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Adopt Maxi

Golden Retriever · Female · Senior · 13 years

Maxi – she who earns your trust earns a loyal companion Maxi originally came from Romania and arrived at the animal shelter Berlin through a temporary holding. In her previous life, she likely did not have many good experiences with people – which makes it all the more important that she now be placed in a stable, understanding home. When meeting strangers, Maxi initially shows mistrust and barks at them. If she feels pressured, she advances forward. However, those who take the time to get to know her in peace will be rewarded with a loyal, approachable female dog. Walks are a good way to earn her trust – and multiple walks at the shelter should be part of any interest in a placement. What sets me apart: When I once gain trust, I am friendly, open, and very people-oriented. For my age, I am surprisingly fit and enjoy going for walks. I develop a close bond with my trusted people. I am vigilant and keep a close watch on our four walls. A structured daily routine gives me security. What I need: I am unsure around strangers and may bark at them. If I feel pressured by unfamiliar people, I can react with forward defense. I have hip dysplasia, which is treated free of charge lifelong at the animal shelter clinic. Therefore, climbing stairs is difficult for me, and I should live on the ground floor. What I am looking for: A dog-experienced home with one person – two people require more dog experience. A quiet living environment – ideally a house and garden – otherwise, at least on the ground floor with no hustle and bustle or visitors (strangers are not my thing). This animal is not suitable for homes with children.

Read original (de)

Maxi – wer ihr Vertrauen gewinnt, gewinnt eine treue Begleiterin Maxi stammt ursprünglich aus Rumänien und kam über eine Verwahrung ins Tierheim Berlin. In ihrem bisherigen Leben hat sie vermutlich nicht viele gute Erfahrungen mit Menschen gemacht – umso wichtiger ist es, dass sie nun in ein stabiles, verständnisvolles Zuhause ziehen darf. Fremden begegnet Maxi zunächst mit Misstrauen und bellt sie an. Wird sie bedrängt, geht sie nach vorn. Wer sich aber die Zeit nimmt, sie in Ruhe kennenzulernen, wird mit einer treuen, zugänglichen Hündin belohnt. Spaziergänge sind ein guter Weg, ihr Vertrauen zu gewinnen – davon sollten bei einem Vermittlungsinteresse unbedingt mehrere im Tierheim stattfinden. Was mich auszeichnet Wenn ich einmal Vertrauen gefasst habe, bin ich freundlich, aufgeschlossen und sehr menschenbezogen Für mein Alter bin ich noch erstaunlich fit und gehe gerne spazieren Ich entwickle eine enge Bindung zu meinen Bezugspersonen Ich bin wachsam und passe auf „unsere“ vier Wände gut auf Ein strukturierter Alltag gibt mir Sicherheit Woran man mit mir arbeiten muss Ich bin unsicher gegenüber fremden Menschen und verbelle diese Wenn ich mich von mir unbekannten Menschen bedrängt fühle, kann ich mit Vorwärtsverteidigung reagieren Ich habe Hüftdysplasie – werde aber darauf lebenslang kostenlos in der Tierheimpraxis behandelt Treppensteigen fällt mir daher schwer, ich sollte ebenerdig wohnen Was ich suche Ein hundeerfahrenes Zuhause bei einer Einzelperson – bei zwei Personen muss entsprechend mehr Hundeerfahrung vorhanden sein Ein ruhiges Wohnumfeld – am liebsten Haus und Garten – sonst zumindest ebenerdig und ohne viel Trubel oder gar Besuch (fremde Menschen sind gar nicht mein Fall) Ein Zuhause ohne Kinder oder andere Tiere Keine

Size
Medium
Age
Senior · 13 years
Location
🇩🇪Berlin
Shelter
Tierheim Berlin Falkenberg
Living with Maxi
  • Good with dogs
  • Good with cats
  • Good with kids
  • Has special needs
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Cared for by Tierheim Berlin Falkenberg · BerlinLearn about Golden Retriever

Listed 1 month ago

Bringing Maxi home

What you'll need for Maxi 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.

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    €50–80
  3. 03
    Legal · EU

    Car Seatbelt Tether

    Legally required in most EU countries for transporting dogs.

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    €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 Maxi

What life with Maxi looks like

Maxi is a medium-sized senior golden retriever dog waiting at Tierheim Berlin Falkenberg in Berlin.

Senior dogs settle in faster than younger ones. They want a soft bed, predictable meals, and short, sniff-heavy walks rather than runs. Many senior rescues bond deeply within weeks because they understand exactly how good a stable home is. Expect occasional vet visits for joint or dental care.

Note from the shelter: Hip dysplasia, requires ground-floor living, fearful of strangers, needs quiet environment without visitors

🇩🇪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.

Berlin, Germany browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Maxi, answered.

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