A Great Dane has been dubbed a real life Gromit because he loves to ride around in his owner’s motorbike sidecar.
Paw-some pooch Diego, five, enjoys feeling the wind blowing through his ears and watching the world go by – just like Wallace’s famous dog.
Diego stands at over 2m tall and comes running when he hears the former Russian military motorbike engine start up, jumping straight into his cushioned sidecar next to owner Carlos Da Silva, 45.
Diego dons dog-goggles and the pair head into the streets around east London, delighting passersby.
Paw-some pooch Diego, five, enjoys feeling the wind blowing through his ears and watching the world go by beside owner Carlos – just like Wallace’s famous dog
Diego stands at over 2m tall and comes running when he hears the former Russian military motorbike engine start up, jumping straight into his cushioned sidecar next to owner Carlos
At traffic lights they are often swarmed by people trying to get a snap of the unlikely pair – and are sometimes snapped up to 500 times a day, with Diego lapping up the attention and even posing for the camera.
Carlos and his wife Elenice Ribeiro, 46, have another Great Dane puppy, Nelson, one, whom they hope one day will follow in Diego’s very large pawprints.
The two dogs join the couple every day at their motorcycle shop in Bethnal Green, making the journey from their home in Wembley in a van as opposed to the sidecar – although the dogs aren’t averse to taking the Tube.
Elenice and Carlos like to have the gentle giants with them wherever they go in the city – much to the delight of anyone who sees them and stops to take their picture.
At traffic lights they are often swarmed by people trying to get a snap of the unlikely pair – and are sometimes snapped up to 500 times a day
Carlos – who is originally from Brazil – has always loved motorcycles and dogs, and was thrilled when his partner finally agreed to getting a pooch, after 17 years together
Elenice, who co-owns Bravos Motorcycles with husband Carlos, said: ‘Diego is such an attention seeker – he loves it.
‘He sits up proudly and poses when he gets in the sidecar, he knows he’s about to get a lot of attention.
‘I think in his head he’s saying ‘yes, I’m here!’ as his ears fly about in the wind. Everyone in the area knows them.’
Carlos – who is originally from Brazil – has always loved motorcycles and dogs, but when he met Elenice in 1999, he had to accept that he may never own a dog again because she was petrified of them.
Luckily she shared his love for motorcycles, and the couple turned their passion into their business.
After 17 years together Elenice realised how much it would mean to Carlos to have a dog in his life – and decided she needed to get over her phobia.
Carlos takes his companion for short drives around the city, making sure he is securely strapped in for safety
Diego dons dog-goggles and the pair head into the streets around east London, delighting passersby
The couple decided to get a Great Dane, a breed known for their calm nature, and although Elenice was apprehensive at first, it wasn’t long until she fell in love.
‘I was petrified, but Carlos had had Great Danes before and reassured me that despite them being so big, they were very calm,’ Elenice said.
‘I bought Diego for Carlos as a Christmas present in 2015 – and the two of them have been inseparable ever since.’
According to Elenice, Diego is a ‘Daddy’s boy’ – so when it occurred to Carlos that Diego had the right temperament to join him on his motorbike in a sidecar, it seemed like a no-brainer.
‘Carlos said he bought the sidecar for me – but I think it was always intended that Diego would be the passenger!’ Elenice said.
‘As soon as he hears the engine, he runs and jumps straight in, he gets so excited.’
They regularly hold up traffic thanks to the volume of passersby trying to take their photo, but Diego basks in his fame and laps up the attention wherever he can
It took a bit of training to get Diego to the confident rider he is today, but according to Carlos it was an ‘easy’ task.
‘He loves the sidecar – every time we touch the sidecar, he comes,’ Carlos said. ‘He knows we’re going out. Everyone in South East London knows Diego.
‘We even go to McDonald’s – I take him through the Drive-thru – he likes chicken nuggets! Everywhere we go we take him. He’s a very well behaved dog.’
Carlos takes his companion for short drives around the city, making sure he is securely strapped in for safety.
He also wears a special pair of dog-goggles to protect his eyes from the wind – and make sure he’s able to see where he’s going.
They regularly hold up traffic thanks to the volume of passersby trying to take their photo, but Diego basks in his fame and laps up the attention wherever he can.
‘He loves being petted by strangers, and definitely poses – he always looks so proud when he’s in the sidecar,’ Elenice said.
Diego enjoys his sidecar rides around four times a week, each time met with the same enthusiasm for his favourite pastime with his beloved human
‘When we’re with Diego, we can easily be photographed 500 times a day, it’s crazy.’
In 2017, Elenice was diagnosed with breast cancer, and Diego was her ‘silent supporter’, comforting her through her treatment. The couple went on to buy Nelson, one, another Great Dane, in March 2020.
‘Nelson is much more active, he definitely wouldn’t sit still if we put him in the sidecar,’ Elenice said.
Elenice and Carlos also enjoy taking the dogs with them wherever they go in London, whether that’s the tube, the bank, or even out to dinner.
‘They’re our family and we love them,’ Elenice said. ‘If places don’t accept dogs, then we don’t go.’
Diego enjoys his sidecar rides around four times a week, each time met with the same enthusiasm for his favourite pastime with his beloved human.
‘You can tell how much he’s enjoying himself, I think that’s why people love to see it so much,’ Elenice said. ‘It’s amazing how much he loves Carlos and his sidecar – he just can’t get enough.’