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Adopt Willi

Dachshund · Male · Young · 3 years

Young adventurer on four paws looking for a new home My character: Willi is a cheerful, brave, and lovable dog. He is initially rather cautious around strangers, especially men. After a brief and gentle acclimation period, he becomes very approachable and cuddly. He loves long walks and exciting sniffing rounds. Unfortunately, he cannot be let off the leash, after several attempts, because he would run away. Despite his small size, he has the self-confidence of a much larger dog. Willi loves snuggling on the sofa, playing and being active, particularly catching his ball. For treats of any kind, Willi will do any exercise or training. He is very trainable and, in addition to basic commands, knows several other tricks. He has also visited boarding facilities multiple times and gets along well with his fellow animals. He loves meeting and playing with other dogs. Special feature: Top fit, completely healthy, microchipped, and fully vaccinated, short legs, very big heart! What Willi unfortunately doesn't do well is being alone. He gets real stress and suffers badly. He travels without problems anywhere, even on long distances, as long as he is with his people. With his dachshund look, he quickly wins over every heart. We are looking for a home for him where he won’t have to be alone anymore and where he has an experienced hand that will lead him consistently, as he is a typical dachshund and sometimes has his own mind. The decision was not easy for us, as due to several family tragedies and moving from a house with a large plot in Salzwedel to a rented apartment here in Gifhorn, and the resulting difficulties for Willi, we have decided for his well-being to search for a new great home. My daughter is additionally seriously ill and on the waiting list for a therapy spot, which will further worsen our situation and that of Willi. I hope that together with your help, we will find a new family for him.

Read original (de)

Junger Abenteurer auf 4 Pfoten sucht ein neues Zuhause Mein Charakter: Willi ist ein fröhlicher, mutiger und liebenswerter Hund. Er ist anfänglich eher vorsichtig gegenüber Fremden, besonders Männern. Nach kurzer behutsamer Eingewöhnung ist er dann aber sehr zugänglich und verschmust. Er liebt lange Spaziergänge und spannende Schnüffelrunden. Leider kann man ihn nicht von der Leine lassen, nach mehreren Versuchen, weil er sonst ausbüchst. Er hat trotz seiner kleinen Grösse das Selbstbewusstsein eines ganz Großen. Willi liebt Kuscheln auf dem Sofa, spielen und toben, besonders seinen Ball fangen. Für Leckerlies jeder Art macht Willi jede Übung oder Training mit. Er ist sehr gelehrig und beherrscht neben den Grundkommandos auch noch einige andere Tricks. Er hat auch schon mehrere Male eine Pension besucht und verträgt sich mit seinen Artgenossen ohne Probleme. Er liebt Treffen und Spielen mit anderen Hunden. Besonderheit: Topfit, kerngesund, gechipt und durchgeimpft, kurze Beine, sehr grosses Herz! Was Willi leider nicht so gut kann, ist alleine bleiben. Er hat richtig Stress und leidet sehr. Er fährt ohne Probleme überall mit hin, auch lange Strecken, Hauptsache er ist bei seinen Menschen. Mit seinem Dackelblick erobert er schnell jedes Herz. Wir suchen für ihn ein Zuhause, in dem er nicht mehr alleine sein muss und wo er eine erfahrene Hand hat, die ihn konsequent führen wird, denn er ist eben ein typischer Dackel und hat manchmal eben seinen ganz eigenen Kopf. Die Entscheidung ist uns nicht leicht gefallen, denn aufgrund von mehreren familiären Schicksalsschlägen und dem Umzug von einem Haus mit großem Grundstück in Salzwedel in eine Mietswohnung hier in Gifhorn und den daraus entstandenen Schwierigkeiten für Willi haben wir uns für sein Wohl für die Suche nach einem neuen tollen Zuhause entschieden. Meine Tochter ist zusätzlich noch schwer erkrankt und steht auf der Warteliste für einen Therapieplatz, was unsere Situation und die von Willi noch verschlechtern wird. Ich hoffe, das wir gemeinsam mit Ihrer Hilfe ein neue Familie finden werden. Christine und Nola Dünow,

Size
Large
Age
Young · 3 years
Location
🇩🇪Germany
Shelter
Tierschutzzentrum Ribbesbüttel
Living with Willi
  • Vaccinated
  • Microchipped
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Cared for by Tierschutzzentrum Ribbesbüttel · GermanyLearn about Dachshund

Listed 3 days ago

Bringing Willi home

What you'll need for Willi 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.

    View on Amazon
    €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.

    View on Amazon
    €20–35

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About Willi

What life with Willi looks like

Willi is a large young adult dachshund dog waiting at Tierschutzzentrum Ribbesbüttel in Germany.

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

Germany, Germany browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Willi, answered.

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