How a French bulldog who surfs ended up a movie star

When he's not on a surfboard or paddleboard, Dale enjoys riding on a bodyboard.
Image: Julie Eggers
Kyle Melnick
One sunny morning in 2023, Dale went to a beach in Oahu, Hawaii, to surf three-foot waves in the Pacific Ocean.
To Dale, a French bulldog, it was just another day at the beach. But it became something else entirely: It was the moment Dale made his acting debut.
Dale was filming a scene for the live-action 'Lilo & Stitch' movie, which opened at the box office last weekend. The scene shows Dale at the front of a surfboard for a few seconds, inspiring the character Stitch to surf in the film.
The movie is a remake of the 2002 animated film about a Hawaiian girl, Lilo, who befriends a doglike alien, Stitch.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Before Dale started surfing, he was already adept at paddleboarding and bodyboarding. He picked up surfing for the movie and quickly found his new favorite hobby. In the past two years, the 6-year-old has loved standing on a blue, 11-foot long surfboard with his owner, Greg Dutcher, at a Honolulu surfing spot.
'He gets mad when we take him out of the water,' said Julie Eggers, who takes care of Dale with Dutcher, her boyfriend.
After Dutcher bought Dale from a San Diego breeder in the spring of 2019, the French bulldog with a fawn and white coat learned to ride a small skateboard at tennis and basketball courts. He also enjoyed going to the beach - although he was initially scared of the water. Once he went in for the first time, he picked up swimming naturally and didn't want to leave. He now wears an orange life jacket.
Dale became comfortable standing on Dutcher's paddleboard and also on a bodyboard to ride the waves. Beachgoers usually pull out their phones for photos and videos when they see Dale in the water. When Dutcher or Eggers take him out of the water, Dale often jumps back in and sometimes hops onto other boards so he can stay longer.
Dale, who weighs 25 pounds, enjoys walks - but only at the beach. When Eggers tries to walk him around her neighborhood, he stops after a bit and sits on the concrete.
In the spring of 2023, Eggers said, she responded to an Instagram post from an animal trainer who was looking for a French bulldog comfortable in the water for a film or TV shoot. Eggers said she thought Dale would be in a commercial.
Dale enjoys surfing with his owner, Greg Dutcher.
Image: Greg Dutcher
Dutcher took Dale to a surfing spot in Waikiki, a Honolulu neighborhood, to meet J. Tyler London, who trains dogs to ride on surfboards and paddleboards. Dale balanced on the surfboard on his first try.
'He's so fearless,' Eggers said.
Eggers was shocked when she later learned that Dale would be in 'Lilo & Stitch.' Dale reminded Eggers of Stitch because he makes similar gravely, nasally noises, she said. Dale's owners bought him a stuffed Stitch doll.
In June 2023, Dale and London rode a surfboard together while cameras, boom mics and other equipment recorded them in Oahu, Eggers said. While the production crew needed to film other scenes afterward, Eggers said, Dale wanted to stay in the ocean.
Dale's love for surfing blossomed afterward. He competes in a Honolulu surfing competition - where people surf with their dogs on board - in August with Dutcher, 43.
Last month, when Disney began releasing clips from 'Lilo & Stitch' on YouTube, Eggers often checked her phone for updates, hoping to see one that starred Dale. On May 8, she said she gasped when she saw a video of Stitch, sitting on a beach eating sand, watching Dale ride the surfboard with London.
Eggers, 44, showed the footage to Dale, hoping he would recognize himself. Alas, he stood and walked away.
Eggers and Dutcher watched the movie, including Dale's brief cameo surfing with London, at a local theater when it came out Friday. It made $145.5 million domestically in its opening weekend.
On Monday, a beachgoer recognized Dale at a Honolulu beach. While Dale doesn't seem to care about his newfound notoriety, or the several seconds he shows off his surfing skills to the world, he does seem quite happy about the extra time it's afforded him on the water.
Unbeknownst to Dale, his internet fame has even grown with dog lovers in the past week. Dutcher received messages from French bulldog owners who said their dogs were born from the same breeder and on the same day as Dale, meaning they might be related.
When Eggers learned one of Dale's long-lost sisters is named Lilo, she figured Dale was meant to be in 'Lilo & Stitch.'
'It was destiny,' Eggers said.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

