Lili The Dog

As you can see Lili is pretty unmistakably a Chocolate Labrador. Lili is the Welsh spelling of Lily and is short for Lili Wen Fach, which is ‘snowdrop’ in Welsh. Having a Welsh name myself, a little bit of Welsh family heritage and because I like confusing people with spelling, this seemed like a decent name choice for her. Plus my original name choice was a no go as it was one of my minded children’s names and I didn’t feel it would be very helpful to dog or child for them to share a name, especially when toilet training!

Lili is nearly five years old and has a love of water which frequently means we are dragged behind her to the nearest source. She has even been known for jumping in the grimmest of animal water troughs many times over the last few years and would try to squeeze herself into the tiniest of vessels, if indeed it contains water. Although, saying all that, she is happier when she can put her feet down in said water, despite naturally being a strong swimmer! I don’t understand when she became such a wuss but there we are!

There are some limits to her typical Labrador traits though. For example, she is not a massive food fiend, the amount of times she’s stolen food I can count on one hand and the majority of these have been from the children in my care (she’s partial to a breadstick) who she has realised are an easy target, especially as they then think it’s a great game for her to ‘steal’ their snack..repeatedly!

She is not full of boundless energy everyday and doesn’t ever beg for a walk, whilst she of course never turns one down, she is just as happy to spend a day snuggled up inside, so long as she can get attention on demand.

Really though, her temperament is spot on to the breed description of a Lab, friendly, loving, loyal (most of the time, unless she finds a better option) and just generally very happy. Being a childminder’s dog from 8 weeks old, she was trained to be patient and tolerant and the children were taught be gentle and respectful to her…e.g. no you cannot ride her like a horse or climb on her like a climbing frame and she isn’t a secret bin for the food you swore you eat!

We all say it about our dogs don’t we, but she really is the best, I couldn’t hope or want for more from her and I’m glad for her sake and ours that she gets to come along on this journey with us.