Black Dogs Make Good Pets

A few weeks ago there was an article in our local paper from the Associated Press. It was about the lack of adoption of big black dogs from animal shelters. I always cringe when I read things like that because... the color or size of a dog is not an indication of that dog's temperment. So, why are big black dogs so hard to adopt out? (I've written about this big black dog issue before...)

We've had a number of big black dogs in the family. My niece owned a delightful Rottweiler for awhile, and a neighbor had a beautiful black lab mix, when my kids were growing up. I find black dogs just beautiful.

Okay...big dogs can be scary. In her heyday, Carmel was scary. She's a shepard-lab mix, and I used to tell people that I didn't lock my doors because only a crazy person would come into our house and tangle with Carmel, and you can't keep crazy people out with locks. (of course we locked our doors... but, I do believe Carmel was a great deterrent, back in the day). Today she's like a little old lady without her handbag. She sleeps, she wanders around the house, she seems a bit confused, now and then. And, she's still black and tan...big and imposing...a bit scary to folks who find 'big' dogs scary.

The article in our paper said, "Nobody tracks the problem nationally, and local shelters often keep only limited data on the sizes, breeds and colors of the dogs that are adopted or put down, according to the Humane Society and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals."

But, shelters everywhere admit that big black dogs are hard to adopt out. This article on Petroglyphs, from 2006, notes that this "phenomenon is so common, it even has a name: big black dog syndrome." And, at the Orlando Sentinel, they say, "Animal shelters say black dogs of all sizes are difficult to photograph for online listings..." Which makes me annoyed. Get a real photographer, folks. I'm reading a book called Puppy Chow is Better than Prozac and...it has a totally black cover with a black dog on it. Nicely done. The article does end on a good note, "Any dog can be friendly or unfriendly -- big, black dogs and little Chihuahuas alike."

Amen to that! Back in the day, when I was a veterinary assistant at a local animal hospital, there was this one teeny tiny dog that we were all afraid of! His owner said they had made a deal - he and this ornery little dog. "He doesn't bite me," the owner told us, "and I don't break his neck."

Ooohhh... I always wondered if that was true and if that's why that little guy was so hard to handle.

In the end, big black dogs are wonderful animals. Their disposition is often dependent upon how they are treated. Like any pet, if you love'em, they love you back. When you're ready for your next dog, don't discriminate against the big black boys or girls. Give'em a chance.

(I have not found any evidence that this is true in cats... anyone out there have thoughts on that?)

Comments

[Bonnie]

I never thought about it before, but all of my dogs have been black; one was smallish, three were big. Like you, I think black dogs are beautiful. Mine were all fantastic dogs; they were all mutts. It makes me sad to think such wonderful dogs might have a hard time being adopted.

I've never had a totally black cat, but I've had black-and-white cats and grey-striped cats. I have nothing against black cats, just never had the pleasure of owning one (yet).