One year old and ready for the world! Or at least Benjamin, or Benjie, would have you believe. He has that youthful exuberance and a light heartedness that that make you want to kick off your shoes and chase through the tulips with him, senses set for maximum fun.
Those days may not be far off for Benji but they are not here yet, and GRRMF is looking for the right family that can make them happen and continue forever for this awesomely cool dog.
Benjamin wants it all. He wants to chase the squirrels, spook that cat just for a laugh, he wants to be around all the other dogs and he wants to be around his favorite person. Benjie also wants your towels, and your shoes, and his toys, and probably your dirty laundry. That’s just all part of the puppy magic. He also wants to tug on his leash a little bit but that’s not really a bad thing today. All of those puppy “qualities” should be easily remedied later on with love and training but we are all ecstatic right now about his leash manners, or seeming lack there of.
Benjie inherited a bad joint gene that caused an acute case of elbow dysplasia and the more he grew the more painful he became and in a case where function followed form Benjie’s back developed a terrible arch, or hunch, as his body did everything it could to transfer his weight to his rear legs and off his excruciatingly painful elbows. To see him like that would have broken your heart.
The kind of family our Benjamin will have to have will be one of exceptional commitment and responsibility. Benjamin is finishing his physical and chemical therapies and GRRMF has incurred an enormous expense in bringing him this far. While the big expenses are behind us now there will be some degree of financial maintenance for the rest of Benjie’s life. Glucosamine at the least and perhaps, but not necessarily, stronger medications later on will be a requirement. Low impact exercise, like swimming, will also be a requirement in order to help him maintain his new lease on life.
But the rescue angels prevailed, and the surgeon’s skills prevailed, and Benjie’s spirit prevailed and together we have a young pup to rival the legend of Joe Cool. Because he pulls on his leash we know that he is definitely on the mend and is already looking for that bond only found in a forever family.
Benjie is a sunny-side up kind of guy.
Benjie is learning much from his foster siblings but we know that any fun loving extrovert like he is will also be best served with formal obedience training. Nothing says “love me” like cool and smart. Ironically that’s also the kind of family Benjie is looking for: cool and smart.
If you are like minded and your heart and home are ready for a commitment then your rewards await you and are plentiful in this wonderful young dog. Think with your heart and your head and then make the right decision.
