Skip to content
TailHarbor
← Back to results
Available

Apollo

German Shepherd · Male · Senior · 9 years

Apollo is a nine-year-old German Shepherd whose age is hard to believe. He is in top physical condition and would be estimated to be around six years old without his known age. He is house-trained, doesn't destroy anything, and is extremely friendly towards people. He particularly enjoys being outdoors and going on long walks as well as cuddling. We are looking for people who can provide Apollo with a quiet and stable home and who are also willing to work with him on his small and larger challenges. His past has left clear marks: we were able to find out that Apollo was previously kept in a kennel. Therefore, he shows stereotypical behavior in stressful situations, where he spins in circles. His plush frog has become an important companion and gives him visible security. Apollo also needs support in dealing with other dogs. He has probably had little sensible dog contact in his previous life and currently reacts very strongly and sometimes overwhelmed to other dogs. Therefore, we are looking for people who are physically able to hold him safely and give him the necessary orientation. However, he runs very well on a leash in low-stimulation environments and shows that a relaxed everyday life with him is possible. His home should be rather quiet, as Apollo is easily stressed and benefits from a low-stimulation environment. He should not have to run many stairs - a ground-level home or an apartment with an elevator would therefore be ideal. We can imagine steady children in principle, as long as they have a calm and respectful way of dealing with him. Apollo was found in an extremely emaciated condition. It is all the more beautiful to see how much joie de vivre is in him today. He is a friendly, active, and cuddly dog who likes to be involved and wants to discover the world. We are looking for people who like to be outdoors with him, can give him security, and do not expect everything to work perfectly from one day to the next. Whoever is willing to accompany Apollo with patience, consistency, and understanding will get a great dog by their side who still wants to experience a lot despite his past.

DE·Show original

Apollo ist ein neunjähriger Schäferhund, bei dem man sein Alter kaum glauben würde. Er ist topfit und wir würden ihn ohne sein bekanntes Alter eher auf etwa sechs Jahre schätzen. Er ist stubenrein, macht nichts kaputt und zeigt sich Menschen gegenüber ausgesprochen freundlich. Besonders gerne ist er draußen unterwegs und genießt lange Spaziergänge genauso wie ausgiebige Kuscheleinheiten. Für Apollo suchen wir Menschen, die ihm ein ruhiges und stabiles Zuhause bieten können und gleichzeitig Lust darauf haben, gemeinsam mit ihm an seinen kleinen und größeren Baustellen zu arbeiten. Seine Vergangenheit hat deutliche Spuren hinterlassen: Wir konnten herausfinden, dass Apollo bislang im Zwinger gehalten wurde. In stressigen Situationen zeigt er deshalb ein stereotypes Verhalten, bei dem er sich im Kreis dreht. Sein Plüschfrosch ist dabei zu einem wichtigen Begleiter geworden und gibt ihm sichtbar etwas Sicherheit. Auch im Umgang mit anderen Hunden braucht Apollo Unterstützung. Er hatte in seinem bisherigen Leben vermutlich kaum vernünftige Hundekontakte und reagiert auf andere Hunde aktuell sehr stark und teilweise überfordert. Deshalb suchen wir Menschen, die körperlich in der Lage sind, ihn sicher zu halten und ihm die nötige Orientierung geben können. In reizarmen Umgebungen läuft er dagegen sehr gut an der Leine und zeigt, dass durchaus ein entspannter Alltag mit ihm möglich ist. Sein Zuhause sollte eher ruhig gelegen sein, da Apollo schnell gestresst ist und von einer reizarmen Umgebung profitiert. Viele Treppen sollte er möglichst nicht laufen müssen – ein ebenerdiges Zuhause oder eine Wohnung mit Aufzug wäre daher ideal. Standfeste Kinder können wir uns grundsätzlich vorstellen, sofern sie einen ruhigen und respektvollen Umgang mit ihm kennen. Apollo wurde in einem extrem abgemagerten Zustand gefunden. Umso schöner ist es zu sehen, wie viel Lebensfreude heute in ihm steckt. Er ist ein freundlicher, aktiver und verschmuster Hund, der gerne dabei ist und die Welt entdecken möchte. Wir suchen für ihn Menschen, die gerne draußen unterwegs sind, ihm Sicherheit geben können und nicht erwarten, dass von heute auf morgen alles perfekt funktioniert. Wer bereit ist, Apollo mit Geduld, Konsequenz und Verständnis zu begleiten, bekommt einen tollen Hund an seine Seite, der trotz seiner Vergangenheit noch viel erleben möchte.

Size
—
Age
Senior · 9 years
Location
🇩🇪Darmstadt
Shelter
Tierheim Darmstadt
Living with Apollo
  • ✓House-trained
  • ✕Neutered
  • ✓Good with dogs
  • ✓Good with kids
Cared for by Tierheim Darmstadt · DarmstadtLearn about German Shepherd →

Listed 3 days ago

Bringing Apollo home

What you'll need for Apollo 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

§ Affiliate links · TailHarbor earns a small commission, no extra cost to you.

About Apollo

What life with Apollo looks like

Apollo is a senior german shepherd dog waiting at Tierheim Darmstadt in Darmstadt.

Senior dogs settle in faster than younger ones. They want a soft bed, predictable meals, and short, sniff-heavy walks rather than runs. Many senior rescues bond deeply within weeks because they understand exactly how good a stable home is. Expect occasional vet visits for joint or dental care.

🇩🇪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.

Darmstadt, Germany — browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Apollo, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Apollo?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Tierheim Darmstadt handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Apollo on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Apollo if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Tierheim Darmstadt 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 Apollo 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 Apollo 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 Darmstadt early rather than rehoming privately; they know Apollo 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.
You might also like

More German Shepherd pets

Jojo, male 3yo German Shepherd for adoption at Vergessene Pfoten e.V., Wangelau

Jojo

German Shepherd · medium

3 yearsMale
Nicky Boy, male senior German Shepherd for adoption at Vergessene Pfoten e.V., Wangelau

Nicky Boy

German Shepherd · large

8 yearsMale
Hercules, male 6yo German Shepherd for adoption at Vergessene Pfoten e.V., Wangelau

Hercules

German Shepherd · large

6 yearsMale

More from Tierheim Darmstadt

Monty, Emil, Brunhilde, male 4yo mixed breed for adoption at Tierheim Darmstadt, Darmstadt

Monty, Emil, Brunhilde

4 yearsMale
Similar animals

More German Shepherds looking for a home

Matze, male German Shepherd for adoption at Tierheim Wiesbaden, Wiesbaden

Matze

German Shepherd · large

Male
Jazz, male Doberman for adoption at Tierheim Wiesbaden, Wiesbaden

Jazz

Doberman · extra large

Male
Vicky, female 6yo German Shepherd for adoption at Tierheim Wiesbaden, Wiesbaden

Vicky

German Shepherd · large

6 yearsFemale
LILITH, schwarz female young German Shepherd for adoption at Seelentiere e.V.

LILITH

German Shepherd · large

2 yearsFemale
Hugo, male senior German Shepherd for adoption at Tierheim Dorf Mecklenburg

Hugo

German Shepherd · large

13 yearsMale
Wolf, male senior German Shepherd for adoption at Tierheim Dorf Mecklenburg

Wolf

German Shepherd · large

11 yearsMale

Spotted something wrong? Suggest a change →