Dogs remain America’s most beloved pets, but there’s a disparity in the adoption process: large dogs face disproportionate barriers to finding a home. We worked with Hill’s Pet Nutrition on their “2026 State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report” to understand this crisis, exploring the perceptions and practical challenges that lead potential adopters to overlook bigger breeds. The report not only uncovers the reasons behind the longer shelter stays for large dogs, but also highlights the innovative strategies that shelters are implementing to connect them with loving families.
Our Approach
We conducted comprehensive online surveys of 2,000 American consumers from diverse socioeconomic and age backgrounds to ensure the results were representative of the U.S. general population.
Key Findings
The report reveals a varied picture of large dog adoption, influenced by demographics, practical concerns, and personal perceptions.
- Adoption remains popular: Twenty four percent of dog owners adopted them from a shelter or animal rescue, the second most popular acquisition method behind receiving them from family or friends (32%). Of those who adopt, 34% own large dogs, and they’re more likely to adopt again.
- Positive perceptions: Despite adopting them less frequently, robust majorities of Americans agree that large dogs can make great family pets. And while almost all of those likely to adopt a large dog think so (94%), even those unlikely to do so hold the same belief (77%).
- A generational divide: Younger generations are more open to adopting large dogs. Gen Z and Millennial potential adopters are nearly twice as likely as Gen X and Baby Boomers to consider it. But this enthusiasm is often softened by practical barriers, as younger Americans are more likely to rent and face housing restrictions.
- Practical challenges: Concerns about cost are universal among age groups. Eighty seven percent of all surveyed believe large dogs require more space, and the costs of care and food are major deterrents. For those who have never owned a large dog, this hesitancy reflects a perceived “lifestyle mismatch,” with concerns about limited space (32%) and temperament (30%) being top of mind.
- Confidence is key: The clearest difference between those likely and unlikely to adopt a large dog is their confidence in handling and caring for one. The report highlights a massive 56-percentage-point gap in confidence between these two groups.
- Rewards outweigh challenges: For those who do own large dogs, the experience is overwhelmingly positive. “Companionship and loyalty” emerged as the most frequent theme (cited by 69% of owners), highlighting these deep bonds.
- Incentives help, but only go so far: Less expensive training and adoption fees rank the highest as motivators to encourage large dog adoption. However, these incentives primarily appeal to individuals who are already likely to adopt a large dog.
Your Partner for Understanding Complex Audiences
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Check out the full report here.