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Adopt Frederik

German Shepherd · Male · Adult · 5 years

Frederik came to us at the animal shelter via the authorities. He was taken out of a residence with other animals and had already lived with several previous owners. As he is highly territorial and takes his seriousness seriously, he can only be rehomed with people who have a lot of experience with dogs. We use a so-called Muzzle-Box—a hole in the fence through which Frederik can stick his head (see photo below)—to keep him muzzled, ensuring that his interactions are uncomplicated and, most importantly, always safe. Frederik is accustomed to wearing the muzzle and wears it without issue. On the leash, Frederik does well and is also compatible with other animals. However, he should be rehomed as a single dog, as his social behavior in direct contact can be very hysterical and controlling. Frederik is a typical German Shepherd who excels at basic commands and is very trainable. He can also be playful and then play wildly. But the handsome male German Shepherd needs a lot of time to fully trust humans. Letting his guard down is difficult for him. Because Frederik is always concerned about his safety, and can bite during touches or manipulations, like when putting on a collar, if this trust has not yet been established. He also behaves very watchful by nature. Unfortunately, Frederik—due to his breed—has hip dysplasia. We know how difficult it will be to find the right people for the handsome male dog: They should be very experienced, have no children, and be willing to accept dog training as well as the muzzle as essential prerequisites for adoption. Once he has built a relationship and learned to trust and take responsibility, he will surely become a loyal and affectionate companion. We wish Frederik so much that he will one day be able to show how much positive potential he has! Update September 2024: Frederik has developed positively in the past months. With his trusted people, who work with him daily, he is very open and cuddly. He now lets them touch him everywhere and can endure many situations that were previously uncomfortable for him, as long as everything proceeds calmly. He still reacts defensively to chaos and pressure, but he can now express his discomfort through growling rather than immediately resorting to biting. The muzzle remains necessary, as he shows himself to be both very trainable but also very independent, and does not like being restricted by things he considers very important at the moment, which he wants to regulate. On the leash, this usually works well, but when he is in one of our runs without a leash, he does not want to be restricted or prevented from chasing anymore and shows his dissatisfaction. How he would behave in a home or apartment is hard to predict, but a small, cramped apartment is definitely not suitable for him. He needs space to give each other some room.

Read original (de)

Frederik kam über das Amt zu uns ins Tierheim. Er war mit anderen Tieren aus einer Wohnung herausgeholt worden und hatte bereits ein Leben mit mehreren Vorbesitzer:innen hinter sich. Da er sich stark territorial verhält, und es auch ernst meint, kann er nur zu Menschen mit viel Hundeerfahrung vermittelt werden. Wir ziehen ihm über eine sogenannte Muzzle-Box – eine Öffnung im Zaun, durch die Frederik seinen Kopf steckt (s. Foto unten) – einen Maulkorb an, damit das Zusammensein unkomplizierter und vor allem immer sicher erfolgen kann. Frederik ist an den Maulkorb gewöhnt und trägt ihn anstandslos. An der Leine läuft Frederik gut und ist auch nach Sympathie mit Artgenossen verträglich. Er sollte jedoch als Einzelhund vermittelt werden, da sein Sozialverhalten im direkten Kontakt sehr hysterisch und kontrollierend ist. Frederik ist ein typischer Schäferhund, der Grundkommandos perfekt beherrscht und sich sehr gelehrig zeigt. Er kann auch lustig sein und dann wild spielen. Doch der hübsche Altdeutsche Schäferhund-Rüde braucht einiges an Zeit, um Menschen absolut zu vertrauen. Sich fallen zu lassen fällt ihm schwer. Denn Frederik ist immer in Sorge um sich, und kann – wenn dieses Vertrauen noch nicht da ist – bei Berührungen oder Manipulationen an sich, wie zum Beispiel beim Geschirr anziehen, beißen. Rassetypisch verhält er sich auch sehr wachsam. Leider hat Frederik – auch rassebedingt – Hüftgelenksdysplasie. Wir wissen, wie schwierig es sein wird, für den hübschen Rüden die richtigen Menschen zu finden: Sie sollten sehr erfahren sein, keine Kinder haben und Hundetraining sowie den Maulkorb als unabdingbare Voraussetzungen für eine Adoption akzeptieren. Hat er eine Beziehung aufgebaut und gelernt zu vertrauen und Verantwortung abzugeben, wird er bestimmt ein treuer und anhänglicher Begleiter werden. Wir wünschen Frederik so sehr, dass er eines Tages zeigen darf, wie viel positives Potential in ihm steckt! Update September 2024:Frederik hat sich in den letzten Monaten positiv entwickelt. Bei seinen Bezugspersonen, die täglich mit ihm arbeiten, ist er sehr aufgeschlossen und verschmust. Von ihnen lässt er sich mittlerweile überall anfassen und hält auch viele für ihn unangenehme Situationen aus, solange alles in Ruhe abläuft. Auf Hektik und Zwang reagiert er weiterhin abwehrend. Seine Überforderung kann er aber jetzt auch z. B. durch Knurren zum Ausdruck bringen, statt direkt auf Angriff zu gehen und zu beißen. Der Maulkorb bleibt aber weiterhin nötig, da er sich zwar als sehr gelehriger, aber auch sehr eigenständiger Schäferhund zeigt und sich ungern von Sachen abhalten lässt, die er als sehr wichtig erachtet und meint in dem Moment regeln zu wollen. An der Leine geht dies meist noch recht gut, sobald er aber in einem unserer Freiläufe ohne Leine laufen kann, möchte er sich nicht mehr so gern einschränken oder am Pöbeln hindern lassen und zeigt auch seinen Unmut darüber. Wie er sich in einer Wohnung oder einem Haus zeigen würde, ist deshalb schwer einzuschätzen, aber eine kleine enge Wohnung ist für ihn definitiv nicht das richtige. Es braucht Platz, um sich gegenseitig auch mal Raum geben zu können.

Size
Extra large
Age
Adult · 5 years
Location
🇩🇪Bonn
Shelter
Tierheim Bonn
Living with Frederik
  • Neutered
  • Good with dogs
  • Good with cats
  • Good with kids
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Cared for by Tierheim Bonn · BonnLearn about German Shepherd

Listed 1 month ago

Bringing Frederik home

What you'll need for Frederik 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 Frederik

What life with Frederik looks like

Frederik is a extra-large adult german shepherd dog waiting at Tierheim Bonn in Bonn.

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.

Bonn, Germany browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Frederik, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Frederik?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Tierheim Bonn handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Frederik on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Frederik if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Tierheim Bonn 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 Frederik 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 Frederik 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 Bonn early rather than rehoming privately; they know Frederik 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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Adopt Frederik — 5yo German Shepherd in Bonn | TailHarbor