Black Dog Syndrome

Black dog syndrome is a common theory or phenomenon that is well known to shelter workers and rescue organizations. The black Dog syndrome refers to the increased difficulty to find homes for black dogs compared to lighter colored dogs.

It’s hard to find statistics that support or contradict the claims of black dog syndrome, but supporters often believe that the majority of visitors to rescue shelters will seek out dogs with lighter coats, leaving higher numbers of black dogs. Common reasons stated in support of black dog syndrome relate to the appearance of dark colored dogs in poorly lit kennels, the difficulty in photographing black dogs, and the fear associated with dark, scary looking dogs.

So what are your thoughts, have you rescued a black dog from a shelter?  Did the beliefs of black dog syndrome cross your mind when you selected your shelter dog?  For those of you who have worked and volunteered at Austin area shelters, and across the country, is black dog syndrome something you have experienced first hand?

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