My name is: Benji
I came from: Cyprus
Now I live in: East London
My favourite things are: Bathing in the sunshine, chasing birds, and cuddling with my humans

Benji’s story

My partner and I deliberately moved out of central London to be close to parks and have more space so we could adopt a dog. And only two months after moving, Benji joined our family!

We were beyond excited and I read every possible book during the month we had to prepare - but let me tell you, nothing prepares you for a four month old puppy! Benji was very nervous when we picked him up that night but warmed to us immediately once we were home.

The first few months were a mix of bliss and hardship. It was incredibly rewarding to see him settle in, grow and support him living with us, but it also took up a lot of energy. We quickly learned that Benji is reactive, especially to other dogs and children. Living in an area where both are plentiful has proven to be a challenge. We have been working with a dog trainer and behaviourist to help us navigate his emotions, and whilst he has made tons of progress, it continues to be a process.

There are days were this is difficult to accept; when people see him reacting when we are outside, they don’t see the happy tail-wagging, goofy and most cuddly dog he is at home. I sometimes catch myself thinking, what if Benji was different? What if I could take him to the high street, to the coffee shop or to the pub after a long walk? But what Benji has taught us is to re-think our expectations and change our perspective. Looking at the world through his eyes, and respecting his boundaries. We all have things we struggle with, and it can take a lot of work to get to a point where we feel comfortable. It’s the same for him.

We have made a big commitment with adopting Benji, but I would not change it for the world. He truly has become our best friend and we would not want to miss his goofy and happy self in our home. Every time we go on holiday we spend the entirety of our return travel looking at pictures of Benji sobbing in excitement to see him again. Take that for combating holiday blues!

- Nicole