Battersea Ambassador Sue Perkins recently visited the charity’s London centre to spend some time with Battersea’s big dogs and learn more about some common misconceptions that can make it harder for them to be rehomed.
During her visit, Sue took Cane Corso, Ava on a walk in Battersea’s garden, cuddled a litter of Dobermann puppies, and helped create a rehoming profile for Boxer cross, Claire. During her visit, Sue also spoke with Ali Taylor, Battersea’s Head of Animal Behaviour, about the challenges many larger dogs face, waiting 16% longer at rescue due to assumptions about their temperament, exercise needs and lifestyle requirements.
Sue’s visit comes after recent research from the charity revealed that over half (53%) of UK adults would not consider owning a bigger dog, such as a German Shepherd, Akita, Greyhound or Husky despite most describing them as loyal (59%) and affectionate (54%). Among those respondents who would not consider owning a big dog, almost a quarter (20%) said their home was not big enough, 16% felt they would not have enough time and 13% were concerned they could not provide sufficient exercise.
While the majority of those polled (52%) believe big dogs need much more exercise than small dogs, this is highly dependent on the dog’s breed, age and individual personality. Battersea’s canine experts warn this is a common issue with dogs like Greyhounds, where misconceptions about the breed’s energy levels and exercise requirements often deter owners from giving these gentle souls a chance. Similarly, many believe that large dogs need vast amounts of space with over half of respondents (56%) saying big dogs are less suitable for smaller homes than smaller breeds, but this isn’t always the case.
Following these findings, Battersea is urging the public to view big dogs as the individuals they are and focus on finding the right match to their specific lifestyle, rather than giving into mistaken beliefs based on size.
Sue Perkins, Battersea Ambassador said: “Having recently spent time with some of Battersea’s big dogs, I can confidently say they’re fantastic. They were charming, affectionate and full of personality and a reminder that size is only one small part of who a dog is. Every dog is an individual, which is why Battersea works so hard to match them with the right home. If you’re considering adoption, don’t let size make the decision for you. The perfect dog might just be one of these wonderful bigger characters waiting for a second chance.”
Ali Taylor, Head of Animal Behaviour said: “Over our 165-year history, Battersea has cared for thousands of dogs of all shapes and sizes, and one thing we’ve learned is that each dog is an individual. Sadly, some of our larger dogs can take a little longer to find a home due to misconceptions about their personality and needs. Rehoming a dog is all about finding the right match, which is why we take the time to understand both the dog and the owner, helping them start their new life together on the best possible footing. We encourage anyone looking to adopt to chat to rescues like Battersea and choose the right dog for their lifestyle, regardless of size.”
If you’d like to watch the full video about Sue’s visit to Battersea, please see here.
*The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,000 UK nat rep consumers (aged 18+). The data was collected between 11.09.2026 – 14.09.2026. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. We adhere to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles