Ben

Ben is a three-year-old Maltese with a big personality in a small body. He's what we like to call a "unique case" - the kind of dog who won't suit just any household, but for the right person he will be an incredibly rewarding companion.

Ben needs a quiet home with no children and no other pets. He takes his time to build trust and feel safe, so his future owner will need to be patient, consistent, and ready to go at Ben's pace.

From his foster carer, we know that once Ben feels settled, he blossoms into a happy little dog who loves running, playing, and cuddling. He took a couple of days to feel confident enough to leave his crate, but now he's quite content spending time with his foster family and has bonded well with the people around him.

That said, Ben is still working on a few areas. Toilet training is a work in progress, and walks can be tricky for him. While he's mostly calm passing strangers, he can get spooked and sometimes tries to dash for cover. Other dogs are especially difficult for him - he will panic if approached. His foster carer has been working with him gently, rewarding calm behaviour and his new owners will need to do the same.

When it comes to being left alone, Ben does surprisingly well. He may whine a little at first, but then he settles quickly and will rest quietly until his people return.

Because Ben needs some extra support, his adoption includes a post-adoption behaviour consult pack with our Behaviour Team, so you won't be on this journey alone. We want to set both Ben and his new owner up for success, giving him the best possible start in his forever home.

If you're an experienced dog owner who's looking for a project pup to invest time, patience, and love into - Ben may just be the perfect little companion for you.