracked me up. I wonder how they came to be... An idea for a thesis in sociology, maybe? ;) Thanks for coming by!
DeleteToo bad we don't live in France! ☺ Stepping in dog poop is somwhat of an occupational hazard around here. Although I'm not familiar with these superstitions, the black dog syndrome is all too real and shelters are full of such dogs. No superstitions, here. Well, maybe a sports-related one that my husband shares. If our team is ahead, we won't say anything about the possible victory, for fear of "jinxing" the outcome.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that Black Dog thing drives me nuts. Here in Curaçao locals tend to be really superstitious, and black dogs, as far as they're concerned, are a thing of the devil. One of ours, a medium-sized (25kg) black and brown dog who's the friendliest, most submissive and gentlest of dogs, loves to jump the gate and go for a stroll. Passers-by and even neighbors have called Animal Services with the claim that "a dangerous and aggressive dog is loose in the street". (Yes, regardless of the fact the dog is wearing a collar and tag. *Sigh*)
DeleteThanks for the visit, Debbie!
I do believe dogs can see ghosts, but I don't believe in ghosts, so how does that work. LOL
ReplyDeleteI love it! Hahahahahaa... Yeah, how indeed, Yolanda? :D
DeleteI don't have any superstitions (that I know of) but one my grandmother swore by is when you hear a screech owl (who hears screech owls anymore?)it means Death is coming and you have to put a broom across every door that leads outside (so Death can't come in). It's too bad about BBD syndrome. I have a solid black cat and my mom had 2 and they are and were the most wonderful cats.
ReplyDeleteWe would be in trouble where I live. There is an owl that nests fairly close to my house and is quite noisy in the morning. Apparently she and her mate were here first.
DeleteI've heard that about owls before... I think many cultures tie in owls with death. Recently I found out there are owls here in Curaçao; one night we heard a very loud, very weird sound coming from one of the trees in the yard. There was also some flapping, but it sounded like it came from wings much larger than the birds we're familiar with. Even the dogs were spooked; instead of barking—and, believe me, they bark at everything—they all hurtled indoors as if they'd seen the devil :D A few weeks later a friend mentioned something about owls here and I thought, a-ha!... But I have no idea if they're screechers or a different kind. I'd love to get a glimpse, but we've never heard the visitor again. Still, it did sound otherworldly, so I totally get the origin of the superstition. (I just hope that doesn't drive people to kill them...)
DeleteI haven't heard any of these. Thanks for sharing. Jinx - GREAT word for J!
ReplyDeleteToo bad about the dog poop thing only working in France!
And I believe it about dogs being able to see ghosts. Our cats occasionally "see" something that we can't.
Trisha Faye
www.scooterstale.wordpress.com
If that poop thing worked everywhere, Trisha, us dog people would be the luckiest blokes ever :D Like Yolanda, I don't believe in ghosts, but I know for a fact my dogs see stuff I can't. Whether it's magnetic fields or energy or... I don't know. But it's something :D
DeleteI don't know of any superstitions re dogs here in SA Guilie, black cats yes ... but this was a fun post thank you!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it, Susan :)
DeleteI do the lucky cigarette thing too! Those are some weird dog related superstitions!
ReplyDeleteDebbie
Another lucky-cigarette girl! I knew we had lots in common, Debbie ;)
DeleteThose are some crazy superstitions...EXCEPT the one about dogs being able to see ghosts: I truly believe dogs can see spirits. I think they are closer to that veil than we are.
ReplyDeleteAnd what a shame with the black dog syndrome: shelters have such a hard time adopting out black dogs and cats. I don't know why, I don't get it. I have two black dogs and have had two black dogs before them. Is it because of superstition?? I don't know but the local shelter here actually ran a "Black is Beautiful" campaign to get more exposure for the black dogs in their facility. Unfortunately (and this really irritated me), the NAACP complained that it infringed on their slogan and was derogatory to the African American population that the shelter pulled the plug on it. That was a weird incident!
Michele at Angels Bark
You have to laugh at this NAACP thing... You'd think anyone who's born the brunt of any sort of discrimination—and especially racism—would be more compassionate to other victims of bigotry and narrow-mindedness. But no. More often than not, they turn around and do the exact same thing to someone else. (I can get so riled up about this sort of thing...)
DeleteThanks for visiting, Michele! I'm soooo looking forward to your guest post for W day! And now off to catch up with your blog :)
Trying to play catch up.....this was interesting. I do know about the poor black dogs and that probably comes from medieval times when they thought they were evil. I love black dogs and labs are my favourite...loveable mutts.
ReplyDeleteBirgit, I'm catching up today too! This A2Z has been mangling me... And we're only halfway, hahaha. Every year I swear next year I'll pre-write way in advance, get not just text but images all ready and scheduled way before April... And here I am. Again :D
DeleteToo right about Labs; they really are adorable dogs.
So glad you came by!
The one myth in India along with dogs can see ghosts are the ones i knew others were totally new to me... specially three white dogs :) No matter what the myth is nothing and no one can give you unconditional love the way dogs do. No matter you pass or fail you have had a good day or bad day..dogs would always love you the same way with nothing in return. Lovely post!!!! :) #doglove
ReplyDeleteHello :) That was a lovely read. I am glad to get connected to you cause of the challenge.
Would definitely come back for more. Happy blogging and all the best with the remaining posts.
This is @sneha_sasi from
Life As a Potpourri
Am a Minion for Holton's Heroes
Thanks for the visit, Sneha :) You're right, there really is no love like dog love.
DeleteI have owned black dogs and cats and they were great. Pattycakes was a black lab mix and she even had the red eyes if the sky was overcast. Malevolent looking like a fairy tale. But that was it was, she was a sweetheart.
ReplyDeleteA black Lab labeled as "evil" has got to be the most incongruous oxymoron ever :D I'm so glad you've given a home to black animals, Ann. They really have it harder than most.
Delete