They are often the first to greet you at the kennel door and the last to find a home. A new report released in March 2026 puts hard numbers behind what shelter workers have long observed: large dogs are disproportionately stuck in the U.S. shelter system, and the reasons run deeper than many adopters might expect.
The 2026 State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report from Hill's Pet Nutrition, based on a survey of 2,000 Americans and data from Shelter Animals Count, a program of the ASPCA, reveals a troubling mismatch between supply and demand. In 2025, 2.8 million dogs entered U.S. shelters. Large dogs, defined as those weighing more than 50 pounds, made up 26 percent of those intakes but experienced the longest median shelter stays and the smallest share of total adoptions compared to medium and small dogs. According to Newsweek's reporting on the study, large dogs stayed in shelters an average of 17 days in 2025, compared to 14 days for medium dogs and 10 days for small ones.
So what is holding people back? The report points to three interlocking barriers.
First, confidence. Among Americans who said they were unlikely to adopt a large dog, only 33 percent reported feeling confident in their ability to handle and care for one. That figure jumped to 89 percent among those who said they were likely to adopt. Training access and behavior education could make a measurable difference here.
Second, cost. Food bills, veterinary care, and pet deposits for large dogs are typically higher than for smaller breeds, and those expenses feel steeper against a backdrop of inflation and rising rents.
Third, housing. This is where the story gets especially complex. Gen Z and millennials are nearly twice as likely as Gen X and baby boomers to consider adopting a large dog, with 30 percent of younger respondents expressing interest compared to 16 percent of older generations. But younger adults are also far more likely to rent, and the 2025 Pet-Inclusive Housing Report found that fewer than 10 percent of rental properties are genuinely restriction-free when it comes to pet size, breed, or fees.
The report identifies lower adoption fees, free or discounted training, and financial assistance for initial costs as the interventions most likely to move the needle. Shelter-city-housing partnerships and clear behavioral documentation to reassure landlords are also gaining traction as practical tools.
For anyone who has ever paused at a large dog's kennel and walked away, this report is a reminder that the barrier is often circumstantial, not permanent.
Sources: Hill's Pet Nutrition press release (PR Newswire) · PetfoodIndustry.com · Newsweek · Veterinary Practice News