Black Dogs

I hope no one thinks I got Grady because he was black & therefore potentially scary.  I adopted him because I saw something in his eyes that just melted my heart.  I, personally, don't care what color a dog is.  It's what's inside that I care about.  There have been only 2 dogs that have terrified me & they were tan.  Both were very un-socialized Filas.
 
OOPS!  Sorry to go off-topic.

I wonder why black labs are as popular as they are if the general public finds them to be scary.

I think you'll find it's because they have a reputation as the "ultimate family dog." 

My neighbor has a very large black lab, not overweight, just large. (110 lbs) People seem to be a bit more intimidated by him than his Corgi counterpart I have noticed. Lol.

Then again, in San Diego Black Labs are very common because of their amazing temperments and ability to withstand such a warm climate. Having recently been to the Humane Shelters in my area in search of my own dog, there were a bunch of signs around that would say,
"This month is black cat month! Black cats tend to stay at the shelter far long than their more lighter counterparts. This is because black cats can be harder to see and people don't necessarily see them at first glance. Black Cats have also had their share of stories about 'bad luck', but we know some great Black Cats who are all in need of some loving homes."
(Not word for word, this is what I remember. Don't even know if these are real reasons, but these are their explanations.)

Of course this is about cats, but then again I can see the similiarities. When I looked at the dogs, they was nearly 21 out of 30 dogs that were black lab mixes.

Which, in my opinion, seems to make some sense. From what I have heard (again this could be incorrect) but because Black Labs are so popular in our area more than a couple have had mix breed puppies by accident. The gene that makes a dog's coat black is also very dominant, especially in the black lab. So now you have maybe 4 out of 5 puppies that are black lab mixes who end up in a pound or shelter.  I guess it might just be all these reasons mixed together, perhaps. They are very common, more 'intimidating' (I don't see it), hard to really see in shelters, and even just have a bad rap from past stories or legends. Even Harry Potter kind of touches on the black dogs as "The Grim" which means death, distaster, etc.

I have a black dog and people, especially children.  love to pet her when we are out on walks, and always comment on how friendly she looks. I don't understand the black dog  thing at all, but she did spend 10 months in the shelter before I adopted her.  [&:]

Just a thought -- but maybe sometimes people think that a black dog is "common" and they want something that is more "unique" that people will make a fuss over.

ORIGINAL: jenns

I wonder why black labs are as popular as they are if the general public finds them to be scary.

Form talking to other lab people I get the impression that people tend to want the yellow and chocolate labs more.  I actually wanted a black lab, but Jack was more what we were looking for personality wise.

From being a person that has been involved in rescue in one way or the other for years...that's more the way I see it also. Big black dogs seem to be much more common, probably due to what someone else mentioned, the genetic side of it and just not unique enough for people. They just unfortunately seem to be a dime a dozen. Me, for some reason I seem to prefer the predominantly black dogs.. Have 3 of them.

My black dog has eyes that shine in red

 makes people have (bad)dreams all through their head.


  Imagine having this face inches away from you,staring into your eyes after waking up quickly from a VERY bad dream about the little girl from The Exorcist movie..lol

A couple of local shelters actually have a "black dog discount" on adoption fees to encourage more people to adopt.  

I train in two different shelters and it is true the black dogs seem to be around a lot longer then the others, reason one I was told was because there are more black dog then others and like said above some people look at them as being threatening. I think this is because with the black fur and the eyes they are harder to read then others. I happen to love them and had a lab whom I got as a pup who lived to almost 16yrs.

ORIGINAL: MhadDog

My black dog has eyes that shine in red

makes people have (bad)dreams all through their head.

Very cute little rhyme.

Imagine having this face inches away from you,staring into your eyes after waking up quickly from a VERY bad dream about the little girl from The Exorcist movie..lol

Scary, very scary. In truth, he is very handsome and it would comfort me and I'm a person that does have lots of bad dreams. Reminds me some of one that I lost very suddenly, a couple of years ago, to a probable tumor around the heart.. He had tan on his legs though.

I have always had black dogs and have never had a problem with people being afraid because they look intimidating.  I did have one dog, Dillion, and people were cautious of him, not because of his colour, but the shape of his body and his head.  He was heavy cheasted....like a bulldog and he had a very square head...like a pitbull.  Even though he was the sweetest and most well behaved dog I have ever known....people would run over to see my huge Black Lab (Tie, she was very tall for a Lab)  but, see Dillion and hesitate until we tell them he is fine and would explain why he looked scary.  Colour was never a factor.  Personally, it is the breed of dog that I get intimidated over.  Not even the size.  I saw a 1 year old Irish Wolfhound at the petstore a few weeks ago...and did not hesitate to walk over and pet him. (Gawd...he was HUGE and gorgeous) .  I am my leary of little dogs...personally.  You can not see those little ones coming!!  I was bit by a shiz,  a few years back on the back of my leg.  He was under the picnic table...I dropped a fork and he came right out and CHOMP!  He must have thought it was food.  I do give all dogs the benefit of the doubt and I am especially cautious of other dogs around my 5 year old.  Big...small, black...grey.  No matter what,  I keep an eye on them all around him.  You just never know (could be the kids or the dogs fault...I watch them both)  I guess you can say that this "colour" issue is kind of like insurance.  "Red" means sporty and some insurance companies charge more because of the colour...no matter the make or model or even who is driving it!  Weird!

I've always been a very black/white person.  My first horse was white.  My second horse was big and black.  Luke is big & black.  I've already decided that I would like for my next dog to be a black German Shepherd (Luke is a Lab/Shepherd cross).
 
There are definitely a lot of people who are intimidated by Luke, but I always attributed it more to his size (27") than his color -- but perhaps it is some of both.  I do not mind at all.  I would prefer that the average stranger be wary of my dog and give us space (especially some of the freaky men that live down the road from me).  Most frequently, though, people comment on how beautiful Luke is -- I think his friendly face overshadows his color to most people.

I have heard that black dogs are harder to adopt...but I don't know what the percentage is.  As far as people being more afraid of black dogs...I don't see it.  Maybe it is because Belle is so cute. []  I have never had anyone cross the street or be afraid to approach her (even if she is barking her head off).