The "Black Dog" of Depression AND Black Dog Syndrome

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

A friend of mine recently posted a video on facebook about depression. The video is an animation meant to spread awareness about depression and encourage people to seek help. It likens depression to a 'black dog' that follows you around everywhere you go destroying your life piece by piece.

 

Here is a link to the video on Upworthy.com http://www.upworthy.com/what-is-depression-let-this-animation-with-...

 

I am all about spreading awareness about mental health issues. Depression and other mental health issues have run deep in my family and I know what it can do and how important it is to seek help when you need it. However, I can't help but be bothered by the way this video tries to break down one stigma by perpetuating another - Black Dog Syndrome.

 

Discrimination against black coloured dogs is widely reported by shelters and rescues. They say black dogs are far more likely to languish in shelters and foster homes for months while other coloured dogs are adopted more quickly. They say that black dogs have much higher rates of euthanasia. I did a little research of my own to see how much evidence there is behind these claims, and the truth is there is not very much out there. However, the anecdotal evidence appears to be quite overwhelming. Certainly, this has been the experience of the rescue group I volunteer with locally.

 

In my research I came across this website, dedicated to a research project to study the issue more in depth and put some qualitative and quantiative evidence to the issue. http://blackdogresearchstudio.com/  They posted a paper written in 2007 written by Amanda Leonard based on a year of fieldwork in 2007 at the Washington Humane Society in Washington, DC. The paper "elucidates the underlying predispositions that create, reproduce, and reinforce the discrimination against large black dogs in American animal shelters." I found the paper fascinating and I encourage anyone who has an interest in the topic to give it a read. I've attached it here for ease of reference.Kroeber%20BBD%20paper.pdf

 

The negative stigma associated with black dogs is deeply embedded in our culture. Historically black dogs have symbolized fear, aggression, darkness, immorality, and even evil. Meanwhile, in reality black dogs are no more or less loving, affectionate, gentle, loyal, playful, and 'good' then any other coloured dog. Why further the stigma by associating black dogs with depression - a crippling and debilitating illness? Why not use something a little more generic, such as 'dark monster' to symbolise the issue?  Instead, the makers of the video unwittingly chose to further the stigma against the very souls that could, if given a chance, lovingly help to lift even the most severe of depression sufferers out of their plight.  Dogs are becoming well known for the healing power they have over people with mental and emotional illnesses - yes, even the black ones.

 

Perhaps I'm over reacting a little but now that I'm involved in a rescue, where I see some of the sweetest dogs imaginable passed over by good homes for the small white fluffy ones, regardless of temperament, it just really pains my heart.   ...Sorry for the long rant but I hope some of you find this interesting.

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

Agree with everything said.  One of ours (Beau) is black and one could not ask for a sweeter, sillier doodle.  If a dog could skip, he would skip through life.  His true personality could not be further from the general perception of black dogs.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Sherri, I was involved with puppy rescue for several years and all of our pups were black --black lab mixes.  Happily, we found them al forever homes because (1) they were puppies, (2) people here love their black labs, and (3) to Karen's point, we took care in photographing them much like the cute puppy pictures a breeder would do.  Getting them healthy and on good food for shiny coats, getting the  "eyes" and a loving expression, placing them on pretty colored blankets with soft toys made all the difference.  The few that stayed with us longer, we trained, and although they grew big, we still found them wonderful homes. But it was such a small percentage of ALL the black dogs out there. A drop in the bucket. The first time I went to pick up a new group of puppies from "transport,"I felt like someone punched me in the stomach when they opened up the van and there were cages and cages full of black pups that all looked alike from NC, SC, and WV. There were so many, I started calling them the "All American Black Dog."Once we put them all out in the yard, my litter was only identifiable by the red ribbons around their little necks. IMO it's a crime that these rural Southern folks don't neuter or spay their dogs and then dump these puppies by the truckload up North.  I wonder if part of the reason that so many black dogs  end up in shelters is because there are so many of them unwanted to begin with.

