Benji - male Crossbreed

Our Benji Boy has been unlucky in love thus far and has been with us for far too long - could you be the one he's been waiting for? In previous homes he was playful, settled well at night and was house-trained. He enjoys his training and is a really clever boy who has even learned a little bit of heelwork to music here at the centre! Benji adores getting out for a stroll, walks nicely on the lead and really loves running around. Access to a secure, private garden is a must, as this will give him a place to be off lead, get the zoomies, and play with toys and tennis balls (they're his favourite!). Benji travels well in the car, is happy jumping in and out himself, and is able to be left for short periods. Although Benji can be possessive with things he finds valuable he is able to play swap games, and this will be an invaluable tool for his new family. Although potential adopters will need to be able to come to the centre for multiple meets, we will also bring him to your home a few times before you adopt him, to help you settle him in to his new environment and routine. Once Benji is comfortable with you, you will be rewarded with an active, playful and entertaining boy. He'll be a companion for adventures, and you'll be able to teach him all kinds of new tricks if you are into training. All Benji needs is patience, love and compassion, and we know he will be an amazing dog for the right person. Could it be you?

Six year old Benji is one of our longest staying residents, having been here at Basildon with us for over three years, but he's a sweet boy who's so deserving of a chance to find his forever family. Are you a quiet, adult only home, with a maximum of two people and minimal visitors? You could be the one he's been waiting for! Benji must have a secure, secluded area, preferably in a separate room, where he can take himself away from you and any visitors if needed. He will need to be the only pet in the home although, as you can see in his video, he can have walking buddies if they are small and unintimidating. Benji can be a cheeky chap, so he will need to wear a muzzle and be kept on lead on walks for his own safety, as he can be unsure of strangers and some bigger dogs. Our training and behaviour team have been working with him to build his confidence, and he'll need adopters who are willing to continue with this. Our specialists will always be on hand to give ongoing advice and guidance with his little quirks though, so you won't be alone in your journey with Benji. As well as his stranger issues, the team here at Basildon have been working on helping him in other areas that he feels insecure in, including being muzzled at the vets, as being over-handled by a stranger can be a bit too much for him at times. Benji does have a history of being possessive around food, toys and beds, so ideally he would prefer adopters who have experience with resource guarding, but again our training team can help with this. Due to his shy nature, Benji will need you to respect his space when you first meet him, and until you have gained his trust. He's very foodie though, so they way to his heart is through food. His new family will need to be able to come in to the centre multiple times, to start building a relationship with him through walks, training and play, before taking him home. For someone who is willing to work with him, Benji will be an incredibly rewarding dog to rehome.