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Smilla (im bmt-Tierheim Eifelhof)

Female · Senior · 11 years

Smilla came to the Eifelhof when her owner passed away, and within the family, no one knew what to do with her. The majestic Alabai dog had spent her entire life serving as a poultry protection dog and had never known life in a house or how to behave there. Smilla has now settled well at the Eifelhof, but she is also allowed to live in the living house with her caregiver. The Grand Madame did not want to stay in the doghouse and, in a nutshell, broke a window out of the hinges and piled it up. In the household, she is very relaxed, quiet, and enjoys life on the couch instead of in the chicken coop. She is people-oriented, cuddly, and currently lives in a mixed group of dogs. Her fellow animals largely ignore her. One can see that she has not had social interactions with fellow animals so far. Smilla could potentially be rehomed as a second dog, but it requires experience and a good eye for situations that can become tricky (e.g., resources, dynamics at the fence). As a true Alabai, Smilla, here affectionately called Godsmilla (in reference to Godzilla), needs a stable and highly enclosed garden that she can defend with full enthusiasm and seriousness. If you are interested in Smilla, please contact the bmt-animal shelter Eifelhof.

DE·Show original

Smilla kam auf den Eifelhof, da ihr Besitzer verstorben war und man innerhalb der Familie nicht wusste, was man mit ihr nun machen sollte. Die stattliche Alabaihündin hat ihr ganzes Leben ihren Dienst als Geflügel-Schutzhund getan und kannte weder das Leben im Haus, noch wie man sich dort verhält. Smilla hat sich mittlerweile gut auf dem Eifelhof eingelebt, allerdings darf sie auch im Wohnhaus bei ihrer Pflegerin wohnen. Die Grand Madame wollte nämlich keinesfalls im Hundehaus bleiben und riss kurzum ein Fenster aus den Angeln und türmte. Im Haushalt ist sie sehr entspannt, ruhig und genießt das Leben auf der Couch statt im Hühnerstall. Sie ist menschenbezogen, verschmust und lebt aktuell in einer gemischten Hundegruppe. Ihre Artgenossen ignoriert sie weitgehend. Man merkt, dass sie soziale Interaktionen mit Artgenossen bisher nicht kannte. Smilla könnte durchaus als Zweithund vermittelt werden, es bedarf aber Erfahrung und ein gutes Auge für Situationen, die brenzlich werden können (z.B. Ressourcen, Dynamik am Zaun). Als waschechter Alabai braucht Smilla, hier liebevoll Godsmilla (in Anlehnung an Godzilla) genannt, einen stabil und hoch eingezäunten Garten, den sie verteidigen kann. Das tut sie nämlich mit voller Inbrunst und Ernsthaftigkeit. Wenn Sie sich für Smilla interessieren, kontaktieren Sie bitte das bmt-Tierheim Eifelhof.

Size
Large
Age
Senior · 11 years
Location
🇩🇪Cologne
Shelter
Tierheim Köln
Living with Smilla (im bmt-Tierheim Eifelhof)
  • Good with dogs
  • Has special needs
Cared for by Tierheim Köln · Cologne

Listed 4 months ago

Bringing Smilla (im bmt-Tierheim Eifelhof) home

What you'll need for Smilla (im bmt-Tierheim Eifelhof) 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.

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    €35–45
  2. 02
    Editor's pick

    Folding Wire Crate

    First-week safe space. Shelter dogs settle faster with a crate.

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    €50–80
  3. 03
    Legal · EU

    Car Seatbelt Tether

    Legally required in most EU countries for transporting dogs.

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    €8–12
  4. 04

    Adaptil Calming Spray

    Dog-specific pheromone diffuser. Worth it for the trip home.

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    €18–25
  5. 05

    Orthopaedic Dog Bed

    Worth the upgrade — rescues often have joint issues from kennels.

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    €30–60
  6. 06
    Safer than a collar

    Padded Y-Front Harness

    Escape-proof for spooky rescues. Safer than a collar in week one.

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    €20–35

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About Smilla (im bmt-Tierheim Eifelhof)

What life with Smilla (im bmt-Tierheim Eifelhof) looks like

Smilla (im bmt-Tierheim Eifelhof) is a large senior dog waiting at Tierheim Köln in Cologne.

Senior dogs settle in faster than younger ones. They want a soft bed, predictable meals, and short, sniff-heavy walks rather than runs. Many senior rescues bond deeply within weeks because they understand exactly how good a stable home is. Expect occasional vet visits for joint or dental care.

Note from the shelter: Requires high, stable fencing and experienced owner due to strong guarding instincts

🇩🇪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.

Cologne, Germany browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Smilla (im bmt-Tierheim Eifelhof), answered.

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