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Adopt Rico

Mixed Breed · Male · Adult · 5 years

Rico lived for a long time in a small enclosure and was only allowed to spend about an hour a day outside with around 60 other dogs. He quickly became a victim of larger and stronger dogs. During a serious biting incident, Rico was saved at the last minute – our help came just in time. Today, Rico shows himself to be a friendly, open male dog towards people and generally also towards fellow animals. In his communication with other dogs, however, he is still unsure. If his boundaries are not respected or he feels threatened, he reacts with running away and then retreating. Rico therefore needs people with dog experience who can give him security, evaluate situations early, and guide him through encounters confidently. In everyday life, Rico already shows many positive sides: He knows basic commands like sit, stay, wait, come, and go, responds to his name (or anything that sounds similar 😄), and waits patiently until he is put on a leash before going outside. When crossing streets, he stops and only continues on a signal. At the lead in the dog park, he gets along well with other dogs. During encounters on the normal leash, there can still be uncertainties that should be worked on. Rico can sometimes be left alone and mostly uses this time to sleep. He loves being outside and would rather be out all day in the fresh air. Company is important to him: He would be very happy with a home with an older, confident child (not under 5 years old) or a suitable second dog (no small dog). For Rico, we are looking for experienced people who are familiar with handling insecure or anxious dogs, take responsibility, and are willing to work patiently, structurally, and affectionately with him. With clear, kind leadership and reliable people by his side, Rico has the potential to grow and gain confidence. Rico is not a beginner dog – but a dog that is worth it.

Read original (de)

Rico lebte lange Zeit in einem kleinen Zwinger und durfte gemeinsam mit rund 60 weiteren Hunden lediglich etwa eine Stunde am Tag hinaus. Dabei wurde er schnell zum Opfer größerer und stärkerer Hunde. Bei einer schweren Beißerei konnte Rico in letzter Minute gerettet werden – unsere Hilfe kam gerade noch rechtzeitig. Heute zeigt sich Rico als freundlicher, aufgeschlossener Rüde gegenüber Menschen und grundsätzlich auch gegenüber Artgenossen. In der Kommunikation mit anderen Hunden ist er jedoch noch unsicher. Werden seine Grenzen nicht respektiert oder fühlt er sich bedrängt, reagiert er mit Wegschnappen und anschließendem Rückzug. Rico braucht deshalb Menschen mit Hundeerfahrung, die ihm Sicherheit geben, Situationen frühzeitig einschätzen und ihn souverän durch Begegnungen führen. Im Alltag zeigt Rico bereits viele positive Seiten: Er kennt Grundkommandos wie Sitz, Platz, Bleib, Komm und Los, hört auf seinen Namen (oder alles, was ähnlich klingt 😄) und wartet geduldig, bis er angezogen ist, bevor es nach draußen geht. Beim Überqueren von Straßen bleibt er stehen und läuft erst auf Signal weiter. An der Schleppleine kommt er im Hundepark gut mit anderen Hunden aus. An der normalen Leine kann es bei Begegnungen noch zu Unsicherheiten kommen, an denen weiter gearbeitet werden sollte. Rico kann zeitweise allein bleiben und nutzt diese Zeit meist zum Schlafen. Er liebt es, draußen zu sein und wäre am liebsten den ganzen Tag an der frischen Luft. Gesellschaft ist ihm wichtig: Über ein Zuhause mit einem älteren, souveränen Kind (nicht unter 5 Jahren) oder einem passenden Zweithund (kein kleiner Hund) würde er sich sehr freuen. Für Rico suchen wir zwingend erfahrene Menschen, die den Umgang mit unsicheren oder ängstlichen Hunden kennen, Verantwortung übernehmen und bereit sind, geduldig, strukturiert und liebevoll mit ihm zu arbeiten. Mit klarer, wohlwollender Führung und verlässlichen Menschen an seiner Seite hat Rico das Potenzial, weiter zu wachsen und Vertrauen zu fassen. Rico ist kein Anfängerhund – aber ein Hund, der sich lohnt. Er ist besuchbar in Leipzig

Size
Small
Age
Adult · 5 years
Location
🇩🇪Berlin
Shelter
Tierfairliebt e.V.
Living with Rico
  • Neutered
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Cared for by Tierfairliebt e.V. · BerlinLearn about Mixed Breed

Listed 1 month ago

Bringing Rico home

What you'll need for Rico 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

§ Affiliate links · TailHarbor earns a small commission, no extra cost to you.

About Rico

What life with Rico looks like

Rico is a small adult mixed breed dog waiting at Tierfairliebt e.V. in Berlin.

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 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 Rico, answered.

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