Skip to content
TailHarbor
← Back to results
Available

Adopt Tarek

German Shepherd · Male · Adult · 8 years

Tarek is looking for responsible and dog-experienced people who want to give him a second chance. The large sheepdog puppy took some time to adjust to our shelter. At first, he clearly showed the animal caregivers that he preferred to keep his distance. Now, he has settled into shelter life and has become more open and friendly towards familiar people. However, he still approaches strangers with a certain distance. Tarek is always very restless with us and quickly picks up stress and excitement, being characteristically vigilant. Despite this, he can also find calm in less exciting situations with the help of a primary caregiver. Regarding his compatibility with other animals, it must be noted that in Tarek’s past, there were already attacks (with a muzzle) on other animals, which is why he now also has a temporary leash and muzzle requirement. Even at our shelter, Tarek reacts strongly when seeing other dogs. Therefore, it is particularly important that his new owners are physically capable of holding the large male dog on a leash and are willing to work on this issue. Unfortunately, a car accident in the past also injured Tarek. As a result, he is particularly limited in his rear. The medical examination is not yet complete, and we will be happy to provide more information during a placement interview. However, it can already be said that he likely does not have significant pain, and his limitation is more functional. Nevertheless, a physical therapy treatment, as well as muscle building and strengthening through controlled and targeted exercises, must not be missing in his new home to prevent or slow down a deterioration of his health condition. An operation is also planned in the near future to remove an internal testicle. Due to his size and physical limitations, we would like to find Tarek an apartment on the ground floor (preferably) with a yard.

Read original (de)

Tarek sucht verantwortungsbewusste und hundeerfahrene Menschen, welche ihm die Chance auf einen Neuanfang bieten möchten. Der große Schäferhundrüde brauchte eine ganze Weile, um bei uns anzukommen. Anfangs hat er den Tierpflegern sehr eindeutig gezeigt, dass er sich diese lieber auf Abstand halten wollte. Mittlerweile ist er im Tierheimalltag angekommen und gegenüber bekannten Personen hat er sich zu einem aufgeschlossenen und freundlichen Hund entwickelt. Fremden Menschen tritt er immernoch recht distanziert entgegen. Tarek wirkt bei uns immer sehr rastlos und nimmt sich Stress sowie Aufregung schnell an und ist rassetypisch wachsam. Trotzdem schafft er es auch bei uns, in unaufgeregten Situationen mit Hilfe einer Bezugsperson zur Ruhe zu finden. Zu seiner Verträglichkeit gegenüber Artgenossen lässt sich sagen, dass es in Tareks Vergangenheit schon zu Attacken (mit Maulkorb) seinerseits kam, weswegen er letztendlich nun auch einen vorübergehenden Leinen- und Maulkorbzwang erhalten hat. Auch bei uns reagiert Tarek bei Hundesichtung recht stark. Darum ist es besonders wichtig, dass seine neuen Halter körperlich dazu in der Lage sind, den großen Rüden auch an der Leine halten zu können, sowie gewillt sind, an der Thematik zu arbeiten. Leider kam es in der Vergangenheit zu einem Verkehrsunfall, bei dem auch er verletzt wurde. Dadurch ist er vorallem in der Hinterhand deutlich eingeschränkt. Die medizinische Abklärung ist noch nicht vollends abgeschlossen, nähere Informationen geben wir gerne während eines Vermittlungsgespräches. Allerdings lässt sich schon sagen, dass er vermutlich keine deutlichen Schmerzen hat und seine Einschränkung eher auf funktionaler Ebene stattfindet. Trotzdem darf in seinem neuen Zuhause eine physiotherapeutische Behandlung, sowie Muskelaufbau und Stärkung in Form von kontrollierten und gezielten Übungen nicht fehlen, um einer Verschlechterung seines Gesundheitszustandes vorzubeugen, beziehungsweise sie zu verlangsamen. Ebenso ist in naher Zukunft eine Operation geplant, in der ein innenliegender Hoden entfernt wird. Aufgrund seiner Größe und seiner körperlichen Einschränkungen wünschen wir uns für Tarek ein ebenerdiges Zuhause (bestenfalls) mit Grundstück. Von einer

Size
Large
Age
Adult · 8 years
Location
🇩🇪Leipzig
Shelter
Tierheim Leipzig
Living with Tarek
  • Neutered
  • Good with dogs
  • Good with kids
  • Has special needs
Create free account to contact →

Free account — 10 contacts included

Cared for by Tierheim Leipzig · LeipzigLearn about German Shepherd

Listed 1 month ago

Bringing Tarek home

What you'll need for Tarek 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 Tarek

What life with Tarek looks like

Tarek is a large adult german shepherd dog waiting at Tierheim Leipzig in Leipzig.

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.

Note from the shelter: Mobility issues in hind legs from traffic accident; requires physiotherapy and controlled exercise; needs muzzle and leash training; upcoming surgery for retained testicle

🇩🇪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.

Leipzig, Germany browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Tarek, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Tarek?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Tierheim Leipzig handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Tarek on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Tarek if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Tierheim Leipzig 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 Tarek 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 Tarek 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 Leipzig early rather than rehoming privately; they know Tarek 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
Adopt Tarek — 8yo German Shepherd in Leipzig | TailHarbor