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Adopt Rocky

Mixed Breed · Male · Adult · 8 years

Rocky came to the animal shelter because the organization that had rehomed him as a puppy through direct placement no longer felt responsible for him – an unfortunately very common problem. He had grown up and had not accepted the child in the family, or his insecurity had repeatedly been shown through growling. Rocky is a very sensitive male dog who still needs to find his place in life and requires human guidance and support. We know that he can be left alone for hours, enjoys car rides, and is generally compatible with other dogs as long as no resources are involved. Additionally, he is house-trained and very playful. With strangers, especially men, he behaves suspiciously, which could lead to critical situations, such as when visitors come. Here, he should learn the command "Mat," to understand that his people decide who is allowed into the house. He is currently wearing a muzzle with us because he is a watchful fellow who has mistakenly learned that it is his duty to always be on guard. On walks, it can happen that Rocky barks at cars with trailers or loud noises that startle him. He is generally anxious and often overstimulated, trying to hide his insecurity and fear with a "big mouth." However, once the knot is "his" people, Rocky behaves almost silly and playful, playfully overexcited, and also likes to cuddle. He then becomes very clingy and simply wonderful. However, Rocky has a problem with resources that he constantly tries to defend, both against people and other dogs. This must be worked on further. We are looking for a relatively quiet home for Rocky with active and confident people who understand dogs and have no children. Update Fall 2024: Rocky was temporarily rehomed but unfortunately had to come back. Within a short time, it became clear that he does not like to be told what to do by us in tense situations and does not want to be put on his mat by everyone. Sometimes he also growls or wants to bite. His new people must be willing to discuss such situations with him and not be bullied by him. The better he gets to know them and realizes that they know what they want and that nothing bad happens to him, the less likely these situations are to arise, and he will be a playful, fun dog. But to achieve this, one must work with him and consistently show rules and boundaries so that he also knows where he stands and can learn to trust. For the first time, a permanent muzzle holder is absolutely necessary, as he initially finds things like "messing with him" or putting the muzzle on him silly and then reacts defensively.

Read original (de)

Rocky kam ins Tierheim, weil sich der Verein, der ihn per Direktvermittlung als Welpe an eine Familie vermittelt hatte, nicht mehr für ihn zuständig fühlte – ein leider extrem häufiges Problem. Er war groß geworden und hatte das Kleinkind der Familie nicht akzeptiert, bzw. seine Unsicherheit diesem gegenüber immer wieder durch Knurren gezeigt. Rocky ist ein sehr sensibler Rüde, der seinen Platz im Leben noch finden muss und dafür menschliche Führung und Unterstützung benötigt. Wir wissen, dass er stundenweise alleine bleiben kann, es liebt, im Auto mitzufahren und grundsätzlich verträglich mit anderen Hunden ist, solange keine Ressourcen im Spiel sind. Zudem ist er stubenrein und sehr verspielt. Bei ihm fremden Menschen, insbesondere Männern, verhält er sich misstrauisch, sodass Situationen, in denen zum Beispiel Besuch kommt, kritisch werden könnten. Hier sollte er das Kommando „Decke“ lernen, um zu verstehen, dass seine Menschen entscheiden, wer in die Wohnung kommen darf. Bei uns wird er mit Maulkorb ausgeführt, denn er ist eben ein wachsamer Bursche, der fälschlicherweise gelernt hat, dass es seine Aufgabe ist, immer aufzupassen. Auf dem Spaziergang kann es sein, dass Rocky Autos mit Anhänger oder Lautes, was ihn erschreckt, verbellt. Er ist generell ängstlich und oft überfordert und versucht seine Unsicherheit und Angst mit einer „großen Klappe“ zu übertünchen. Ist der Knoten aber einmal „seinen“ Menschen gegenüber geplatzt, verhält Rocky sich geradezu albern und lustig, spielt übermütig und kuschelt auch gern. Er ist dann sehr anhänglich und einfach toll. Jedoch hat Rocky ein Problem mit Ressourcen, die er ständig zu verteidigen versucht, sowohl Menschen als auch Hunden gegenüber. Daran muss unbedingt weiter gearbeitet werden. Wir suchen für Rocky ein eher ruhig gelegenes Zuhause bei aktiven und souveränen Menschen mit Hundeverstand und ohne Kinder. Update Herbst 2024:Rocky war kurzzeitig vermittelt und kam leider wieder zurück. Innerhalb kürzester Zeit zeigte sich deutlich, dass sich Rocky in angespannten Situationen ungern etwas von uns Menschen sagen lässt und nicht jeden z. B. an seine Decken lassen will. Dann kommt es auch immer mal vor, dass er knurrt oder aber beißen möchte. Seine neuen Menschen müssen gewillt sein, auch solche Situationen mit ihm auszudiskutieren und sich nicht von ihm ins Bockshorn jagen lassen. Je besser er einen kennt und auch merkt, dass man weiß, was man möchte und ihm dabei nichts Schlimmes passiert, desto weniger kommt man in derartige Situationen mit ihm und hat einen lustigen verspielten Hund vor sich. Aber um das zu erreichen, muss man mit ihm arbeiten und konsequent Regeln und Grenzen aufzeigen, damit auch er weiß, wo er dran ist, und vertrauen lernt. Für die erste Zeit ist dafür aber unbedingt ein Dauermaulkorb von Nöten, da er grade Sachen wie an ihm „rumfummeln“, wie beim Maulkorb anziehen, anfangs blöd finden und dann auf Abwehr gehen kann. Solch eine Situation hatte in der letzten

Size
Large
Age
Adult · 8 years
Location
🇩🇪Bonn
Shelter
Tierheim Bonn
Living with Rocky
  • House-trained
  • Neutered
  • Good with dogs
  • Good with kids
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Cared for by Tierheim Bonn · BonnLearn about Mixed Breed

Listed 1 month ago

Bringing Rocky home

What you'll need for Rocky 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 Rocky

What life with Rocky looks like

Rocky is a large adult mixed breed dog waiting at Tierheim Bonn in Bonn.

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. Animals leave the shelter sterilized, microchipped, and with a valid EU pet passport. Adoption fees usually fall between €250 and €450, covering veterinary preparation.

Bonn, Germany browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Rocky, answered.

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