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Adopt Xena

Belgian Malinois · Female · Adult · 4 years

Xena was found by the police, muzzled and locked in the toilet of a house. She lived in a context of abuse, being regularly beaten with a cane. Adopted for 5 months, she returned to the shelter because she had significant difficulties outdoors: she became easily frustrated during walks and could redirect her aggression towards the person holding the leash in certain situations. Today, she has become much calmer during walks without reacting. Unless she is surprised. However, Xena shows a strong tendency to be overly attached, with sometimes disproportionate reactions when she is emotionally distressed. She will therefore need a very strict, structured, and consistent framework to feel safe and evolve more calmly. Xena is very wary of people she doesn't know and can be protective of her home. When she knows someone and is trustful, Xena communicates very well and can be pleasant on a daily basis. However, her reactions can be quick and intense if she feels overwhelmed, which requires good canine reading and appropriate management. She also shows resource guarding (food, toys...), which will require rigorous management and guided work.

Read original (fr)

Xena a été retrouvée par la police, muselée et enfermée dans les toilettes d’une habitation. Elle vivait dans un contexte de maltraitance, étant régulièrement battue à coups de béquille. Adoptée pendant 5 mois, elle est revenue au refuge car elle présentait des difficultés importantes en extérieur : elle se frustrait facilement en promenade et pouvait rediriger son agressivité sur la personne qui tenait la laisse dans certaines situations. Aujourd’hui, elle est devenue beaucoup plus calme en promenade sans réaction. A moins d’être surprise. En revanche, Xena présente une forte tendance au surattachement, avec des réactions parfois disproportionnées lorsqu’elle est en difficulté émotionnelle. Elle aura donc besoin d’un cadre très strict, structuré et cohérent pour se sentir en sécurité et évoluer de manière plus apaisée. Xena est une chienne très méfiante envers les personnes qu’elle ne connaît pas et peut se montrer protectrice de son foyer. Lorsqu’elle connaît et qu’elle est en confiance, Xena communique très bien et peut se montrer agréable au quotidien. Toutefois, ses réactions peuvent être rapides et intenses si elle se sent dépassée, ce qui demande une bonne lecture canine et une gestion adaptée. Elle présente également de la protection de ressources (nourriture, jouets…), ce qui nécessitera une gestion rigoureuse et un travail encadré.

Size
Age
Adult · 4 years
Location
🇧🇪Sans Collier
Shelter
Perwez)
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Cared for by Perwez) · Sans CollierLearn about Belgian Malinois

Listed 1 month ago

Bringing Xena home

What you'll need for Xena 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 Xena

What life with Xena looks like

Xena is a adult belgian malinois dog waiting at Perwez) in Sans Collier.

An adult dog fits most household rhythms once the first couple of weeks of adjustment pass. Two reasonable walks a day plus play time is usually enough. Plan a "decompression fortnight" — quiet routine, no visitors, no off-leash adventures — to let them settle.

🇧🇪Adopting from Belgium

Belgian shelters operate under regional law (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels each have their own rules). All adoptions include the Eurochip, vaccinations, and a stewardship contract. Several Flemish shelters partner with Dutch and German rescue networks.

Sans Collier, Belgium browse more dogs in Belgium.

Frequently asked

Adopting Xena, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Xena?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Perwez) handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Xena on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Xena if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Perwez) 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 Xena 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 Xena 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 Perwez) early rather than rehoming privately; they know Xena 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 (FR). 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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Adopt Xena — 4yo Belgian Malinois in Sans Collier | TailHarbor