The Association Blog

Large dogs take the spotlight in this year’s annual research series from Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Why are large dogs waiting longer to be adopted than their smaller counterparts? What is stopping adopters from bringing a big dog home? What kind of adopter is most likely to consider a large dog?

Now in its fourth edition, this year’s State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report digs deep into the vulnerable population of large dogs, and the disproportionate barriers to adoption they face. The research offers findings from a survey of 2,000 socio-economically diverse current and prospective pet owners. Top takeaways include:

• Most common barriers to adopting a large dog include cost of feeding a large dog, physical ability to handle them, and limited living space.
• Gen Z & Millennials are nearly twice as likely to consider adopting a large dog than Gen X & Baby Boomers, yet they’re also more likely to face pet housing restrictions.
• Respondents agreed on a few common perceptions: large dogs need more space, it’s harder to find housing for them, and they cost more than small or medium dogs.
• Addressing these common perceptions includes showing the reality and variety of large dogs, many of whom have temperaments and energy levels that are suited for apartments and quieter homes.

These are just a few of the high-level takeaways from the report. For additional stats that can help your org better understand and navigate the barriers to adoption that large dogs face, and ulimately place more big dogs into loving homes, download the full report.