Black Dog Syndrome- Show me the proof!

Jazz (without flash)

I’ve seen a media frenzy as of late talking about Black Dog Syndrome (BDS) when it comes to adoptions and euthanizing black dogs in shelters.  I’m not sure why articles and tv shows are spotlighting this topic now; nevertheless, it is receiving alot of attention.

Black Dog Syndrome refers to the phenomenon that black dogs are less likely to be adopted because he/she is black.

Millions of dogs enters shelters and rescues each year and according to the Black Dog Rescue Project, “black dogs are the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized.”

According to Black Dog Rescue Project, “there are no statistics available on how many black dogs are euthanized, but we know that more black dogs are euthanized than dogs with other coat colors.”

While talking about the lack of adoptions of any dogs or cats is good to make the public aware of the millions of animals in shelters across the nation, I’d like to see the facts or scientific data to prove this theory of BDS. You can’t make a bold statement with no hard proof!

According to Dr. Emily Weiss who wrote an article, “Hmm…It Really Ain’t So Black and White,”  she cited a report by researchers who concluded that “participants’ perceived personality rating appeared to be more influenced by their internalized stereotypes of breed than the color or size of the dog. In this study, a black Lab was perceived less hostile, more friendly, less dominant and more submissive than the brown pit bull, the brindled boxer, the sable German Shepherd, and the black and tan Rottweiler.”

Is BDS more about the breed, personality than the color when it comes to shelter adoptions?

Theories floating around conclude that people view black dogs as evil, bad or mean because “Hollywood teaches us that black represents the black guy”, according to Black Rescue Dog Project.

I have never witnessed anyone not wanting to adopt a black dog because he is too dark. One excuse I did hear is that the dog was too black for her furniture even though she liked the dog. Of course, perhaps, the dog didn’t match the curtains, but I digress.

Others speculate and what seems to be reported in the news as of late is that black dogs don’t photograph well. Suggestions I’ve heard on tv and in print is for shelters to utilize professional photographers to showcase black dogs in a better light. While this can help with all animals available for adoption, most shelters lack the resources to pay for a professional unless one volunteers their time.

There is validity to capturing a black dog’s essence with better photos. I’ve taken photos of my dog, Jazz, with and without flash. For him, without flash definitely showcases him a better light.

Different views suggest another cause for BDS is black hair shows up on clothing and furniture more easily. While watching a report on the Today Show with Jill Rappaport doing a segment on this topic, Lester Holt (co-anchor), said of the two black puppies in the studio is that you can’t see their fur on you. I hear both sides of this theory with light fur more easily seen.

Other theories thrown out are black dogs can’t be seen in dark, dingy shelters so they are overlooked. I’ve never had a problem seeing these dogs.

So where are the cold, hard facts to back up this phenomenon?

The authors in the research study concluded that Black Dog Syndrome exists because there are more black dogs in the population.

The number one dog found in homes in the country is the Black Labrador Retriever. The following is a list of the top ten dogs in the nation. Three breeds on this list- the Lab, Poodle, and Rottweiler are almost all black. The German Shephard is known to have alot of black in them as does a Yorkshire Terrier. The only dog mentioned who doesn’t any black on their body is the Golden Retriever.

1. Labrador Retriever *
2. German Shepherd Dog
3. Golden Retriever
4. Beagle
5. Bulldog
6. Yorkshire Terrier *
7. Boxer
8. Poodle *
9. Rottweiler *
10. Dachshund

Is BDS a myth or fact? All of the reports I’ve either read or seen don’t supply any solid evidence to prove this syndrome that black dogs in shelters are not getting adopted. Reporters speak of BDS as fact without ever corroborating with solid documentation.

It seems that two of the most popular dog breeds found in shelters are Pit Bulls and Chihuahas. Are these two breeds mostly black?

If Black Dog Syndrome does exist, simply show the proof. You can easily discover the statistics by writing the information about each dog that enters a shelter.

What are your thoughts on Black Dog Syndrome? Do you find black dogs are the last to be adopted and first to be euthanized? Do you have a black dog?

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