{W!P} *R*I*P* BDD : Ben de-Dog

Ben has left to cross the rainbow bridge, just after Noon on the 4th June 2024. The last thing he heard was me telling him what a good lad he was and I was hugging him to the end. His ashes were handed back to us on 12th June 2024.

Please meet the new apprentice [Oct 2011]. Correction. We've decided on a promotion - Ben is now our "Morale Manager" and in charge of keeping everybody happy. As he has got older, we've been keeping him at home a little more. Thanks to Covid-19 he's been staying at home almost full-time since March 2020. Sadly, Ben is getting somewhat less mobile [May 2024].

His 'gotcha' day ( in lieu of an official birthday ) is 30th October 2011.

He came with Ben as his rescue name, the "Ben de-dog" is because of the extended way he wags his whole body to welcome his family and friends. The Ben part is extended to Benjamin on formal occasions and Benji on informal ones.
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He is another rescue - found tied to a fence in Caernarfon ! (North Wales) We think he is mostly Labrador (there may well be quite a bit of border collie as well) and aged about a year old. He was 'interviewed' in North Wales and came through with flying colours.

He came to work for his first day on Monday 31st October 2011, and proved to be an instant hit with the staff (and quite a few extra visitors came to see him). The good impression is so strong that he has already been promoted to company morale officer - he is in charge of making us smile!! Which is quite a challenge, as we are all missing Harry H-Dog so much.
One minor difficulty we had was that Ben appeared to be terrified of getting into cars - he froze if walked too close to a car - but after just less than three weeks, he has changed into a dog who jumps into the back of the car and enjoys the view as he travels around. (Update - now he wants to stay in the car...)
Just as well - since Ben has now had a visit to a beach......and the sea. Followed by a couple of nights away from home. All taken in his stride, including meeting a number of other dogs in recent days. Everybody that has met him has been impressed ! He has now sampled the North Sea.....And been on a Ullswater Steamer. Next test will be a trip on an old lifeboat ! Ben has now had a trip out to the Whitby Bell buoy, as you might expect - he had a lovely time, including wearing his own lifejacket (complete with handle for picking him out of the water) ... The latest test was a ride on a narrow-gauge railway, no problems!

Ben has now spent some weeks and weekends on the Miller Fifer "Emoyeni" (Emma for short) and has taken to it like a duck to water. He knows we disappeared up the ladder for some reason, so we got him to watch the loading and launching. He then went around to the berth, he was lifted onto the deck the first time and ever since he has done it himself. Still a little disconcerted with the engine starting ...

The staff at Freshfields (the rescue in N. Wales) thought he might not be very interested in food and treats, so suggested 'clicker' training. However, Ben has a healthy level of attention to his food bowl and jar of treats. Just as well, as he burns up the beach - and anywhere else he can - racing after balls, sticks and so on. Indoors, a variation in playing involves the gentle nudging of a ball back to you.....as "pass the ball"
Ben is also becoming much more socialised with other dogs (and small children) although he still dislikes small terriers. He seems to be fascinated by smaller animals - our gerbils, hamster, cat (RIP) and hedgepigs all get the same level of concerned attention. Ben's reaction to the orphaned blackbird was most interesting; a couple of weeks into the rescue, I was distracted enough by another task to be late for mealworm delivery duties, I was told in no uncertain terms that I was due elsewhere ...

Comments on this set at F****r (June 2013 - with 243 views) :-
RATZAPUS [deleted] says:
I am so glad he rescued you in a time of need :-)
Posted 12 months ago.

StoneRoad2011 says:
Ben's "Gotcha Day" - in lieu of an official birthday is 30th October. He has been with us, in his forever home, for one whole year yesterday ie30Oct2012.
He got a bit spoilt - extra treats and chews and playing ball and cuddles ...
Posted 8 months ago. ( back from June 2013)

Ben has left to cross the rainbow bridge, just after Noon on the 4th June 2024. The last thing he heard was me telling him what a good lad he was and I was hugging him to the end. His ashes were handed back to us on 12th June 2024.

Please meet the new apprentice [Oct 2011]. Correction. We've decided on a promotion - Ben is now our "Morale Manager" and in charge of keeping everybody happy. As he h…  (read more)

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