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Artax

German Shepherd · Male

I am the handsome Artax and I am looking for a new home. I arrived at the shelter with three other dogs after we were seized from our old home. This was, after the long time of neglect and abandonment, also bitterly necessary, because otherwise one would probably soon only have to recover corpses. The condition in which I arrived here can hardly be put into words. Every bone was visible, you could have played xylophone on my ribs. In addition, the claws were much too long, the dirty fur and the corresponding smell. But now I am here and thanks to the care and care that I experience here, it is slowly but surely going up for me. I have already gained a little, have enjoyed my first bath and have also been examined by a veterinarian. Even if I have every right to curse humanity after my past, my affection has not been taken away from me. On the contrary, I am happy about every attention I can get and build a bond with my two-legged ones very quickly. I am so happy about my caregivers every day that I would like to jump into their arms out of joy, so children should be stand-fast. I still have to learn that you don't do something like that, but so far I don't know how to show my joy otherwise. Otherwise, however, I am a very fine fellow who has already learned a thing or two. I get along great with other dogs and I could also imagine sharing my new home with another dog again. I also run very well on the leash outside and always pay attention to where my human is. My caregivers fear that I have to relearn the house cleanliness, because unfortunately I did not come out regularly at that time. Whether I can stay alone can not be said with certainty, so my new people have to adjust to starting all over again. But, as is typical for a shepherd dog, I am very willing to learn and I am very happy about learning new things and exploring the world. Therefore, my people should definitely bring a certain adventurous spirit, I was locked up in an apartment for a long time! It would be great if I didn't have to walk steps in my new home, that's not good for my joints. So how's it looking? Have I piqued your interest? Then contact my caregivers, who manage my appointments.

DE·Show original

Ich bin der hübsche Artax und ich bin auf der Suche nach einem neuen Refugium. Meinen Weg ins Tierheim trat ich mit drei weiteren Hunden an, nachdem wir in unserem alten Zuhause beschlagnahmt wurden. Dies war, nach der langen Zeit der Vernachlässigung und Verwahrlosung, auch bitter notwendig, denn ansonsten hätte man vermutlich bald nur noch Kadaver bergen können. Der Zustand, in dem ich hier ankam, lässt sich kaum in Worte fassen. Jeder Knochen war sichtbar, auf meinen Rippen hätte man Xylophon spielen können. Dazu die viel zu langen Krallen, das dreckige Fell und der entsprechende Geruch. Aber nun bin ich hier und Dank der Versorgung und Pflege, die ich hier erfahre, geht es für mich langsam aber sicher bergauf. Ich habe schon ein wenig zugenommen, habe mein erstes Bad genossen und wurde auch schon tierärztlich untersucht. Auch wenn ich nach meiner Vergangenheit vielleicht jedes Recht dazu hätte, die Menschheit zu verfluchen, wurde mir meine Zuneigung nicht genommen. Ganz im Gegenteil, ich freue mich über jede Aufmerksamkeit, die ich bekommen kann und baue auch sehr schnell eine Bindung zu meinen Zweibeinern auf. Über meine Pfleger*innen freue ich mich täglich so sehr, dass ich ihnen am liebsten vor Freude in den Arm springen würde, daher sollten Kinder auf jeden Fall standfest sein. Ich muss noch lernen, dass man so etwas nicht tut, aber bisher weiß ich noch nicht, wie ich meinen Frohsinn anders zeigen soll. Ansonsten bin ich aber ein ganz feiner Kerl, der schon das ein oder andere gelernt hat. Mit anderen Hunden komme ich super zurecht und ich könnte mir auch vorstellen, mir mein neues Domizil wieder mit einem anderen Hund zu teilen. Draußen laufe ich auch sehr gut an der Leine und achte auch immer darauf, wo mein Mensch ist. Meine Pfleger*innen befürchten, dass ich die Stubenreinheit neu erlernen muss, da ich damals leider nicht regelmäßig vor die Tür gekommen bin. Ob ich alleine bleiben kann, lässt sich auch nicht mit Gewissheit sagen, daher müssen meine neuen Menschen sich darauf einstellen, mit mir nochmal ganz von vorne anzufangen. Aber, wie es für einen Schäferhund typisch ist, bin ich sehr lernwillig und freue mich sehr darüber neue Dinge kennenzulernen und die Welt zu erkunden. Daher sollten meine Menschen auf jeden Fall eine gewisse Abenteuerlust mitbringen, in einer Wohnung eingesperrt war ich lange genug! Es wäre großartig, wenn ich in meinem neuen Zuhause keine Stufen laufen müsste, das ist für meine Gelenke nicht förderlich. Also wie sieht's aus? Habe ich dein Interesse geweckt? Dann melde dich doch schnell bei meinen Pfleger*innen, die verwalten nämlich meine Termine.

Size
Large
Age
—
Location
🇩🇪Essen
Shelter
Tierheim Essen
Living with Artax
  • ✓Neutered
  • ✓Good with kids
Cared for by Tierheim Essen · EssenLearn about German Shepherd →

Listed Yesterday

Bringing Artax home

What you'll need for Artax 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 Artax

What life with Artax looks like

Artax is a large adult german shepherd dog waiting at Tierheim Essen in Essen.

An adult dog fits most household rhythms once the first couple of weeks of adjustment pass. A larger dog like this one needs daily off-leash time when possible — a fenced yard or regular access to safe walking trails. 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.

Essen, Germany — browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Artax, answered.

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