Hi there!!! My name is Dale. I am a quite large German Shepherd / Retriever. On this page I would like to share with you some of the things I get up to on holiday with my Dad in Teignmouth, South Devon. You will see photos of me talking to the donkeys in Sidmouth, playing with my friends and socialising in the bar at The Lifeboat.
My Dad has took me to Teignmouth two or three times every year and I love it. We go on the train from Nottingham and the bus from Cliffden Hotel meets us at Teignmouth railway station. When I was at Teignmouth last year I made friends with Eddy who was staying at the hotel with his Mum and Dad, Su and Jon from Wales. We all decided to go back and meet up again in May.
On Bank Holiday Monday we decided to go and visit the donkey sanctuary in Sidmouth. I had never seen a donkey before so was looking forward to meeting them. I got quite a shock when I saw all these donkeys just wandering around, aren't they big, they made me feel very small at the side of them. On the left is a photo of Ed and me with our Dads at the donkey sanctuary.
As it was about dinner time we all went into the cafe to have a bite to eat and a drink. Well our folks had something to eat but all Ed and I got was a drink of water. Still it was OK in there, a nice cool floor to lay on and lots of people to come and say hello to me. I am very good at getting peoples attention you know, I just look at them and they can't resist coming over to stroke me.
After our break we set off to have a look at the donkeys. There is one area which is partitioned off so that you can walk around with the donkeys who are roaming around loose. They are very friendly, really, are these donkeys, I quite took to them. They kept coming over to me to have a chat, bet you didn't know I could talk donkish.
We all had a very good afternoon with the donkeys. Dad told me that since 1969 the donkey sanctuary have cared for 12,000 donkeys and you can adopt a donkey if you would like to. The donkey sanctuary have an online donation scheme and an online shop. If you would like to find out more about the work the donkey sanctuary does then go to the 'Useful Links' page. On the left is a photo of Ed and me at the donkey sanctuary.
Most days after Dad has had his breakfast we will go up to the grooming room and he will give me a good brushing to make me nice and shiny, everyone comments on how my coat shines. After my brush we usually get ready and go up to Mules Park, the big field at the side of the hotel where I can have a good free run and play with all the other dogs up there. After my play Dad will work me into town and he will go to one of the coffee shops in The Triangle for a drink and a sit down before walking back to the hotel.
Dad doesn't make me work through the hotel grounds but I always look after him and let him know when there is a danger like steps. On the right is a photo of me sitting at the top of the steps waiting for Dad to tell me to carry on down them. At the end of the garden there is a green gate which takes you straight onto the sea front or if you turn left, as I always try to, takes you up to Mules Park.
Just before the green gate there are two fenced off grass paddocks for us dogs to pop in and spend a penny. Sometimes when we get down to them we will find other guide dogs in there. On the left is a photo of another of my friends, Rob the German Shepherd. Wish my ears stood up like his.
After about an hour running and playing on the fields Dad will put my harness on and I will take him into town. We walk down the big slope from Mules Park and cross over the railway bridge onto the sea front. Although I am working I like to watch the dogs playing on the beach and running into the sea. I take Dad down to the pier where we turn right and walk through The Den, a very large grass area, and cross the road into town. We sometimes call at the Lloyds TSB or Boots and other shops on the way to The Triangle. There is a pet shop in The Triangle where lives the biggest Great Dane I have ever seen, not that I've seen many. His name is Jason and he wanders around the Triangle and drinks out of the fountain. What with the donkeys and now Jason I am starting to feel quite small. Dad went into the pet shop and bought me a nice big bone before we went for coffee.
After our evening meal Dad would take me for a nice stroll along the sea front. It takes us about 10 minutes to walk right along to 'The Point' where there is a big car park. I know where I am going when we get into the car park, the Lifeboat Inn to see my friends Pete & Helly. Sometimes Eddy and Jon will come with us and when we are walking along the prom Eddy and me keep trying to get in front of each other so that we can get the first biscuit from Helly. On the left is a photo of Eddy bear taking in the atmosphere in the Lifeboat.
One day Eddy was out with Jon when he thought he just fancied a nice treat from Helly. jon had started to make his way back to the hotel but Eddy had other ideas so he refused to turn left at the prom and stopped. 'I am going to the Lifeboat', thought Ed, and tried to turn right. Jon had to phone Su to come and rescue him. A few days later Su was with Jon and Ed when he did the same thing so Su said to Jon, "Let's see where he wants to go". Ed promply set off along the prom and headed straight for the Lifeboat. It's not my fault Ed likes going to the Lifeboat for a bite to eat, he told me it was more interesting than Whetherspoons.
I made friends with a Guide Dog from Bridgend a couple of holidays ago, "Bloommin eck, another Welshdog". I'm from Yorkshire, how am I supposed to communicate with them. His name is Alvin and, although I say it myself, he is probably more of a rebble than me. His Dad, Lyndon, calls him 'ASBO'. We all went over to Shaldon on the ferry and down onto Smugglers Cove for a play in the sea. I was quite happy running in and out of the sea chasing stones but little Alvin was more interested in nicking Sheila's shoes. Got to go now, I can hear a bag rustling so got to investigate.
Designed & Maintained by Chris Handrick
Web Hosting by Compila.com