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Article:
Fri, Apr 11 | By Emily Zeugner, AP | 239
NEW YORK (AP) -- When Aaron Jones walks Gozer, his Rottweiler-hound mix, people cross the street to avoid them. Mothers scoop up their children. A lost motorist once rolled up the windows and drove off after spotting the dog. One woman screamed.
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163 results
Edie Jo N.
4 years ago
Sad thet people judge before meeting the dogs. My Rotties are sweeties but, people do tend to be cautious around them.
LauraPudge
4 years ago
I just joined zootoo and put out the question about black dogs....I adoped my black mutt almost 2 years ago and I do notice people tend to shy away and children can show fear at times. I have been with other people and their dogs who are not black and almost everytime, I have observed and experienced people and children who tend to go to the "other" dog first before mine. I am a very light hearted, friendly person, always smiling at people when my dog and I pass someone on a walk and most of the time, people look at my dog first, than look up, smile at me and keep walking. It seems the only people that talk to me about my dog are true dog lovers who find him very interesting looking and want to know what he is etc....I had the DNA test done and found out he is 5 equal parts of a Borzoi, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Rottweiller and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.....the only way I can describe his face is that it looks something like a black Great Dane puppy with brown eyes....he is a very happy boy and wants to approach and love everyone he sees, yet I still get this reaction from people. However, I would still adopt a black dog. Color has nothing to do with the type of dog you can have.
deb a.
4 years ago
This story is so true, I worked in a shelter dog or cat if they are black, very very few found homes, many were put to death, in our area black lab, or black lab cross puppies come in unless they are the only puppies they are overlooked, this story I hope will open the eyes of the public and they will look deeper than the color of the dog, I have 3 black labs, 1 yellow and 1 chocolate and they all learn at the same level, give affection at the same level,,,they are no differnet
Adopt a black dog or cat, they give unconditional love
Meg S.
4 years ago
This is very true. And I think it just has a lot to do with the color. People are just not a drawn to black or the dark brindle. Same as with cats....most people do not like torties or black cats.
The public just love the small to medium size fluffy or benji looking dogs at the shelter I work for. And of course, no shedding as the kids have allergies.
Mark J.
4 years ago
This is crazy! All I know is that when we get a large black dog in, I'm usually the one that gets him adopted, it kind of fell in my lap since I got this huge crazy black lab adopted that we had rescued from a shelter in NC, Happy stayed in our shelter for 6 months. Happy was the first dog that I got adopted by myself. I talked to the ppl about him for like an hour. It was a great day when that big baby went home.
MaxxieBrown
4 years ago
I've had white, brown, and black dogs. Never realizing there was a Big Black Dog Syndrome. I love my black animals. I think they are very elegant looking.
My brother has a Big Black Rotten/Lab who is as gentle as a lamb. And I mean BIG all 180 pounds of him. There's only thing I don't care for, his drool puss. But that's not because he's black. He towers over me when he thinks I want a hug.
Jessica H.
5 years ago
i have never heard of people being scared of big black dogs. it is sad that is happening though
Berrypatch573
5 years ago
This is unfortunately true. It happens because of generalizing about vicious dogs in real life and evil dogs in movies, and people who are uneducated about dogs develop these incorrect ideas, leaving the rest of us to try to save the many, many unwanted black dogs. It's a sad situation.
Coleen K.
5 years ago
I had actually read something about this shortly before I started looking for a dog last fall. Because of this, I decided to specifically look for black dogs while I was searching. And I hit the jackpot. I could not have asked for a better dog than Apollo. He is the sweetest, most loving dog I have ever known. And believe me, he's more scared of you than you are of him! He's actually quite shy and timid. It is my plan to go back to the no-kill shelter where I got Apollo and get the other black lab mix that was his pen-mate later this summer. Two black dogs saved! Don't get me wrong, they all deserve loving, kind, generous homes. I just find myself always wanting to be an advocate of the underDOG. :-)
heather l.
