Benji was not a purebred dog; he was a mixed-breed “mutt.”

Breed details

The original Benji, whose real name was Higgins, was a small, scruffy mixed- breed dog adopted from a Burbank, California animal shelter, so his exact lineage is unknown. He was often described and labeled as a border terrier–type mix, but trainers and writers have suggested he likely had a combination of breeds such as Cocker Spaniel, Miniature Poodle, Schnauzer, and possibly Tibetan Terrier.