“He is the night.”
“He’s literally a void.”
“He is SO dark that I didn’t see him at first!”
These are all real, lovingly made comments I have received about my dog, Kiba, from some of his adoring admirers online. And indeed, he is very dark. He could be darkness itself. Although Kiba is a modestly-sized Eurasier weighing in at only 42 lbs, he appears larger, as he is covered in millions of hairs that make up his dense double coat of purest black, which seems to swallow any light that touches him.
While my selection of a male Eurasier as my dog of choice was heavily planned for years, the color of my dog was not something I had any say in, as the breed is so rare that you can expect to be on a waiting list for several years, and the color of your puppy cannot be guaranteed within a litter. The Eurasier, as a breed, is admired for its family-oriented spirit, generally placid nature, and its stunning array of coat colors, such as wolf-cream, sable, agouti, and red. Solid black is also accepted in the breed standard, but it is not as popular as the more vibrant Eurasier colors. Speaking of color, it was Kiba’s color that enabled me to bring home the puppy of my dreams faster than anticipated.
I was not originally in line for a puppy from Kiba’s litter, but I was bumped up the waiting list after another prospective puppy parent opted out of this litter. Their reason? Although the dam of the litter was a beautiful red, the sire was solid black, almost guaranteeing that some (or all) puppies could potentially be black. The person who opted out of the litter did so because they wanted to share their dog online and believed that a black dog wouldn’t lend itself well to their photographic and video content creation.
Although this stance seems shallow and ridiculous to me as both a dog lover and a content creator, there seems to be no end to the number of hurdles black dogs face when being chosen by humans. Enter: Black Dog Syndrome.
If you’ve ever been to an animal shelter or browsed through adoption sites, you might have noticed a trend: black dogs and cats make up a startling number of animals in need and take substantially longer than their brightly colored and patterned friends to find new, loving homes. It's heartbreaking, but there’s a lot more at play here than meets the eye.
What is Black Dog Syndrome?
Black Dog Syndrome is a real phenomenon where black animals are adopted at a much lower rate than their lighter-colored counterparts. This is most commonly seen in dogs and cats but extends to almost every other species of pet, from rabbits and hamsters to pigeons and guinea pigs. These beautiful, ebony-furred, feathered, and scaled companions are often the very last to find homes and, sadly, the first to be euthanized when shelters are at critical capacity. And it’s not because they’re any less lovable or more prone to behavioral issues. So, what’s really going on here?
The Shadowy History of Black Pets
Before we can understand Black Dog Syndrome today, we need to go back in time and look at the history of black animals. Black animals, especially dogs and cats, have been unfairly labeled as “evil” or “unlucky” for centuries. When conjuring the definition of a “witch” in our minds, certain spooky imagery is synonymous with witchcraft, such as a broomstick, a pointed hat, and of course, a black cat. Unfortunately for black cats, they’ve been given an undeserved reputation as the familiar of choice for evil witches, consorts of the devil, and spreaders of disease, such as the plague. One of the most common beliefs about black cats is that they bring bad luck.
Black dogs have also been unfairly tarred with the same brush, casting an underserved shadow over their existence and human perception. They are often described as “hellhounds,” and much like their feline counterparts, black dogs have also been accused of bringing bad luck and even death itself. But here’s the thing: those myths are just that—myths! Black cats are no more unlucky than a four-leaf clover, and black dogs are just as likely to bring joy into your life as any other dog.
The Problem with Perception
Another reason black pets are often overlooked is simply that they’re harder to photograph. Unlike Kiba’s original prospective parent, I am no great photographer; however, I can admit that photographing a black dog does come with challenges, and sadly, it’s the adoptable dogs awaiting their forever homes in the shelter that pay the price.
The uncomfortable truth is that humans are visual creatures, and our eyes are drawn to the colorful and uniquely patterned. A pet’s “adoptability” is highly influenced by how well a foster parent or shelter volunteer can photograph the animal, and black fur can present a huge challenge when attempting to capture soulful eyes, body condition, or facial expressions. In our digital age of limited attention spans and carefully curated content, an image of a black dog or cat—likely taken by overwhelmed shelter volunteers in a hurry—simply cannot compete with their naturally brighter-colored shelter mates.
How You Can Help
If you’re thinking about adopting, consider giving a black dog or cat a second look. Don’t let superstitions or outdated perceptions cloud your judgment. Every animal deserves a loving home, and you might just find that your perfect match comes in a sleek, shadowy package. Despite being devoid of color, they can still fill the animal-shaped void in your heart and reward you with so much color and joy in your life.
If you’re not in a position to adopt right now, you can still help by spreading the word. Share photos of black pets from your local shelter, talk about Black Dog Syndrome with friends, and help debunk those silly and damaging myths that have been around for FAR too long. If you’re an avid photographer, consider donating your time to photographing shelter pets to help socialize them and help them stand out on adoption websites and search engines with a photograph that truly does these beautiful and deserving pets justice.
Final Thoughts
For my dog Kiba, his coat color resulted in a very happy ending with us being paired together. His coat color may have been off-putting to his original "pawrent," but it was absolutely perfect for me because my entire wardrobe is black, and I was ecstatic that I wouldn’t have to spend a maddening amount of my life using a lint roller on myself! But Kiba’s situation is the minority, so let’s all do our best to become more aware of Black Dog Syndrome and the unfair disadvantage it causes for shelter pets in need of homes.
Thanks for reading, and remember: whether it’s a black cat, a brown dog, or a spotted rabbit, ALL animals have the potential to be your next best friend!
