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Mario

Male · Adult · 5 years

Mario is a 1.5-year-old Romanian crossbreed who was seized along with three other dogs. He is approximately 26.06.2025 years old and can live with other dogs, but not with cats. He is not suitable for an apartment and requires a house with a garden. Mario can live with children aged 16+, but he is initially wary of people and has an anxious nature. He can be easily startled by new situations, unexpected movements, and especially loud noises. When he is scared, he may retreat, run away, or bark at people. Therefore, Mario needs time, rest, and a predictable environment. His new owners must be able to read his signals and give him space to get to know them at his own pace. During a visit, however, those who give Mario space will soon discover a different dog. When he gains trust, Mario seeks contact on his own. During his behavior observation, he suddenly climbed onto the sofa, asked for attention, and even showed that he wanted to cuddle, seeking support and lying on someone's lap. He can be very affectionate and enjoys contact when he chooses to. He finds toys a bit strange, but he enjoys playing with a person: he plays enthusiastically and comes closer. Mario is a curious dog. He loves to sniff and likes to search for tasty treats. He is food-sensitive, does not know any commands, and also likes to keep the food he considers important. Mario is sometimes very aggressive with other dogs and can be quite pushy, so we would like to test him with a stable female dog. We are looking for adopters who know or want to learn how to deal with a fearful dog without extensive socialization. A quiet household without small children with a house and fenced garden would be ideal. A busy social life is not suitable for Mario, and it is best to have a separate room in the house where he can find peace. Are you interested in Mario? Please fill out our questionnaire on the website or send an email.

NL·Show original

Ras: canis vulgaris Leeftijd: 26.06.2025 Kan met andere honden: ja Kan met katten: ? Kan op een appartement: nee, huis met tuin Kan met kinderen: ja, 16+ Mario is een Roemeense kruising van ongeveer 1,5 jaar oud en hij is samen met 3 andere honden in beslag genomen. Mario heeft in het begin moeite om mensen te vertrouwen en heeft een angstig karakter. Nieuwe situaties, onverwachte bewegingen en vooral geluiden kunnen hem flink laten schrikken. Wanneer hij bang is, kan hij afstand nemen, wegvluchten of mensen wegblaf­fen. Daarom heeft Mario tijd, rust en een voorspelbare omgeving nodig. Zijn nieuwe baasjes zullen zijn signalen goed moeten kunnen lezen en hem vooral de ruimte geven om op zijn eigen tempo kennis te maken. Bij bezoek Maar wie Mario die ruimte geeft, ontdekt al snel een heel ander hondje. Wanneer hij vertrouwen krijgt, zoekt Mario uit zichzelf contact. Tijdens zijn gedragsobservatie kroop hij er ineens bij op de zetel, vroeg om aandacht en liet zelfs zien dat hij graag wilde knuffelen, steun zocht en lag zomaar op schoot. Hij kan heerlijk aanhankelijk zijn en geniet zichtbaar van contact wanneer hij daar zelf voor kiest. Speeltjes vindt hij nog wel iets geks, maar spelen met een persoon vindt hij leuk: hij doet enthousiast mee met spelletjes en komt dan graag dichterbij. Mario is een nieuwsgierige hond. Hij vindt snuffelen geweldig en gaat graag op zoek naar lekkere voertjes. Hij is voergevoelig, kent nog geen commando’s en behoud ook graag het eten dat hij belangrijk vindt. Met andere honden is Mario met momenten erg hevig en kan zich nogal opdringen, we zouden hem kunnen uittesten met een stabiele teef. Voor Mario zoeken we adoptanten die weten of willen leren hoe ze met een bange hond zonder brede socialisatie moeten omgaan. Een rustig huishouden zonder kleine kinderen met een huis en omheinde tuin, zou ideaal zijn. Een druk sociaal leven is niet voor Mario weggelegd en er is ook het best een aparte ruimte aanwezig in huis waar hij rust kan vinden. Heb je interesse in Mario? Vul dan onze vragenlijst in via de site of stuur een mailtje naar

Size
Small
Age
Adult · 5 years
Location
🇧🇪Genk
Shelter
Dierenasiel Genk
Living with Mario
  • Good with dogs
  • Good with cats
  • Good with kids
Cared for by Dierenasiel Genk · Genk

Listed 1 week ago

Bringing Mario home

What you'll need for Mario 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.

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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 Mario

What life with Mario looks like

Mario is a small adult dog waiting at Dierenasiel Genk in Genk.

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 Belgium

Belgian shelters operate under regional law (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels each have their own rules). All adoptions include the Eurochip, vaccinations, and a stewardship contract. Several Flemish shelters partner with Dutch and German rescue networks.

Genk, Belgium browse more dogs in Belgium.

Frequently asked

Adopting Mario, answered.

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