INTENSITY²
Start here => What's your crime? Basic Discussion => Topic started by: skyblue1 on January 12, 2014, 06:34:10 PM
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Black Dog Syndrome
Black dog bias is a veterinarian and animal shelter phenomenon in which black dogs are passed over for adoption in favor of lighter-colored animals.[1] Black dog bias is also known as "big black dog syndrome." Shelters often use the term BBD, or big black dog, to describe the type of larger dark-colored mixed-breed typically passed over by adopters.
The phenomenon may be due to a number of factors, including fear stigma against certain breed types, and the fact that large, black dogs are often portrayed as aggressive in film and on television.
Some people believe that during the pet adoption process some potential owners associate the color black with evil or misfortune (similar to the common superstition surrounding black cats), and this bias transfers over to their choice of dog. Additionally, many shelters feature photo profiles of their dogs on the shelter website. Because black dogs do not photograph well, lighter-colored dogs have an advantage with potential adopters browsing the site.A study done by the Los Angeles Animal Services challenges some of these claims, saying that a full 28% of adopted dogs are black. However, the bias theory simply asserts that predominantly dark animals take longer to be adopted than their lighter counterparts, and that large dogs take longer to adopt than small ones.
However, appearance in general does play a role in potential adopters' selection of shelter dogs. In a 2011 study by the ASPCA, appearance was the most frequently cited reason for adopters of both puppies (29 percent) and adult dogs (26 percent).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-dog_bias (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-dog_bias)
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This sounds silly but when I was really little (around 4 -5) I used to be scared of big black dogs to the point of screaming whenever I saw one.
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Think I read the same about black cats, couple of years ago.
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I'd guess it's less with black cats because us goth kids <3 the damn things on principal.
Appearance matters more than it logically should with everything else, so why wouldn't it with adopting an animal?
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I'd guess it's less with black cats because us goth kids <3 the damn things on principal.
Appearance matters more than it logically should with everything else, so why wouldn't it with adopting an animal?
The appearance of black dogs and cats is fine. They are often less photogenic though. It can be really hard, to make a good picture of a black pet. Even more when they have a really shiny fur coat.
So, maybe it is because they look less good on a site with adoptable pets.
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It doesn't matter to me but I have noticed it in other people. Not many people want big dogs either preferring those little yipper things.
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I used to know someone who was terrified of white cats. He believed (dunno if this is science) that they had more aggressive personalities and were more likely to bite. He was badly bitten by one once.
I've never met someone that scared of black cats.
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It doesn't matter to me but I have noticed it in other people. Not many people want big dogs either preferring those little yipper things.
Lots of people who want big dogs over the yappy little ones too.
But it almost looks like a different kind of people. Most big dogs are raised a lot better than the tiny ones. Know very little people with really well behaving little dogs. Sometimes it is as if the ones with little dogs did not want a dog, but a baby, one that never had to grow up.
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The dogs I've had were all white. More or less.
When I was a kid, we'd have our boat lined up in the front yard during winters and our dog would invariably hide under it. He loved the spot and would bring everything there. Food, stuff to chew on, everything. He'd guard the yard and the street, and every now and then he'd bark at something, mostly because he liked to bark in general, not because he was particularly good at guarding anything. He was too friendly for the job.
He was a samoyed, one of these:
(http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/breedinformation/working/images/samoyed.jpg)
They are about as white as they come, mostly. It's just that the boat was painted green below the water line. :P
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Have never had a rescue dog. Not had black ones either but that is because I have always had dogs who's pedigree determines a specific colour. I have not seen a black American Bulldog as they are not allowed.
Other dogs I have had:
Dogue de Bordeaux - red
Neapolitan Mastif - blue (black ones are very very rare and quite valuable)
I also had a beautiful boxer who was very dark brindle, and she had no white mask at all and would look black on evening walkies. She chose me when I looked at the litter. If buying a puppy it is best to try and be colour blind. Temperament is everything. The shy one at the back may look cute, and the nervous, shaky ones have an "arrrr' factor but I would never buy one. It is the nervous one that tend to bite. They have a fight or flight tendency and the nervy ones feel cornered more easily. I always choose the most outgoing ones.
I have never been afraid of any dog, and could easily love most of them. Black Doberman s with cropped ears do unnerve me slightly but I think I saw a horror film once and they were 'the Devil's choice' which has probably influenced me slightly.
