Benny is one of five AKC Awards for Canine Excellence honorees that will be honored in 2021. He was named the winner of the Exemplary Companion category.
This category honors dogs that have not received any official training or certification but who have still distinguished themselves in some manner and made a significant contribution to their owners or communities in which they live.
It seems that three years ago, when they gave out a job description to 5-year-old Benny, he chose to disregard it.
The Labrador Retriever, America’s most popular breed for three decades, is described as a hunter, assistance dog, show and agility competitor, search and rescue dog, and a variety of other canine tasks in the breed’s template.
Ice skating, on the other hand, is strictly prohibited!
It all began in August 2018 when professional photographer Rick Vierkandt, who was working on a cheer video for the National Hockey League’s newest team, the Las Vegas Golden Knights, reached out to Benny’s owner, Cheryl DelSangro, of Las Vegas. Cheryl, a former professional skater who began skating at the age of five in Cleveland, expressed interest in including Benny in the production.
In the intervening years, Benny on Ice has been a whirlwind trip that has touched the lives and hearts of many people. It has also won the duo the prestigious AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence Exemplary Companion Award for the year 2021.
As you may expect, a dog cannot just walk about in any sort of skate. As a result, DelSangro created Benny’s and enlisted the help of a friend to mill the blades and bottoms to her exacting specifications. The top is made from a repurposed dog boot.
Benny, who is quick and agile, has “really improved” on his ice maneuvers since Day 1. “He no longer skates from front to back, but instead pushes out to the sides,” she explains.
“He has also trained himself to come to a complete halt using a reverse snowplow manoeuvre. In addition, he has learnt to skate a short distance in the opposite direction. “He is mostly self-taught,” says the author.
During practice, Benny skates 10-15 minutes with a 10-minute or longer rest in between. He does it with persistence and enthusiasm.
While everyone else is taking a break, DelSangro takes him outside to relax and play ball. What he wants to do, he tells her about it. A normal practice session consists of two sessions with a break in the middle.
Watch the full video below…
