My name is Ben!

All Pound Dog Rescue dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, heartworm tested, de-wormed (if required), and micro-chipped prior to adoption. The adoption donation of $400 is applied to assist in the costs of veterinary care and the overall care of the dog.

We at PDR firmly believe in the importance of obedience training, regardless of breed or size of dog, and have a clause in our adoption contract requiring adopters to attend and complete a basic obedience course at a facility of their choosing. Only in certain circumstances will we waive this clause, so please be prepared to attend dog school should you wish to apply for a dog through our program.

For more information and adoption applications please consult our website at www.pounddog.ca.


Let me introduce you to Ben. He is a one-year-old Border Collie/German Shepherd mix. Ben is a medium sized dog, weighing in at around 40 lbs. He is a nice sized dog for any living situation. He's not overly big, but is big enough to handle anything you want to do with him. He has the German Shepherd head with his sincere expressions and happy eyes and a Border Collie’s soft coat and adorable spots. You might find him unique looking at first, but once you get to know him with his expressive ears and thwacking tail you’ll fall in love with this happy-go-lucky dog.

Ben has gained a few nick names at his foster home. Sometimes he goes by “Energizer Benny” because he is always on! Ben is a dog who is raring to go. Sometimes Ben gets called Benjamin Button because when he sleeps he seems to turn into even more of a puppy. Most mornings his foster parents wake up to the sound of his tail wagging against his crate. He’s very subtle.

Ben was a stray at a rural animal control facility and was not claimed by his owner. How his previous owner didn't come for him is beyond comprehension. It's for the best though because Ben deserves a family who is as devoted to him as he will be to them. He needs to feel safe in a home he will not be allowed to roam free and get lost, and where he can be confident in that fact that he is home forever and will never be lost or abandoned again.

Ben would thrive in an active household. He loves to be a part of any activity. Sweeping the floors, Ben can help! Going out in the car, yes please. He will be your smiling, wagging shadow. But while he bonds with his people very quickly, he is still unsure of new humans, especially when they come to his home. He is working through his fears and becoming braver every day. He will need a new family that will continue to expose him to new things and new people so that he isn’t as shy as he matures. Ben would do best in a home with a lot of space for him to run around; even better if he has a dog sibling to run with. We are looking for a home for Ben that has a playful and confident dog to pattern off of. Ben loves other dogs and loves to play and he has learned a lot from his foster dog sister that we want this for him in his forever home too. The two dogs were fast friends and spent the first three days running like madmen around the yard. They take the occasional break now, but do have the best time wrestling around the house. Ben would be best suited for a home with another young dog who is willing to play for hours a day. Ben has not met any cats in our care but our sense is that he and the cats of the world would be better kept separate. We feel he would want to chase them. Ben is not being fostered with children but as he is still somewhat shy we feel an adult home would be best for Ben right now, or a home with kids over 12yrs of age. As Ben matures and gets more comfortable and is better socialized a home with children would not be out of the question, so he would be suitable for a couple that are considering kids in a few years.


Ben needs a least a few hours of walking and running each day. At his foster home, he gets an hour walk in the morning and the same in the evening. In addition, loves to go for bike rides and is learning how to play fetch. He is a great biking dog. Fetch needs some work as he would much rather play keep away. His walking manners are very good and he always aims to please. It didn’t take him long to learn that he needs to sit before crossing any street. Now, in anticipation, as soon as he reaches a crosswalk he plops down and looks at his foster parents for approval.

What Ben loves best though is attention from him people and his dog sibling. On the rare occasion when Ben lies down, one look his way and his tail will not stop wagging until he comes over to be petted. We really think he didn't get a lot of attention or love in his previous home so he's going for all he can get now! He is also a total ham. He loves to throw his toy in the air and pounce on it. He frolics in the snow. Often you’ll look at him and notice that he is sticking his tongue out! Ben has been such a fun boy during his stay with us and to top it off he is totally housetrained – only having a couple accidents as a new member of the household. He is also crate trained and sleeps in his crate at night and stays in his crate when we are away from the house. The maximum amount of time Ben has been left in the crate is 4 hours. He would likely be fine all day if he’s been given lots of exercise in the morning.

Ben is a very smart boy. Before he joined his foster family he had been taught ‘sit’, ‘down’ and ‘paw’. He wears a gentle leader on our walks and has very good manners while wearing it. In the house, Ben is learning a new game ‘find it’ where it is his job to detect which box contains a treat. Puzzles are a great solution for a cleaver dog like him. Ben needs structure and a strong teacher. He wants to learn and will be a quick study. Obedience training will bring out the best in this smart dog. He will require a new family that are committed to attending training classes with Ben not only to take advantage of his great learning potential, but also to help with socialization. He currently attends training classes and is doing very well in them. He would also be very happy to have a job or participate in agility training.

Ben is in great physical health! As mentioned he does need help with socialization and his current obedience school attendance has helped him tremendously and with each lesson he gains even more confidence. But out in the world he still worries about people passing in the street or strangers who try to approach him. His biggest hurdle will be welcoming visitors in his forever home. When people enter the home he reacts by barking as he is nervous and it can be difficult to break his attention. Meeting new people outside of the house and then entering seems to improve the situation though it takes some time for him to be comfortable with guests. He will accept bribes with treats though and when introduced properly and not rushed or forced into greetings he does make friends with new people. And we have found that once he meets new people he remembers them so that he is not nearly as shy with them when they visit again. Regular visitors to the home will become his good friends.

Ben is such a fun dog. He will love you unconditionally. He is good in the car and travels well. He will be your playmate, jogging partner, bike companion – whatever you ask! He aims to please and he shows you every day that he is grateful to have been rescued from the pound. If you would like an active, playful, fun goofball who will be a devoted companion then Ben just may be the dog for you.