I do love big dogs. The bigger the better. It is sad though that generally the rule of nature dictates the bigger the dog the shorter the life span. Humans have done some very careful breeding's and made some fine pedigree's but have never been able to solve the life span problem.
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Here's a Doberman for you, Bodie, without cropped ears.
(http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc445/hetiswat/cats%202010/dachshund-became-doberman-photo_zpsc6390c41.jpg) (http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/hetiswat/media/cats%202010/dachshund-became-doberman-photo_zpsc6390c41.jpg.html)
I love the not 100% Bouvier from next door. Once she was completely black. Sweetest thing ever. Now she is a light grey, and blind. So, she has a guide human. She still loves life, and slowly comes to me when she hears my voice.
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except for 1 collie all of our dogs were black mutts.
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It doesn't matter to me but I have noticed it in other people. Not many people want big dogs either preferring those little yipper things.
Lots of people who want big dogs over the yappy little ones too.
But it almost looks like a different kind of people. Most big dogs are raised a lot better than the tiny ones. Know very little people with really well behaving little dogs. Sometimes it is as if the ones with little dogs did not want a dog, but a baby, one that never had to grow up.
There's also the issue of lots of apartments allowing dogs, but only beneath a certain weight limit.
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Neighbors used to have a black lab, I still miss her. :heart: Past neighbor had a smaller one from a shelter with a nasty looking overbite. She was at my house 24/7, I think she was more mine than theirs. :LOL:
That said I'm a little bit wary of most dogs, big or small. Been chased while riding a bike or bitten too many times. Inlaws have always had boxers and have a knack for getting some nasty ones. FIL trained the first one that way and it took a bite out of a few of their son's friends, almost getting me twice and my kid once. It did not like any sudden movements...if you went to take your hands out of your pockets it snapped. Then it would come up on your lap and want to lick your neck right over your jugular...I truly hated that dog, although I don't blame the dog as much as the owner. :voodoo:
I'm also not a fan of the barking some days, and seem more allergic to them than I am to cats, probably since most of them go outside all the time.
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Here's a Doberman for you, Bodie, without cropped ears.
(http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc445/hetiswat/cats%202010/dachshund-became-doberman-photo_zpsc6390c41.jpg) (http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/hetiswat/media/cats%202010/dachshund-became-doberman-photo_zpsc6390c41.jpg.html)
I love the not 100% Bouvier from next door. Once she was completely black. Sweetest thing ever. Now she is a light grey, and blind. So, she has a guide human. She still loves life, and slowly comes to me when she hears my voice.
I grew up with dachshunds. Flippy, Rusty and Chickory.
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I used to know someone who was terrified of white cats. He believed (dunno if this is science) that they had more aggressive personalities and were more likely to bite. He was badly bitten by one once.
I've never met someone that scared of black cats.
Afraid of a cat. Wow.
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I want a dog now. :(
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Me too.
We really only take in dogs that need rescuing, but mostly, these days they are too big for our yard/house.
I too want huge fucking dog, and a goddamn pack of twenty, BUT!!! ... but I have to be realistic. I do not want to bring an animal into this house who will only suffer for our attempts to rescue it.
We need to find a dog who will be happy in a typical city sized yard and mostly live inside with people. It is difficult.
Wish I could save them all, but I can not.
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Here's a Doberman for you, Bodie, without cropped ears.
(http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc445/hetiswat/cats%202010/dachshund-became-doberman-photo_zpsc6390c41.jpg) (http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/hetiswat/media/cats%202010/dachshund-became-doberman-photo_zpsc6390c41.jpg.html)
I love the not 100% Bouvier from next door. Once she was completely black. Sweetest thing ever. Now she is a light grey, and blind. So, she has a guide human. She still loves life, and slowly comes to me when she hears my voice.
That dachshund is cute! Here is another way to 'soften' a doberman's looks
(http://www.attackchi.org.au/images/breed-specific-legislation.jpg)
I am not a fan of breeding dogs so they have extreme proportions. Like the dachshund and his short legs. Have seen a lot of Staff's with legs so short I would be wary walking over a drain with it if it was a male! :eyebrows:
I like dogs without extreme proportions. Victorian society in England thought it fashionable to alter our Bulldogs. The British Bulldog has such an extreme chest and narrow hips that they can't even whelp anymore without veterinary assistance. They can't run either and suffer with breathing problems. Unforgivable.
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(http://laughingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Dird-schnauzer-640x514.png)
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(http://laughingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Dird-schnauzer-640x514.png)
Scotty-raven?
