Don, the Runaway Dog - Part 3 🐕

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Don, the Runaway Dog – Part 3"

Sleep Tight Stories – Bedtime Stories for Kids
Release Date: July 21, 2026
Host: Sleep Tight Media & Starglow Media

---

Episode Overview

This episode continues the gentle adventures of Don, a curious and courageous dog now living happily on a farm with his boy companion, Bob. In Part 3, listeners join Don as he faces a daring challenge with a runaway bull, enjoys growing up on the farm, helps corral a mischievous pig, and encounters magical new friends—including animals from a traveling circus. The episode aims to soothe and delight children, weaving themes of courage, friendship, and wonder throughout a cozy bedtime tale.

---

Key Discussion Points & Story Beats

1. The Big Black Bull Escapes (03:10–07:00)

• The main adventure begins when Bob's sister, Sally, rushes up breathlessly to warn, “Oh Bob, the big black bull is loose!” (03:25).
• Bob bravely decides to confront the bull, declaring, “That's just where I'm going.” (04:22)
• Don picks up on everyone's fear and quickly resolves to help:
  • Quote: “If Bob can be brave, so can I. I'm not going to run off and leave him to do this alone.” (05:20)
• The bull, huge and intimidating with sharp horns, moves to charge Bob, but Don distracts him with furious barking at his heels (05:40).
• Sally fetches their father, who helps them finally drive the bull back.
  • Their father praises, “Well, Bob, you're a brave lad. Did you drive that bull back all on your own?” (07:15)
  • Bob credits Don: “Don helped. Didn't you, Don?” (07:21)

Notable Moment:

• Don stands his ground, protects Bob, and feels proud:
  • Quote: “He was barely more than a puppy...even a full-grown dog might have thought twice before barking at a great black bull. But Don didn't run, and he was proud of that.” (07:36)

---

2. Life on the Farm – Don Grows Up (08:05–10:25)

• A glimpse into Don’s happy daily life:
  • Don grows bigger, enjoys good food, a warm bed, and loving companionship with Bob.
  • Don learns tricks: carrying books, rolling over, balancing crackers on his nose, even donning a paper soldier cap (09:10–09:50).
  • He waits loyally outside the school each day for Bob, growling protectively when other boys playfully try to snatch Bob’s books.
• Don and the once-feared red rooster become friendly:
  • The rooster crows, “How de do? Howdy do?” (10:26), and Don responds in kind.

---

3. Don’s Next Challenge: The Runaway Pig & a Circus Surprise (10:42–14:55)

• Mischievous pig Squinty escapes and Don is sent to fetch him:
  • “He ran up, took Squinty gently by the ear and led him home.” (11:35)
• On a subsequent escape, Don finds Squinty near a magical scene:
  • Quote (Don’s thought): “Don saw the strangest sight he had ever seen. Rumbling along the country road were great wagons painted red and green and gold, pulled by teams of horses.” (12:24)
• Meet the New Friends:
  • Squinty introduces Mappo, a clever monkey who’s run away from the circus, and Tum Tum, the elephant (13:05–14:10).
  • Brief touch of humor: Don is confused by Tum Tum’s “two tails”—only to learn about elephant trunks in a funny, gentle exchange.
    • Tum Tum: “My trunk is a sort of long nose. I breathe through it and squirt water through it, and I can even curl it up and pick things up with it.” (14:40)
  • Tum Tum demonstrates by gently lifting Mappo onto his back, astonishing Don.
• Despite the wondrous new friends, Don remembers his job, gently leading Squinty back home (14:54).

