The Traditions and Myths Surrounding Dog Ownership
Dogs have accompanied humans since ancient times and served as excellent assistants in herding sheep. It is very common today for modern families to keep one or two dogs. Throughout history, dogs have been celebrated by humans as the most loyal and steadfast companions through thick and thin.
More and more research now shows the many benefits of owning dogs. Not only do they help enhance social activity and reduce feelings of isolation, but by caring for a pet's daily needs, owners themselves can also improve their physical health! There is also a popular saying: "Children don't mind if their mother is plain, dogs don't mind if the household is poor." Some people even regard dogs as auspicious animals that bring prosperity and good fortune to the home. Having a dog at home is seen as a positive sign that wealth will come to the family.
However, in traditional Taiwanese society, influenced by folk customs and beliefs, the older generation holds many taboos about raising dogs. There are a variety of unscientific and orally transmitted ideas that have been passed down through generations, such as superstitions about the taboo or disadvantages of keeping two dogs, or the belief that owning a black dog can bring bad luck to the family. These alarming rumors have caused many people to be influenced by tradition, resulting in various indirect harms both to families and to animals.
So, what exactly are the traditional taboos the elders had regarding dog ownership? Today, let's explore and debunk these myths together!
The Myth About Having Two Dogs: Debunking the Superstition
Many people, especially from the older generation, often caution against keeping an even number of dogs at home. The belief is that having two dogs can bring misfortune and disrupt family harmony. The superstition stems from an interpretation of ancient Chinese characters, where the presence of two dogs supposedly resembles the character for "cry", which is considered ominous.
According to elders, having two dogs at home is like adding two "mouth" radicals along with one "dog" radical, which together look like the character for "cry".
However, this traditional explanation is purely symbolic and has no scientific basis. There is no concrete evidence that having two dogs causes bad luck or negatively affects the family's fortune. In fact, if you observe your daily life, ask yourself whether any tragic or unlucky events have truly happened because you have two adorable furry companions. Or perhaps, these two little dogs have actually brought more joy and excitement into your life.
This superstition about keeping dogs in pairs simply falters under closer examination. Unless the two dogs do not get along well and cause trouble or damage at home, raising two dogs often comes with many benefits. For one, dogs generally enjoy having a companion. They tend to live longer and exhibit more energy when they have a playmate. Furthermore, having a canine buddy helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression in dogs themselves.
In conclusion, the misunderstanding that dogs should not be kept in even numbers is unfair to these innocent furry family members and lacks any factual grounding. Instead of fearing superstition, cherish the bonds and happiness brought by your two dogs—they can make your home a warmer and livelier place.
Taboos About Raising Black Dogs
Ominous Energy and Bad Luck: Since ancient times, traditional Chinese beliefs have held a preconceived notion about the color black, associating it with misfortune and bad luck. This perception seems inseparable from people's fear of death, often linking black to evil spirits or demons. As a result, many elderly people believe that raising a black dog brings negative energy into the home. These rigid views have led some families to firmly refuse to keep black dogs.
Consequently, in Taiwan, animal shelters have seen a significant number of black dogs being abandoned. Compared to stray dogs of other coat colors, black mixed-breed dogs are adopted less frequently. This has resulted in shelters housing more and more little black dogs with bright white teeth and innocent, trusting eyes.
From a scientific perspective, however, a dog's coat color is simply a product of genetics and has nothing to do with so-called bad luck or misfortune. Moreover, dogs cannot choose their fur color or appearance at birth, regardless of whether they look "beautiful" or not. What truly makes dogs irreplaceable is their innate optimism and carefree nature!
Unfortunately, many stray black dogs in Taiwan remain on the streets or wait endlessly in shelters for a family to adopt them.
Taboos Surrounding Dogs with White Paws: Attracting Bad Luck?
What exactly are the taboos about keeping dogs with white paws? After all, those four little feet wearing white "socks" look quite adorable! So why do the older generations fear "white-socked dogs" to such an extreme?
It turns out that in ancient times, people believed that a dog's white paw pads resembled wearing "white shoes", which was symbolic of mourning or funeral rituals within the household. Another explanation is that white-pawed dogs were thought to be vengeful spirits or wronged souls from previous lives coming back to claim lives and settle grudges. Naturally, this led elders to strongly avoid dogs with white paws.
Moreover, in the Minnan (Hokkien) dialect, the pronunciation for "white paws" sounds similar to the word for "lame", leading older folks to feel that raising a dog with "imperfect" limbs might bring bad luck to the family.
Of course, these cute white-socked dogs have nothing to do with the above superstitions. Such beliefs lack any scientific basis and have no connection to luck or vengeful spirits demanding debts.
The unique color patterns on a dog's paws are simply related to genetics. Just like in the cartoon "Bow Wow", where characters have distinctive markings, dogs are born with special coat color patterns as part of their genetic makeup.
In fact, veterinarians overseas have noted that dogs with white paws are often among the smartest breeds—for example, Border Collies, Beagles, Shiba Inus, and others. These dogs naturally have charming white "socks" on their paws, which often symbolizes their alert nature and strong learning abilities.
Understanding Traditional Dog-Keeping Taboos
After reading about the dog-keeping taboos passed down by the older generation, do you feel you better understand the reasons behind these beliefs? In fact, if we view these non-scientific taboos with a rational perspective and adopt a more open-minded attitude toward them, it becomes easier to accept their existence.
At the same time, having good communication with the older generation is important. Regardless of whether pets are black, white, or multicolored, they are all innocent and kind-hearted, cherished furry companions beloved by everyone.