:GA:
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I used to know someone who was terrified of white cats. He believed (dunno if this is science) that they had more aggressive personalities and were more likely to bite. He was badly bitten by one once.
I've never met someone that scared of black cats.
The two largest cats I have ever owned (both, father and son were around twenty five pounds) were the most gentle and tame of all the cats I have even seen. They were both pure white, long haired and loving and purry. The father had one blue eye and one green eye. The "son" had both brilliant blue eyes and a more fluffy tail, father had more of a "Sylvester style" puffy cheek and jowl fluff.
Anyone afraid of white cats would have surely panicked at the sight of either one.
I was a small kid and we had a big dog (who protected me and the cat) when the father (Bob) was in his prime. I was much older, married, divorced and living on my own with just my HUGE, unfixed male cat when I lost the Son of Bob. (I named the son "Cloud" when I was a young teen. He was MY cat. I also had a big blue cat, named "Blue" around that time, but he was an outdoor, wild as FUCK cat. My time with him was limited due to his way. A pack of coyotes caught up with him one night. :'( ) Blue was gone! Eaten.
Cloud died of old age and kidney tumors at fifteen years of age.
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Me too.
We really only take in dogs that need rescuing, but mostly, these days they are too big for our yard/house.
I too want huge fucking dog, and a goddamn pack of twenty, BUT!!! ... but I have to be realistic. I do not want to bring an animal into this house who will only suffer for our attempts to rescue it.
We need to find a dog who will be happy in a typical city sized yard and mostly live inside with people. It is difficult.
Wish I could save them all, but I can not.
I always wanted a whole pack of dogs just have two now and my wife thinks that's one too many. My mother lives with one of my sisters and between the two of them they have five.
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One would do for starters, for me. :(
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Me too.
We really only take in dogs that need rescuing, but mostly, these days they are too big for our yard/house.
I too want huge fucking dog, and a goddamn pack of twenty, BUT!!! ... but I have to be realistic. I do not want to bring an animal into this house who will only suffer for our attempts to rescue it.
We need to find a dog who will be happy in a typical city sized yard and mostly live inside with people. It is difficult.
Wish I could save them all, but I can not.
I always wanted a whole pack of dogs just have two now and my wife thinks that's one too many. My mother lives with one of my sisters and between the two of them they have five.
When I was in my late twenties, I and a couple of "friends" rented a ranchhome in south Texas owned by Mexican Nationals who needed an American tax write-off.
It was an amazing place to live, open quarter acre roof/deck (imagine a Walmart store with a roof, but open sides), party area with fire things (forget what they are called, but you can use them for heat or cooking) spaced every eighty feet or so, parking areas under cover, palm trees, avocado trees, olive trees and banana trees everywhere, several outbuildings, two maid's quarters, etc.
It had three hundred seventy acres with it that we had to manage as part of the rent. We mainly had to take a tractor around to cut the buffalo grass if the horses did not eat it. Also a huge barn, capable of housing forty animals. We were just animals ourselves, hunting all the time, standing watch, barbecuing every night almost in one of the huge chimichanga brick things, etc.
Anyway, I had my closest chance to have a pack of dogs back then, but keeping them alive and at home was the hard part. There were already packs of coyotes and wild dogs living in the area, marauding every night. Trying to keep enough dogs that were domesticated was almost impossible, because the dogs would choose to go wild and join the packs rather than choose human companionship. Not sure why domesticated dogs would go against "the hand that feeds them," but they do when offered other options.
Not sure how much of this time in my life I have shared, but it was the time, I know I have mentioned when I witnessed four people murdered at a river club, then two days later, two more people were shot before my eyes.
Two days later I had a bullet just miss me, but I had brick spray from the missed shot rip the side of my face like instant rash with rock. I ducked and ran, came back for my car later. Then had to deal with months of DEA, Texas State Police, FBI, etc all questioning me since I was the only one who had a story that fit the facts of the case. I was sober.
Anyway, it is hard to keep dogs in large quantities. If you have the area to support them they are constantly called upon to go wild. They seem to seek more than we can give them.
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I like black dogs, actually. @ of my babies were black or mostly black.
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One would do for starters, for me. :(
There's some breeds of dogs that some allergic can tolerate; can't remember which at the moment. Thinking Obama has one.
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Really being afraid of dogs or cats is ludicrous. Both species idolize strong personalities. If you be all you can be, there is no need to worry.
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I think our cats mostly idolize a reliable food bowl.
