The saying "Yellow dogs with white noodles are unlucky" originates from Chinese traditional culture and folk beliefs. In Chinese Feng Shui theory and some local customs, animals' coat colors and specific body markings are often given special meanings.

Yellow usually symbolizes wealth and nobility in Chinese culture, while white is often associated with funerals and death. Therefore, combining a yellow dog with a white face may be seen as an unlucky symbol in some cultural contexts.