Available

Ricola

German Shepherd · Male · Young · 1 year

Ricola came to the shelter in October 2025 as a surrender dog after his owner passed away. The 2020-born working line German Shepherd Dog probably lost his footing completely. However, due to severe behavioral disorders, further keeping within his family was not possible. Ricola, originally just Rico, shows massive mental disorders in the form of compulsive and pathological junkie behavior. He often falls into stereotypes from which he can hardly or not at all get out himself. From this behavior, Ricola can also divert and attack the person. It is not a massive intention to cause damage, but he would possibly hurt someone anyway. Therefore, the shelter is looking for a new home for Ricola.

DE·Show original

Ricola kam im Oktober 2025 als Abgabehund ins Tierheim, nachdem sein Herrchen verstorben ist. Der 2020 geborene Arbeitslinienschäferhund verlor damit wahrscheinlich erstmal komplett den Boden unter den Füßen. Aufgrund von massiven Verhaltensstörungen war eine weitere Haltung innerhalb seiner Familie jedoch nicht möglich. Ricola, ursprünglich nur Rico, weist nämlich massive psychische Störungen in Form von zwang- und krankhaftem Junkieverhalten auf. Dabei verfällt er häufig in Stereotypien, aus denen er selber kaum bis gar nicht mehr heraus kommt. Aus diesem Verhalten heraus kann es auch sein, dass Ricola umlenkt und dabei auch gegen den Menschen geht. Es handelt sich dabei um keine massive Beschädigungsabsicht, aber verletzen würde er gegebenenfalls trotzdem. Darum ist die

Size

Large

Age

Young · 1 year

Location

🇩🇪Burgdorf

Shelter

Tierheim Burgdorf

Living with Ricola

✓Neutered
✓Microchipped

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

More dogs in Burgdorf →More dogs in Germany →

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Bringing Ricola home

What you'll need for Ricola in week one.

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About Ricola

What life with Ricola looks like

Ricola is a large young adult german shepherd dog waiting at Tierheim Burgdorf in Burgdorf.

A young 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.

Burgdorf, Germany — browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Ricola, answered.

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