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Adopt Benji

Male · Adult · 7 years

Breed: mixed breed Maltezer Age: 05-06-2019 Can get along with other dogs: to be tested Can get along with cats: yes, even goats are okay Can live in an apartment: no Can be around children: yes, 16+ Benji was neutered after he had conflicts with the new Chihuahua at home. If he was rejected by his owners, he could also growl at them, which led to them no longer wanting him. He was recently rehomed with new owners for a week, but here he became scared because the lady performed actions he found threatening. Due to this, he could growl at the lady, which the owners unfortunately did not see fit to work on building a relationship. It became clear at the animal shelter that Benji is not the bravest of guys and had to adjust to us. He was very reserved and had to learn at his own pace that we are indeed nice people who won't harm him. Changing the environment is no different. New habits of new people and other family members, … Benji takes the time to process everything and can be irritable, more growly, and take his time to distance himself in the first 3 to 4 weeks. Patience, understanding, and respecting him will reduce his difficult moments to mere occurrences, though they may never fully disappear. For this reason, we do not place Benji with young children. At the animal shelter, he did not play with toys much, but in his foster family, he plays endlessly with small cuddly items. Kitten toys are his preference, miiiiiaaauw! A point of concern is his tendency to be alone. This should be built up in small steps. Future adopters should wait until Benji's stress level is low enough and he knows he can trust you. Benji prefers to sleep like a true prince on your bed… but a spot next to your bed can be appreciated if you are not too pushy. Benji is a shy guy, making certain actions like being picked up, touched, and raised voices stressful for him. When this upsets him, he can growl at people. What helps here is that he is very sensitive and likes, and is picky about, eating meat. Actions can be linked to treats, and Benji will be more receptive to them. Benji enjoys walking on a harness and leash and has managed to cross paths with passersby, cyclists, cars, other dogs, etc., without losing his composure, provided there is enough space between them. In short, Benji is a shy but secretly curious guy and with some support and treats, he will gladly investigate new things. We are looking for a home with a garden where a smaller family lives without a busy social life, who are more at home to guide him initially. People who want to guide him, praise his good behavior, and are less likely to scold and reprimand. Do you have an interest in Benji? Then fill out the form, and we will get in touch with you as soon as possible.

Read original (nl)

Ras: kruising Maltezer Leeftijd: 05-06-2019 Kan met andere honden: uit te testen Kan met katten: ja, ook geitjes zijn oké Kan op een appartement: nee Kan met kinderen: ja, 16+ Benji is afgestaan nadat hij conflicten had met de nieuwe Chihuahua in huis. Als hij werd terechtgewezen door zijn eigenaren kon hij ook naar hen grommen waardoor ze hem niet meer wilden. Hij is een weekje herplaatst bij nieuwe eigenaren, maar hier werd hij bang doordat de mevrouw handelingen verrichte die hij spannend vond. Hierdoor kon hij grommen naar de mevrouw, waarbij de eigenaren het helaas niet zagen zitten om te werken aan een bandopbouw. In het asiel werd al snel duidelijk dat Benji niet het dapperste kereltje is en moest wennen aan ons. Hij was erg terughoudend en heeft op zijn tempo moeten ondervinden dat wij echt wel leuke mensen zijn die hem geen kwaad doen. Bij het veranderen van omgeving is dit niet anders. Nieuwe gewoonten van nieuwe mensen en andere familieleden,… Benji neemt de nodige tijd om alles te verteren en kan in de eerste 3 tot 4 weken prikkelbaar zijn, meer grommen en op z’n tijd afstand vragen om alles te kunnen verwerken. Geduld, begrip en hem vooral respecteren doet zijn moeilijke momenten afnemen tot ze nog maar amper voorvallen, al zullen ze waarschijnlijk nooit echt verdwijnen. Om die reden plaatsen we Benji niet bij jonge kinderen. In het asiel speelde hij niet echt met speeltjes, maar in zijn opvanggezin speelt hij honderduit met kleine knuffeltjes. Kattenspeeltjes genieten zijn voorkeur, miiiiiaf! Een aandachtspunt is het alleen blijven. Dit dient in kleine stapjes te worden opgebouwd. Om succesvol te zijn wachten toekomstige adoptanten hiermee best tot Benji’s stresslevel voldoende laag is en hij weet dat hij je voldoende kan vertrouwen. Slapen doet Benji het liefst als een echte prins betaamd, bij je op bed…. maar een plekje naast je bed kan hij ook waarderen als je niet te overhalen bent. Benji is een onzeker ventje, waardoor bepaalde handelingen zoals opnemen, aanrakingen en stemverheffingen spannend zijn voor hem. Op de momenten dat dit hem verontrust, kan hij grommen naar mensen. Wat hierbij vooral helpt is het feit dat hij enorm voergevoelig is en graag, (en kieskeurig) vleesjes eet. Handelingen kunnen gekoppeld worden aan lekkers en zo leuker onthaald worden door Benji. Benji geniet van wandelen aan een harnas en halsband en slaagt er intussen in om passanten, fietsers, auto’s, andere honden,… te kruisen zonder uit te vallen, mits er voldoende ruimte tussen is. Kortom Benji is een onzeker maar stiekem ook nieuwsgierig aagje en met wat steun en lekkers gaat hij nieuwe dingen graag onderzoeken. We zoeken voor hem een huis met een tuin waar een kleiner gezin woont zonder druk sociaal leven, die in het begin ook meer thuis zijn om hem te begeleiden. Mensen die hem willen begeleiden, die hem prijzen voor goed gedrag en minder geneigd zijn te kijven en terecht te wijzen. Heb je interesse in Benji? Dan vul zeker het formulier in en dan nemen we zo spoedig mogelijk contact met u op.

Size
Small
Age
Adult · 7 years
Location
🇧🇪Genk
Shelter
Dierenasiel Genk
Living with Benji
  • Good with dogs
  • Good with cats
  • Good with kids
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Cared for by Dierenasiel Genk · Genk

Listed 1 week ago

Bringing Benji home

What you'll need for Benji 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.

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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.

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    €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 Benji

What life with Benji looks like

Benji is a small adult dog waiting at Dierenasiel Genk in Genk.

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.

Genk, Belgium browse more dogs in Belgium.

Frequently asked

Adopting Benji, answered.

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