What is Black Dog Syndrome?

It is a sad and surprising statistic: black dogs in shelter and rescue situations often take significantly longer to be adopted than their lighter-colored counterparts.

Black dogs are frequently the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized. Visitors looking for pets tend to prefer animals with white, cream, brown or specked coats.

◾Black dogs are difficult to see in their crates and cages at shelters.

◾Black dogs do not photograph as well as those with lighter coats, so pictures for online listings aren’t as eye-catching.

◾Many breeds of dark-colored dogs are often labeled as “dangerous” such as Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Pit Bulls, Chows, and even black Labradors

◾People are less comfortable around black dogs because their expressions are harder to read.

◾Black dogs are often portrayed as aggressive and dangerous in popular culture and media.

◾The color black has been associated with evil and misfortune since the beginning of recorded history — these sorts of superstitions easily become ingrained in our collective subconscious.

In 2013, Jill Rappaport did a story on our Black Dog Walk w/ Emmylou Harris. It was featured in a segment about "Black Dog Syndrome" on the NBC Nightly World News w/ Lester Holt and on NBC Weekend Edition Today!