Benji is the name of a fictional dog who has been the focus of several movies from 1974 through the 2000s. It is also the title of the first film in the Benji series.The eponymous canine character is a small, lovable mixed-breed dog with an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time, usually to help someone overcome a problem.Joe Camp is the creator and director of the Benji films. The first dog to play Benji was a shelter dog named Higgins, trained by Frank Inn.