So what's the deal with the black dog bias anyway?

At our adoption event this weekend I was talking to a couple who just happened to be in the store shopping. While they were petting one of our sweet black labs, Missy, the husband mentioned that they have a lab at home and if they were to adopt another dog they would definitely get a black lab. I told him that I thought this was great and mentioned that we were focusing on black dog adoptions this month. He was surprised to learn that black dogs have a hard time getting adopted, they just wanted a black lab in particular because they think are gorgeous dogs.

No one can say for certain why black dogs have a harder time getting adopted than other dogs, the reasons why someone chooses to adopt one dog over another are too subjective.

One theory is that black-coated dogs are harder to see in kennels and photos than dogs with other coat colors. At left is a photo of 3 puppies from Red Lake Rosie's Rescue, I think that it is a pretty good illustration of how the face of a black dog can get "lost" in a photo more easily than dogs with lighter coats and distinctive markings. This little black pup even has the advantage of a white splash on its chest, all black dogs get "lost" even more easily.

Black coats are also more common than other coat colors and markings, which may lead people to think that it's "just another black dog." The dogs run together and they are not given the opportunity to let their individual personalities shine through.

Another theory is that there's a bias against black dogs as dangerous. Several breeds that have a reputation as being "dangerous", such as Rottweilers and Dobermans, have black coats. Black cats are seen as "bad luck" and this bias may extend to black dogs as well.

Whatever the reason, we at Pet Haven love black dogs. We are committed to showcasing our black dogs, raising their profiles and advocating for people to start seeing black dogs!

Interested in learning more?

Here are some news articles on black dog bias:
Black dog bias?
Black pups face doggie discrimination
Large, black dogs go unwanted
Dog discrimination?

Here are some websites raising awareness about black dog bias:
Start Seeing Black Dogs
Black Pearl Dogs


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Pet Haven has declared February as Black Dog and Cat Month. All month long we will be featuring our adoptable black dogs on the dog blog. We will also be working to educate people about "Black Dog Syndrome" and encourage everyone to take a 2nd look at black dogs when they are considering adoption.