"Big Black Dogs"

[clsmallwood]

Interesting Read on CNN.com

'Big black dog syndrome' leaves them homeless - CNN.com

NEW YORK (AP) -- When Aaron Jones walks Gozer, his Rottweiler-hound mix, people cross the street to avoid them. Mothers scoop up their children. A lost motorist once rolled up the windows and drove off after spotting the dog. One woman screamed.

"He's the nicest dog I know," said Jones, 33, of Oakland, California. "It's hard to understand all the fear."

Gozer isn't aggressive and doesn't look mean or bark, Jones insists -- people are afraid of the dog purely because it's big and black. As a puppy, Gozer was passed over for at least a month before Jones took him home.

According to animal shelter officials, big, black dogs like Gozer have more trouble finding a happy home than do other dogs. Some shelters even have a name for it: "Big black dog syndrome."

Nobody tracks the problem nationally, and local shelters often keep only limited data on the sizes, breeds and colors of the dogs that are adopted or put down, according to the Humane Society and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

"But anecdotally," said Stephen Musso, executive vice president of the ASPCA, "that's what we hear from shelter after shelter: Big, black dogs just don't get adopted."

At the city animal shelter in Rogers, Arkansas, big, black dogs almost always make up the bulk of the animals put to sleep each month. Last month, 13 of the 14 dogs killed by the city were large and black -- mostly Labs, shepherd mixes, pit bull mixes and Rottweillers, said Rhonda Dibasilio, manager of the city Animal Services Department.

It's not just that large dogs can be frightening: Animal shelters say black dogs of all sizes are difficult to photograph for online listings, and are hard to spot against the shadows of their crates and cages in dimly lighted kennels.

Older black dogs with a little white in their muzzles can look elderly. Bigger breeds like German shepherds or Chows aren't as fashionable as small, cuddly lap dogs.

Then there's the reputation. The idea of a big, black dog unleashing destruction is a common theme in books, movies and folklore as diverse as "The Hound of the Baskervilles," the "Harry Potter" series and "The Omen."

Even the common sign "Beware of Dog" depicts a big, black dog, teeth bared and gums dripping. The notion that the animals are menacing is so pervasive that Winston Churchill famously called depression "the black dog."

People are often wary of dark dogs because it's difficult to read their expressions, said Paul Nicosi, the dog behavior specialist at Bide-A-Wee animal shelter in New York City. Without defined eyebrows, a playful grin might be construed as an angry grimace, he said.

"There isn't a lot of contrast between black eyes and a black face, so people can't get a handle on how the dog is feeling," Nicosi said.

Joseph Giannini, owner of the Chicago dog-walking and doggie day care service Urban Out Sitters, said people may subconsciously snub big black dogs because they aren't comfortable with what the pet may say about the owner.

"If I'm out with a Yorkie I definitely get treated very differently than if I'm walking a big Rottweiler or a dark pit bull mix," he said. "You look at the owner of a big, black dog and you might think, `Oh, there's a tough guy. I better avoid him and his mean dog."'

It doesn't help that a quirk of dark-dog biology has led to an overabundance of large, black dogs, said Alex Yaffe, who founded Heartland Lab Rescue, a network for rescuing abandoned Labrador retrievers in Oklahoma. Labradors and pit bulls are resilient dogs who tend to have big litters of five or more, which increases overpopulation.

One black dog, Coal, took more than six months to find a home despite a sweet temperament, excellent recommendations and a featured spot on Yaffe's Web site. "He was just black," Yaffe said. "That was his one offense."

The Web site blackpearldogs.com, a resource devoted to increasing public awareness of the "big black dog phenomenon," offers some lighthearted reasons to adopt a big, black dog: Their color doesn't clash with furniture or clothing, hides dirt well, and is easy to accessorize. In other words, black dogs could be the new black.

The dogs do appeal to those who want protection on walks late at night, or men who seek a canine boost of machismo, said Sandra DeFeo, the co-executive director of the Humane Society of New York.

And there's a certain contingent of dog lovers who specifically seek out black dogs because of their connection to the trendy Black Dog bakery on Martha's Vineyard.

"But either way, feelings aren't based on fact," she said. "Any dog can be friendly or unfriendly -- big, black dogs and little Chihuahuas alike."

[Canula2000]

Good article...it is definitely a problem with rescue and shelters, you can count on a black labrador staying in the rescue twice as long as other dogs. I have witnessed it several times first hand.

[tla0126]

Oh Lord, I've been reading around that site and BAWLING at all the stories....

[hokisteph5]

People magazine did a similar story awhile back on this phenomenon. They may have even featured Yaffe's website. This type of ignorance is why I bought myself a t-shirt while vacationing in Florida last month that says "Dog is friendly. Beware of owner." The weather's just getting warm enough that I can start wearing it when I walk Samson and/or Gretchen.

[jeremynalta]

This article was in my newspaper front page today. Out here on Oklahoma City!

[TrinaJ]

We used to have people walk on the road rather than past my house because we had 2 rottweilers. Those 2 beasts were the friendliest boys on the block. We had a fence that was well over 6ft but our boys had the run of the front and back yard. One day we even had the council come past to discuss my 'viscious dogs'. She took one look at our house and the dogs and said she didn't know what the person who complained was talking about. She said our dogs were lovely and very well behaved and not in the least viscious.