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Don’s resolve:
  • “If Bob can be brave, so can I. I'm not going to run off and leave him to do this alone.” (05:20)
• On Don’s growth:
  • “He was barely more than a puppy...even a full-grown dog might have thought twice before barking at a great black bull. But Don didn't run, and he was proud of that.” (07:36)
• Humorous misunderstanding:
  • Don: “I don't see how Tum Tum keeps any clothes in that thing hanging off his face. It isn’t that kind of a trunk!” (14:22)
  • Tum Tum (booming laugh): “My trunk is a sort of long nose. I breathe through it and squirt water through it, and I can even curl it up and pick things up with it.” (14:40)
• Warmth between friends:
  • “Bob loved Don and took him along nearly everywhere he went...” (08:20)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:10 | Sally warns about the bull | | 05:15 | Don’s moment of bravery | | 07:21 | Bob and father praise Don | | 08:05 | Don’s daily life on the farm | | 09:10 | Don learns tricks and becomes a loyal friend | | 10:25 | Friendship with the red rooster | | 11:33 | Chasing Squinty the pig | | 12:24 | Discovery of the circus animals | | 13:05 | Don meets Mappo the monkey and Tum Tum the elephant | | 14:40 | Tum Tum explains his “trunk” | | 14:54 | Don leads Squinty home as the sun sets |

---

Tone and Storytelling Style

The narration is gentle, warm, and filled with loving encouragement. The calm, descriptive prose encourages listening children to empathize with both animal and human characters, highlighting quiet bravery and friendship. The episode is sprinkled with light humor (especially Don’s perspective on the elephant’s trunk) and a sense of wonder upon meeting the circus animals.

---

Conclusion

"Don, the Runaway Dog – Part 3" delivers another charming, reassuring tale that gently teases at new adventures while always prioritizing safety, comfort, and the bonds of friendship. With farmyard escapades, a heroic moment against the runaway bull, and the magical surprise of circus animals, it offers the perfect blend of familiarity and discovery for young listeners winding down for sleep.

“Good night. Sleep tight.”

Transcript

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

And welcome to sleept Stories. Each week we share a few shout outs and birthday wishes for listeners who help support the show. It's a small way we say thank you and it always makes us smile. Happy Belated Birthday to our funny and thoughtful Ada. We are sorry it took us so long to submit your shout out, but remember good things always come eventually. Keep up your positives, thinking and happy spirit. We wish you fun and adventure all year long. We love you our Ada Potato from Mama, Papa, Graceland and all of us who love you. Happy Birthday to Kaylee who turned six on July 20. Mama, Dada and Raya love you and are so excited for your first year of kindergarten. Keep smiling and dancing Bopper. Happy belated Birthday to Ada in Hull, England. We're so proud of everything you've done this year. You're the best sausage in the whole world. Love Mom, Dad, Gwillim and Sam. Happy 6th birthday Wyatt and hello Winnie, Kate Love Mommy, Daddy, Reese, Skim and Doot ka Chow. Happy 8th birthday to Charlotte in Toronto, Canada. Sophia, Daddy and Mummy love you and look forward to many more adventures together. Happy Birthday to Nala from North Carolina who turns 5 on July 26th. Mommy, Daddy and Maisie love you very much and Happy seventh birthday to Reese in Burleson, Texas. We love how creative you are, your love of reading and the way you adore every dog you meet. Love Mom, Dad, Landry and your best buddy Whit. Happy Birthday to you all. Every time we sit down to record, we think about you tucked in ready for a story. Knowing we get to be part of your bedtime means everything to us. If you'd like to support the show and enjoy ad free episodes and bonus stories, Sleepty Premium is in the show notes and if you know a little someone with a birthday coming up, shout out details are there too. Now onto our story. Don is enjoying himself on the farm with Bob and learning a lot of things. One day Sally, Bob's sister, comes running over to let Bob know that the big black bull is loose. Bob says he and Don can put the bull back into the pasture and off they go. Don has no idea what a bull is, but when he sees the big black horns, he is not sure how much he is going to be able to help Don the Runaway Dog Part 3. They were almost at the chicken coop when Sally came running across the yard. Oh Bob, the big black bull is loose. She cried. He jumped right over the pasture fence. Oh Bob, what'll we do? Come on Don, said Bob. There's work for us Don didn't know much about bulls jumping fences. He hadn't lived in the world long enough for that. But he could tell that Sally was frightened, and a dog always knows when a person is frightened or. Or glad or angry. Bob ran as fast as he could, and Don ran after him. Where are you going? Called Sally. You're not going toward the bull, are you? That's just where I'm going, said Bob. But he'll hook you with his horns. Maybe he'll step on you, said Sally. Listen to him. From a field nearby came a sound like Boo.

