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Adopt Ernie

Border Collie · Male · Adult · 8 years

Together with the Border Collie male dogs "Bert," Ernie was surrendered to the animal shelter due to separation. Although the two get along quite well most of the time in the shelter, they definitely want to be rehomed separately. Ernie is actually the older of the two but is absolutely fit, motivated, and hardworking. Typical Border Collie, a little workaholic who can never have enough of small and large tasks and unfortunately also toys. At first, he is skeptical or even suspicious of strangers, especially men, but quickly gains their trust and then becomes particularly cuddly and clingy. He hasn't attended any dog training classes but knows some signals, can stay alone, and can also ride in the car. He is described as friendly and approachable towards other dogs and is compatible with cats. On the go, Ernie shows active, friendly, and motivated behavior, is bribable, and attentive. Despite his almost 9 years, Ernie does not belong to the seniors and needs a meaningful task. For this, we are looking for active, dog-experienced people who can challenge and support him accordingly. As he has no experience living with children, they should already be older.

Read original (de)

Gemeinsam mit dem Border Collie Rüden „Bert“ wurde Ernie wegen Trennung im Tierheim abgegeben. Zwar verstehen sich die beiden auch im Tierheim die meiste Zeit ganz gut, möchten aber auf jeden Fall getrennt vermittelt werden. Ernie ist zwar der ältere der beiden, aber absolut fit, motiviert und arbeitswillig. Typisch Border Collie ein kleiner Workoholiker, der von kleinen und großen Aufgaben und leider auch Spielzeug nicht genug haben kann. Anfang ist er bei fremden Menschen, insbesondere Männern, skeptisch bis misstrauisch, fasst aber schnell Vertrauen und zeigt sich dann vor allem verschmust und anhänglich. Eine Hundeschule hat er bisher nicht besucht, kennt aber einige Signale, kann gut alleine bleiben und auch im Auto mitfahren. Anderen Hunden gegenüber wird er als zutraulich beschrieben, mit Katzen sei er verträglich. Unterwegs zeigt sich Ernie aktiv, freundlich und motiviert, ist bestechlich und aufmerksam. Trotz seinen bald 9 Jahren gehört Ernie nicht zu den Senioren und braucht eine sinnvolle Aufgabe. Dafür suchen wir aktive, hundeerfahrene Menschen, die ihn entsprechend fordern und fördern. Da er das Zusammenleben mit Kindern nicht kennt, sollten diese schon größer sein.

Size
Medium
Age
Adult · 8 years
Location
🇩🇪Reutlingen
Shelter
Tierschutzverein Reutlingen
Living with Ernie
  • Good with cats
  • Good with kids
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Cared for by Tierschutzverein Reutlingen · ReutlingenLearn about Border Collie

Listed 4 days ago

Bringing Ernie home

What you'll need for Ernie 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.

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    €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.

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    €18–25
  5. 05

    Orthopaedic Dog Bed

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

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    €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 Ernie

What life with Ernie looks like

Ernie is a medium-sized adult border collie dog waiting at Tierschutzverein Reutlingen in Reutlingen.

An 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.

Reutlingen, Germany browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Ernie, answered.

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