Registered Breeder Number: N/A
Age Range: 6 months - 7 years
Benji | 10-month-old male Border Collie | Fully vaccinated | Worming up to date | Not desexed
I am looking for a suitable, experienced home for my 10-month-old male Border Collie, Benji. This is a very difficult decision, as I love him dearly and have invested a significant amount of time into his training. Unfortunately, following a recent house move and an escalation in his behavioural issues during adolescence, my current shared living situation is no longer sustainable.
Benji is an intelligent, highly energetic young dog who, 99% of the time, is an incredibly friendly, loving and charming boy with endless bounds of personality. He has received daily training and knows an extensive range of commands, tricks and interactive games. He walks very well on lead, responds to commands and can be redirected away from other dogs while on lead.
However, he struggles significantly with over-arousal, particularly around other dogs when off lead. He needs an experienced owner who understands the Border Collie breed and is prepared to work patiently and consistently on his behavioural needs.
Important behavioural information
I want to be completely transparent about Benji's current challenges so that he can be placed in an appropriate home.
Over-arousal and redirected aggression: When highly aroused or fixated on other dogs, Benji can redirect his frustration onto people handling him. Touching or grabbing his collar in these situations has triggered growling and biting. A recent incident resulted in a bite that broke the skin.
Dog reactivity: Benji can become excessively aroused around other dogs, particularly when off lead. Although he walks and responds very well to commands on lead, his behaviour around dogs off lead is considerably more difficult to manage.
Humping: When off lead around other dogs, he can hump excessively, which appears to occur alongside his elevated arousal.
Benji is still a young dog who needs substantial daily physical activity and mental stimulation. He currently requires approximately 2–3 hours of combined activity and enrichment each day. He would benefit from an environment that can provide consistent management, appropriate outlets for his energy and professional behavioural support. His behavioural challenges should not be underestimated, and experience handling dogs with arousal and reactivity issues is important.
Children and other dogs
Benji is very affectionate towards children. However, given his history of over-arousal and redirected aggression, I would not recommend a home with young children. Children may not recognise early signs of canine stress or frustration, and their safety must come first.
Benji currently lives with another very calm dog, and they get along well. I have observed that he does not display the same excessive humping behaviour with this particular dog. This is encouraging, although his suitability for a home with other dogs would need to be assessed individually and carefully, particularly given his reactivity when highly aroused.
Training, commands and personality
One of Benji's biggest strengths is how much he has learned at such a young age. I have trained with him every day, and he knows a wide range of verbal cues, commands, tricks and enrichment games.
He enjoys learning, problem-solving, searching for objects and treats, playing with toys and engaging with his handler. He knows far more than basic obedience and has been taught several interactive games. He loves playing with water out the hose, balls and tug of war. He settles by himself when ready to sleep. Born on the 15/12/2025, his parents genetic information can be emailed if interested. He has no medical issues.
Commands and everyday cues
Obedience and attention
Sit, stay, down and stand
Heel and centre
Look and chin
Come here, come come come
Okay (release cue)
Enough, stop, leave it and drop
Back up, left, this way and around
Can you? (a cue I use to get him focused and ready to pay attention)
Movement and tricks
Spin, circle and roundies
Roll over
Paw
Commando
Through and hop through
Under and hop up
Hold
Everyday routines
Benji (his name)
Walkies
Car
Bed, pen, potty, outside and inside
Treat and who's hungry?
Let's go
Toys and object recognition
Ball
Frisbee
Toy
Go get it
Bring it here
Where's the ball? and similar “Where's ___?” cues, which encourage him to search for a named object
Play and enrichment
Play
Puzzle
Hide and seek
Selfie
Boopissnoopis
Banana, carrot and other familiar food-related cues
He also knows how to play several interactive games:
The cup game: Benji sits and stays while a treat is hidden under one of several cups. When released and asked which cup he thinks contains the treat, he paws at his chosen cup.
Hide-and-seek with treats: He can be directed to a familiar spot and asked to sit and stay while treats are hidden around the area. When released, he searches for them.
Hide-and-seek with his handler: Benji can stay in position while his handler hides with treats. When released, he searches for the person and receives a reward when he finds them.
He enjoys these activities because they give him opportunities to use his brain as well as his body.
The home Benji needs
I have worked with Benji daily and care about him immensely. He is a clever, affectionate and engaging dog with a great deal of potential, but I recognise that love and training alone are not enough to meet his current needs.
I am looking for an experienced, responsible owner who understands the demands of the Border Collie breed, can provide substantial daily enrichment and exercise, and is prepared to manage his behavioural challenges safely while seeking appropriate professional support.
A secure environment and a thoughtful approach to handling, particularly around other dogs and during periods of high arousal, will be essential. His suitability for living with other animals would need to be considered carefully.
I want to make a responsible decision for Benji and for the people around him. I am looking for a suitable, long-term placement rather than simply passing him on to the first available person.
Benji is fully vaccinated, up to date with worming and not desexed.
Please get in touch if you have relevant experience and believe you could provide an appropriate home. I am happy to discuss his temperament, training, behavioural history and needs in detail so that any potential placement is well informed.
Thank you for taking the time to read Benji's story.
Dogs have access to: warm bedding, water at all times, ample space to exercise, natural light
Dogs have enrichment provisions: Yes
Dogs are exposed to: people with different appearances or ages, different sounds
Offers lifetime rehoming: Yes
