I love both my dogs and I think I’m pretty good at sharing some of their traits that make them so endearing to me.
So what’s with the Delilah centered post you ask?
Well, last week Jan at Wag ‘N Woof Pets had a post, Pure Love – 10 Things I Love About Sheba. I so loved this post and thought it might be fun to showcase each of my dogs.
AND since last Thursday was Delilah’s nine year “Gotcha Day” and I totally spaced on it, I thought I’d start with her.
1. Lovingness – Delilah does not take to people right away, in fact, it took her a very long time to even warm up to me, hubby and the rest of the family. She’s been failed by humans before and this has made her cautious, she doesn’t want her heart broken again (who can’t relate to that?) But once she trusts you, you’re golden in this girl’s eye. Where once she would tolerate pets, today she actively seeks them out and enjoys them. It’s proof that love and patience really can work miracles. Nothing makes me smile more than to roll over in bed and have her roll onto her back so you can rub her tummy.
2. Protectiveness – She is not aggressive with people by nature, but she will protect her people to the death. There is no doubt in my mind that this dog would give her life to protect me without even thinking twice.
3. Intuitiveness – I’ve always heard of dogs being in tune with what’s going on with their person, but I’ve never experienced it to the degree I have with Delilah. Delilah is totally in tune with me, and if I’m feeling down, or sad, she is right there, inserting herself into my space and supporting and comforting me and licking my tears away. If Hubby and I are excited about something and talking animately or raising our voices slightly, she gets incredibly upset and will run up to you with her little tail tucked between her legs and shove herself into you looking for comfort.
4. Silky Fur – Delilah has the softest, silkiest fur I’ve ever felt. Stroking her fur is so calming and soothing. I dare you to stroke her fur and not feel a sense of peace and calm wash over you. And when she groans because you’ve rubbed her ear, just the right way, it definitely tugs at those heart strings.
5. Cleanliness – Yeah, she smells like a Frito Corn Chip, but don’t hold that against her, she is the cleanest dog I’ve ever had. Her little belly is so pink and anytime you move any fur around on her body, all you see is milky white skin.
6. Zest for life– or as the French say, “Joie de vivre” – this dog’s zest for life is contagious, you cannot be around her and not feel that she is grateful to be alive. Hubby always says, “She knows we saved her from a high-kill shelter and she is thrilled to be alive.”
7. Athleticism – She is such an amazing athlete, she makes everything she does seem so effortless. I’ve seen her run practically straight up an almost vertical boulder, clear piles of brush eight feet wide, by two feet tall and jump? She can go from a sitting position and jump onto a three foot high wall as smoothly as a cat.
8. Silliness – She is one silly dog, and makes me laugh just about every day. Why just yesterday she went into the den and pulled an empty ice cream container out of Hubby’s trash can in there. (Shame on Hubby for not putting it in the kitchen trash!)
9. Fearlessness – Delilah is not afraid of anything…except sewer grates, she has a healthy respect for sewer grates. Human or animal, obstacle or object, if it’s in her territory, she’s going to find out what it is. Remember the Llama farm and the stand-off she had with the donkeys? She also had a standoff with a deer on the other side of our fence. I missed it, but Hubby said that deer was pawing the ground and puffing itself up. (I was running for my camera.) ;-(
I’m not sure what you think you’re doing, but this is MY yard.
10. Learnability – Delilah has learned to get what she wants by watching how Sampson operates. For instance, if you go into the bedroom when you come out, she will be waiting in front of the door and roll over onto her back so you can rub her tummy or her ears.
I could probably find a few more things I love about her, but the list says ten, so I’m sticking with it. Have you ever wrote down the things you love about your pets? I’d love to read them!
Callie, Shadow, and Ducky's Mom says
Aw, that’s a great tribute to Miss D! She’s a sweet girl, sometimes silly and sometimes serious, but always lovely. I hope I get to meet her – and Sampson and you – some day!
Emma says
What a great post and idea. We are a hot mess around here, real dirt magnets with out of control furs! She sounds like a real sweet girl. Treasure her!
Jan K says
I love that you did this, and we also got to learn a few more things about Delilah. Many of them remind me of Luke and give me hope that he might overcome some of his fears too. There is just something special about a dog who loves so deeply, especially when you had to earn that love over time, I think it makes it just that much deeper.
jan says
We did learn a lot more about Delilah. Now it is Sampson’s turn. I love that they have such different personalities and that you respect their differences.
Sue says
Oh, I love this! And I adore that first photo of Delilah – so sleek and beautiful I want to reach through the screen to touch her.
Blueberry's human says
Those are 10 very good reasons to love Delilah! Now…about that sewer grate…Delilah is no fool. She knows that beneath those grates, lives a psychotic clown. Enough said.
All Things Collie says
My girls also avoid sewer grate…mostly. Holly and Abby are seniors now, and as I see them becoming a bit more fragile I am becoming a bit overprotective. A couple weeks ago we were taking the girls for a walk. Holly didn’t notice the storm drain, stepped on the grate, and her paw and leg slid down inside. She panicked and couldn’t get up, so I panicked and in my rush to free her I threw my keys aside. What I didn’t notice, but my daughter did, was that my keys slid right into the sewer! They were still visible. So she gave me Abby’s leash, and called her boyfriend to come fish the keys out while I took the girls for a walk. Hopefully, they will be more careful. (Or I won’t over-react next time!)
This 10 things post is a great idea, maybe I’ll try it too. 🙂
Monika & Sam says
Those as well as all the D-dog antics are why we all love her too. P.S. I can practically “feel” that velvety fur and definitely can relate to that tactile calmness when one gets when petting a softie. What a sweetie❣️
Two French Bulldogs says
ahh, sweet. You are a special girl for sure
Snorts
Lily & Edward
Pamela says
Actually, based on some of your descriptions, Delilah reminds me of Jodi Stone. 🙂
Julie says
This is awesome. I am going to write one for Cocoa soon. I love that she is crazy. It is exhausting sometimes but so much fun.
Genevieve says
My last dog, Smoki started her life with intestinal worms and parasites, and lived the rest of her 16 years with colitis which made her a consistently bad, finicky, sporadic, unenthusiastic eater. So #1 on my list of things I love about Cupcake would have to be her love of food. Like Delilah’s joie de vivre, Cupcake enjoys joie de food! This mutt will eat anything!
2 Brown Dawgs says
That is a wonderful list. Delilah is the best.
Lauranne says
What an awesome idea
Rebekah says
This is so sweet. Such a great idea.
Sand spring Chesapeakes says
Awe those were 10 great things and happy late gotcha day.