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One would do for starters, for me. :(
There's some breeds of dogs that some allergic can tolerate; can't remember which at the moment. Thinking Obama has one.
Apparently there's no such thing as an allergy-safe dog. There are breeds that are more likely than others but none that is foolproof. Says my doctor mate who specialises in allergies.
I've known him for years and years but never thought of asking until recently.
But I did read a news item the other day that claims a vaccine may well be on its way for us.
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Really being afraid of dogs or cats is ludicrous. Both species idolize strong personalities. If you be all you can be, there is no need to worry.
I doubt most of the people who really are afraid of cats and dogs choose to be afraid.
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I think our cats mostly idolize a reliable food bowl.
Cats are pragmatic creatures.
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But I did read a news item the other day that claims a vaccine may well be on its way for us.
That's just funny.
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Really being afraid of dogs or cats is ludicrous. Both species idolize strong personalities. If you be all you can be, there is no need to worry.
I doubt most of the people who really are afraid of cats and dogs choose to be afraid.
Knew a little boy, who fell prey to cats and dogs from the moment he was born. Animals would just get aggressive by him being around. Have seen it happen. Even my late cat, who was as tame as they come towards kids, would get into fight/attack mode the moment the kid entered the house.
Somehow he grew over that, luckily. He's in his twenties now, and has no problems with dogs and cats any more.
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Really being afraid of dogs or cats is ludicrous. Both species idolize strong personalities. If you be all you can be, there is no need to worry.
I doubt most of the people who really are afraid of cats and dogs choose to be afraid.
Knew a little boy, who fell prey to cats and dogs from the moment he was born. Animals would just get aggressive by him being around. Have seen it happen. Even my late cat, who was as tame as they come towards kids, would get into fight/attack mode the moment the kid entered the house.
Somehow he grew over that, luckily. He's in his twenties now, and has no problems with dogs and cats any more.
I am glad the kid grew out of it. I have known people who animals just seem to hate also, I usually see it as a sign to stay away from them in general myself though when it's kids I give them a lot more leeway than when its adults.
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Really being afraid of dogs or cats is ludicrous. Both species idolize strong personalities. If you be all you can be, there is no need to worry.
I doubt most of the people who really are afraid of cats and dogs choose to be afraid.
Knew a little boy, who fell prey to cats and dogs from the moment he was born. Animals would just get aggressive by him being around. Have seen it happen. Even my late cat, who was as tame as they come towards kids, would get into fight/attack mode the moment the kid entered the house.
Somehow he grew over that, luckily. He's in his twenties now, and has no problems with dogs and cats any more.
I am glad the kid grew out of it. I have known people who animals just seem to hate also, I usually see it as a sign to stay away from them in general myself though when it's kids I give them a lot more leeway than when its adults.
I take the way animals react on people as a signal also. I may not be able to read facial expressions that well, I can read the reactions of animals towards a human.
And indeed, with young kids, I do give them more leeway too.
This boy, their own cat acted aggressive, the very first time he saw the little baby. So, what was first, cat scaring boy, making boy anxious and with that, scary for pets, or something in the boy, immediately noticed by animals?
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Re: fear of black dogs, I've read that one reason for the fear is that eyes are harder to see and facial expressions
are harder to read in a black dog's face, therefore the dog's moods and intentions are harder to gauge. :nerd!:
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I think our cats mostly idolize a reliable food bowl.
Cats are pragmatic creatures.
I think this is the way with most "house animals."
The song comes to mind ...
"You can't always get what you want, You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you get what you NEEEEEED. You can't always get what you want."
Animals are seldom happy with "what you need," I have found. They want what they Want.
Edited for clarity.
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I think our cats mostly idolize a reliable food bowl.
Cats are pragmatic creatures.
I think this is the way with most "house animals."
The song comes to mind ...
"You can't always get what you want, You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you get what you NEEEEEED. You can't always get what you need."
Animals are seldom happy with "what you need," I have found.
Cats and dogs generally do not bother with things like character-building and self-actualization. Neither would I if all I had to do to get my needs met was exist, and occasionally meow. Alas, cute though I be, I'm not housecat cute.
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Really being afraid of dogs or cats is ludicrous. Both species idolize strong personalities. If you be all you can be, there is no need to worry.
I doubt most of the people who really are afraid of cats and dogs choose to be afraid.
Knew a little boy, who fell prey to cats and dogs from the moment he was born. Animals would just get aggressive by him being around. Have seen it happen. Even my late cat, who was as tame as they come towards kids, would get into fight/attack mode the moment the kid entered the house.
