why my dog is the best dog in the world

if you've never met lillie, you can't understand fully, but she is a people. she speaks english, and she knows what to do and how to love better than most other people. i think that's why i'm so upset whenever she gets a wild hair and runs away. i shouldn't, cause she always comes back, but the idea of losing her is excruciating.

she understands cues like sit, down, stay, etc, but she also understands "mine" (and will not touch your steaming steak even when you leave the room to get a beer), "go away" (and usually looks very pouty after you tell her to, she knows that "go to your bed" means to go to the nearest dog bed/blanket and lay down until given further instruction, and she can usually "go get me the ____" (remote control, socks, phone, etc). she also knows she isn't allowed upstairs, on the couch, on the bed, etc, without an invitation, and MOST of the time will wait for that invitation before hopping up on them. and one thing she definitely knows is that if she is allowed up on one of those coveted spots, she cannot bring toys or bones up with her.

now that you have a bit of information about her and the rules of the house, you'll see why this is so sweet.

tonight, i was laying on the couch feeling crappy, and andrew went to let the dogs in from outside. he was going to bed, and i told him i didn't want to deal with the dogs being all excited and running around the living room, so he could just take lillie to bed with him (chloe sleeps in the bathroom, so she was there already). about 10-15 minutes later, andrew and lillie walk out of the bedroom and he tells her to get up on the couch.
"she was just standing there staring at the door," he told me.
"i think she wants you."
i looked at her and she threw herself at me and curled up in the spot between my bent knees and the couch. in her mouth she tightly clutched her favorite toy as i talked to andrew.
i guess she wanted some snuggle time," he said.
i agreed and put my hand on her head, thinking i was going to have to take away her toy.
she turned, put her favorite toy on my belly and nudged it towards me. then she laid her head on my hip.

andrew and i both teared up.
she's NEVER given me a toy before, ever.
i guess she knew i needed some love.

she stayed there, with her head gently resting right below my belly until i got up. now it may be hormones, or the fact that i have been feeling crappy, but i'm just so touched by how wonderfully kind and understanding my sweet lillie is. i am so blessed to have her.