IOL News

5 hours ago

• IOL News

French police probe fake Disneyland 'marriage' with nine-year-old

Two people were held for questioning in the case, which initially caused alarm when staff alerted police on Saturday that it could have concerned an illegal child marriage. Image: Disneyland/Facebook French police were on Sunday probing the circumstances of a bizarre stunt at Disneyland outside of Paris, with a group of adults suspected of hiring the theme park and paying hundreds of extras to stage a fake marriage for a nine-year-old Ukrainian girl. Two people were held for questioning in the case, which initially caused alarm when staff alerted police on Saturday that it could have concerned an illegal child marriage. But investigators now believe that the so-called "marriage" was staged, with the girl's mother reportedly saying that she wanted her to feel like a Disney "princess" for the day. "The event turned out to be a staged event, with the guests themselves extras" invited to be part of the stunt, deputy prosecutor Alexandre Verney said. "So it wasn't a wedding, but a staged wedding filmed with around a hundred extras. They hired Disneyland Paris, pretending it was a real wedding," he told AFP. Four people were arrested and taken into custody, and the questioning of two of them -- suspected of fraud and money laundering -- was extended on Saturday evening. They are the so-called "groom" who is believed to be behind the event, 22 years old and "presumed to be British", and a Latvian woman, 24, said a source close to the case. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ However, the other two people detained -- a 41-year-old Ukrainian woman, and a 55-year-old Latvian man -- were released. The investigations, including a medical examination of the nine-year-old girl, a Ukrainian national, found that "she had not been subjected to any violence or coercive acts," the prosecutor's office said. According to the Le Parisien daily, which first reported the incident, a man had several weeks previously hired the Disneyland Paris complex for a sum of 130,000 euros ($150,000) for several hours before it opened to the public. Staff were astonished when the nine-year-old appeared wearing high heels on Saturday morning, barely able to stand in the elaborate footwear, and they alerted the authorities, it said. The paper said the man who organised the event had submitted false documents concerning his identity and Disneyland filed a complaint. Hundreds of extras were bussed in to play the part of the guests, it said, while the girl's mother told investigators she wanted to organise a "day worthy of a princess" for her daughter. AFP

