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| Name: |
Benji
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Age: |
Eight years old
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| Gender: |
Female |
Breed: |
Norwich Terrier |
| Home: |
Queens, New York, USA |
Benji
is just the cutest little dog. When I take her for walks, she
attracts a lot of attention from passersby who ask me questions about
her, like "What kind of dog is she?", as well as comments like "What a
cute little dog!" Lots of people and children especially, like to pet
her, and she likes the attention and likes to be petted. Although,
children do tend to ogle her, and after too much attention from kids,
she gives me a look that tells me "enough is enough" and that she would
like to leave.
While Benji loves people and is very friendly, she doesn't get along
well with other dogs. I've already accepted this as one of the quirks
of her personality. She's a barker when it comes other dogs. When she
senses another dog in the street, she will start to bark and display
aggression to warn the other dog to keep away and not come too close.
She doesn't like to play or socialize with other dogs either. If
another dog wants to play or sniff or anything (provided they weren't
scared away at first by the barking), she will want to get away and
hide. Even neighborhood dogs that she has encountered before and is
acquainted with don't interest her in the least. She won't bark anymore
once she knows them, but will still want to keep her distance.
Benji's favorite place to go is the neighborhood park. It is about four
city blocks from the apartment building where we live and she has been
there many times. Every time I take her out on the leash, she will drag
me in the direction of the park. Rarely will she want to go off in
another direction. She loves to bark at and chase squirrels.
Sometimes, when she doesn't see the squirrels at first, I yell "Look,
Benji, Look!" and she will start to turn her head and look in all
directions and when she spots it, she will bolt off and chase it up a
tree and then start barking away.
Benji knows several words in human speak. Aside from "Look!", she knows
what "Wait, Go, and Jump" mean. She also knows a phrase that we say
that means "We're going out." (We say it in another language:
Croatian). When she hears that one, she gets all excited and will start
to stretch (doggie stretches) in anticipation. She knows two tricks
that we've taught her: how to sit, and shake hands. Usually though, she
won't do a trick unless there's a dog treat in it for her.
She isn't my dog; rather, she belongs to a friend of mine, but I and my
family do take care of her during the winter when her owner goes on
vacation to a warmer clime. All in all, I and my family really become
attached to Benji during the weeks when we take care of her for our
friend. It is always a sad occasion when she goes back to her owner,
and it takes a few days to get used to her not being around. When she
is with us, she is like part of the family.
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