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NIKO

Belgian Malinois · Male · Young · 2 years

Niko is a 2-year-old neutered male dog (born May 5, 2024)—most likely a mix of DSH, Mali, and Greyhound. He has a slender build and weighs between 26 and 27 kg. He originally comes from Slovakia. At puppyhood, he was taken away from his first owner because the owner intended to euthanize him due to two fractures in his right hind leg. The cause of the fractures is unknown; the foot has healed well, though it’s about 1 cm shorter, causing Niko to slightly drag it after prolonged exertion. After that, he came into the care of a foster family through the organization Animal Hope, changed foster families once (the reason given: he’d been there too long), and in February 2025, at the age of 9 months, he arrived with me via Animal Hope. Initially, Niko was a very social, playful young dog who was already quite boisterous and somewhat dominant but showed no issues in terms of social behavior. That changed around his first birthday: at first, he reacted aggressively—“only”—to unneutered male dogs; he was therefore neutered at just under 15 months old. Later, he became aggressive toward all dogs, which is why dog zones and play encounters are currently not possible. You need to actively practice dog encounters with him (walking past, staying seated, letting other dogs pass by, etc.). Niko is very intelligent and learns quickly, but he requires consistent leadership—including corrections. Frustration tolerance and impulse control are two of his main challenges. In the city, he’s overwhelmed by stimuli, and it’s difficult to predict what exactly “triggers” him; therefore, he’s currently only walked with a muzzle. Children sometimes make him wary, and he has a strong prey drive when it comes to balls and sticks. Towards (adult) humans, he’s very friendly and shows absolutely no problems. On the leash, he can walk nicely—as long as the environment is low-stimulus. Once you capture his attention and interest, working with people clearly brings him joy, and he’s easy to motivate. He feels most comfortable in the forest; he loves running fast, playing with sticks, and enjoys water. At home, he’s easygoing, very playful, quickly finds his own calm, and isn’t territorial at all. Only occasionally does he snap out of nervousness when visitors come over—but this can be easily prevented. He loves playing and cuddling, yet he’s very sensitive and often needs his personal space. Due to his background, he’s not suited for agility, but he enjoys scent games. Searching or mantrailing would certainly be great for him; however, given his sensitive nature, you have to be careful not to overwhelm him and find the right balance. Niko is a wonderful and VERY lovable dog with plenty of potential, zest for life, and energy.

DE·Show original

Niko ist ein 2-jähriger kastrierter Rüde (Geb: 05.05.2024)- höchstwahrscheinlich ein Mix aus DSH, Mali und Greyhound. Er ist schlank gebaut und wiegt zw. 26-27kg.Ursprünglich kommt er aus der Slowakei. Seinem ersten Besitzer wurde er im Welpenalter abgenommen, da dieser ihn aufgrund von zwei Knochenbrüchen am rechten Hinterbein einschläfern wollte. Ursache ist unbekannt, der Fuß ist gut verheilt, jedoch 1cm kürzer weshalb Niko ihn nachlängerer Belastung etwas nachschleift. Daraufhin kam er über die Organisation Animal Hope zu einer Pflegefamilie, wechselte diese einmalund kam im Februar 2025 über die Organisation Animal Hope im Alter von 9 Monaten zu seiner letzten Besitzerin nach Wien. Niko war anfangs ein sehr sozialer, verspielter Junghund der zwar bereits recht stürmisch und eher dominant war, aber keine Probleme im Sozialverhalten zeigte. Das änderte sich mit knapp einem Jahr, zuerst reagierte er nur aggressiv auf unkastrierte Rüden- er wurde daraufhin mit knapp 15Monaten kastriert- dann auf alle Hunde, weshalb Hundezonen und Spielbegegnungen derzeit nicht möglich sind. Man muss mit ihm aktiv Hundebegegnungen (vorbeigehen, sitzen bleiben, vorbeigehen lassen,…) üben. Niko ist sehr schlau und lernt schnell, braucht jedoch eine konsequenteFührung und man muss ihm deutlich klare Grenzen setzen. Zwei seiner Hauptthemen sind Frustrationstoleranz und Impulskontrolle und speziell in der Stadt ist es manchmal schwierig einzuschätzen was ihn triggert, deshalb wird er momentan nur mit Maulkorb geführt. Den Umgang mit Kindern muss man ihm geduldig beibringen und fremde Kinder sind ihm derzeit suspekt. Erwachsene Menschen liebt er und zeigt keinerlei Probleme im Umgang. Er hat einen starken Beutetrieb bei Bällen und Stöcken. An der Leine kann er in reizarmer Umgebung gut gehen und er beherrscht Sitz, Platz sowie Rückruf. Wenn man seine Aufmerksamkeit und sein Interesse gewinnt, macht ihm das Arbeiten mit dem Menschen sichtlich Spaß und man kann ihn gut begeistern. Er liebt ausgedehnte Spaziergänge wo er an langer Leine laufen kann, mag Wasser und Nasenarbeit. Zuhause ist er unkompliziert, sehr verspielt, kommt leicht selbst zur Ruhe und ist überhaupt nicht territorial. Nur Besuch macht ihn manchmal nervös, aber er gewöhnt sich schnell an die neue Situation und ist jedem gegenüber aufgeschlossen. Er mag Spielen und Kuscheln, ist jedoch sehr sensibel und benötigt öfter seinen Freiraum. Aufgrund seiner Vorgeschichte ist Niko nicht für Agility geeignet, aber Suchspiele machen ihm Spaß, er hat bereitsErfahrung mit dem Futterdummy gesammelt. Stöbern oder Mantrailing wäre sicher toll für ihn, manmuss aufgrund seines sensiblen Wesens aber darauf achten ihn nicht zu überfordern und die richtige Balance finden. Niko ist ein toller und SEHR liebenswerter Hund mit viel Potential, Lebensfreude und Power. Wir suchen für Ihn ein Zuhause am Land/in ruhiger Umgebung mit Menschen die ihm mit Geduld und Liebe helfen aus ihm den tollen Begleiter zu machen der er ist. Kontaktdaten: Kathrin, Tierschutzverein Animal Hope, Niko befindet sich derzeit in einer Tierpension in Niederösterreich.

Size
—
Age
Young · 2 years
Location
🇦🇹Krems an der Donau
Shelter
Tierheim Krems
Living with NIKO
  • ✓Neutered
  • ✓Good with kids
Cared for by Tierheim Krems · Krems an der DonauLearn about Belgian Malinois →

Listed 1 month ago

Bringing NIKO home

What you'll need for NIKO 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 NIKO

What life with NIKO looks like

NIKO is a young adult belgian malinois dog waiting at Tierheim Krems in Krems an der Donau.

An young 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 Austria

Austrian shelters follow the federal Tierschutzgesetz framework: adopters sign a Schutzvertrag (protection contract) committing to the animal's welfare. Spay/neuter, microchip, and vaccinations are included; fees typically range €150–€350.

Krems an der Donau, Austria — browse more dogs in Austria.

Frequently asked

Adopting NIKO, answered.

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