Black Dog Syndrome
By Michele C. Hollow, Pet News and Views
When I first heard about Black Dog Syndrome, I thought it was an Internet hoax. A trainer who rescued a black Labrador retriever told me that the shelter workers where she adopted her black Lab from were thrilled that she chose a black Lab over a yellow one.
If you are unaware, Black Dog Syndrome is when people don’t adopt dogs with black or dark fur. I grew up with a German Shepherd/Collie/Beagle mix who was mostly black and dark brown. He was extremely handsome, and quite intelligent, which made me think that Black Dog Syndrome just couldn’t exist.
Yet, I kept on hearing about it on chat rooms, on the Internet, from friends who do rescue work, and from people who work at animal shelters. One person told me that when she was looking to adopt a Labrador retriever, she was astounded at the disparity between available yellow dogs versus black dogs. The wait for a yellow lab from a rescue group could be months or years, while there were plenty of black labs available.
Why Black Dogs are Overlooked
Black dogs are often overlooked. When you place a bunch of black dogs in a shelter amongst tan, red, yellow, mixed and other colored fur, people’s gaze goes towards the lighter or brighter animals.
“As a brand marketing professional, I can tell you color is a powerful perception tool,” says Steven Vena, owner of The Nimble Group, Inc., a brand marketing and advertising agency. “If I am walking down the street, I would bet more people would pet the tan dog versus the black dog.”
I was able to see his point—even though I didn’t like it. I grew up in New York, and have a lot of black clothes in my closet. I remember attending an expo at the Javits Center; the majority of men dressed in black suits and the women wore black dresses. I came along in a bright orange blazer, and got lots of comments. Many people thanked me for wearing a sunny color.
Still when it comes to fur or skin color, I think black is more interesting because it’s not just black. Look at a cat, dog, or person with black coloring and you will see reds, browns, and a nice mix of other tones thrown in. Maybe because I’m extremely fair skinned, I appreciate other colors. I was thankful for my freckles; otherwise I would have a ghostlike complexion!
Photos of Black Dogs
Take a look at photos of adoptable dogs and cats on line. Often shelter workers, not professional photographers, snap quick photos and post them. Unfortunately they are not very good, and all too often the black ones are blurry. Thankfully, many shelters are using professional photographers to show off these dogs and cats. Some shelters are adding color to these adoptable animals. You might see a black dog or cat with a colorful bandanna or attractive colored collar. It makes the pet stand out.
Black Cats
Black cats also have a hard time getting adopted. A lot of that has to do with superstitions. Personally, I had a black cat, and everyone loved him. He was the sweetest, and had a playful personality. His green eyes stood out against his expressive face.
I have trouble understanding this, but there are some people who regard black cats as witches’ familiars. It has gotten so bad that shelters won’t adopt out a black cat around Halloween time. It seems that people want to use black cats for rituals around that time. So a good number of shelters refuse to adopt out their black cats from the end of September to the beginning of November.
And I know this is going to sound screwy, but some people believe that vampires transform themselves into black dogs as a way of traveling unnoticed at night. (I just don’t get some people.) So unfortunately, black cats and dogs are the last, if at all, to be adopted.
Black Dog and Black Cat Syndrome are real. The next time you are looking to adopt a dog or cat, take personality into account. Talk to the shelter workers or the workers at the rescue group, and make an informed decision.
Michele C. Hollow writes Pet News and Views, a blog devoted to the positive side of animal welfare. Stories cover news about people who work with and for animals and animal nonprofits.
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25 Comments
On August 24, 2010, Beth wrote:
Black Dog Syndrome. If I were a betting woman, I would bet a lot of money that it has more to do with the sight of black hair on the floors, in the corners, in the carpet, on the furniture..it is T.H.E. pits!! We had a golden golden retriever and never minded his hair. Now we have a black and tan mutt, and we very much mind his hair. And our son’s rottweiler lives with us, and her hair everywhere is AWFUL!! We brush and brush and it doesn’t matter. In fact, I remember visiting a couple who happened to have a black seeing eye dog. They were doubly blessed because they couldn’t see the horrible mess of black hair all over their apartment!! Black Dog Syndrome. Maybe we should call it HAIR OF THE DOG SYNDROME!
On August 24, 2010, peg kucek wrote:
Most of my pups are black dogs (I also have a black cat) - and every time I hear about this bias I get extremely frustrated.. It is ridiculous!!
On August 24, 2010, Abby wrote:
This is nuts! I think black dogs and cats are beautiful! what’s wrong with these people!
