Farfl the Wonderdog

Farfl doesn’t like the saxophone

2010-03-03T14:34:47Z

Farfl doesn’t like the saxophone

Post from: Farfl the Wonderdog

When my kid practises her saxophone Farfl gets howly.

She really doesn't dig the music, man.....

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Smallest Chihuahua in the World?

2010-01-13T03:44:41Z

Smallest Chihuahua in the World?

Post from: Farfl the Wonderdog

This picture of Lulu the Chihuahua puppy is care of the Ross Parry Agency

I read today in the British newspaper the Telegraph online about a really tiny Chihuahua bred in Yorkshire, England. Lulu (pictured above) is only four inches high at nine weeks. Her owner, Jean Tindall, who has bred Chihuahuas for most of her life, says she's never seen a smaller one and won't be selling her even though she's had a lot of interest in the tiny puppy.

Have you come across a Chihuahua puppy this small? You can read the entire article here.

Operation Chihuahua!

2010-01-10T19:07:29Z

Operation Chihuahua!

Post from: Farfl the Wonderdog

Rebecca Katz, director of San Francisco’s Animal Care and Control Agency

The numbers of Chihuahuas turning up in rescue centres across the United States since the release of the movie "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" have reached crisis point.

The problem is particularly bad in California where it has been dubbed the "Paris Hilton syndrome". In December twenty-five Chihuahuas were flown from Los Angeles to New Hampshire to be rehomed. Forty more are being prepared to make the same journey early this year.

Last week Virgin America flew 15 Chihuahuas from San Francisco to New York for rehoming. You can find Operation Chihuahua pictures and videos on Virgin America's Facebook page.

I bought a dog from a breeder when I got Farfl because it was the first dog I'd had in many years and I didn't want too many surprises. I know if and when I ever get another dog it will be a rescue Chihuahua. It saddens me that prospective owners don't do any research on dog ownership and the breed in general - they just see a cute dog in a purse or in a movie and buy one thinking it will be no more effort than owning a stuffed animal.

Farfl the Charity Chihuahua

2010-01-02T21:26:40Z

Farfl the Charity Chihuahua

Post from: Farfl the Wonderdog

Farfl appears on the publicity for a stand-up comedy charity event.

In a couple of weeks' time I'm doing a benefit comedy gig in aid of Gilda's Club Toronto - a charity named for Gilda Radner which supports cancer patients and their families.

Before Christmas we had the photo shoot in front of the famous red door of Gilda's Club. I took Farfl along and she ended up being in all the publicity pictures (check her out on the far left)!

It was a fairly brisk day so I bundled her up in her snowsuit and when we went for brunch afterwards she went to sleep inside her pet carrier and we didn't hear a peep out of her.

If you're in Toronto on Tuesday January 19th and you'd like to come and see some of the best female comics in town then check out the full details of the event on my personal website.

Thanks so much to Cylla Von Tiedemann for donating the photoshoot as her contribution to the event.

Chihuahua advanced training graduation

2010-01-02T22:00:23Z

Chihuahua advanced training graduation

Post from: Farfl the Wonderdog

We couldn't find a mortar board big enough so Farfl stood on top of it instead.....

Right before Christmas Farfl and her fellow chihuahuas graduated from their advanced training course at PetSmart.

Click on the title above or the "more" link to see all the great pictures of her displaying her advanced skills!

Charlie, Mac and Farfl wait patiently for instructions.

Before they could earn their certificates the three chihuahuas had to be put through their paces. The first exercise was a sit stay. The dogs were all put on long leashes in the front of the store (where there are lots of distractions) and we walked fifteen or twenty feet away before calling them.

Farfl waits in a sit stay to be called.

All three dogs did really well, despite attracting a lot of attention from customers in the store! It's not often you see three chihuahuas on display.

Farfl performs a down in the middle of a come command perfectly.

One of the most useful commands taught us in the class was putting the dogs into a "down" even when they are at a distance from you. Farfl was particularly good at this - she tends to be better at the obedience work as opposed to the tricks - above you can see her in action.

Charlie and Farfl - chihuahua love

I want to say a big thank you to Julian at Eglinton PetSmart - he was a really amazing trainer and I look forward to working with him again in 2010.

Farfl starts an all-chihuahua advanced training group

2009-11-13T04:22:03Z

Farfl starts an all-chihuahua advanced training group

Post from: Farfl the Wonderdog

Farf and bouncy Bobby

Tonight Farfl had her first all-chihuahua advancd training session at PetSmart.

