Black Dogs and Lower Adoption Rate

I  volunteered in a shelter for several years an I am pretty confident that I know why black dogs aren't adopted as often. In most shelters, people are allowed to walk through the kennel areas to pick a dog or two that they would like to see. Unfortunatetly, most kennels are fairly dark, and the fencing between potential owners and the dogs obscure the dogs' faces.

Because we tend to look in dogs and, for that matter, eople's eyes to size them up, it takes a little extra work to gaze into the dark eyes of a dark dog. Sadly, black dogs often just look like dark shadows in comparison to dogs whose coats and eyes contrast, giving them a bright, friendly appearance. Once I developed my theory, I began allowing black dogs to walk around in the waiting area, allowing people to get a closer look at the darker dogs. Sure enough, we began placing more and more black dogs.

I find that ordinary Joes (not dog people) are more frightened of black dogs. Then if you add some size to that dog and strangers are very cautious! Why? I don't know. All my pets are black. I find their loose hair looks better on me than the lighter dogs!!!!

I think you're sort of on the right track - I think proportionally, there are probably more black dogs in shelters, period.  More lab/shepherd/whatever mixes that are "black" and maybe bigger.  Means more left behind.  Go troll through your local shelter one day and count the dogs of each color (and try to classify which color category you would put, say, a shepherd mix in... Is he black?  Brown?  Tan?  What about that big splotch of white down his chest and stomach?). 
 
I wonder (and honestly doubt) if all shelters are tracking the colors of their dogs ("accurately").  Those that are may have noticed a trend and are now counting, trying to put data behind it.  That data is what news articles refer to, because it's available.  But I wonder if its a complete representation of the nation. 
 
To me I equate it to dog bite counts.  I know more people who've been bitten by Cocker Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, etc and never reported the bite.  (By the way, I love both breeds, so no offense to either is intended.  Just that their reputation tends toward great family dog, not insurance risk.)  Yet, someone bitten by a Doberman or other breed might be quicker to report it - thus skewing the statistics of dog bites that insurance companies use to say, "Well, that breed has a really high rate of dog bite incidents."  Yeah, REPORTED dog bites.  Not really a complete picture.

We have fun at my house.  I live above my landlord who has two Goldens, an orange tiger cat, and is herself a strawberry blonde.
 
Upstairs, it's my Doberman, my black cat, and me with dark brown hair.
 
 

ORIGINAL: denise_m

I find that ordinary Joes (not dog people) are more frightened of black dogs

I agree. The first time I read that black dogs had lower adoption rates I couldn't believe it until I thought about it and remembered that so many dogs used as guards--dobers and rotts, for instance,--have lots of black in them. I think people who aren't very dog savvy or experienced just get spooked by that. My mother's housekeeper, who lives in a somewhat tough neighborhood, once told me that she never liked black dogs until she met ours....

I'm occasionally shocked even by the reaction to my black lab . A few weeks ago I had her on a leash at my local car wash and when I walked outside with her to pick up the car, a bunch of the workers who were sitting around near the door jumped up, startled, and moved away. All she wanted to do is roll over and have them pet her stomach and they acted like she had bird flu or something worse....I figured it was just their experience, or lack of it, with dogs like that.

The first dog I adopted is Molly a black lab mix. The other 2 are black & white. Oddly tho, kids if I see them on a walk are very attracted to the black one. Which is a good thing, because she adores kids.
Sadly, the humane society here does have a lot of black dogs, which nobody wants.
 
Savesthestrays: I was going to mention something about that. The shelter I go to is pretty bright, but the black dogs are indeed less noticeable on a quick walkthru. I didn't even notice Molly until I was walking another dog on the outside part of the kennel.

I guess black dogs are assumed to be aggressive

 
Well, when you think about it, how many times did you see movies with Dobes, Rotts, or Shepherds portraying the mean dog??? Cujo may not have been black, but Saints are huge.
And the good dogs?  Wishbone, Lassie (big, but not black), Benji, etc.  eople are conditioned from an early age...
 

Yes, I've shown people pictures of Willow actually smiling and I've had people tell me she "looks" mean. 

See, if I didn't know better, Willow would be a dog I'd want to hug at first meeting cuz she just LOOKS sooooo sweet!

The reaction to her is either one extreme or the other.  I either get oh, she's beautiful, looks like a big teddy bear.  Or, she looks mean.  There's no middle. 
 
I've got my avatar photo at work and numerous people have commented that she looks mean.  And, I know she's mine but in that picture, she doesn't look mean. I could see if it was my signature photo because she is alert in that photo and does look a little intimidating, but you can see the difference in the expression between the two. 

ORIGINAL: willowchow

Yes, I've shown people pictures of Willow actually smiling and I've had people tell me she "looks" mean.

Actually, there is an incident related by the trainers in the book Tales from the Bark Side about a family that wants to return a pb standard poodle because they say its 'too' agressisve, even though the breeder has a reputation for very gentle, friendly dogs. Anyway, when the trainers get to see the dog, they realize that it's not growling or bearing its teeth in anger, but it's so happy it's smiling all the time. The trainers call it one of the happiest dogs they ever saw, but it was close to being euthanized for aggression!

A mean face, she's growling because she hears something outside--





Happy chow face--



Notice, NO teeth in the mean face!

That's kind of sad, really.  The first two dogs I had as an adult were black - a little cock-a-poo/terrier and a cocker/lab - and they were the cutest, sweetest things.  I actually had a hard time getting used to Max's color (honey) because the only black he has is around his muzzle.[]

Joyce & Max

Aww, that's so sad. I don't think it should matter. I just recently found a black dog I'm trying to find a home for and he is the sweetest thing in the world. I volunteer at shelters and black dogs always take a liking to me. Both my dogs that I own are ligh colored though. So far, I've found or have been given all my dogs. I just have a love for all dogs. Blah.

I'm new to this forum and at the moment I do not have a dog but I've been doing alot of research.  I wish I could get a big black lab or great dane or doberman.  I love big dogs.  I grew up with a black doberman and she was the best dog.  Yes, she guarded our home and didn't like strangers but we loved her very much.  I'm currently looking to adopt a small dog since we live in a duplex (I really like the black and white Boston Terriers) and when we purchase a home, I'm planning on adopting a big dog.   One of the ones I typed above.
 
I really didn't think color would be an issue when it comes to animals.  I would think their temperment would come into consideration over color.  Strange.  But I guess I'm learning more and more every day.