Somehow he grew over that, luckily. He's in his twenties now, and has no problems with dogs and cats any more.
To be honest with you i'd think something was wrong with the boy. I take notice when animals act that way.
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Really being afraid of dogs or cats is ludicrous. Both species idolize strong personalities. If you be all you can be, there is no need to worry.
I doubt most of the people who really are afraid of cats and dogs choose to be afraid.
Knew a little boy, who fell prey to cats and dogs from the moment he was born. Animals would just get aggressive by him being around. Have seen it happen. Even my late cat, who was as tame as they come towards kids, would get into fight/attack mode the moment the kid entered the house.
Somehow he grew over that, luckily. He's in his twenties now, and has no problems with dogs and cats any more.
To be honest with you i'd think something was wrong with the boy. I take notice when animals act that way.
Yeah, I might think twice before letting the kid around my animals alone, anyway.
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I think our cats mostly idolize a reliable food bowl.
Cats are pragmatic creatures.
I think this is the way with most "house animals."
The song comes to mind ...
"You can't always get what you want, You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you get what you NEEEEEED. You can't always get what you need."
Animals are seldom happy with "what you need," I have found.
Cats and dogs generally do not bother with things like character-building and self-actualization. Neither would I if all I had to do to get my needs met was exist, and occasionally meow. Alas, cute though I be, I'm not housecat cute.
I thought dogs at least needed an owner with a strong character. The whole pack mentality thing, the dog shouldn't be the alpha of the household.
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I think our cats mostly idolize a reliable food bowl.
Cats are pragmatic creatures.
I think this is the way with most "house animals."
The song comes to mind ...
"You can't always get what you want, You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you get what you NEEEEEED. You can't always get what you need."
Animals are seldom happy with "what you need," I have found.
Cats and dogs generally do not bother with things like character-building and self-actualization. Neither would I if all I had to do to get my needs met was exist, and occasionally meow. Alas, cute though I be, I'm not housecat cute.
I thought dogs at least needed an owner with a strong character. The whole pack mentality thing, the dog shouldn't be the alpha of the household.
Pretty sure they just "need" an owner who feeds them, shelters them, and takes care of their needs. :P They probably respond best to consistency. Like pretty damn much all other creatures.
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I think our cats mostly idolize a reliable food bowl.
Cats are pragmatic creatures.
I think this is the way with most "house animals."
The song comes to mind ...
"You can't always get what you want, You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you get what you NEEEEEED. You can't always get what you need."
Animals are seldom happy with "what you need," I have found.
Cats and dogs generally do not bother with things like character-building and self-actualization. Neither would I if all I had to do to get my needs met was exist, and occasionally meow. Alas, cute though I be, I'm not housecat cute.
I thought dogs at least needed an owner with a strong character. The whole pack mentality thing, the dog shouldn't be the alpha of the household.
Absolutely correct as far as I have known dogs for over fifty years.
I really think that the single most important reason we lost so many awesome dogs to a wild pack in those days was because the dogs were smart enough to see that all three of us guys, all of us alpha candidates, co-co-cohabiting, all sharing that amazing property, were always vying for alpha status against each other, whether it was tongue in cheek or not. Dogs probably do not understand tongue in cheek fights.
I think as soon as one of our dogs met a strong pack leader, they joined THAT pack, not regarding the situation we had as a proper "pack."
I feel that you have hit on the reality of the situation.
Cats are different, though.
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Really being afraid of dogs or cats is ludicrous. Both species idolize strong personalities. If you be all you can be, there is no need to worry.
I doubt most of the people who really are afraid of cats and dogs choose to be afraid.
Knew a little boy, who fell prey to cats and dogs from the moment he was born. Animals would just get aggressive by him being around. Have seen it happen. Even my late cat, who was as tame as they come towards kids, would get into fight/attack mode the moment the kid entered the house.
Somehow he grew over that, luckily. He's in his twenties now, and has no problems with dogs and cats any more.
To be honest with you i'd think something was wrong with the boy. I take notice when animals act that way.
Yeah, I might think twice before letting the kid around my animals alone, anyway.
This kid did not want to be alone with any animal. I'm glad he got past this.
Animals are not only a good guide to how other people are. Also a good sign how I am. I can see from the reaction of my cats (especially the female one, because the male one is a bit of a nervous nutter anyway) how well my kids are and how well I am. They will not come close to one of us stressed out to the max or angry. Sadness or sickness is no issue they will come and cuddle then.