Big Black Dog Syndrome
December 13, 2007
I learned about something recently that surprised me. Evidently, many people do not want big black dogs.
As the owner of a black Lab, I found this to be surprising. But a newsletter from the Heartland Lab Rescue had an article about how big black dogs are the hardest dogs to adopt out for shelters.
Theories abound as to why. Black dogs are difficult to see in their crates and cages at shelters. It’s hard to see their faces. They don’t photograph easily for online listings. There is a cultural bias against big black dogs because of irresponsible Rottie, Lab, Chow, Pitt and Doberman owners. People are more afraid of big black dogs because it’s hard to read their expressions when you can’t see their eyes and faces very well. Black dogs are too common or “ordinary” and prospective pet owners prefer a more unique coat color or pattern.
The theories vary, but the statistics don’t. Consistently across the country at shelter after shelter, the wait time for big black dogs — especially males — is longer than for any other type of dog. The adoption rate is lower. The surrender rate is higher. 
“Our yellow and chocolate puppies rarely last more than a week before being adopted by loving families,” says Amy Serrata, Hertland Lab Rescue Co-Chair. “But the black puppies simply get passed up.”
Here are some ways to keep black dogs out of shelters:
- Spay and neuter.
- Adopt, foster or sponsor a big black dog.
- If you can take decent pictures, volunteer your time to take photos of big black dogs for posting on adoption sites; the photo can make all the difference. (Hint: Take pictures outdoors on an overcast day.)
- Spread the word about adoptable dogs to friends and family.
- If you hear of someone who’s looking for a family dog, encourage them to get a black dog.
To find a big black dog waiting for adoption, go to www.blackpearldogs.com or www.heartlandlabrescue.com. 
I’m involved with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and I’ve been matched with a fourth grade boy. He is definitely more afraid of my black Lab than he was of my Collie. I always chalked it up to Boudain’s high energy level. But maybe there is a bias, especially in urban cultures.
What are your experiences with big black dogs? Are you more afraid of them when you pass them on the street? Do you keep a closer eye out on your dog at the dog park when he/she plays with or around big black dogs? Have you witnessed bias against big black dogs?
Listen to the Lucky Dog Show for more information about Big Black Dogs. Click here for more info.
Entry Filed under: In the News. .
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1.
dog training toronto | December 20, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Thanks for the dog tips on your blog
Dog Training Toronto
2.
Anna Kuperberg | December 24, 2007 at 12:48 am
Hello!
What a great post - it is nice to see someone calling attention to this issue. I photograph dogs and post the photos on my blog site at http://www.slobberspace.com. I think all dogs are beautiful, including the black dog variety!
Anna Kuperberg
3.
Sam Mancuso | December 25, 2007 at 1:10 pm
This is a pretty crazy assertion. Are there more black dogs in shelters simply because there are more black dogs?
Editor’s Note: I thought it was nuts, too. I’d never heard of such a thing. But the more shelters I talk to, the more I hear that black dogs take more time to be adopted out, especially if they’re big and male. Shelter after shelter says the same thing. How sad, huh? - LW
4.
karen deines | January 9, 2008 at 10:09 am
Regarding Sam’s question, some years more black dogs and cats are born, then others. Someone involved with genetics could probably comment on this better than I. However, that being said, if you have a litter of kittens or pups for adoption, and half are say yellow/orange and half are black, the yellow/orange babies will be adopted first, most times. I have watched people at adoption days who are viewing the available pets, and it doesn’t seem to be a deliberate passing over of the black babies, I think it is more about their eyes being drawn to color.
5.
The Jaeger Fund Blog&hellip | January 18, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Jojo & his run in with Black Dog Syndrome
One of the first dogs encountered when we started volunteering was a black lab named “Jojo”. Sadly, we met lots of dogs while Jojo stayed at the shelter, as he was big, black, and seemingly unremarkable to the naked eye.
Most of the dogs t…
6.
Mookie and Sam | January 24, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Hey! Check out the latest adventure of Mookie and Sam! The new video is called “Sam goes to Texas” and it’s really cute and funny!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDdTgS0FunM
Don’t forget to check our their website at http://www.mookieandsam.com
7.
Melania | January 27, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Unfortunately, this is NOT just a CRAZY ASSERTION. It is the truth. The Horrible truth. And I being a volunteer and advocate myself, I am SO happy to see that there are others out there being the voice for these sweet helpless animals.
I have 2 (black lab, males) rescues myself and I COULD NOT imagine my life without them. Life with my dogs is BY FAR more fulfilling than life without them could EVER be.
8.
De Akin | February 10, 2008 at 8:35 pm
I like this! The 3 shelter that go to PetSmart in Columbus, Ga try to do a black out weekend the last weekend of each month. This way the black & mostly black ones get a chance to shine without the competition of the others that get adopted all the time. We tend to have good luck in adoptions. Claws & Paws in Buena Vista, GA is the one in which I volunteer. Currently we have about a dozen or more mostly black dogs & they are not moving. Please look on http://www.petfinder.com & give these beautiful unique babies a chance. Thanks! In my home I have a 10 year old black lab mix that insists on stealing my pillow at night. Bubba is still a baby & pees with all feet on the floor. I tend to go for the ones no one else looks at.
9.
The big black dog owner | March 4, 2008 at 11:19 am
If you were photographing a big black dog , for example, you would find a part of its fur that was reflecting the sunlight so it wasn’t completely opaque, but not an area that was shining most glossily. You are interested in recording the range of tones on the animal’s body, not the range of tones in the background. Metering on a “greyish” area of the dog’s fur by reflection; if dog is the same black colour all over this would probably be your best hope of achieving that. (I am deliberately oversimplifying here.)
To be honest, this is not the only technique you can applie to capture that the texture of the dog’s coat. Use fast (1600ASA), contrasty (Fujifilm NEOPAN), true black-and-white film. This will exaggerate mid-range differences in reflected light, but, only if correctly exposed. What you lose in truth you gain in beauty.you can also shot the dog in fairly strong, angled sunlight. The intensity and slight tilt of the sun’s rays helped to throw the surface of the dog’s coat into relief.
If the film is a little grainy and you wanted sharpness around the dog’s eyes, chose too large an aperture and left more of the dog out of focus perhaps is best for capturing the look of the whole animal, but this does have the advantage of “pushing the dog’s head out of the frame” into the viewer’s face. I could have chosen a smaller aperture setting and focused on the end of the dog’s nose.
hope it will help,
The big black dog owner