On August 24, 2010, Miriam wrote:
Wow! I can’t believe this would even be a problem. When I was just a little girl we had two lovely black lab sisters and they were the BEST dogs ever! Funny thing too, we also were given a yellow lab. But I have always loved black cats and dogs. I think they are beautiful and I can’t see how someone wouldn’t want to adopt one of them! This article was very enlightening. Thanks Michele for writing it. :) I think I will own black cats and dogs from now on!
On August 24, 2010, Ken Broggelwirth wrote:
Its sad but true. I have seen this myself over and over, and even worse sick individuals use this as another excuse to harm and innocent animal. It’s disgusting. Gets me so angry I could pummel one of those ignorant fools. I have personally had 4 Black Cats, and now a Dark near black Torti that is beautiful and very sweet although fearful as she was mistreated as a kitten. I also had a Black Lab named Bear some years ago. They were all very loving animals that were some of the best pets I’ve had. In fact, a feral had a litter that has one little male almost all black with a little mask. He looks like Batman and is very friendly. I think Batman will be joining my family.
On August 24, 2010, Dave wrote:
Very insightful article. Deep rooted attitudes & superstitions held by ignorant people are exceedingly difficult to affect, and change. But each of us must do our best to help.
On August 24, 2010, Marisol wrote:
I have two black dogs…a English Cocker Spaniel that is black with light brown…and a Yorkie Poo which is Black with beige..and they are both a blessing..especially my spaniel she is the best companion ever,very intelligent, and always so loving..as for the Yorkie she is the light of my day she is filled with so much energy and always make me laugh (she is my husbands favorite)…black dog syndrome is ridiculous…people should be less biased…and a black dog is as good,smart, playful, and beautiful as any other dog…Black Dogs Rule!!!!!!!!!
On August 24, 2010, Maryanne Appel wrote:
After the U.S. troops pulled out of Vietnam at the end of that war, some of the soldiers begged the U.S. Government to be allowed to take their dogs home with them. Their petitions were denied. The reason? The U.S Government considered the dogs trained for war to be ordinance, like cannons, tanks, and trucks. And like cannons, tanks, and trucks, they were left behind.
Especially problematic was the situation with the black dogs, who were (still are?) considered satanic by the Vietnamese people. These animals once shared a close bond with the soldiers they had been placed with. Abandoned on the streets in Vietnam, they were destined to a horrible, if short, existence. “War dogs” are not “heroes,” they are victims, and as with dogs and cats, even here in the U.S. - all casualties of the pet trade - it seems the black ones fare the worst.
On August 24, 2010, Patricia M. Hofer wrote:
I didn’t know about this. Sorry to hear about it. I think black dogs and cats are beautiful along with all the others.
On August 24, 2010, Elgrit B. Russell wrote:
I once had a pure black cat and he was the sweetest, most loveable cat and gorgeous. It is so cruel and selfish to think evil of black animals. To me they are so special and beautiful. But unfortunately, superstitions abound through the centuries and they are often passed down. It is hard to see them at night and if they run loose, this might frighten people. Why can’t humans accept all colors and styles and sizes. After all, humans are so very different from one another. Peace to all black animals.
On August 25, 2010, Marilyn S. Craig wrote:
I have always loved black animals much more than light colored ones!! We always had a black cat when I was growing up and I had a black mixed lab when I became an adult. Now I have a black cat and a black poodle! Being a biology teacher, I have loved all kinds of animals and one of the most beautiful animals is a black racer snake. My children grew up to love all animals and snakes were a favorite of my son! He was allowed to catch any snake but a brown snake when he was young because all the poisonous snakes in our area are brown, so he caught quite a few black snakes! But they have a temper and he got bitten many times before he learned how to hold them correctly, all bites amounted to nothing more than pin pricks and treated with a good soap and hot water washing healed quickly!
On August 25, 2010, Susu Miller wrote:
I love black dogs. All my dogs are black or black and brown. I can’t believe that people would wait for a light colored dog over a black one.
On August 25, 2010, debbie wrote:
I have 7 strays and 3 off them are black and tan one is white with black spots and one is black and white boarder collie one small black then one brownish white I also have about 12 cats that were homeless they go from yellow to black to tabby So i can say there is nothing wronge with animals that are black in color So people get over it these animals need love and a good home also
On August 25, 2010, Denise LaChance wrote:
My black Cocker Spaniel was beautiful and gentle. It would never have occurred to me to not adopt him because of his color. At the same time, he did seem more susceptible to heat in Los Angeles where I live, and I have thought that some of the dogs that are raised here are not ideal for our climate. I had a wonderful black cat once as well. When I was looking for animals (on petfinder.com) I did not specify a color and do not believe that coat color influenced my decision, although perhaps it did subconsciously. (My current dogs are light colored.)
