A DOBERMANN’S HOLIDAY TALE...
Hello, my name is Basil and I thought I would like to share my holiday experience with you. Firstly my owners put some food into an esky, then my favourite fun food, ice blocks were packed in as well. My mummy told me I could have some when we got to Witchcliffe if I was a good boy. All my toys were put in a box with my bowls. Daddy packed everything into the trailer along with Theo and Christine’s bikes. I had the best seat in the car with the best view. I don’t know why everyone doesn’t fight for this position; maybe they always give it to me because I am the most special pack member. I had mummy on my left and Christine on my right and could use either of them as a cushion when I wasn’t enjoying the scenery.

We drove for a long time then we went along a bumpy road and I could see lots of big animals with big patches on their coats. Mummy called out “cows on the left” then Christine said “sheep on the right”. Finally we arrived at a lovely house which I was told was made out of straw bales. Everyone thought it was very cosy and rustic; there was a bottle of wine in the fridge which seemed to excite my mummy and a freshly baked cake on the table. Christine was shrieking with delight when she saw it, as it was chocolate and almond flavoured. After a while two lovely people walked across the paddock to welcome us and tell us all about the house. I didn’t see them again until it was time to leave as they went on a holiday as well which was a shame as I would have liked to play with their lovely dog called Ziggy.

I wasn’t sure where the back yard was, I spent a lot of time running around trying to find it but it didn’t seem to be anywhere. I tried very hard to catch breakfast for my family but the birds down here move just as quickly as the birds in Perth. My family did a bit of hunting as well and left me home to rest and wait for my food. They hunted at wineries and galleries and the odd brewery as well. They are very good hunters and know where the best places to go are. Margaret River seemed to be the best place to catch chickens and was only 10 minutes away. I always got the best part, the frame and these were big ones including the tail. Some days I got a tray of chicken necks, my family must have eaten all the rest of the chicken while they were out.

Daddy did a lot of cooking outside on the front veranda. That was nice as I always got a piece of their food as well. Funnily enough they never want to share mine which is so polite of them. Mummy kept having “nanna naps” on a strange looking hanging seat which kept moving when I tried to get on it with her. When I was cold at night they would light a fire for me and move the chairs so I could lie down in front of it. I have them so well trained. Christine and Theo went up to a huge attic room to watch TV. They also found a chess board to play with. There were many other games as well, scrabble is mummy’s favourite. There was bookshelf upon bookshelf of things my family wanted to read but we were only here for 10 days. We’ll have to go back again sometime.

I went for a few walks while I was here. They wouldn’t let me run free when they took me to the north paddock as there were 2 geriatric ponies, 2 donkeys and an alpaca there. Mummy fed them some apples. I got a bit of a fright when I peered into a little house and some feathered animals squawked at me. Mummy told me they were chickens. They don’t look anything like the ones mum goes hunting for. There was a huge shed outside and there was a table tennis table inside and a pool table as well. Theo and Christine had many a good argument in there. Early one morning a strange looking animal was near our straw house. It was the funniest looking thing I ever saw. It stood on 2 legs, had a long tail and bounced away very quickly when I barked at it. Mummy and daddy wouldn’t let me chase it, I was ordered to leave it in a very harsh tone. I thought I’d better listen to them as they always seem to know best and look after me very well.

There was a veggie garden near the house and my mummy roasted some pumpkin one night which she took out of the ground. Normally she finds food in the fridge. She used fresh parsley and rocket lettuce as well. Christine was eating cherry tomatoes straight off the bushes and mummy picked some lemons to use in the marinade. The fridges here mustn’t work as well as the ones in Perth.

One night mummy started to pack all the clothes up before I sent her to bed. In the morning daddy started packing things in the trailer again. I wondered where they might be going. I ran for a while longer trying to catch a bird, and also to try and find that back yard. I heard my family whistle for me and the car door was open so I jumped in reluctantly. I really wanted to see where that backyard was; maybe they’ll bring me back here again one day and I’ll be sure to search in more places. It must be somewhere, perhaps I didn’t look in the right places.
We drove for a long time then I saw my old neighbourhood again. We went back to our house and everything was just as I remembered it. I went into all the rooms to make sure everything was there then I had to have a rest as I was a bit confused. Why couldn’t we stay in The Straw House? Never mind, mummy took me for a walk and I met my buddies in the park. I hadn’t realised how much I’d missed them. I told Murphy, Bailey and a new friend what a lovely time I had. The next day I made a new friend called Khan, he looked just like me and I told him all about my holiday as well. When I see Sebby and Studley I’ll have to tell them too. Sebby looks like me too, but she is brown. I can’t wait to go again. Mummy is very happy too and said it truly was a pet friendly house and we will definitely go back again.

Well it’s time for another nap now. If you want your owners to take you to The Straw House just ask them to talk to my mummy and she will tell you all about it.

Yours sincerely,
Basil.
(as dictated to Mary Drougas)