5 years ago
ive heard alot about this lately how crazy is this. and how stupid my cat was black and was the best cat ever had!!!!!!!!!!!11
Labluvr
5 years ago
I am so glad attention is being brought to this topic. I think for years there really wasn't any information on this issue, it was just kind of thing you knew but didn't know if other shelters and rescues were experiencing the same problem. Thanks to articles like this and websites such as blackpearldogs.com - people are becoming aware and will hopefully consider their options when they are leaning towards the light coated dog.
marlyn p.
5 years ago
I sing the praises of the black dog! Mine's one. She is the sweetest thing. I admit when i first saw her, she was shy and cowered in the back of the crate. I was hesitant, not because she was black but I didn't see her true temperament. But once the "honeymoon" period was over and her true colors came through, WOW! She is a wonderful pup and I wouldn't trade her for a dog of any other color. I wish people would give the black dog a chance when adopting because color/size don't matter, they love just the same.
Christine
5 years ago
That really is very sad and completely ignorant that so many "big black dogs" get passed over or put to sleep, or that people are so scared of them. Poor dogs!! More campaigns need to be put out to help these dogs... it isn't the color that makes them mean, but the people who raise them that way.
monica and baby o.
5 years ago
Our society has conditioned us to fear black. Villans often wear black, our bossed (who we sometimes fear) were black or a dark colored suit. It can be scary (scared of the dark?) We avoid dark allies because there maybe someone or something lumming in the shadows. But on the other side black is timeless and classic. And its also very slimming.Lol. So instead of fearing our little black furry friends, We should love them and welcome them.
Charm H.
5 years ago
yep that was me joannej, I suggested the shelters to put colorful bandannas around the pet's neck. I have raised two siberian huskies, one of my husband's friend is afraid of black and white husky with beautiful blue eyes. I laughed, because when he saw him on the porch his eyes looked like a wild wolves, so therefore he said" you stay there and I'll stay here! LOL! I couldn't believed he was afraid of my baby! anyway. so please shelters put bandannas around the pets neck just like you would have them wear collars. but at the end of the day when you closed the shelters. please remove the bandannas or scrafs off of them before you put them in the cages. so it won't get caught on the cages. safety is the rules dear.
Amy S.
5 years ago
I have a doberman mix that people are afraid of. He is really a good dog, but he is also very protective. Of course, I didn't know this when I adopted him as a puppy, I picked him because I knew he would grow to be a large dog, and he was the sweetest puppy in the kennel. I prefer to have a large dog, not for any "macho" reasons, but because I like their companionship.
samantha w.
5 years ago
I've had two big black dogs, and I agree, people were always afraid of them. It didn't matter that the dogs would have licked them to death. I know there are plenty of people like me to whom color would never matter. I just feel sorry for the dogs that there are people who don't choose to know them before they judge.
Diana P.
5 years ago
Anyone who things dogs are mean simply because they're big and black is showing their ignorance. Big time. I've owned four HUGE black dogs and they've all been the sweetest and gentlest souls you could imagine.
My first two black dogs a brother and sister team and had to be adopted together. They were two-year-old Dobermans that we rescued from a local shelter. After we brought them home we realized that they'd been abused and were frightened and afraid to trust us. But with time and patience they became THE BEST friends we could have ever imagined. And after our daughter was born, they became her protectors as well. One of them sleeping in her doorway and the other one sleeping right under her crib. They've both passed on now, but we still think and talk about them often.
After our Dobermans came our Rottweiler. He looked mean, he looked vicious, but looks can most definitely be deceiving. And I always used to say that if anyone ever broke into our home, he'd probably give them a guided tour and show them around. A kinder hearted soul you won't ever meet. He lost his battle with cancer this past December and I still cry from missing him so much. And as far as lap dogs go? You try telling a 120 lb. Rottweiler that he's not a lap dog! Especially when he thinks he is! But I would give anything to have him sitting on my lap one more time while we watch tv.
The only black dog we have left now is my Lab mix. He's also a rescue dog (all my animals are) and is just a sweetheart! He's 10 now and just a joy and such a good boy. I love ALL my dogs no matter what color they are. But anyone that thinks black dogs are unworthy of love or think they are "vicious" clearly don't know what they're talking about.
The next dog I rescue will most definitely be black! I'm thinking a Doberman, or Rottweiler, or any dog that isn't given a chance simply because of the way they look. It's just wrong.
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