IOL News

3 days ago

• IOL News

June 21: What's on in Durban

Composer, vocalist, and traditional instrumentalist Lu Dlamini launches Gido at the Playhouse this week. Image: Val Adamson MARKETS Shongweni Farmers & Craft Market: Spend time with family (pets included) and friends outdoors. Traders sell everything from fresh produce and deli food to arts and crafts. Walk the short nature trail or have a zipline adventure. Open rain or shine, and wheelchair accessible from 7am to 1pm. Musgrave Market: Head to Berea Park for food, music, arts and crafts. From 9am to 2pm. Buzz Market: Community market at 38 Pitlochry Road, Westville, 9am to 2pm. Ballito Farmers Market: More than 150 traders offer fresh farm produce, cut flowers and a nursery, retail, fashion, kids' entertainment, art, hobbies, crafted goods and lifestyle products. R103 at Umhlali. 7am to 2pm. Harlequins Flea Market: Every Saturday from 8am to 1pm. New vendors welcome. WhatsApp 083 595 7033 or email harlequinsmarket@ Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Rotary Uvongo Flea Market: Crafts, toys, bead work, wire work, clothing and food every Saturday from 8.30am to 1pm and Sunday 9am to 2pm, opposite Douglas Mitchell Sports Grounds. Call 082 829 0059. Golden Hours Market: (tomorrow) Family-friendly market at Golden Hours School, 10am to 2pm. Live music and food stalls. Call 083 262 3693. Macnut Farm, Assagay: (tomorrow) Fresh produce market for locals, 11am to 2pm. Sunday lunch, drinks and bar. Call 031 765 2572 or 074 603 0000. uMhlanga Farmers Market: Autumn Drive, Prestondale, every Wednesday from 8am to noon. Call Ethel at 060 303 3957. SHOWS Ashton College, Ballito: (today) The college's cultural students present Disney's Beauty and the Beast JR, an adaptation of the beloved animated film by Walt Disney Pictures. The film itself was inspired by the classic French fairy tale by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont and later transformed into a stage musical. Final show today. Tickets R80 from webtickets. Golden Horse Casino, Pietermaritzburg: (today and tomorrow) Riaad Moosa presents What's The Point. Known as 'The Comedy Doctor' for seamlessly blending medicine with humour, he grapples with the absurdity of life and the chaotic state of the world. June 21 at 5pm and 8pm, June 22 at 5pm. Tickets R200 from webtickets. Playhouse Opera: KZN Young Performers Project presents the musical, Annie, the story of the plucky youngster and her quest for a bright new life outside of the walls of Miss Hannigan's dreary orphanage. Directed by Daisy Spencer; with musical direction by Des Govender; and choreography by Evashnee Pillay. The cast comprises 120 performers. July 4-13. Tickets R150-R280 from Webtickets and Pick n Pay stores nationwide. Playhouse Drama: Little Shop of Horrors comes to the Playhouse. A ridiculous and hilarious horror-spoof, in which a plant, which has a desire for world domination, grows by eating people with all the lead characters falling prey to its voracious appetite. July 2-5 at 7.30pm, July 5 at 2pm and July 6 at 3pm. Tickets R50-R100 from webtickets. Guitarist James Grace will perform with pianist Chris Duigan at venues around the province this month end. Image: Supplied MUSIC St Cyprians Anglican Church, Umbilo: (tomorrow) A concert of music for trumpet and organ performed on Sunday 22 June at 11am featuring Margrit Deppe on organ and Yosuke Matsui, on trumpet. Programme includes three festive choral pieces by Albinoni, Stephenson and Vierne. Tickets R140 / R100 concessions at Quicket, or cash at the door. Playhouse Opera:The second concert in the KZNPO's Winter series is on June 26 at 7pm. A curtain-raiser by the KZN Youth Orchestra, after which Conrad van Alphen takes the podium as Russian violinist Andrey Baranov puts his stamp on Édouard Lalo's virtuosic Symphonie Espagnole. Beethoven's Sixth Symphony ends the from Quicket. Playhouse Opera: Composer, vocalist, and traditional instrumentalist Lu Dlamini launches Gido, a personal and deeply moving new album on June 27 at 7pm. Gido is a tribute to Lu's late mother, Kitomena 'Gido' uMakhuzwayo whose life lessons are the spiritual backbone of a project that blends jazz influences with sounds of indigenous instruments. Tickets R120 from webtickets Music Revival: Pianist Chris Duigan hosts guitarist James Grace on a tour of KZN. Woodgrove Community Centre June 26 at 3.30pm. Tickets R100. At All Souls Anglican Church, Salt Rock, Sunday June 29 at 3pm, tickets R150. Booking via WhatsApp 083 417 4473 or booking@ Also Monday June 30 at Amberfield. Tickets R80 and booking from Amberfield office. At St Agnes Church, Kloof on Tuesday July 1 at 7pm, tickets R130 via WhatsApp 083 417 4473 or booking@ At Coffeeberry, Hilton on Wednesday July 2 at 6pm. Tickets R220 from info@ At Coffeeberry, Cascades on Thursday July 3 at 6pm. Tickets R220 from info@ St James Church, Morningside: Baroque 2000 presents soprano Lynelle Kenned in concert. Sunday June 29 at 11.30am. Tickets R180 at the door. Children free. Contact Michel at sursouth@ or 082 303 5241 Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre: The relaunch of the Ugu Jazz Festival promises an un unforgettable evening with artists, including Zonke Dikana, Ami Faku, Mondli Ngcobo, Bongane Nkwanyana, Tender Mavundla and Olefied Khetha. June 28 from 5pm to 3am. Tickets from R150 from Ticketpro. Durban Jewish Club: An afternoon of music featuring world-class soloists, pianist Christopher Duigan and guitarist James Grace. Their programme includes many of their own arrangements on classic melodies, jazz standards, Latin milongas and Spanish classics. Sunday July 6 at 2.30pm. Tickets: R140 at the door. Contact or 071 505 1021 FILM Rhumbelow Theatre Film Club: With cinemas closing or really expensive, and Netflix becoming stay-at-home-predictable, enjoy the notion of an old-fashioned movie night out with friends… with a drink in your hand (an adult beverage – at club prices) and affordable snacks and light meals (other than popcorn). The club opens its doors every Wednesday for a smorgasbord of films from vintage and classics to more modern and interesting films. Membership is R300 for six months, with a WhatsApp group informing you of what's on and what's coming. SASSA grant recipients can join for free. Call Roland on 082 499 8636 or email: roland@ A ceramics exhibition features at the KZNSA Gallery/ Image: Supplied ART KZNSA: The Ceramics Southern Africa Regional Exhibition is open. This year, DUT students share the exhibition space which was a resounding success in 2023. Woza Moya Gallery, Hillcrest: The exhibition Behind Closed Doors opened last night. Features the work of artist Sinethemba Ndimande, and photographers Masibulele Nako and Manelisi Nene. OUTDOORS Amblers Hiking Club: (tomorrow) At 2pm on Sunday June 22 hike Palmiet Nature Reserve, Old New Germany Road, Westville. Hike to Helicopter rock. Waxies After. Call David on 072 615 0559. Recycles Group: Meet at 9am on Tuesdays at the parking area behind Pirates life saving club. For a 20 km ride on the promenade. Open to beginners, sociable, safe and an option for a breakfast at Pirates coffee shop. Call Ian to join on 083 675 2125. Retreads walking group: Join for a 3 or 5 km social walk on Tuesdays at 9am on the promenade followed with an option of breakfast at Pirates. Call Michele on 083 779 7443 Mountain Biking Rides: Saturdays at 6am, meet at Dura Cycles, Uvongo. Call 039 315 7359. EVENTS Casa Mexicana, Pietermaritzburg: (today and tomorrow) Blackwoods open Gardens at 35 Montgomery Drive on June 21 and 22 from 9am to 5pm. Entrance R50 including tea/coffee and refreshments, art exhibition and music in the garden with Christopher Duigan (piano) at 10am, noon, 2pm and 4pm (15 mins). Duigan will give a talk on the story of Casa Mexicana at 12.15pm. Light lunch of soup available. Booking preferred. Email chris@ or WhatsApp message 083 417 4473. Ballito Pro: (tomorrow) The scene is set for the Ballito Pro which runs from June 22 to July 6 on the shores of KwaDukuza on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast. The 56th edition of this international surf and lifestyle festival is themed Sea-Sound-Waves. Full festival programme at Kings Park Stadium: (tomorrow) Don't rush off after you complete this year's Durban SPAR Women's 10/5km Challenge on Sunday 22 June, as two proudly Durban acts take to the stage in the finish area. Veranda Panda and DJ Dlala Thukzin are lined up to entertain participants and supporters on either side of the prize giving on race day.

