Did you ever hear this that black dogs are put down more

[fluffycow333]

What's wrong with black animals? My dog is a black lab and I would LOVE to have a black cat.

 

[JerseyJanice]

When we adopted Max (the Mighty Wonder Dog!), more than a few people complimented us for taking a black dog. I'd never heard of the "Big Bad Black Dog Syndrome," but sadly, it does exist.

Max's shedding is a giant pain, but he's an awesome dog. I can't imagine a getting smarter guy than he is.

Peg, your puppies are adorable! What cutie-pies! Bet they're a handful though. Best of luck with them.

 

[RF536]

We justed adopted our second black dog, our 1st was a black shepherd and dalmation mix, she was black over 98% of her body. The puppy we just adopted is a husky, black lab mix and is all black the only husky thing is he has the husky facial features.

 

[Feralpeg]

Peg, your puppies are adorable! What cutie-pies! Bet they're a handful though. Best of luck with them.

Thanks! They are so adorable...when they are asleep! They are really energetic! We now have three black animals. Our cat, Salem, is also black. She is the second black cat I've owned. My first black cat, Mystery, lived to be 19 years old.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I love the names you picked for your pets--Merlin, Willow, Salem, Mystery. All are very cool choices for black critters.

 

[christineann]

I've heard that but have never heard that it's a Southern thing. I know a lot of people with black dogs, and 2 of our 3 are black. All were adopted from shelters. I really didn't think about the color of the dogs when I adopted them.....it was just a feeling. Sorry these photos are big (still getting the hang of it).

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

Sad and true. Same goes for certain breeds that seem "scary". Sadly many shelters put down pit bull types immediately since they are extremely hard to adopt. We have one and he is the sweetest dog we've ever had. (Apparently they're very loyal which is why they are used in fighting - since no matter what their owners do to them they still want to please them)

There's a sweet book called A Dog Named Christmas or something of that nature and it is a sweet story about a black dog in a shelter!

 

[horseshowmom]

I had heard that larger dogs were hard to adopt out but never heard that about color. Oddly enough, we have 4 dogs, and they all happen to be black. Of course, all of ours were abandoned and then adopted by us (from a MinPin up to a black Lab).

 

[kacaju]

I have not heard it was a Southern thing, but I can tell you from experience that taking a big black,white and Tan dog into an inner city nursing didn't go over well my first visit!!
My tri color collie is a therapy dog and I will say most of the STAFF was afraid of my dog.
We have gone back a few times now and everyone is getting used to him and they remember him, but yeah...that first visit did not go over well at all!!

When I walk him no one wants to say hi to him, yet if I have a sable collie (lassie color) everyone wants to pet that dog!!

 

[tonilea]

I would shy away from a black dog, not because it was black, but because I would suspect (of course conformation would play a part) it was part black lab. Not that I don't like them, I just don't like them for me. In my opinion and in general, they are hyper and take forever to outgrow the puppy stage. I would also avoid any dog that even hinted of being part pit. I worked in a veterinary clinic for ten years and have seen lots of dogs that didn't fit the profile, but more that did.

 

[Jockaroo]

I think part of it is that black dogs (and cats) just are not as photogenic. When we tried to get our dog's Christmas portrait, we took over a 100 shots to get this (with some help from Photoshop); notice the dashing neckwear to give some color contrast:

I love Scottish Terriers, so I am familiar with black dogs and love black dogs. When my handsome, friendly male was alive, I had people come up to him and ask if he was mean. He was bouncing and wagging his tail like crazy wanting to play. I can see using caution around a strange dog, but he was giving all the signs of being a friendly guy. I've seen the same people in the neighborhood rush to pet the yellow labs, but be very reserved of the black labs. People tend to be more reserved with black dogs. I will say that nothing is more beautiful than a healthy, shiny-coated black dog in the sunlight.

 

[christineann]

We love our black lab/mixes.....true comment that they take a long time to get out of the puppy stage, but they are some of the most loving, good natured dogs I've ever known. The head of the animal shelter here compared a young 100 lb black lab to a 6 foot twelve year old boy - "they just don't know what to do with their size"

 

[phragmipedium]

I've only seen this on the disboards...I see lots of people with black dogs at least here in the Pacific Northwest and haven't heard anyone mention anything about them being harder to adopt. Both of our dogs are black - a black lab who we got as a puppy, and a big black lab mix, probably mixed with hound. No one's ever said anything to us about our black dogs other than how pretty they are. I think it's terrible that some people are afraid of them just because they are black - my babies are beautiful and sweet.

 

[Momvic5]

I have heard that black dogs are put down more often but the reason given to me was different. I was told that black is the most common color in cats and dogs, and because they are so common and abundant, more of them are put down.

 

[familyS]

One of my grandfathers (of Eastern European descent) truly believed that black dogs and black cats were bad luck (almost evil). Maybe this superstition is part of other cultures, too.


ETA- it didn't stop my family from having a black lab or a black english shepard.

 

[mamamary]

Just wanted to say that I love my black dog

 

[mill4023]

.....Part of the reason is that since alot of adoptions start with photos of the animals, it is harder to get the cute facial expressions with a black animals even with a professional photographer without the right lighting.....

That's what I was thinking about. We just got a black and tan puppy(min pin/rat terrier mix) and I had the hardest time getting a decent photo of her to show my family on facebook.

Although I would think that at shelters, a lot of people go in without a particular animal in mind, so I'm not sure how the photos would have a lot of impact.

 

[fairestoneofall]

every dog we've had has been black.

although, i would love a chocolate-colored dog too.

 

[kristilew]

I live in the South and have two mostly black Cairn terriers. Before that I had a wheat colored one. I will say that in the summer, my black dogs are more miserable than the wheaten one was. Their black fur absorbs a lot more sun and they just bake. When I first opened this thread, I thought that would be the reason black dogs were less popular in the south. I had never heard the "mean dog" theory. Hmmm, I bet I'll hear it everywhere now that I'm aware of it!

 

[happygirl]

That breaks my heart. My doggies are black I couldn't love them more