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Xabier

Unknown · Adult · 6 years

Looking for kind-hearted humans for a shy, reserved "polar bear"! Xabier, a Maremmano crossbreed dog, large size, born in February 2020, entered the dog shelter in August 2022 deciding to live by the motto "I'll be on one side, you on the other!". Our friend has a majestic appearance and a somewhat hermit-like personality. With people it's clear: better to keep distance. And with volunteers? Same story. They approach, he moves away. In short, he has made "emotional detachment" his lifestyle. But beware, under that white cloud lies a heart waiting only for the right moment to beat with trust and love. It will take time, it will take patience, and it will take a human with a decent dose of optimism and a cup of chamomile always within reach. The perfect human for him? Someone who knows how to respect his pace and space, without expecting tail wags at the first meeting. Someone who has a well-fenced garden, some tranquility, and maybe another balanced dog who can teach him that humans are not so bad after all. It requires a person who is not frightened by his "mountain bear" nature and who is ready to build a bond slowly, without rush. If you have a big heart, lots of patience, and the dream of gaining the trust of a wild soul, he is the dog for you. Don't expect kisses right away, but when they come (and they will), they will be the most precious you have ever received! He is located in a private affiliated dog shelter in Basilicata and we place him both in Lazio and in the North, after the necessary pre-adoption home checks, vaccinated, spayed, tested for leishmaniasis and obviously with a microchip.

IT·Show original

AAA Cercasi umani di buona volontà per un “orso bianco” timido e riservato! Xabier, meticcio maremmano, taglia grande, nato nel febbraio 2020 ed entrato in canile nell’agosto 2022 decidendo di vivere secondo il motto “Io sto da una parte, voi dall’altra!”. Il nostro amico ha un aspetto maestoso e una personalità un po’ da eremita. Con le persone è chiaro: meglio mantenere le distanze. E con i volontari? Stessa storia. Si avvicinano, lui si allontana. Insomma, ha fatto del “distacco emotivo” il suo stile di vita. Ma attenzione, sotto quella nuvola bianca si nasconde un cuore che aspetta solo l’occasione giusta per battere di fiducia e amore. Ci vorrà tempo, ci vorrà pazienza, e ci vorrà un umano con una discreta dose di ottimismo e una tazza di camomilla sempre a portata di mano. L’umano perfetto per lui? Qualcuno che sappia rispettare i suoi tempi e il suo spazio, senza aspettarsi scodinzolate al primo incontro. Qualcuno che abbia un giardino ben recintato, un po’ di tranquillità, e magari un altro cane equilibrato che possa insegnargli che gli umani non sono poi così male. Serve una persona che non si spaventi davanti alla sua indole “orso delle montagne” e che sia pronta a costruire un legame lentamente, senza fretta. Se avete un cuore grande, tanta pazienza e il sogno di conquistare la fiducia di un’anima selvaggia, lui è il cane che fa per voi. Non aspettatevi baci subito, ma quando arriveranno (e arriveranno), saranno i più preziosi che abbiate mai ricevuto! Si trova in un canile privato convenzionato in Basilicata e lo affidiamo sia nel Lazio sia al nord, dopo le dovute verifiche preaffido, vaccinato, sterilizzato, testato leishmania e ovviamente con microchip. Settore Adozioni Associazione ALFA OdV SMS/WhatsApp: 3280034508 email: un volontario ALFA ti contatterà per darti tutte le informazioni

Size
Large
Age
Adult · 6 years
Location
🇮🇹Roma
Shelter
Associazione ALFA
Living with Xabier
  • Vaccinated
  • Neutered
  • Microchipped
  • Good with kids
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Cared for by Associazione ALFA · Roma

Listed 2 months ago

Bringing Xabier home

What you'll need for Xabier 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 Xabier

What life with Xabier looks like

Xabier is a large adult dog waiting at Associazione ALFA in Roma.

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 Italy

Italian canili require adopters to sign a stewardship contract (affido) and may retain the right to verify the animal's wellbeing post-adoption. Animals are chipped and sterilized before leaving (Legge 281/91). Public canili rifugio typically waive adoption fees.

Roma, Italy browse more dogs in Italy.

Frequently asked

Adopting Xabier, answered.

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