I don't mean to sound stupid here...but I am starting to notice that it is much harder to find a home for a Black Lab than a Yellow one....is this true?? Is it because yellows are more popular? Maybe it's because the color black is much more intimidating? It just doesn't seem fair. I know many, many sweet black Labs....any comments?

From what I understand, it's called the "big black dog" syndrome.

Makes me feel bad too...some of the best Labbies I've ever met were black.

I really don't know why. Most people call it Black dog syndrome. All I know is each and every time I have the opportunity, I will adopt a black lab. I LOVE my yellow and my Choc., but it seems that there are many more black labs in need. My first lab was a black lab.

You don't sound stupid...you are right on the money!! Black labs/dogs RARELY get adopted quickly. On average I've had a black dog twice as long as a lighter colored dog. Many people say because they are scarey looking... :rolleyes: I've had people fight over our yellow females it is rediculous..I understand person choice yada yada but if you want to do something as wonderful as adopt a dog...just get a nice, good tempered dog who cares.... what color or sex it is....now Lily you went and got me started. :) I could go on and on.



Here is a good site...

http://www.blackpearldogs.com/

From what I know and from the little bit of experience we have with Cinder our adopted almost 7 month old black lab- I would say YES, blacks have a harder time finding homes. The "black dog syndrome" is what some rescuers call it. For whatever reason, some people believe that every yellow lab is super friendly and black labs need to be treated with caution.
We have had people cross over to the other side of the road on our walks, ask if he bites, and immediately leash up their dog when we go to the dog park...Cinder couldn't be mean if he wanted to...all he wants is a new person to pet him and of course give him a treat!

The reason that we chose Cinder to live with us was because he was black and that he had continued to be passed over at the kill-shelter for other dogs- all he needed was a chance and someone to look past his color. He is a welcome member of our family...now to get our black cat to like him and we will be set! =)

Oops- ignore my black dog syndrome above, guess everyone is online tonight and are faster typers than I am !

Top Ten Reasons to Adopt a Black Dog

(Ta-Da-Dumt-Dumt)


Reason Number Ten: We cannot clash with your furniture or clothing (and some of you actually worry about that).

Reason Number Nine: We cannot clash with any collar you might choose either! Ditto for the bandanas. Accessorize us!

Reason Number Eight: Ease of vaccuming! You can quickly spot the areas of most urgent need.

Reason Number Seven: We hide the dirt well (doesn't mean we don't need that bath after a messy play but your guests won't be able to see it so quickly).

Reason Number Six: We make an excellent "backdrop" for a second lighter colored dog (if you choose to have one).


Reason Number Five: Availability!!! We are available now at every shelter or rescue you can imagine, in every age bracket with no long waiting lists or difficult search.

Reason Number Four: No annoying queries of "exactly what kind of dog is that anyhow?" People are content with "big black dog" and don't ask anymore questions.

Reason Number Three: EXCELLENT night walk protection. The "bad guy" won't see us till its too late!

Reason Number Two: Status symbol potential. Black pearls are the most costly you know......

Reason Number One: WE NEED YOU!

Wow...that website really says it all....it is so true...I can understand how just the color black can be very intimidating or scary for some...but it is just so sad...blacks dogs should not be discriminated against just for their color...shelters should make up big signs promoting black dogs...do anything they can to help get them adopted...Our family had a black German Shepard many years ago, and he was just a baby, sweet as can be...but now I do recall many people were afraid of him when they first met him. Now, I will try much harder to help all the "black" Labs in need of homes....

Lily will you marry me? LOL

10 reasons to adopt a black dog...

THAT SHOULD BE THE SIGN IN EVERY SHELTER.... :clap:

Lol...

Reason Number Three: EXCELLENT night walk protection. The "bad guy" won't see us till its too late!


That site gets me every time! :tissue:
I would never think of walking at night with just Cosmo but I do feel safer with Neo. I don't think that people would mess with me since I have a black dog. This is based on the fact that when I walk them during the day I hear a lot of comments about what a nice looking dog Cosmo is but I have only heard one thing about Neo. Neo is so handsome and has the best personality.

W can get rid of black labs faster then yellow

Wow...good for you Kayla...you are awesome....

We have 2black labs and like 6yellow

I really never thought about color when I was adopting. I was more concerned with the behavior. Very interesting to know.

A good example is one of the dogs Deneen had, Casey, who was black. Perfect temperment, very well behaved, great dog. It took her months to get adopted. Deneen gets in Jackie, who had problems. Had an attitude with her other dog, RAISED (yes, raised) her leg to mark on things IN the house, and not nearly as behaved as Casey - but people were fighting over her. :rolleyes: Same thing with Daisy, she was a bit better behavior wise - but still a rambunctious pup. People wanted her from all over the US, many who had other lab rescues near them.

Don't think I will ever understand it.

Wow, that's really interesting. I've been changing my mind about which color I like better, and at the time I got Quasia I wanted a black lab, and now because of her I love the blacks, though I'm sure I wouldn't mind getting a yellow either. It's weird though, in puppy class most of the dogs are black labs. At one point we had about 10 dogs, where only two of them you could tell apart, since one was a Golden, and one was a black and tan lab.

When I walk Beau, I get asked frequently, "Does he bite?"

Ummm....NO! This dog has spent weeks with a trainer in St. Louis. He is a lap dog. He sleeps beside me at night. He wakes up and "checks" on me (literally) at night. He plays with my baby cousins. He plays with the neighbor children. He shakes hands with people he meets. He does NOT bite.

Not to mention he can call 911, he can open the refrigerator, yada yada yada. He's black, so people are scared of him. Much more so than often over excited and hyperactive Sammy. (Who runs the risk of knocking their children over in his excitement if I do not have control of him, which I ALWAYS do...buit none the less...eh's the one that they should be concerned with...but he's YELLOW.)

Personally, give me a black dog any day. Open my closet door, and its FULL of black suits. Getting dressed in the morning happens five minutes before I leave, and then its a dance to get out the door without Sammy rubbing up against me and covering me with yellow lab hair. Give me Beau hair any day, which never shows up on my full wardrobe of black suits.

I'll take a whole farm of black labs, please.

In my part of the woods I rarely see a yellow or choco lab, black seems to be everywhere. Maybe it's a regional thing. Don't know, but I prefer black myself and when I adopt another he/she will be black (don't want anything clashing around here)

Little did I know that yellows are more likely to have allergies too.

Black dogs are shinier! :D But, sadly you are all right... not adopted as frequently. How do you think I ended up with 3! ;)

here in india , black labs seem to be more popular, yellow is less common, and chocolate does not exist(well almost)