New report details why large dogs wait longer for adoption

Large dogs are spending longer in shelters, and Hill’s Pet Nutrition says the bottleneck isn’t just demand, it’s confidence, cost, and housing. In its new 2026 State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report, released March 10, Hill’s said large dogs made up 26% of U.S. shelter dog intakes in 2025, but had the longest median lengths of stay and the smallest share of adoptions versus medium and small dogs. The company’s survey of 2,000 U.S. adults found 35% said they’d be likely to adopt a large dog, yet confidence sharply split likely and unlikely adopters: 89% of likely adopters felt confident handling and caring for a large dog, compared with 33% of unlikely adopters. Hill’s also identified lower adoption fees, discounted training, and help with upfront costs as the interventions most likely to move adoption intent into action. (prnewswire.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the report frames the large-dog adoption gap as partly a clinical communication problem, not only a shelter capacity problem. Hill’s findings suggest practices may be able to reduce friction for prospective pet parents by offering clearer cost expectations, early behavior and training guidance, and post-adoption support tailored to large breeds. That matters in a shelter system already under strain: Shelter Animals Count said 2.8 million dogs entered U.S. shelters in 2025, while a separate Shelter Animals Count recap noted that large- and medium-dog adoptions declined even as small-dog adoptions rose. The same recap also highlighted housing pressure and owner surrender trends that disproportionately affect large dogs. (prnewswire.com)

What to watch: Expect more shelters, industry groups, and veterinary partners to test fee relief, training support, and streamlined adoption programs aimed specifically at moving large dogs out faster. (prnewswire.com)