Black Dog Syndrome

Dog Diaries investigates a dangerous phenomenon akin to canine racism that is endangering the lives of black dogs at an alarming rate.

It is a well-known phenomenon in pet rescue circles, but for the rest of us it may come as shocking news that dogs are frequently discriminated against as a result of their colour.

Black dogs of all breeds – but particularly big black dogs – are commonly the least popular choices for people adopting a pet, and as a result they are the most frequently euthanized.

Known as BBD (Big Black Dog) or ‘Black Dog Syndrome’, this tendency for darker-coloured pooches to be overlooked is a worrying development and means that people considering adopting a pet could miss out on a perfect match simply because they neglect to give certain dogs a chance.

Vickie Davy, Director of PetRescue Australia, faces this problem daily. ‘We know all about Black Dog Syndrome – it’s a very real issue for many of our rescue groups,’ she says.  ‘Black dogs have a better chance if they are with a foster care rescue group, although they will wait longer for homes, but a black dog in a shelter is really on a back foot.’

Of course, very few people would consider colour a major factor when choosing a pet, but there are a few theories to explain the statistics…

Superstition/folklore
Many a gothic novel or eerie story has featured big black dogs as omens of sinister things afoot. British folklore has many names for the phantom ‘hell hounds’ that are the canine manifestation of evil and death. It has been suggested that such images hold a place in our subconscious and stop us from giving black dogs a fair appraisal when it comes time to consider them as pets.

Negative connotations
Throughout history the black dog has been associated with negative thoughts and feelings. Winston Churchill is famous for using the metaphor of a black dog in order to convey depression, and since then the phrase has frequently been coined in discussions about sadness and mental illness. All this is very bad news for your average black dog hoping for his forever home… imagine if your life depended on someone for whom your presence conjured up images of depression?!

A trick of the light?
Perhaps a more practical explanation for why black dogs are so frequently overlooked is simply that their dark colouring prevents them from standing out as much in a dark kennel. As well as this, rescue organisations report that they can have trouble taking photos that properly demonstrate the personality of the pooches, as the light (either natural or from a camera flash) tends to blend their darker features into each other.

But regardless of the reasons behind Black Dog Syndrome, raising awareness can ensure that these pooches (that are just as beautiful and loving as their colourful counterparts) get equal consideration from potential rescuers.

Images sourced from petrescue.com.au