On August 25, 2010, Suzy wrote:
To the person complaining about the black hair…
In the past I had a white dog whose hair got all over everything also. If I planned on wearing black i had to wait till I was ready to go out the door before I dressed. Now I have a black dog, and it’s the same thing except in reverse. 6 of one half dozen of another.
FoA comments:
I have a white dog now and will soon have a black one. My car has a black interior. I am hoping the black hair from one dog covers up all the white hair from the other.
On August 25, 2010, Linda Marie wrote:
It shouldn’t come as a surprise. We humans as a species are remarkable UN-colorblind. In our often narrow-minded society, “light” is often equated with goodness and purity, while “dark” represents the forces of evil. I think it’s a wonderful idea to put pretty bandannas and collars on black dogs to help people see them as the stars they are. We have 3 dogs, one of whom is a little black lab mix whom we fell in at first sight with at the shelter. A little PR for the dark dogs and cats might go a long way to making people appreciate them for their beauty.
On August 28, 2010, Corinne wrote:
I have Black Dog Syndrome…I ONLY adopt Black Labs. In my opinion, they have the best disposition of all the labs.
On September 2, 2010, lester conley wrote:
many years ago I got a little black lab puppy from the shelter. she was so sweet. she learned everything very fast. she loved kids and grew to be the best dog I ever had. she would get up in the middle of the night and go from room to room checking on the kids and then go back to sleep, you could not ask for a better dog or breed, we all miss her and still talk about her to this day, rest in peace lady,
On September 2, 2010, Hailey wrote:
I’ve heard about this. I really want to foster animals when I live in my own house (and hopefully open my own shelter one day). I do service at a nearby shelter and there are SO many black cats and dogs that are passed up and left there for years. I decided to pick up a certain black kitten to see why it was the last one left behind. It nuzzled me and purred- it didn’t want to be set down! I’ve vowed to adopt black pets and older pets (the ones who are neglected by customers) from now on!
On September 5, 2010, Erika wrote:
Weird I have had black dogs all my life -I even had a black Irish Setter. I have also had black cats and one of my favorite cats was Marty and he was black and my sister when she adopted a cat her cat was black. Black black black, I’m all over it - guess its the NYer in me
On September 8, 2010, Begum wrote:
Dumbest thing I have ever heard! I have three dogs and two of them are black. People just cannot get over their prejudice and look at the things as they are. Very very sad!
On October 8, 2010, Casey Vogler wrote:
I was eight years old and playing in my back yard when the neighborhood bully showed up with a baseball bat and swung it at me. My dog Ruthie shot out of the house; punching a hole in the screen door in her haste, and grabbed the bat out of the bully’s hands. She was a little border collie mix and solid black. Every dog my sister and I have ever owned has been black; newfoundlands and labs mostly. I live on a farm right now and I have five black cats. (tabbys, tourties and calicos too…) Send your black critters to Iowa. They are welcome.
On October 10, 2010, GDiFonzo wrote:
I wonder if it’s different with terriers. Black schnauzers especially seem to stand out, but maybe I’m just thinking of my childhood buddy Max. He was jolly, jaunty and overflowing with love. All he needed to look perfect would have been a little bow tie. Never shed, either.
Speaking of which, Suzy is right—light hair can be just as bad. I have a beautiful seal-point ragdoll cat whose fawn-colored hair shows up white all over the red furniture. But what are you going to do? Adopt an animal in some bizarre shade guaranteed to match the upholstery? I guess you could try for a punk look, if that’s what you want.;)
On November 3, 2010, Helen Cofone wrote:
My daughter always wanted a dog,so one day my husband say yes, he bought the most beautiful black poodle his name is Tono and we love this little black thing, he is so gentle and loving.
One day a had a garage sale, and a lady come and ask me if I want another dog, thinking maybe I will give to my friend I say yes, the little dog was mix York and pug , she is blond , yes she is beautiful , for me have one of each color don’t make any differences I love my two little crazy dogs!!! I don’t care the color of them I just love them dearly.
Helen Cofone
On January 16, 2012, brenda wrote:
I have 3 small dogs 1 white & tan shihtzu mixed rescued from yard sale. she has been with us 12 yrs. a black & gray 6 yrs. yorkie poo black chihuahua adopted after foster care & after her 6 puppies were born & returned to shelter. they allow my husband & I to sleep in the bed with them. we are so glad to have them .they give so love.
P.S.will be adopting black mixed puppy in 8 weeks . GO BLACK DOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!