We interrupt your day to bring you Benny the ice-skating Labrador

Just drop whatever you’re doing. This is far more important, promise.

Benny is a very good dog who can ice-skate. Yes, ice-skate.

The five-year-old Labrador has been learning and practicing for a year, after his owner, former skate coach Cheryl Del Sangro took him out on the ice one day and saw he was a natural skater.

Since that fateful day, Cheryl has kitted out Benny with a special pair of skates to wear in his front paws, and has taken him for training every two weeks at the Las Vegas Ice Center.

Benny on ice. See SWNS story NYICE; Meet the world???s first ice-skating DOG - a lovable Labrador which spends its days at the rink after being saved from euthanasia. Benny, five, has been learning to skate for a year after his owner, former coach Cheryl Del Sangro, 56, took him along to a practice on a whim. During that first foray on the ice last winter, adorable Benny scooted around on the ice after his owner, gleefully - and skillfully - picking up pucks. It inspired Cheryl - who had rescued the pup from death row at a shelter when he was just a few months old - to take him under her wing as her newest student. The animal lover has since taken Benny training once every two weeks at the Las Vegas Ice Center, teaching him an array of tricks including turns, crossovers and bunny hops.
Benny has only been skating for a year, and he’s already nailing it (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)

So far he can do turns, crossovers, and bunnyhops.

Benny’s also a whiz at ice hockey, even if he does cheat by picking up the puck in his mouth.

Cheryl, who rescued Benny as a puppy, says she took Benny out on the ice on recommendation from her friend, and quickly saw how much he loved it.

‘He followed me around and was running after me on the ice,’ she said. ‘Maybe because it’s so hot here in Nevada, he enjoyed being out there in the cold.

‘He was rolling around on his back and everything. He enjoyed it so much.

‘Our daughter, Brittany, I taught her to skate when she was 17 months old. I thought, well, if I could get little 17 month old to skate, why couldn’t I get him to skate?

Benny the dog at home. See SWNS story NYICE; Meet the world?s first ice-skating DOG - a lovable Labrador which spends its days at the rink after being saved from euthanasia. Benny, five, has been learning to skate for a year after his owner, former coach Cheryl Del Sangro, 56, took him along to a practice on a whim. During that first foray on the ice last winter, adorable Benny scooted around on the ice after his owner, gleefully - and skillfully - picking up pucks. It inspired Cheryl - who had rescued the pup from death row at a shelter when he was just a few months old - to take him under her wing as her newest student. The animal lover has since taken Benny training once every two weeks at the Las Vegas Ice Center, teaching him an array of tricks including turns, crossovers and bunny hops.
He’s been trained by Cheryl, a retired ice-skating coach (Picture: Cheryl Del Sangro / SWNS.com)

‘We took some dog boots and old blades and we glued them together.

‘I had him on a leash first in the rink and I helped him along with his feet.

‘He knows how to turn now, and do crossovers, and he can do little bunny hops with his front feet.

‘He’s getting more powerful and soon we’re going to have to get the skates professionally put together.

‘He’s the happiest dog, and he loves learning new tricks.

He's got style (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
He's got style (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
He's got style (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
(Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
(Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
(Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
He will not fall right on his face (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
He will not fall right on his face (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
He will not fall right on his face (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
He can glide (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
He can glide (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
He can glide (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
He can slide (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
He can slide (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
He can slide (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
He can bring his team to victory (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
He can bring his team to victory (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
He can bring his team to victory (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
And look elegant while he does it (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
And look elegant while he does it (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
And look elegant while he does it (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
You go, Benny (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
You go, Benny (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
You go, Benny (Picture: Rick Vierkandt / SWNS.com)
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‘Now, you can’t keep him off the ice. He just keeps getting better and better.’

Cheryl and Benny have big plans. Cheryl hopes to teach Benny a full-on routine to music so he can get a part performing as the Vegas Golden Knights NHL team’s on-ice entertainment.

‘Every time anybody sees him skate, they just laugh. It’s so unbelievable,’ says Cheryl.

‘I had somebody offer me money to buy him a couple times since, but I would never, ever sell him.

‘I don’t care how much they offered me, there’s no way would I ever give him up!

‘I love all of my dogs, but I have a special connection with Benny.’