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Ernie

Poodle · Male · Young · 2 years

Ernie originally came to us as a found dog and was clearly abandoned. Due to the daily stress and loudness in the animal shelter, he quickly moved to a foster home that fell in love with him and adopted him. However, it became increasingly clear why the sweet boy likely lost his first home: Ernie had no frustration tolerance, could not be left alone, and brought his people to their knees with persistent barking, clear growling, and sustained snapping, making them dance to his tune. With professional help, work was done on his issues in his new home, but he also pushed his new people to their limits, so they reluctantly had to part ways with him and give him a chance at a suitable home. Ernie is a young, energetic dog. He is very intelligent and quickly figures out what behavior will get him what he wants. He is socially compatible with other dogs and, in a free run, is more reserved. In the household, he is very cuddly, still demands attention, but can now stay alone for a few hours. He has a good basic obedience, walks well on a leash, is house-trained, and travels well in the car. Ernie responds very well to clear and consistent body language from his people. Therefore, we are looking for an experienced home where he receives clear and consistently enforceable rules from the start, within which he can take responsibility and trust the sovereignty of his people. He quickly bonds closely with his main caregiver but must be made clear from the beginning that he is not responsible for her and does not need to protect her from others. Breed-specifically, in addition to sufficient physical exercise, he also needs a lot of mental work. Regular dog sports, search and intelligence games with new challenges, exploring new paths or areas together, and tasks he must solve would greatly help him to become more balanced and relaxed. Since he will likely test what he can get away with again after his move, wearing a muzzle in the early stages is a great help. With increasing balance and exercise, he will certainly be able to do without it in the right home. Where are the right engaged people for this wonderful, fun, character-strong, and energy-packed little man?

DE·Show original

Ernie kam ursprünglich als Fundhund zu uns und war offensichtlich ausgesetzt worden. Da ihn der tägliche Streß und die Lautstärke im Tierheim überforderte, zog er schnell auf eine Pflegestelle, die sich Hals über Kopf in ihn verliebt und adoptierte. Nach und nach wurde jedoch deutlich, weshalb der süße Kerl vermutlich sein erstes Zuhause verloren hatte: Ernie hatte keine Frustrationstoleranz, konnte (wollte) nicht alleine bleiben und brachte seine Menschen durch anhaltendes Bellen, deutliches Knurren und nachhaltiges Schnappen wohl dazu, nach seiner Pfeife zu tanzen. In seinem neuen Zuhause wurde mit fachkundiger Hilfe an seinen Problemen gearbeitet, er brachte jedoch auch seine neuen Menschen an ihre Grenzen, so dass diese sich schweren Herzens aufgrund persönlicher Umstände wieder von ihm trennen und ihm die Chance auf ein passendes Zuhause geben möchten. Ernie ist ein junger Hund voller Energie. Er ist sehr intelligent und durchschaut schnell, mit welchem Verhalten er beim Menschen etwas bewirken kann. Er ist mit anderen Hunden sozial kompatibel und freilaufend im Zweifelsfalle eher zurückhaltend. Im häuslichen Umfeld ist er sehr verschmust, fordert jedoch nach wie vor noch gerne Aufmerksamkeit ein, schafft es aber mittlerweile schon, wenige Stunden alleine zu bleiben. Er hat einen guten Grundgehorsam, an der Leine läuft er wunderbar, er ist stubenrein und fährt gut im Auto mit. Ernie läßt sich sehr gut auf klare und konsequente Körpersprache seiner Menschen ein. Daher suchen wir für ihn ein erfahrenes Zuhause, in dem er von Anfang an glasklare und konsequent einzuhaltende Regeln erklärt bekommt, in deren Rahmen er Verantwortung abgeben und sich vertrauensvoll auf die Souveränität seiner Menschen einlassen kann. Er bindet sich schnell sehr eng an seine Hauptbezugsperson, muß hier aber von Beginn an erklärt bekommen, dass er für diese weder zuständig ist, noch sie vor anderen beschützen muß. Rassebedingt benötigt er neben einer ausreichenden körperlichen Auslastung vor allem auch eine Menge Kopfarbeit. Regelmäßiger Hundesport, Such- und Intelligenzspiele mit immer neuen Herausforderungen, gemeinsames Erkunden neuer Wege oder Gebiete und Aufgaben, die er lösen muß, würden ihm in Verbindung mit festen Ruhezeiten sehr helfen, ausgeglichener und entspannter zu werden. Da er nach seinem Einzug vermutlich wieder schnell testen wird, was er sich herausnehmen kann, stellt das Tragen eines Maulkorbs in der Anfangszeit eine großartige Hilfestellung dar. Im passenden Zuhause mit zunehmender Ausgeglichenheit und Auslastung wird er diesen jedoch ganz sicher nach und nach ablegen können. Wo sind die passenden engagierten Menschen für diesen tollen, lustigen, charakterstarken und energiegeladenen kleinen Mann?

Size
Large
Age
Young · 2 years
Location
🇩🇪Darmstadt
Shelter
Tierheim Darmstadt
Living with Ernie
  • House-trained
  • Neutered
  • Good with kids
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Cared for by Tierheim Darmstadt · DarmstadtLearn about Poodle

Listed 2 months 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.

    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 Ernie

What life with Ernie looks like

Ernie is a large young adult poodle dog waiting at Tierheim Darmstadt in Darmstadt.

An young 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.

Darmstadt, 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. Tierheim Darmstadt 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 — 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 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 Tierheim Darmstadt 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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