A dog’s coat colour shouldn’t impact their chance for adoption, yet the theory of black dog syndrome suggests black dogs can be overlooked and take longer to find their forever home.
The term was coined to describe the phenomenon of dogs with darker coats facing bias in the adoption process and has more than 25K Instagram posts under #blackdogsyndrome. It also inspired National Black Dog Day (1st October) which was founded by Colleen Paige to celebrate black dogs around the world and raise awareness of the issues they can face.
But is this syndrome a myth or does it really exist? Below, we investigate the data and speak to veterinary and rescue shelter experts to find out more about how coat colour can impact the time it takes for a dog to be adopted.
- Do black dogs really wait longer for a home?
- Why do black dogs get left behind?
- Beloved black dogs
- Fact or fiction - the verdict
Do black dogs really wait longer for a home?
Image: Mabel, a 2 year old French bulldog
Some data suggests coat colour doesn't matter
Diving into the numbers, some research has not identified a particular bias against black dogs in adoption rates. A University of Kent study tracked over 2K dog adoptions in the UK, and found no significant difference in adoption likelihood between different coat colours.
In the US, a Canisius College study analysed over 16K dog adoptions across two shelters, and also found no adoption penalty for black dogs. The study found that age and breed group, especially “bully breeds”, were stronger predictors for slower adoption than coat colour.
Where the data shows black dogs face extra delays
However, other studies have found a strong bias against coat colour. A study by UK dog rehoming charity the Dogs Trust, which analysed over 13K rehoming records, found that coat colour was a statistically significant factor in adoption time, with black and white coats being the least preferred colours. In addition, they found breed, size, age, and neuter status also significant factors.
Other UK charities have shared similar concerns. For example, Blue Cross’s internal rehoming data shows that it takes them an average of five days more to rehome black dogs and cats compared to other coat colours.
Findings from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home reveal a clear bias against black greyhounds in particular. The data shows that the average greyhound takes 30 days to rehome, while black greyhounds take an average of 55 days. This finding is supported by the Greyhound Trust, who state that black dogs are generally the hardest to rehome, and 80% of greyhounds nationally needing homes are black.
Why do black dogs get left behind?
Image: Jude, a 9-month-old Labrador x Deerhound at Jerry Green Dogs
TopDog spoke to Zoe Gummoe, Marketing Manager at dog rescue charity Jerry Green Dogs based in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. Founded in 1961, the charity has cared for 656 dogs in the last year alone.
When asked about black dog syndrome, Zoe said: “Sadly, we do see black dogs overlooked and waiting longer to find their new homes. There are likely several factors behind this, from longstanding cultural stereotypes and superstitions to something as simple as black dogs being more difficult to photograph effectively for rehoming profiles.”
“Longer waits mean dogs spend more time in rescue care, which can impact both the individual dog and a charity like ours' capacity to help others in need.”
The photography bias
Iryna Smyrnova, Zoologist and Veterinarian (DVM) at Meowoff agrees that there may be a photography bias at play: “Dark fur is an absorber of light, thus making a black dog's distinctive characteristics difficult to be seen by prospective owners when viewing a black dog in low-light kennels.”
“The same can be said about the challenge of capturing those distinctive facial features when taking photographs that are placed on the internet during the pet adoption process.”
Folklore and superstition
Image: Illustration of The Hound of the Baskervilles at Baker Street Station, London. Credit to Owen Blacker
Iryna has another theory for the persistence of black dog syndrome: “There may be some limited influence from cultural bias due to folklore and stereotypes from mass media that typically associate black pets with bad luck or evil.”
Stories about mysterious black dogs are common in many cultures around the world. In the UK, the Sherlock Holmes adventure The Hound of the Baskervilles has frightened many since its publication over 125 years ago. There are also many local legends, from East Anglia’s Black Shuck to the Welsh legend of Gwyllgi, and Barghest and Padfoot in the North of England.
Search data from AlsoAsked reveals that these associations with negative folklore may influence dog adoption. When searching around black dog adoption, queries that are also asked include "Is a black dog a symbol of the devil?" and “What is the superstition about black dogs?”
Beloved black dogs
Image: Jeremy looking very handsome at Sarah’s wedding (credit: Black Dog Teas)
While there may be some bias against black dogs, thankfully there is an abundance of love for dark-coated pooches too.
On Instagram, #blackdog has racked up over 4 million posts, and #blackdogsrule has 374k posts celebrating these wonderful four-legged friends.
There are countless examples of black dog appreciation. We spoke to Sarah Taverner, who named her business Black Dog Teas after her beloved Labrador x Malamute Jeremy. Sarah says she never once considered any negative connotations, and only gets positive comments from customers and friends. She loves her 10-year-old pooch so much that he was at her wedding earlier this year, wearing a bow matching the bridesmaids.
Fact or fiction - the verdict
Now, is black dog syndrome fact or fiction? The research doesn’t prove that black dog adoption bias is a universal rule. However, with dog rescue charities like Jerry Green Dogs and Blue Cross confirming an adoption delay for black dogs in their care, and a proven bias against black dogs of specific breeds like greyhounds, the issue should not be overlooked.
“There may not be a single black-dog curse,” says John Skinner, TopDog’s Co-Director, “But coat colour does seem to affect adoption rates, especially in shelters with low lighting that don’t have the resources for high-quality photography for all dogs in their care.”
“Whatever the reason, a dog’s coat colour tells you nothing about their personality, temperament or the wonderful companion they could become,” Zoe from Jerry Green Dogs notes. “We’d encourage potential adopters to look beyond appearance and focus on finding a dog whose personality and needs are the right match for them.”
If you’re looking to add a four-legged friend to your family, consider visiting your local rescue charity, look past the photos, and give a black dog a second chance.
At TopDog, each of our harness designs supports a different charity, with £1 donated for every harness sold. This includes our Woodland Treasures design, which goes to Suffolk Animal Rescue, and It's Just an Illusion, supporting Underdog International.