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Alba

Mixed Breed · Female · Young · 3 years

Alba originally comes from Portugal and was rehomed through an animal welfare organization as a second dog. Unfortunately, things didn't go well at all: Alba dominated the already existing female dog, making the situation untenable. Meanwhile, she has settled in nicely with us—she walks nicely on a leash and immediately comes running when you call her name. When you call her name, she comes running right away. She takes treats very cautiously. Alba loves sticks and usually brings one back from our walks. We then exchange the stick for a treat; otherwise, her kennel would soon turn into a wood storage area. Alba is a dog for experienced owners who have a garden and no other pets. She chases cats, rabbits, and squirrels. She gets along well with smaller, more dominant, or older dogs—but not always. When she encounters larger, dark-colored dogs outdoors, she becomes almost impossible to control. You have to be very quick and learn to read her signals so that you can react before she does. On our regular walks—even in busy residential areas—she walks nicely on a leash, depending on who’s leading her. The most important factors are time, consistency, and patience. If you work with her consistently, she adapts really quickly. She can’t be left alone at home, nor can she wait in front of shops, because she barks incessantly. The only reason to keep her company with another dog would be to stop her from barking. You can clearly sense how much stress she’s been through. She seems restless and, in a way, anxious. We’d like to find her a calm, secure home with plenty of space. She gets along well with children and loves being cuddled. She actively seeks out human contact and thoroughly enjoys snuggling time. If you’d like to meet Alba, please send us a detailed email.

DE·Show original

Alba stammt ursprünglich aus Portugal und wurde über einen Tierschutzverein als Zweithund vermittelt. Leider ging das gar nicht gut: Alba dominierte die bereits vorhandene Hündin, sodass die Situation nicht mehr tragbar war. Inzwischen hat sie sich bei uns gut eingelebt, geht brav an der Leine und kommt sofort angerannt, wenn man ihren Namen ruft. Wenn man sie ruft, kommt sie sofort angerannt. Leckerchen nimmt sie vorsichtig. Alba liebt Stöcke und bringt meist einen vom Spaziergang mit. Wir tauschen den Stock dann gegen ein Leckerchen, sonst würde ihr Zwinger über kurz oder lang zu einem Holzlager werden. Alba ist eine Hündin für erfahrene Halter mit Garten und ohne andere Haustiere. Sie jagt Katzen, Kaninchen und Eichhörnchen. Sie versteht sich mit kleineren, dominanteren oder älteren Hunden, aber nicht immer. Wenn man draußen auf größere, dunkle Hunde trifft, ist sie kaum zu bändigen. Man muss sehr schnell sein und lernen, sie zu lesen, um reagieren zu können, bevor sie es tut. Bei unseren gewohnten Spaziergängen (auch in belebten Wohngebieten) läuft sie gut an der Leine – je nachdem, wer sie führt. Am wichtigsten sind Zeit, Konsequenz und Geduld. Wenn man kontinuierlich mit ihr arbeitet, passt sie sich wirklich schnell an. Sie kann nicht allein zu Hause bleiben und auch nicht vor Geschäften warten, da sie ununterbrochen bellt. Das einzige Argument dafür, sie mit einem anderen Hund zusammenzuhalten, wäre, ihr Bellen zu unterbinden. Man spürt deutlich, wie viel Stress sie hinter sich hat. Sie wirkt unruhig und auf eine gewisse Weise ängstlich. Wir wünschen uns für sie ein ruhiges, sicheres Zuhause mit viel Platz. Sie kommt gut mit Kindern zurecht und liebt es, gekuschelt zu werden. Sie sucht aktiv den Kontakt und genießt Schmusezeit sehr. Wenn Sie Alba kennenlernen möchten, schreiben Sie uns bitte eine ausführliche E-Mail.

Size
Medium
Age
Young · 3 years
Location
🇩🇪Cologne
Shelter
Tierheim Köln
Living with Alba
  • Spayed
  • Good with cats
  • Good with kids
Cared for by Tierheim Köln · CologneLearn about Mixed Breed

Listed 3 weeks ago

Bringing Alba home

What you'll need for Alba in week one.

Hand-picked · prices indicative

  1. 01
    Required by most shelters

    Trixie Transport Box

    Sturdy plastic carrier — what most shelters require for pickup.

    View on Amazon
    €35–45
  2. 02
    Editor's pick

    Folding Wire Crate

    First-week safe space. Shelter dogs settle faster with a crate.

    View on Amazon
    €50–80
  3. 03
    Legal · EU

    Car Seatbelt Tether

    Legally required in most EU countries for transporting dogs.

    View on Amazon
    €8–12
  4. 04

    Adaptil Calming Spray

    Dog-specific pheromone diffuser. Worth it for the trip home.

    View on Amazon
    €18–25
  5. 05

    Orthopaedic Dog Bed

    Worth the upgrade — rescues often have joint issues from kennels.

    View on Amazon
    €30–60
  6. 06
    Safer than a collar

    Padded Y-Front Harness

    Escape-proof for spooky rescues. Safer than a collar in week one.

    View on Amazon
    €20–35

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About Alba

What life with Alba looks like

Alba is a medium-sized young adult mixed breed dog waiting at Tierheim Köln in Cologne.

An young adult dog fits most household rhythms once the first couple of weeks of adjustment pass. Two reasonable walks a day plus play time is usually enough. Plan a "decompression fortnight" — quiet routine, no visitors, no off-leash adventures — to let them settle.

🇩🇪Adopting from Germany

German rescues typically require an in-person home visit (Vorkontrolle) or detailed video home check before approving adoption. Animals leave the shelter sterilized, microchipped, and with a valid EU pet passport. Adoption fees usually fall between €250 and €450, covering veterinary preparation.

Cologne, Germany browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Alba, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Alba?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Tierheim Köln handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Alba on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Alba if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Tierheim Köln will tell you what they need (EU pet passport, rabies titer, transport coordination) and whether they handle transport themselves or refer you to a partner. Plan for an extra €100–€350 in transport costs depending on distance.
Is Alba already vetted, vaccinated, and chipped?
Most dogs on TailHarbor leave their shelter with sterilization, current vaccinations, microchip ID, and an EU pet passport included in the adoption fee. The vet status on this page reflects what the shelter has reported — ask them directly if you need details on specific vaccines, recent bloodwork, or chronic conditions.
What happens if Alba isn't the right fit?
Every reputable rescue accepts an animal back if the adoption genuinely doesn't work — that's part of the standard contract. Talk it through with Tierheim Köln early rather than rehoming privately; they know Alba and can place them more successfully than a second-hand listing can.
Why does the description sometimes read awkwardly?
TailHarbor translates shelter descriptions into English from the source language (DE). Translation is imperfect — names of streets, donors, and shelter-specific terms occasionally slip through unidiomatically. For the cleanest read, click the source link to see the shelter's original page.
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