MyFox
 

PBMom's Blog

by PBMom from The Woodlands

Last Post 1 day, 21 hours Ago


No One Loves Black Dogs
Jul 8, 2008 | 3:57 PM
Category: News
Report This Post

I came across an interesting article.  Susan Smith of the Franklin County Dog Shelter said that black dogs are less adoptable.  She said that if you have two similar dogs -- one black, one light colored side-by-side with similar temperaments, both well behaved, both housebroken and friendly, the light-colored dog will be adopted before the black dog. 

I found that pretty fascinating.  Some thoughts about why were

1)  There is a higher amount of black dogs in population.  In the human world, brunettes rule and people estimate that possibly in 100 years from now there will be no red-headed people in the country.  It could possibly be the same thing in dogs on a smaller scale.

2)  Many shelters are in older facilities and the lighting is suboptimal.  People choose dogs they connect with (eye contact) and dark dogs in dark cages are harder to see.

Does anybody have other ideas?  I'm wondering if maybe it has to do with the hair color and shedding especially if you have a house with lighter colors.  I likely will never have a dog that isn't a golden retriever and we tend to like the lighter goldens versus the ones that look more like Irish setters.  Of course when I wear dark pants, the hair shows up immediately on them.  However, my floor color almost matches their color of coat so people can't often see the dog hair on the floor until they try to sit down. 

Have you ever owned a dog that was black in color?  Would you ever consider adopting a dog that is black in color? 

21 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 21
Page 1 of 3
1
2
3
 Last
texasdebs read my blog view my photos
Jul 8, 2008 | 4:38 PM

Well that settles it. When we can afford to adopt a dog, it will be a black one!
Interesting information.
ps: Guess what, PBMom? NAVI GOT A JOB!! WOOHOO!!
Hope all is well with you and yours. :)
Foehammer read my blog view my photos
Jul 8, 2008 | 5:37 PM

My favorite pooch was a bloodhound-doberman mix. He was black. Riley, my current pooch is white with a touch of black.
Aponi read my blog view my photos
Jul 8, 2008 | 6:19 PM

Chica, my chihuaha puppy is black with touches of white and tan. Duke, our border collie/rhodesian mix is black and white. I've always favored black dogs myself.
Donnelly read my blog view my photos
Jul 8, 2008 | 8:19 PM

I've heard about this sad phenomenon before. They call it something like the big black dog syndrome or something like that. My sister found a black stray and then gave it to my parents. It was so skinny at first we had no idea what kind of dog it was. It turned ut to be a lab/pit mix. It is an awesome dog.
yahyamoro read my blog
Jul 8, 2008 | 8:38 PM

MY DACHSHUND SHERMAN IS BLACK AND TAN AND BELIEVES HE IS A HUMAN . TAN COLOR IN CANIS DOMESTICUS ( DOG ) IS THE " ORIGINAL " COLOR LIKE A DINGO . I HAVE ALSO HEARD OF THIS COLOR THING BUT I BELIEVE IT IS MORE A PERSONAL PREFRANCE . BLACK DOGS STAND OUT MORE TO ME . I'M FROM A WARM CLIMATE WHERE DARKER COLORS ATTRACT MORE HEAT . TAN AND YELLOW REFLECT HEAT SO IN ALOT OF THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES FERAL ( STREET ) DOGS ARE TAN COLORED . IN COOLER CLIMATES DOGS TEND TO BE COLORED DARKER TO ATTRACT HEAT . I KNOW DACHSHUNDS ARE FROM GERMANY AND I GETS COLD THERE ... I COULDN'T SEE SHERMAN IN THE COLD , HE SHIVERS IN THE CAR WHEN THE A.C. IS ON HIGH .
chassan read my blog view my photos
Jul 8, 2008 | 10:34 PM

PBMom,

One dog pound was stuck with a lot of black dogs that no one wanted to adopt. So the pound made a public offer to hook pet lovers up with a black dog for less money than a light-colored dog.
The pitch was pulled after some people complained it was racist.
PBMom read my blog view my photos
Jul 9, 2008 | 1:29 AM

Wow, Chassan, I never knew. I was thinking, too, that people associate darker colored dogs with perhaps scarier breeds like German Shepherds and Rottweilers (not because they are aggressive but more of a lack of understanding), but there are black labs and some of the Australian sheep dogs I think have some black in them.

Yahya: Oh, poor Sherman! I remember my foster parents had a Dachshund (named DJ) and he shook a lot, too.
PBMom read my blog view my photos
Jul 9, 2008 | 1:32 AM

TexasDebs: Congratulations Navi!! That is awesome news. I haven't forgotten about us getting together for lunch. Summer has turned out to be a bit nutty. I complained about Patrick's regular school year schedule but this summer school schedule has me suffering from even worse insomnia trying to sleep split shift.
PBMom read my blog view my photos
Jul 9, 2008 | 1:35 AM

Donnelly: This is the first I've heard about this. With so many people giving up their pets because of costs of living or leaving them behind when they lose their house, it makes me very sad to know that the odds go up for a black dog/breed to be put to sleep when they could make wonderful pets.
kagua2 read my blog
Jul 9, 2008 | 8:36 AM

Zoe is mostly black with brown patches. I have never heard of this.
Page 1 of 3
1
2
3
 Last


Write your comment below:




PBMom

Mother of a 12-year-old child with autism, mild hypotonic CP, dyspraxia, MR and a seizure disorder. Married for 15 years. Have worked full-time as a telecommuter for the last 19 years. I've been the special needs minister at our church, but time demands haven't allowed me to go back. Published before in "Catholic Digest", and different poems in several books of poetry. I love 24, American Idol, Lost, Jericho and Sci-Fi (Stargate Atlantis, SG-1, Farscape, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica). My husband and I are huge movie buffs. I love to swim. I love golden retrievers. They are awesome dogs. I used to sing/take formal vocal lessons and had a formal vocal recital at Hamman Hall at Rice University in the mid 1980's. Although my friends have encouraged me that I need to write about my life story, I've made several attempts and it isn't going too well. I love blogging. It's my new creative outlet. I am a member of Texas School Watch, an advocacy group bent on exposing misuse of your tax dollars within school districts. Join the fight at: http://texasschoolwatch10
1.virtualnsn.com/modules/
wfchannel/ I am also going to be part of a womens' panel on Fox 26 called Your Family Matters that will air during the 5:00-5:30 segment, not every week, but as the subject matter applies to me.

Member Since: 4/16/2007


 

View All Photos


RSS: XMLWhat is RSS?