It’s Friday the 13th, and we’ll still use it as an excuse to discuss dog superstitions, mythology, and folklore!
Did you know that meeting a dog is good luck? Or that if you let a dog lick your newborn baby, your baby will heal more quickly throughout his/her life? Don’t worry—there are at least eight more of these superstitions you need to know about.
10 SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT DOGS
1. When you are being followed pretty consistently by a strange dog (especially a black dog), there is considerable bad luck to be had in your near future.
2. If your dog appears angry or defensive around some person for no apparent reason, steer clear. It’s a sign that that person has a bad character.
3. Meeting a black and white spotted dog on the way to a business meeting is good luck! You might close the deal!
4. A greyhound with a white spot on her forehead brings good fortune wherever she may go.
5. A dog walking between a courting couple indicates a quarrel will soon occur. Proxemics sometimes say it all.
6. A howling dog outside the house of a sick person was once thought to be an omen that they would die, especially if the dog was driven away and returned to howl again.
7. If you have your newborn baby licked by a dog, your baby will be a quick healer. You already knew this one
8. To keep a new dog, measure its tail with a cornstalk and bury the latter under the front step.
9. When a dog is staring intently at nothing for no apparent reason, look between the dog’s ears, and you’ll see a ghost.
10. Meeting a dog is always good luck, especially if you meet a Dalmatian.
They say the only way to have a well-trained dog is to have a happy owner. Let us at Alaska Dog Works help you make your dog one of the best!
Are dogs good luck? We wrote an article about it, check it out here.
More Serious History Of Dogs and Man
For thousands of years, the close bond between man and dog has helped solidify the canine species’ adoration in recorded history. Many of the current superstitions about dogs were derived from mythology and world religions.
“Dogs and hounds are sacred and otherworldly in many cultures and prevalent in many myths, particularly those regarding the gods of the wild places. They are guardians of the way between; bounding through the forest on the hunt, they cross through the boundary between the worlds.” –Hemlock & Hawthorn
Dogs in World Religions
In the ancient Persian belief system of Zoroastrianism, dogs were sacred beings nearly equal to humans. A central component of the belief required that humans treat dogs with a degree of respect. Never give your dog a bad meal, take care of pregnant dogs as you would pregnant women, and never kill a dog, for it will lead to eternal damnation.
In Hinduism, dogs are considered sacred in parts of Nepal and India. They are celebrated in a five-day festival every November. During this celebration, dogs relieve the sacred red dot on their heads and paws.
If you enjoy this subject, may we recommend the book Gods, Ghosts and Black Dogs: The Fascinating Folklore and Mythology of Dogs
Dogs in Folklore
From Cerberus, the three-headed guardian of Hades, to Sir Gawain’s loyal hound, Gringolet, dogs have long been a part of mythical and legendary tales.
Unsurprisingly, dogs were the very first animals domesticated by humans around 30,000 years ago. It would take 10,000 years to domesticate the next ones: horses and other ruminants.
Our relationship with dogs has been long and complex, imbued with loyalty, power, and friendship symbols. Here are five dogs from myths and legends that have captured our imagination over the centuries. Read more about these dogs in folklore.
The Dogs in Horror Films
Dogs in movies have been the stars of the show in many popular movies: “Lassie” from Lassie, “Toto” from the Wizard of Oz, “Beethoven” from Beethoven, “Marley” from Marley & Me, and more. Whether they’re the star of the show, saving the day, or supporting characters, dogs help make movies great — horror movies included.
Through the 1930s, the cinema legacy of German Shepherd Dog heroes like “Strongheart” and “Rin Tin Tin” established screen dogs as companions and family protectors. Movie producers never cast them as villains. Then things changed.