By fate, I ended up with a white doodle, but the first one I ever fell in love with was black. 

I wish the makers of this video had used "a black cloud" as a metaphor because there is nothing more magnificent than a big black lab.   For decades they have excelled as guide dogs and service dogs. They excel at healing.  There's a great store called The Black Dog.  Here's the link.  Thought it might make you smile:

http://www.theblackdog.com/home.php?s=gaw&kw=[the+black+dog]&am...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Some years back, DRC was contacted by an individual down in Arkansas who had purchased a black Goldendoodle puppy from a roadside stand for $25. The puppy was desperately ill with what turned out to be parvo. He had also been sold at the age of 5 weeks old. He died in foster care, despite the foster mom & the vet's best efforts to save him. 

The breeder was tracked down. She had given him to the people who sold him at the roadside stand as soon as he was weaned, because in her words "I can't sell the black ones." 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

That is so sad, Karen. I hope that breeder was finished but I doubt it. It won't happen in our lifetimes but I hope that someday laws will protect animals the way they protect people. I don't see a difference between a puppy and a baby. Does that make me weird??  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Not in my book. :)

[Sally S Miles]

This is an excellent point - and all too accurate on so many levels. Yes - Sheila nailed it! A black dog will follow you and seemingly disappear, yet there he is - - stalwart and yet elusive -  that's where it originated.   I agree that a black cloud would be far more appropriate.

I agree that the stigma is ridiculous!   As is the idea that fluffy or light colored dogs are always friendly - but frankly it's as silly as saying to a person with Depression - well hay you look good when they feel like crap.   

Look at the history of Labrador Retrievers - - yellow is far more popular.

Alas the BBD syndrome is widely spread and many Big Black Dog's are sent to Rainbow Bridge for stupidity - as others have stated.   I have seen in my searches prior to getting our dogs that even some pretty high priced breeders offer 'discounts' for black dogs, some hefty price cuts on some very spendy canine's due to coloration.  

I have a black dog - she is not my first and I've had black cats - oh my October should always be a shuddering month considering what some people do to them.  

They don't photograph well. They are easily lost - or hide. Some people are phobic about it (no I am not in the least knocking phobias as I have a few of my own) but unfortunately it is all too true.  The light colored ones go first and a high percentage of folks make a decision based on visual appeal rather than temperament.     One of my best dogs ever was a Black Lab that somebody threw out into the woods and I was actually looking for one when I stumbled onto Doodledom - - there is a black Doodle in my kitchen and her little brother is also mostly black, (again the last to go).     

**Meanwhile -  <IMO it's a crime that these rural Southern folks don't neuter or spay their dogs and then dump these puppies by the truckload up North.>  

- there are plenty in the midwest, west, North etc who do the same thing.  They are not all rural.

I agree that it's wrong - but it is not limited to one sector of the country.    

please  lets not start more stereotyping

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Not trying to stereotype or say that it's just one sector-- just saying that in the network of rescues I was involved in, here in the Northeast, the puppy transports all came from down South.  Hundreds of black or mostly black puppies. Mostly from hunting dogs. So that's my frame of reference. That's a fact. Of course, I agree with you that this is a problem everywhere -- rural and urban. In different geographic areas, different mixes are more predominant.  Someone recently posted about all the tiny fluffy "designer" mixes in CA shelters. 

[BG and Gavin]

I was distracted from the message in the video because I was feeling sorry for the cartoon dog :(  Agree with others that the black cloud would have been a better image.  

[Gail and Bailey]

Very interesting discussion.  Thanks to all of you for bringing it to the forefront.  Sort of makes me feel bad having a white fluffy doodle.....but I must say that I almost got a black one as a second doodle and if it was not for my husband not going along with the idea of a second dog, I would have one!!

[jenn D]

I never knew this existed! Wow! I love Jake's jet black fur! It shows off colors so well! And I like black dogs in general. Well I like all dogs in general! Lol.