Why do black dogs so often get passed over at shelters, even when they’re healthy, friendly, and loving? The answer has nothing to do with behavior and everything to do with lingering myths most people don’t realize they’re influenced by.
Those old superstitions couldn’t be more wrong. Black dogs are loyal, goofy, and deeply affectionate (my rescue pup, Henry, proves it daily). Once you understand where the bias comes from, you’ll never see black dogs the same way again.
The black dog myth started to take root
The aversion to black dogs is mostly credited to English lore. The term “Black Shuck” was used to describe what they thought was a ghostly dog. According to legend, the Black Shuck dog is supposed to roam the English countryside, have glowing eyes, and bring bad luck in the form of storms and omens. But maybe it was a wolf or a lost muddy lab.
Flash forward to today’s black dog myth
Today, black dogs still have a bad luck stigma. Black Dog Syndrome was coined to describe how black dogs are left in shelters for much longer than their lighter-coated cousins. Some people believe black dogs look scary, are unlucky, or simply won’t photograph well in our selfie era. Silly, isn’t it?
Heck, I’ve even had people ask me why I would adopt a black dog. Ridiculous! I can personally tell you black-coated dogs, including my Henry, are sweet, loving, goofy, and no different from light colored pups.
Time to change the black dog myth
It’s time to finally flip the black dog myths. Consider adopting or fostering a black pup. Doggie cuddles are lucky regardless of the colored pup giving them.
Fun black dog myth fact: Have you heard the term “a black dog?” Winston Churchill used this phrase to describe his depression. Today, some mental health campaigns use the term to bring awareness and hope to depression.
