Skip to content
TailHarbor
← Back to results
Available

Smiley

Female · Adult · 5 years

Smiley is a spayed female dog who arrived with her five puppies from Romania in 2024. She doesn’t carry her name without reason: when she’s happy, she grins in a very special way, instantly putting a smile on everyone’s face. Unfortunately, Smiley was recently returned to the shelter because her previous owners found her too much to handle. In the household setting, however, she’s a dream dog: calm, house-trained, cuddly, and very uncomplicated. She remains problem-free when alone, comes to a nice calm, and enjoys every cuddle session. At the same time, she also has a small chatty head – funny, charming, and sometimes simply to make you smile. Smiley is very intelligent, learns quickly, and has great fun with head work. On the leash, she walks well in low-stress areas and doesn’t pull. She’s generally compatible with other dogs in a secure off-leash setting, but prefers more confident and stable dogs. A confident only-dog would be nice, but isn’t a must. Currently, she lives with Zambayu at our shelter. However, outside, she shows her big project: Smiley is easily overstimulated and quickly overwhelmed. Dog encounters especially stress her greatly. In such situations, she may react to cars, lorries, or trams. Due to the high stress, unexpected actions can occur, which is why she’s always led with a muzzle outside. Her people should be firm, as she can develop a lot of strength when triggered. Social walks and selected dog contacts are already very helpful for her. This should continue in the new home. Additionally, Smiley has a typical sighthound prey drive. For Smiley, we are looking for a quiet, more rural home without much chaos. People who can give her outside safety, calm, and clear guidance and are willing to continue working with her. Behind her insecurity lies a really amazing female dog who is simply overwhelmed and needs someone to give her support. Smiley currently weighs around 25 kg and is on a diet, hoping to lose a bit more weight. Anyone who gives Smiley the time, patience, and security she needs will get an incredibly loving, clever, and special companion. This animal was surrendered to the shelter.

DE·Show original

Smiley ist eine kastrierte Hündin, die 2024 gemeinsam mit ihren fünf Welpen aus Rumänien zu uns kam. Ihren Namen trägt sie nicht ohne Grund: Wenn sie sich freut, „grinst“ sie auf ganz besondere Weise und zaubert damit sofort ein Lächeln ins Gesicht. Leider wurde Smiley nun wieder abgegeben, da ihre bisherigen Besitzer mit ihr überfordert waren. Dabei ist sie im häuslichen Umfeld eine absolute Traumhündin: ruhig, stubenrein, verschmust und sehr unkompliziert. Sie bleibt problemlos alleine, kommt toll zur Ruhe und genießt jede Kuscheleinheit. Gleichzeitig steckt auch ein kleiner Quatschkopf in ihr – lustig, charmant und manchmal einfach zum Schmunzeln. Smiley ist sehr intelligent, lernt schnell und hat große Freude an Kopfarbeit. An der Leine läuft sie in reizarmen Gegenden super und zieht nicht. Mit anderen Hunden ist sie im gesicherten Freilauf grundsätzlich verträglich, bevorzugt aber eher selbstbewusste und stabile Hunde. Ein souveräner Ersthund wäre schön, ist aber kein Muss. Aktuell lebt sie bei uns mit Zambayu zusammen. Draußen zeigt sich allerdings ihre große Baustelle: Smiley ist schnell reizüberflutet und schnell überfordert. Besonders Hundebegegnungen stressen sie stark. In solchen Situationen reagiert sie dann auch teilweise auf Autos, LKWs oder Straßenbahnen. Durch den hohen Stress kann es zu Übersprungshandlungen kommen, weshalb sie draußen ausschließlich mit Maulkorb geführt wird. Ihre Menschen sollten daher unbedingt standfest sein, da sie beim Auslösen viel Kraft entwickeln kann. Social-Walks und ausgewählte Hundekontakte helfen ihr hier schon sehr. Dies sollte im neuen Zuhause auf jeden Fall weiter fortgeführt werden. Windhundtypisch bringt Smiley außerdem Jagdtrieb mit. Für Smiley wünschen wir uns deshalb ein ruhiges, eher ländlich gelegenes Zuhause ohne viel Trubel. Menschen, die ihr draußen Sicherheit, Ruhe und klare Führung geben können und bereit sind, weiter mit ihr zu arbeiten. Denn hinter ihrer Unsicherheit steckt eine wahnsinnig tolle Hündin, die einfach schnell überfordert ist und jemanden braucht, der ihr Halt gibt. Smiley wiegt aktuell etwa 25 kg, befindet sich derzeit auf Diät und sollte noch abnehmen. Wer Smiley die Zeit, Geduld und Sicherheit schenkt, die sie braucht, bekommt eine unglaublich liebevolle, clevere und besondere Begleiterin an die Seite.

Size
Large
Age
Adult · 5 years
Location
🇩🇪Darmstadt
Shelter
Tierheim Darmstadt
Living with Smiley
  • House-trained
  • Spayed
  • Good with kids
Create free account to contact →

Free account — 10 contacts included

Cared for by Tierheim Darmstadt · Darmstadt

Listed 1 week ago

Bringing Smiley home

What you'll need for Smiley 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 Smiley

What life with Smiley looks like

Smiley is a large adult dog waiting at Tierheim Darmstadt in Darmstadt.

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.

Darmstadt, Germany browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Smiley, answered.

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

More from Tierheim Darmstadt

Johnny und Hildegard, male senior mixed breed for adoption at Tierheim Darmstadt, Darmstadt

Johnny und Hildegard

8 yearsMale
Bilbo und Sam, male young mixed breed for adoption at Tierheim Darmstadt, Darmstadt

Bilbo und Sam

2 yearsMale
Similar animals

More dogs looking for a home

Quintus FREMDVEREIN, male 3yo Mixed Breed for adoption at Viva la Hund, Nettersheim

Quintus FREMDVEREIN

Mixed Breed

3 yearsMale
Fritz FREUNDVEREIN, male Mixed Breed for adoption at Viva la Hund, Nettersheim

Fritz FREUNDVEREIN

Mixed Breed

Male
Zion, male puppy Mixed Breed for adoption at Viva la Hund, Nettersheim

Zion

Mixed Breed

4 monthsMale
Lucia, female Mixed Breed for adoption at Tierschutzverein Buchen, Buchen

Lucia

Mixed Breed

Female
Anni, female 3yo Mixed Breed for adoption at Viva la Hund, Nettersheim

Anni

Mixed Breed

3 yearsFemale
Pepa, female 3yo Mixed Breed for adoption at Viva la Hund, Nettersheim

Pepa

Mixed Breed

3 yearsFemale

Spotted something wrong? Suggest a change →