Entered: 08/28/2011
Status: Adopted
Age: 1
Color: Liver/White
Weight:
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Bethlehem, PA
Health: UTD, HW-, benefiting from an inexpensive anti-anxiety medication, overall good health
Temperament: Good with people as young as 12, good with other dogs, unknown with cats
Original:
Benji was brought to a city animal shelter in Pennsylvania by his owners when they couldn’t afford to care for him anymore. Lucky for Benji, MAESSR volunteers were available to pull him within hours and start him on his way to a new life.
Initially very anxious living with a new family complete with two young teens and three other dogs, Benji was started on an inexpensive medication so he could relax and learn to enjoy life. He is now a different dog. Every day he’s becoming more comfortable and at ease in his foster home.
This sweet Velcro love bug is about the biggest baby his foster mom has ever met. He loves attention and wants to be with his family. If another dog has a toy he wants, he barks a high pitched puppy bark. If he steps on a rock and hurts his foot, he runs to foster mom crying. He definitely needs a mommy or daddy to assure him he’s OK, and let him know he can’t have everything he wants!
For a young pup, Benji has pretty good house manners. He is housebroken, but doesn’t signal to be let out. His foster mom takes him out often to make sure he has the chance to take care of business. Benji is not much of a barker, he isn’t a digger, and he chews only the dog toys around the house. He hasn’t attempted to jump the fence and has no submissive urination. Benji isn’t a big fan of crates, but has been so good that he has freedom in the house with the other dogs when no one is at home. Sometimes, he is gated in a room with the dogs. If they weren’t with him, he would cry. At night, he sleeps under the bed, on a cool bathroom tile floor, or on a dog bed close by his foster mom. On occasion, he will jump up into the bed to join the other dogs. If there were more room, he might choose to stay on the bed. He does occasionally get up onto the sofa, as do the resident dogs. At this point, Benji just knows sit and will freely offer a sit without anyone asking when his food bowl is presented or his foster mom has a treat. A lot of Benji’s foster home training is focused on taking turns and waiting for his turn. Benji initially tried begging for food, but for the most part that has stopped since he figured out it isn’t working!
Benji isn’t stealing things from the counters, but he does sometimes get up to look. Often, he raises himself up on his two back feet with the front ones in air to check things out. He isn’t tackling the trash can, but does have some interest. The trash is kept in a dog-proof container so it is less likely to be bothered. Benji is a very willing car passenger. If the garage and van doors are open, he will hop into the van and snooze. Every time his foster mom is going out, Benji hopes to be able to go. He often goes for errands, waiting patiently with the other dogs in the van while his foster mom quickly runs into a store. Benji has been OK on leash, but could certainly use some work in this area. As Benji has gotten more comfortable, he is enjoying playing with toys. He can often be found carrying a stuffed toy around and likes to toss his ball. Outdoors, he will run for a ball but needs work on giving it back.
Benji has started trying to engage the other dogs in play. He loves to play with the one year old resident male Springer. They box, wrestle, and tug. Benji also goes to doggie day care to further sharpen his socialization skills. Every day that Benji goes to day care, he gets better and better. He chose a 14-year-old female on his second day to play with and is working his way down towards dogs that might actually want to play! At day care, the resident Springer acts as Benji’s mentor, staying close by and showing him the ropes. Benji appreciates the help.
Benji has a little problem guarding objects he wants from one of the resident dogs; he does not do this with the other dogs, though. He is very responsive to his foster mom’s correction. Benji isn’t given the opportunity to guard his food since he is fed on the other side of the kitchen and the resident dogs are not allowed to come near Benji’s bowl. Benji will drink from the same water bowl as the other dogs, but doesn’t always want them to join him when he gets there first. They respect his little grumble. His foster mom feels that this behavior is more Benji telling the other dogs to give him some distance until he gets comfortable. Benji has absolutely no problem with his foster mom holding his bowl or taking it away. She can touch him all over and treat his wounds with no problems. He isn’t fond of ear cleaning, though, and will run when the bottle of cleaner comes out. Counter conditioning needs to continue so he doesn’t fear ear cleaning.
Not surprisingly, Benji is extremely happy that neutering is a once in a lifetime event! The surgery went well, but he developed a hematoma post surgery and was in great pain. He will have to take a second pain medication around the clock until the swelling subsides. Benji has a few skin irritations caused by the close shaving for surgery. His foster mom is putting antibiotic ointment on them to assist in healing. Benji weighed in at around 42 pounds and is in good health otherwise.
Benji is doing very well with the people in his foster home. He loves to get attention and petting from them all. He does not bark at visitors but does jump up on them in greeting. His foster mom is working to discourage this, but he would probably do best in a forever home with people big enough that he can’t accidentally knock them over.
Ideally, Benji’s forever family would have another very easygoing, friendly dog so he’s never all alone when the people are away. He could easily be an only dog too–especially if his forever family would be home most of the time. Benji is looking for people who understand that Springers are Velcro, and love that quality. He’s about average for a one year old in his activity level. He likes to run around the yard, but isn’t a madman in the house. Keep your eye on Benji; this fine boy will soon be ready for his new family!