The intelligence of dogs is sometimes surprising, especially when they find unconventional solutions to a problem. Speck, a dog from a shelter in Alabama, has found an ingenious way to attract the attention of his potential owners.
Most visitors to the shelter passed Speck’s cage because he didn’t meet the criteria of an in-demand dog. He was almost all black except for the tie and the white socks on his paws, and not too young either.
Scientists call the tendency of people to choose light-colored animals as pets the « black dog effect. » A 1988 study found that black pets were significantly less likely to find new homes than dogs of other colors.
The survey revealed that dogs with blond hair seemed to have a nicer and more emotionally balanced character in the eyes of potential owners than black dogs. So the Black Speck was clearly a candidate to become a permanent resident at the Alabama shelter.
However, he found a clever trick. As soon as someone passed in front of his cage, he put his paw through the slot, as if to say hello. He did this several times, day after day, until finally Wilder, an employee of the shelter, noticed his behavior.
The moving video has been viewed nearly a hundred thousand times, and that’s how a family of young New York State farmers, Mike and Danielle, decided to take Speck in.
The flight went perfectly and the dog now lives on a large ranch with other dogs, many of whom are black in color. He doesn’t need anything and his owners love him.