Dilly Bar

Description

  Adoption fee: $650   Dilly Bar: A Sweet Treat with Golden Eyes   Dilly Bar is a 1–2 year old, 21-pound Westie mix who was rescued from a shelter. With his gorgeous golden eyes, constantly wagging tail, and wonderfully gentle spirit, Dilly is the kind of dog who makes everyone around him feel instantly at ease.   The Perfect Balance   Dilly Bar has been affectionate and trusting from the moment he arrived in his foster home. He loves human interaction and happily accepts scratches under his chin and on top of his head. If you stop before he is ready, he will gently nudge your hand as a polite request for more.   Dilly is an excellent couch companion who loves cuddling beside his people, but he is not demanding about attention. Once the petting session is over, he is content to entertain himself or relax while his foster family goes about their day. He has a lovely balance of independence and affection: close when you want companionship and perfectly happy to give you space when you are busy.   A Day in the Life of Dilly   Dilly eats breakfast around 9 a.m. and then heads out for his morning walk. “Walk” may be a generous term, because Dilly believes every smell deserves a thorough investigation! He likes to stop, listen, look around, and inspect every bush along the way. He is also eager to greet the dogs he encounters and may plant himself in place until they have passed.   During the day, Dilly alternates between relaxing on his bed inside and playing with his toys in the backyard. He absolutely loves balls, squeaky toys, and a good game with his people, but he can also keep himself occupied. He has a playful side whenever someone invites him to have fun, followed by an equally impressive ability to settle down and lounge.   Dinner is served around 6:30 p.m. At night, Dilly usually sleeps on a dog bed beside his foster’s bed, although he is flexible about where he settles. His main requirement is cushioning—even a couch pillow on the floor will do! He has been known to curl himself into a bed that is much too small and fall asleep with his head propped against the wall at an almost 90-degree angle. Comfort, according to Dilly, is a state of mind.   A Social Butterfly   Dilly spent time in off-leash playgroups with other dogs at the shelter prior to coming to DPS. On walks, he generally greets them with friendly enthusiasm and does not bark at dogs or people on his walks.   Dilly has not yet been tested with cats or children.   He is also a wonderful guest. When he visited a friend’s home, he calmly introduced himself, rolled onto his back for belly rubs, and quickly won everyone over. When visitors come to his foster home, he simply wants to say hello and make a new friend.   Home-Alone Skills   Dilly does exceptionally well when left home alone. He currently stays loose in the house and may whine for about 20 seconds before settling down. He has successfully been left for four to five hours without showing signs of separation anxiety or causing damage.   Dilly is fully housetrained and does not use a doggy door. He is not currently crate trained, but because he is so comfortable being left loose in the home, his foster has not needed to use one.   Toys, Walks, and Good Manners   Dilly is a regular-shedding dog with soft, medium-length white fur. He enjoys chewing on appropriate toys to keep himself busy, although adopters should continue redirecting him if he decides that a remote control or yoga mat looks equally entertaining. He does not dig in the yard. He occasionally barks when someone passes the house, but he is not an excessive barker.   Dilly enjoys his walks tremendously, but he will benefit from continued leash training to help him understand that walks involve forward movement as well as extensive neighborhood research. He wants to smell everything, investigate every sound, greet every dog, and occasionally insert his entire body into a bush while marking. His curiosity is part of his charm, but patience and positive reinforcement will help him become a more efficient walking companion.   Dilly’s Dream Home   Dilly Bar is a well-rounded, adaptable dog who could thrive in many types of homes. He would be equally happy playing with toys, exploring the neighborhood, relaxing beside his people, or snoozing independently on the nearest cushioned surface. Because he handles time alone so well, he could also be a good match for someone who works outside the home.   What truly sets Dilly apart is his calming, gentle nature. He brings joy to the people he meets without demanding to be the center of attention. His soulful golden eyes, wagging tail, playful curiosity, and affectionate head nudges make him an easy dog to love—and an even easier companion to imagine coming home to.