It really is amazing how people freak out over Big Black Dogs....personally I am the total opposite, i wouldn't trust one of those ankle bitter type rat dogs as far as i could...well as far as i could throw a kong People think that because those dogs are small they dont need to be taught manners and dont even bother training them. They are just another accessory that Hollywood made fashionable.

[Xena's Daddy]

Originally Posted by TrinaJ

We used to have people walk on the road rather than past my house because we had 2 rottweilers. Those 2 beasts were the friendliest boys on the block. We had a fence that was well over 6ft but our boys had the run of the front and back yard. One day we even had the council come past to discuss my 'viscious dogs'. She took one look at our house and the dogs and said she didn't know what the person who complained was talking about. She said our dogs were lovely and very well behaved and not in the least viscious.

It really is amazing how people freak out over Big Black Dogs....personally I am the total opposite, i wouldn't trust one of those ankle bitter type rat dogs as far as i could...well as far as i could throw a kong People think that because those dogs are small they dont need to be taught manners and dont even bother training them. They are just another accessory that Hollywood made fashionable.

Good post TrinaJ, I agree completely!! It's the little rat-dog, ankle biters that always seem to be the most unruly, aggressive little beasts!! LOL............ It's like they always feel thay have something to prove! I also don't trust them as far as I could........well, throw a 'kong'!! (LMAO!!)

When I would take my 'big black beast' out for walks, there were two houses that we both were hesitant to walk past........one had a big Akita who would run back & forth along his front yard chain link fence carrying on like he was going to kill us if he had the chance!! Xena HATED that dog!! My 'viscious beast' would walk on the other side of me with her head lowered, walking faster to get away from that animal.

The other house had an un-fenced yard & an un-leashed Beagle that would run after us every morning acting as if he had to defend his house & street with his life!! He never got closer than 20' though..........perhaps he knew better?!

Anyway, anytime MY dog was out front (Always with me, of course) she would quickly stand up & move several steps closer to the street in her 'Rottie stance' if someone came by with a dog. She would throw out a couple of barks in their direction, just to make sure they knew not to come in 'her' yard. But that was all. No incessant carrying on about it. No running in the street after them. I think the other dog owners always appreciated that! But if just a person walked by (Without a dog) she would stand up & start wagging her tail in hopes they were coming to see 'her'!!

So yeah, you've got to 'watch out' for those big, black monsters!! You never know when you're gonna' get your face licked!!

MK

[chivas]

While there is SOME truth in that article, as a former ACO who had to do euthansia, while black FACED dogs are hard to read and can be harder to rehome, the ones that we pretty much knew wouldnt get adopted for any reason were dogs over 100lbs and elderly dogs. While there are always exceptions to the rule and we would always call the rescues and sympathizers to get any dog we thought needed more time to get adopted, the heartbreaking truth was, elderly dogs rarely get adopted no matter the color or size. I am, right now as I type, quickly trying to find a home for a 10 yr (guessimate) black/white blind collie female, she was let loose by her owners (blind dogs dont roam far), she is a sweetheart, nothing is wrong with her. Blindness isnt a handicap when you have a home.

[fostermom]

Originally Posted by chivas

I am, right now as I type, quickly trying to find a home for a 10 yr (guessimate) black/white blind collie female, she was let loose by her owners (blind dogs dont roam far), she is a sweetheart, nothing is wrong with her. Blindness isnt a handicap when you have a home.

Is this dog still in a shelter or in a rescue??? There are some rescues that work at pulling blind dogs...this one says it will try to help place dogs, even ones not near them:
http://www.givemepaw.com/mainpage/ho...portrescue.htm

Older dogs are absolutely the best...I would pull one anyday over an adolescent...sadly, a lot of shelters don't even put them up for adoption.

[chivas]

She is at a shelter, I will try that site, thanks A LOT !!!!!

[fostermom]

Have you tried collie rescue?
This one serves MD and VA:
Collie Rescue, Inc. Serving Virginia & Maryland

Also this link posts blind dogs in need:
Urgent Homes Needed

[chivas]

I actually work with a collie rescue but everyone is full, BUT THE GOOD NEWS _ SHE WAS ADOPTED BY A FAMILY NO LESS!!!! YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!

( I know Chivas had a 'paw' in that one!!)

Thanks for the good contacts, fostermom. Im keeping those in case of future need!

[fostermom]

LOVE THIS>>>Super news...thanks!!! I've never had any problems adopting out my senior medical needs dogs as I think there are people looking for these type dogs (myself included as I adopted my dobe mix solely because he'd been hit by a car on an interstate and his write-up said he'd need to be seen by a vet...he came hobbling out on three and laid his head in hubby's lap and cried...the rest is history!!!)...it's the ones that fall in between (not old, not young, big, black, mixed and no sad story to grab at hearts) that seem to be the hardest...my current boy qualifies on all counts (7 yrs old, 97 lbs, mostly black rotti /shep) and NOBODY is asking about him, although we'll probably end up keeping him as he's really fit in and is such a great boy...I'm already thinking of him as mine. Thanks for helping these dogs.