There is no scientific proof that black dogs have more dog on dog issues, but if not socialized well it can happen. I’ve seen it happen & seen where there were no issues. There can be a variety of reasons why this could happen:
- Other dogs have a hard time seeing a black dogs eyes if their face is black. The pupils of many animals dilate & this lets another animal know if they are in danger. So some dogs will go after a black dog out of fear they are in danger. In the first obedience class I took my first dog to there was a black Shepherd mix puppy (9 months old or so) & my dog Sam was red in color. The owner of the Shepherd asked why dogs tended to go after his dog when his dog did nothing. The trainer asked me to walk Sam around the room & maybe one dog reacted in any way. Then she had the Shepherd’s owner do the same & at least 1/4 of the dogs reacted in some way. The shepherd was a nice dog & wasn’t doing anything aggressive. Our instructor explained how dogs can get nervous when they can’t see the eyes well, some flight instinct kicks in & some will fight.
- It can be hard for other dogs to read the body language of black dogs due to sun glare or if it is getting dark outside. Defenses can be heightened & this can lead to a fight.
- If dark outside a black colored dog isn’t seen as well & can startle another dog.
- If a black dog has been attacked for no known reason they are more aware & they can be on high alert & strike first out of fear of what could happen.
- If a dog was attacked by a black dog in its past some dogs will have this fear for life & be leery or may go after any dog that reminds them of that attack.
Of course not all black dogs have had dog on dog issues. I don’t believe my Echo has issues because of his color, I think it is out of fear. I also don’t know a lot about his early history, not in rescue till 4-5 months old, & I adopted him as he was turning 1. He had 3 sister’s they all have more black then Echo does & I have heard from 2 & they don’t have dog issues.
Early socialization is key to helping a black dog be good with other dogs. Puppies have a fear stage at about 8 weeks & 20 weeks old, so it’s important to do as much socializing as possible before 20 weeks old. If you got your dog from a person who had the litter, maybe she or he can reach out to others with the siblings & see if they can meet up. Dogs/puppies need to be introduced to dogs that have good social skills & I recommend puppy classes that help them with social skills. Some allow playtime, but even if not you may make a friend & can arrange for the puppies to play together at your home or theirs. Always be sure any dog your pup interacts with has been vaccinated to protect your dog. Most trainers have to have owners show proof of this when you sign up for classes. Be careful of dog parks, you have no control of what dogs will be there & your dog could be at risk. A subject I will blog about soon.
If you have an older puppy, ask around to people you trust that have social dogs & see if you can introduce your dogs. I suggest you do this in a neutral area & walk the dogs far apart then switch sides & go back the way you came so the dogs can smell where the other dog was. Sniffing is very helpful to dogs & they learn a lot & it also helps to self soothe them. Slowly move closer to each other as long as both dogs are not over excited or acting aggressive. I also recommend you use long leashes (not retractable) so the dogs don’t feel like they can’t move away. Be sure they can’t get to each other. Remember dogs read body language as a major part when they see another dog. They read our body language as well & if you tighten up on the leash or correct them in any way you can cause them to associate other dogs with punishment/correction. You want the experience to be positive, so redirect your dog or move away in a happy voice tone. If you are nervous your dog will sense that as well, so stay calm & stay farther apart if that makes you more at ease. Reward your dog with praise, affection or treats when he or she is acting calm. REMEMBER you want this to be a positive experience so your dog will be more comfortable around dogs.
I am not looking for my dog Echo to be friends with all dogs we meet, but I am working on him seeing them not as a negative thing & not react negatively. This is a topic for another time & post.
There are a lot of awesome black dogs out there & I have fostered a number of them & the stereo types that get put on breeds & certain colored dogs is unfair. Upbringing is a big factor to the way an animal will turn out. Not saying some adult dog with issues with other dogs can be helped with desensitization & counter conditioning. Again a great subject for another post, not enough time to give it justice here.
I hope you are enjoying my blog & taking away something with each post. I started this blog to share my many years of pet experience (always had pets & fostered pets for 20+ years). Please help me get the word out by subscribing (won’t get spam just a notice when I publish a new post). Visit my site often, share my site on your social media sites or share with a family member or friend. Like posts, comment on the posts you read, all these things help get my blog noticed & more people will find it. If you have a question or a suggestion of a post topic feel free to email me at echoingreatpetcare@gmail.com
Thanks, Debbie
Echoing Great Pet Care 