[A]

Boo. Boo.

[B]

That's the bull, all right, said Bob. But we'll drive him back where he belongs, won't we, Don?

[A]

Woof, woof.

[B]

Barked Don, which meant, of course we will. The bull was very big, and Sallie was too frightened to follow. So she did the wisest thing she could think of. She turned and ran to fetch her father, fast as her legs would carry her. Bob ran on ahead with Don close behind until they came to the field where the big black bull stood pawing up the dirt with his front feet. Get back where you belong. Bob shouted at him. Get back.

[A]

Woof. Woof.

[B]

Barked Don. He did feel a little afraid when he saw how big the bull was and those two sharp horns. But then he watched Bob walk right up and shake a stick at the bull, brave as anything. And Don said to himself, if Bob can be brave, so can I. I'm not going to run off and leave him to do this alone. So Don didn't run. Instead, he darted in close to the bull's heels and. And barked as loud as he could. It was a good thing he did. The bull had just lowered his head and swung it towards Bob, horns and all. But when Don barked right at his legs, the bull spun around to shake those horns at the dog instead. And so Bob was safe. Bob kept shaking his stick and shouting and tossing clumps of dirt that thumped against the bull's broad side. The bull didn't like that one bit. And he didn't like Don barking and dancing at his heels, either. Keep at it, Don. Called Bob. We'll have him back in no time. Drive him out of the field.

[A]

Woof, woof.

[B]

Barked Don. I'm not afraid. Little by little, between the barking and the sting stick and the flying dirt, the bull decided he had better behave. Still shaking his head, still grumbling deep in his chest, he backed slowly out of the field where he didn't belong. Just then, Bob's father came hurrying up with a big stick of his own, for Sally had reached him and told him everything. Get along there, called the farmer, and at last the bull went all the way back into his pasture, where he was shut up good and tight. Well, Bob, said his father, you're a brave lad. Did you drive that bull back all on your own? Oh, no, said Bob. Don helped. Didn't you, Don?

[A]

Woof, woof.

[B]

Barked Don as Bob put his arms around his shaggy neck. He certainly is a fine dog, said the farmer, patting Don on the head. And you can imagine how proud Don felt. He was barely more than a puppy, and even a full grown dog might have thought twice before barking at a great black bull. But Don didn't run, and he was proud of that. My dog's a good one, said Bob. We're not scared of bulls, are we? Don't.

[A]

Woof, woof.

[B]

Barked Don. Not us. I'll have to build that fence higher, said the farmer, so we can't jump it again. Then the three of them walked up to the farmhouse together, Don wagging his tail the whole way, the way dogs do when they're pleased. Don was growing bigger every day. He had good food, a warm place to sleep, and the whole farm to run about in. And all of those things help a puppy grow into a big dog. Bob loved Don and took him along nearly everywhere he went, except to school. A dog can't go to school, of course, but when it was almost time for school to let out, Don would trot off down the road to the little red schoolhouse and lie in the shade of a tree to wait. He got lonesome without Bob, and when the children came pouring out the door, Don would rush up barking and wagging his tail, so glad to see his boy again. What good times they had. Walking home. Don learned to carry Bob's books, and if another boy tried to grab them, even just in fun, Don would growl a little, as if to say, now, then, none of that. These are Bob's, and nobody ever dared. Bob taught Don all sorts of tricks. Don could lie down and roll over when he was told. He could sit up on his hind legs and balance a cracker right on the end of his nose, holding still as a clock until Bob said, now you may eat it, Don. Then he'd flip his nose, toss the cracker in the air and snap it up in his white teeth. He could play soldier, too, marching about with a paper cap on his head. And he could jump clean over a chair. Don wasn't afraid of the big red rooster anymore. In fact, now it was the rooster, who was a little afraid of Don, though Don wouldn't have harmed so much as a baby chick. How de do? Howdy do? The rooster would crow when he saw Don go by. Oh, pretty well, thank you.