The Citizen

3 days ago

• The Citizen

First ever Birkin bag to be auctioned in July [PICS]

The birth of the Birkin bag has become a modern fashion legend. The prototype Birkin will be exhibited at Sotheby's in New York. Picture: iStock The first Birkin bag, designed by French luxury brand Hermès for actress Jane Birkin in 1984, will be auctioned in Paris on 10 July 2025, Sotheby's announced on Thursday. The large black leather tote, whose design went on to become one of the most famous and expensive bags in the world, will be the centrepiece of the 'Fashion Icons' sale, the auction house said. This 'historic, handcrafted prototype', engraved with the initials J.B., has several unique features, including closed metal rings, a non-detachable shoulder strap and a built-in nail clipper. The original Birkin crafted for Jane Birkin in 1985. Picture: ETX/Sotheby's© The birth of the Birkin bag has become a modern fashion legend. During a Paris–London flight, the Anglo-French singer and actress, who died in 2023, complained to a fellow traveller about not being able to find a bag suited to her needs as a young mother. That fellow passenger happened to be Jean-Louis Dumas, then head of Hermes. The result of their conversation was a spacious tote with room for baby bottles, created in 1984 and named the Birkin. ALSO READ: SA-born artist Marlene Dumas breaks global record with over R245 million painting sale [PICS] The bags are not displayed in shops and cannot be ordered online 40 years later, the leather handbag has become the flagship product of the luxury French leather goods maker. Produced in very limited numbers, it maintains an aura of exclusivity, with prices ranging from several thousand euros for the simplest models to several hundred thousand euros for the most luxurious. Beloved by celebrities including Khloe Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and Victoria Beckham, the bags are not displayed in shops and cannot be ordered online. The prototype Birkin was exhibited at Sotheby's in New York from 6 to 12 June, ahead of the sale in the French capital. In addition to the Birkin bag, the Sotheby's sale will feature iconic runway pieces from designers including Christian Dior, John Galliano, Thierry Mugler and Alexander McQueen. Bidding will open online on 26 June and close on 10 July. NOW READ: 17-year-old Pearl Mathebula wins Miss Teen International in Peru