It has a doggy dale (4)
I believe the answer is:
aire
'doggy dale' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'it has a' is the wordplay.
'it' becomes 'ire' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'has' says to put letters next to each other.
'ire' after 'a' is 'AIRE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for aire that I've seen before include "Northern English river, tributary of the Ouse" , "Major river of Yorkshire" , "Terrier -- Yorkshire area" , "flower of Yorkshire" , "River running through Leeds" .)