Benni

Mixed Breed · Male · Senior · 13 years

Gender: Male Date of birth: 11/28/2018 Breed: mixed breed At the animal shelter since: 04/24/2020 Affectionate and clingy Athletic Dog experience required Gets along with female dogs & neutered males Very well trained Not suitable for households with children Travels well in the car Highly sensitive Benni was given a second chance at life—he had already been taken to the vet to be euthanized because he allegedly bit the family’s sons (aged 11 and 13) without provocation. Benni originally comes from Greece, where he was abandoned as a puppy. He was quickly rehomed to Germany into a family that did a great deal with him and trained him exceptionally well. No one can say exactly how the incident happened, as Benni was alone in the garden with the two boys—but unfortunately, the parents were convinced that euthanasia was the only option. However, since no veterinarian is allowed to euthanize a healthy dog without just cause, he was immediately taken from the veterinary practice and brought directly to the animal shelter. Many thanks to this veterinary practice for their wonderful response! Initially, Benni showed himself to be very friendly and clingy with us, though somewhat reserved and insecure—a move to an animal shelter is often a shock for many dogs. He gets along extremely well with other dogs, whether male or female and regardless of size; he adapts beautifully. Only with unneutered males does one need to consider how much testosterone might be in the air. After some time at the animal shelter, however, everything became too much for Benni, and he made this very clear. Simple tasks like putting on his harness inside his kennel became impossible—things simply felt too overwhelming for him. Even then, he behaves very appropriately: he backs away and gives clear warnings through growling and similar signals. If these warning signs are ignored, Benni would definitely snap or bite. Benni is clearly a highly sensitive dog who quickly feels crowded or pressured and expresses his discomfort openly. He needs people with exceptional tact, empathy, and patience. His previous family attended dog training classes with him, and he knows several tricks such as “high five,” “roll over,” “right paw,” and “left paw.” He has also done agility work. He rides calmly in the car in a dog crate, walks nicely alongside a bicycle, stays home alone without issues, and has already begun scent-tracking work—successfully indicating found objects by lying down. He clearly enjoys this immensely, and activities such as tracking, mantrailing, or joining a search-and-rescue dog unit would be exactly what he needs and loves. Benni responds very well to hand signals and immediately stops and sits upon hearing the command “stop.” He also retrieves items with great enthusiasm. Unfortunately, he’ll eat absolutely anything he finds—including, for example, a fishhook—so this requires careful supervision. In essence, Benni would be a dream dog for active, experienced, and empathetic people who enjoy engaging their dog in canine sports. However, neither the incident involving the children nor his reactions when he feels crowded or overwhelmed should be overlooked. We don’t know how severe the injuries were or what may have occurred previously between the boys and Benni; we can only speculate. Because of this incident, we do not wish to place him in a home with children, and his new owners must bring substantial dog-handling experience.

Listed 2 months ago