Benson is a fun, adventurous Rottweiler / Shepherd mix that weighs 18 lbs. He is estimated to be around 75-80 lbs once he is full grown. Benson is best described as playful, fun-loving, and an all around happy pup. Benson absolutely loves the outdoors. Whether he’s chasing squirrels, exploring new trails, or splashing around in the water, he’s happiest when he’s adventuring. He’s also a smart and eager learner who enjoys training sessions, especially when tasty treats are involved. He was the first one of his litter to learn how to sit on command and really focuses on his humans during training sessions as long as he knows he's getting rewarded with food. When playtime winds down, Benson transforms into a total cuddle bug. He melts into belly rubs and will happily curl up in your lap for cozy downtime. He’s incredibly social, too and he loves every person he meets. He truly doesn’t know the meaning of “stranger.” He’s the perfect pup to bring along to dog-friendly shops, restaurant patios, or fun brewery outings where his social butterfly personality can shine. Benson would be a wonderful match for an active, outdoorsy family that also enjoys laid-back time at home. He’d love to join you on hikes, walks, and play dates, but will be just as content to snuggle up on the couch for a relaxing movie night. Whatever you’re doing, Benson is happiest being part of it.

Benson is medium energy, so he enjoys a nice balance of playtime, fun outdoor activities, and relaxation. He needs a few short bursts of energy-burning activities throughout the day, even if that consists of him burning energy on his own just chasing squirrels as they run through the trees. He enjoys playing with his siblings and resident dogs in his foster home, but he really prefers to engage in fun activities with his humans. He tends to find fun no matter what activity he's doing and is good about self-entertaining when he can't find another dog or human to play with. He will just grab a chew bone or one of his toys, plop down on a dog bed, and entertain himself until he's ready for a puppy nap. He enjoys puzzle games and other activities that give him a bit of mental stimulation, and these, combined with short play sessions, are all he needs to burn off his puppy energy. As he grows up, Benson would love to have a family that enjoys the outdoors and would take him on lots of adventures exploring nature trails, hiking through forests and mountains, and splashing around at a rivers and lakes. His ideal home will have a toy box full of squeaky toys, ropes, and chew toys, and he’d be thrilled to have a BarkBox subscription to keep the fun going with new surprises every month. Puzzle games and chew bones will also be great for keeping him busy indoors, especially as he is getting ready to start teething soon.

Benson is dog, cat, and kid friendly. He loves other furry friends and would love to have another playful dog in his forever home. He would be perfectly fine being the only dog in the home, but he would benefit from having frequent play dates with other dogs as he grows up so he continues learning proper doggy communication skills and play etiquette. He would do best in a home with another dog that is patient and playful as he is a puppy and an older dog who isn't used to puppy energy and silly antics may not appreciate having a young little fur-brother around. It would benefit him to continue socializing him with dogs of all ages and sizes though so he learns how to interact with them. Because of his young age and gentle demeanor, he would be able to acclimate to having a cat in his forever home with slow introductions and would do best with dog-friendly cats that have lived with dogs before. Benson is currently in a foster home with kids around day care age through elementary school age, and he loves them all! He would do well with kids of all ages as he has a fun-loving and gentle demeanor, but he would really love to have older kids that can play and cuddle with him. He loves to cuddle and play with the kids in his foster home and has done great with the smaller children in the home, but may trip a small child who isn't steady on their feet. He is going to start teething soon so his humans will need to keep a watchful eye on him to make sure he doesn't chew on human kid toys laying around in his reach. Since he is very fun-loving, cuddly, and sweet, he would do great with a family with kids who want a loving and playful pup to grow up with.

Benson is excelling in potty training and he would prefer to go outside to do his business. He will notify you that he needs to go outside by lingering around and putting his feet up on the back door. He has not yet started leash training due to his young age, so he will need additional practice with that as he grows a bit more. He sleeps in a kennel and playpen setup at night with no fuss, but he usually has to be encouraged with a yummy treat to go in for the night. When he is ready for bed, he likes to sprawl out on the cool floor and will fall asleep almost immediately. When he gets older, he would love to snuggle up in bed with his humans every night so he can get in as many cuddles as possible. For now while he is still potty training, it is recommended to use a kennel or puppy play pen at night and when you are not home.

Benson's ideal home would be one where he can be included in his family’s daily life and get plenty of love, adventures, and cuddle time. He would love to live in a home with a fenced yard to run and play in, and because of his love for the outdoors, he'd do best in this type of home environment. Since he’s still a young puppy, he will need someone home most of the day or that's able to take him to the office if working a hybrid schedule as he still needs frequent potty breaks. He would thrive in a home with other dogs and kids to run around and play with, and can even coexist with some kitties in the home too. If he is the only dog in the home, he would benefit from going to doggy day care to help him burn his puppy energy, continue socializing, and to learn proper play etiquette with other dogs as he continues to grow. No public dog parks for this sweet boy (who wants to risk your pup catching a disease or being bullied on by other random dogs anyways), but he would love to have fun adventures at Sniff Spots or doggy day care occasionally for playtime and exercise if he does live in an apartment, condo, or townhouse without a private fenced-in yard. Benson is ready to bring endless love, laughter, and adventure to the family lucky enough to call him their own.