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 ;)
