Benji is not a specific purebred dog; the original movie Benji was a mixed- breed (mutt) shelter dog, most often described as a small terrier-type mix.

What kind of dog is Benji?

  • The original Benji (a dog named Higgins) was adopted from a shelter and labeled as a Border Terrier mix.
  • Trainers and writers have suggested he looked like a blend of Cocker Spaniel, Miniature Poodle, Schnauzer, and possibly other small breeds, but his exact lineage was never officially confirmed.
  • Later Benji films and reboots also used similar-looking small, scruffy mixed-breed dogs rather than a single standardized breed.

Quick comparison table

Here’s a simple look at the “Benji type” versus a purebred:

[1] [3][1] [1] [1] [3][1] [3][1]
Type What it means How it relates to Benji
Mixed-breed “mutt” Dog with unknown or multiple-breed ancestry, not registered as purebred. Benji is widely recognized as a mixed-breed shelter dog with terrier-like looks.
Border Terrier mix Cross including Border Terrier traits such as wiry coat and small size. Shelter paperwork reportedly called Higgins a Border Terrier mix.
Cocker/Poodle/Schnauzer influence Small companion breeds known for intelligence and trainability. Trainers believed Benji’s look and behavior suggested bits of these breeds.

Why this matters (and doesn’t)

  • Part of Benji’s charm is that he’s a rescue mutt , which helped popularize adopting from shelters rather than focusing only on purebreds.
  • Because his exact breed mix is unknown, “Benji dog” has become shorthand for any small, scruffy, clever mixed-breed with a big personality.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.