Benji

Casting

The character has been portrayed by several different mixed-breed dogs over the years. A dog named Ginger played Benji's mom, Daisy.

After the release of Benji: Off the Leash!, Joe Camp told an interviewer that he decided from the beginning to use only rescue dogs:

Breeds

All of the Benji dogs are mutts. Higgins, found as a puppy, had a shaggy, golden-tan coat adorned with white markings.

Training

Actually, Frank Inn was who discovered Higgins (who was three years old) in 1960, adopted him from the Burbank Animal Shelter, and brought him home to be a pet and show-business dog for his wife Juanita and himself. Inn trained Higgins for roles in such TV shows as The Beverly Hillbillies (10 episodes), Petticoat Junction (all episodes), and Green Acres (three episodes). After a few episodes of Lassie, Inn retired Higgins, but brought him back at age 14 in 1974 to star in Benji.

Inn, also a dog breeder, bred Higgins for more offspring that resembled him. These included daughter Benjean. Higgins died in 1975, and the filmmakers knew they would want future Benjis. Joe's wife, Andrea Carolyn Hopkins Camp (who also served as producer and assistant director on the 1974 Benji, Benji the Hunted, and Benji, Zax & the Alien Prince), ran a training "Benji boot camp" whenever her husband and son came home from the animal shelter with multiple likely candidates. For Benji: Off the Leash!, for example, three dogs were adopted and trained; one dog was given away, Moochie became the new Benji, and Shaggy, his sidekick, was played by a dog nicknamed Lizard Tongue.

Several animal handlers worked with the various Benjis across the years. Gerry Kerns served as Benji's trainer, and Roger Schumacher as Shaggy's trainer, for Benji: Off the Leash!.

Filmography

Films

• Benji (1974)
• Hawmps! (1976; cameo)
• For the Love of Benji (1977)
• The Double McGuffin (1979; cameo)
• Oh! Heavenly Dog (1980)
• Benji the Hunted (1987)
• Benji: Off the Leash! (2004)
• Benji (2018)

Television

• Benji's Very Own Christmas Story (1978)
• Benji at Work (1980 - short)
• Benji Takes a Dive at Marineland (1981 - short)
• Benji, Zax & the Alien Prince (1983 - series)

Documentaries

• Benji's Life Story (1976)
• The Phenomenon of Benji (1978)

Video games

• Benji: Space Rescue (1983) for C64

Collections

• Benji's Film Festival (2001)

References

References

1. Fraser, Chelsie. (February 21, 2025). "What Breed of Dog Is Benji? Famous Movie Character Facts". [[Dogster]].
2. "Benji: Off The Leash (2004)". [[American Humane]], Humane Hollywood.
3. Ayers, Belinda. (2004). "Benji Returns: A Conversation with Film Director Joe Camp". [[Christian Broadcasting Network]].
4. "What Breed of Dog Is Benji on Netflix? (2018)". EntertainmentNow.
5. Kelly, Kate. (2018). "Benji, Shelter Dog Turned Movie Star". America Comes Alive.
6. "Higgins (1957-1975)". [[IMDb]].
7. "Benji: Off the Leash! Full cast & crew". [[IMDb]].