[A]

Woof, woof.

[B]

Don would answer, and the two of them would have a friendly word now that the rooster had gotten over being scared. The only one on the whole farm that Don never made friends with was the black bull. The bull stayed angry with him for driving him back that day, so Don always kept a polite distance when he went to check that the big fellow was still shut up, safe in his pasture. Then one day, Squinty, the funny pig, got out of his pen all by himself. With his strong, rubbery nose, he pushed and pushed against a loose board until it gave way, and out he trotted into the garden to dig. It wasn't long before the farmer noticed. Here, Don. Don. Called Bob's father, for Bob was off at school. There's a pig loose. Drive him back to his pen.

[A]

Woof, woof.

[B]

I will. Barked Don. He ran up, took Squinty gently by the ear and led him home. Don didn't bite him, though. Squinty squealed and carried on as if he had been dreadfully wronged. Back into the pen he went. But a few days later, Squinty got out again, and this time he wandered a long way off before anyone sent Don after him. When Don finally caught up, the little pig was standing at the edge of the woods, and Don saw the strangest sight he had ever seen. Rumbling along the country road were great wagons painted red and green and gold, pulled by long teams of horses. And there in among the trees was a little hairy animal with a long tail and what looked like four hands. Next to it stood another animal, far bigger, that seemed to have two tails, one at the front and one at the back.

[A]

Woof, woof.

[B]

Barked Don, backing up. I don't like the looks of that big one. Two tails. I'm getting out of here. Oh, don't be afraid, said Squinty. That's only Tum Tum Tum Tum, said Don. That sounds like the name of a drum. And why shouldn't I be afraid of an animal with two tails? He hasn't got two tails, grunted Squinty. I thought the very same thing until Mappo told me different. Who's Mappo? That fellow there, said Squinty, nodding at the small hairy animal. He's a monkey. So your name is Mappo, is it? Said Don, for he found he could talk to these new Animals as easily as to any others. Yes, I'm Mappo, said the monkey. But please don't say it too loud. I've run away from the circus. And then Don saw that what he'd taken for hands were really paws, only they worked almost like hands. And the monkey's long tail curled and gripped like one too. And the big one is Tum Tum, said Squinty. He belongs to the circus, the same as Mappo. He's come to fetch Mapple back. Who's Tum Tum? Asked Don. The elephant, said Mappo.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

Barked Don. So that's what you call an animal with two tails. An elephant. He hasn't got two tails, laughed Squinty. One is his tail, the short one. The other one is his trunk. Doesn't look like a trunk to me, said Don't. I know what a trunk is. There are some up in the attic, and Bob's mother keeps her clothes folded in them. I don't see how Tum Tum keeps any clothes in that thing hanging off his face. It isn't that kind of a trunk, said the big elephant with a deep, jolly laugh. My trunk is a sort of long nose. I breathe through it and squirt water through it, and I can even curl it up and pick things up with it. And just to show how easy it was, Tom Tom reached out his trunk, picked Mappo up as gently as you please, and set the monkey right on his own broad back. Well, I never. Barked Don. So that's what a trunk is for. Don could have stood there all afternoon, watching the bright wagons rumble past and the elephant lift things with his long nose. He had never once imagined the world held such strange and wonderful creatures, but he hadn't forgotten what Bob's father had sent him to do all the same. Squinty, he said, you'll have to come home with me now. And the funny little pig, with one last look back at the circus wagons, gave a sigh and let dawn lead him toward the farm. The afternoon was growing long, and their shadow stretched out ahead of them down the dusty road as they went. And that is the end of this part. Good night. Sleep tight.