DELILAH
Vanessa Sadler
Blenheim Palace
30 x 30 cm
Delilah came into our lives as a whirling, yelping, bouncing, fizzing puppy nine years ago. Coming from a litter of ten, she had learnt very quickly to make herself heard, and not to be left out. She overwhelmed her new ‘four-legged sister’ and tired out her humans.
Determined to be in the front, Delilah is better known as ‘me-first’, squeezing and squirming through her humans to be first on every dog walk, in the car and out the backdoor. This frenzied puppy grew into a sensitive, demanding princess, very protective of her human mummy and the gentlest of dogs around other four-legged friends.
Walks are endless, sometimes challenged by the sight of a deer, but thankfully Delilah has never manged to catch up with one, although her speed has sometimes got her close, and we adapt quickly with a lead if we spy a deer first.
This beautiful, sensitive dog comes for cuddles with her mum every evening, then takes
herself off to bed; maybe the long walks do tire her out?
Lockdown tails…
In lockdown, walks took on a whole new meaning. As well as being accompanied by her new ‘brother’ Monsieur Bertrand, Delilah spent hours outside with her family, and often just with her mum. Those special nights in second lockdown were spent walking towards the Xmas lights of Blenheim and dark winter evenings walking across the fields. They were never scary, but instead exciting, carefree and assuring.
Whilst Delilah loves to be first, if you are too slow or not in sight she will stop, turn around and look back as she doesn’t like to lose anyone on the walk.
When you have a dog, you are never alone – their presence is always with you, noticeable in their absence, becoming an intrinsic part of your family and their love and trust for you is remarkable. They shine a light on the need for respect and dignity to all animals and can teach us a thing or two about human relationships.
Delilah loves to chase, so apologies to all the neighbours who may have seen Delilah darting through their gardens in the pursuit of a cat or spotted her face poking through their cat-flap – she just likes to chase!
Vanessa Sadler