Not confirmed since October 24, 2026

Richard

German Shepherd · Male · Adult · 8 years

Richard originally came from Romania and was transferred to us from another German animal welfare association. At first, Richard shows a lot of insecurity around unfamiliar people at the shelter. Then he bares his teeth and keeps a large safety distance. But one shouldn’t be deterred by this, because if one gives Richard some time, he can develop trust towards humans quite quickly, depending on the individual’s sympathy. Richard is a very affectionate and playful male dog, but he lacks basic obedience. He likes to jump up, pulls on the leash, and isn’t focused during training – he always focuses on the environment around him. Due to his breed, Richard is very agile and therefore requires a lot of space as well as physical and mental stimulation. Richard is perfect as a watch dog on a property, but with a close family connection. Other male dogs don’t always find him so appealing – here he definitely sees competition. With female dogs, he chooses based on his individual preference. Due to his stormy nature, only larger and very sturdy children (possibly in the teenage years) should live in the household. Although training with Richard is still a lot of work, one also gets a loyal, affectionate, and playful companion with him.

DE·Show original

Richard kommt ursprünglich aus Rumänien und ist aus einem anderen deutschen Tierschutzverein zu uns gezogen. Anfangs zeigt sich Richard bei fremden Menschen sehr unsicher am Zwinger. Dann zeigt er seine Lefzen in voller Pracht und hält großen Sicherheitsabstand. Davon sollte man sich aber nicht abschrecken lassen, denn wenn man Richard etwas Zeit gibt, fasst er je nach Sympathie zum Menschen schon nach kurzer Zeit Vertrauen. Richard ist ein sehr Liebevoller und verspielter Rüde der aber wenig Grundgehorsam kennt.Er springt gerne an, zieht an der Leine, ist beim Training nicht bei der Sache – legt den Focus immer nach Außen in die Umgebung. Er ist auf Grund seiner Rasse sehr Agil und benötigt daher viel Platz sowie Körperliche und geistige Auslastung. Richard eignet sich super als Wachhund auf einem Grundstück, jedoch mit engem Familienanschluss. Andere Rüden findet er nicht immer so toll – hier sieht er definitiv Konkurrenz. Bei Hündinnen sucht er es sich aus, je nach Sympathie. Auf Grund seiner stürmischen Art sollten nur größere und sehr Standfeste Kinder ( evt. Im Teenageralter) im Haushalt leben. Mit Richard hat man zwar noch einiges an Arbeit vor sich was das Training angeht, aber bekommt mit ihm auch einen treuen, liebevollen und verspielten Begleiter.

Size

Large

Age

Adult · 8 years

Location

🇩🇪Cottbus

Shelter

Tierheim Cottbus

Living with Richard

✓Neutered
✓Good with kids

Cared for by Tierheim Cottbus · Cottbus Learn about German Shepherd →

More dogs in Cottbus →More dogs in Germany →

Listed 6 months ago

Bringing Richard home

What you'll need for Richard in week one.

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About Richard

What life with Richard looks like

Richard is a large adult german shepherd dog waiting at Tierheim Cottbus in Cottbus.

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. Dogs and cats typically leave the shelter sterilized, microchipped, and with an EU pet passport.

Cottbus, Germany — browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Richard, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Richard?: Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Tierheim Cottbus handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Richard on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Richard if I live in another country?: Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Tierheim Cottbus 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. Transport is usually a separate cost, so ask for the exact figure before you commit.
Is Richard 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 Richard 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 Cottbus early rather than rehoming privately; they know Richard 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.