Butch (Benji)

Butch can be a very insecure dog when he is put into new situations. It takes him a good amount of time to warm up to new people. The best way to get him to come out of his shell is to get him to play. He seems to really want to play, he is just very unsure. Because he is so uncomfortable here and very stiff when being handled, I am not comfortable sending him into a home with children. During his cat testing, he was whining and pulling towards the cats but he also moved away on his own. Use caution if going into a home with cats. It may be best if he goes to a home without another dog. The owner wrote that he does well with small dogs but that he is defensive and fearful with other large dogs. They said that he is very loving and very smart. With a careful introduction and training, he has the potential to do well with cats. He is also doing better at the shelter self-esteem and comfort wise. He seems to be doing really well. He can still be jumpy when he is excited and nervous when first meeting new people, but he is doing relatively well. A child meeting can be conducted for younger children.