I've been looking forward to this class for months - and it didn't disappoint! There were just three other dogs - Bobby, a very bouncy and friendly little chi, Mac, a long-legged cutie-pie with a barking problem and Charlie, a very shy fawn-coloured Taco Bell chihuahua.

Julian was our trainer this evening - I've seen him walking dogs on the Beltline where we live - and he was really fun. We went over some intermediate skills and I was so proud of Farfl - she did everything really well and wasn't as distracted as a couple of the other dogs. She played really nicely and wasn't overwhelmed by Bobby's rambunctiousness. She was also really gentle with shy Charlie.

I'm really looking forward to the rest of the training sessions!

Best Chihuahua pet carrier I’ve ever seen!

2009-11-11T20:31:11Z

Best Chihuahua pet carrier I’ve ever seen!

Post from: Farfl the Wonderdog

Farfl curled up in her new carry case

I'm lucky enough to be going to London, Ontario next year for a couple of months to perform in a theatre play and Farfl's coming too!

I'll be travelling between London and Toronto mostly using the train so I've been searching high and low for a good bag to carry Farlf in. Her hard-sided carrying crate is a bit unwieldy to shlep around with a suitcase!

All the carriers I've looked at have been too big, too bulky, not enough pockets, ugly etc. etc. etc. I've really been pulling my hair out! Then a couple of days ago I happened to pop into one of my local pet stores to pick up some treats ahead of Farfl's advanced training class which starts tomorrow. And there, sitting on a shelf, was the answer to my dreams!

The Bergan Comfort Carrier is perfect!

The Bergan Comfort Carrier is very reasonably priced - just $45 CDN in my local store - has an adjustable shoulder strap, velcro tabs for securing the carrier with a seat belt in the car, a fleecy liner and a great feature called Pet Connect. Here's a video that explains how it works:

This thing is terrific! When I brought it home I left it open on the couch in my home office and Farfl leapt into it, curled up and went straight to sleep! I'm going to use it as both her carrier and her bed in my digs in London. What a find! I highly recommend it to any readers with small dogs - the small size is designed for pets up to 10lbs. It's also designed for in-flight use, but you'll need to check with your airline to find out if it meets their regulations.

Farfl in the park

2009-11-05T03:30:03Z

Farfl in the park

Post from: Farfl the Wonderdog

Chihuahuas may be small....but they sure are mighty!

I worked really hard with Farfl to socialize her as much as possible with dog of many different breeds, sizes and energy levels to make sure that she would be as confident as possible wherever we went. And it certainly paid off! Here she is off-leash with a couple of other dogs at our local park.

Unless she is surrounded by many dogs she doesn't know, Farfl is a brave little three and a half pound chi!

Best chihuahua snowsuit ever!

2009-11-05T02:45:16Z

Best chihuahua snowsuit ever!

Post from: Farfl the Wonderdog

Farfl's snowsuit arrived!

[View with PicLens]

Click on each photo to see it full-size.

A couple of weeks ago I ordered a made-to-measure snowsuit for Farfl from Bloomingtails. I was very excited - the price was so good and the choice of fabrics seemingly endless!

After I placed my order I was contacted by Carol who owns Bloomingtails. She was concerned that my original choice of fabric wasn't appropriate because of the size of the print and Farfl's small frame. Carol really helped me to get something that was not only functional, but also super-cute!

It's so hard for me to find clothes that fit a 3.5lb chihuahua - I cannot recommend Bloomingtails highly enough. The suit is gorgeous, I get lots of lovely comments when we go out, it fits beautifully and I'm really hopeful that it will help me to be able to walk Farfl when winter really sets in.

Chihuahua birthday pictures

2009-11-05T01:08:26Z

Chihuahua birthday pictures

Post from: Farfl the Wonderdog

Farfl the chihuahua is one year old!

This week Farfl celebrated her first birthday. I guess I can't describe her as a puppy anymore.....

Although her birthday was on Monday we really celebrated on Sunday when I took Farfl to the Toronto Chihuahua meet-up at PawsWay. Farfl won third prize in the fancy dress competition in her taco costume that I bought at Bloomingtails.

Er...her costume doesn't look much like a taco in this picture...

We had a lovely time - there were plenty of games and it was great to see Farfl confidently greet and play with all the other chihuahuas. She is still the smallest chihuahua at the meet-up (apart from a three-month-old puppy) and many people commented on how well-trained she is. I was a very proud chi-mommy, especially when I told everyone how she was about to go into the all-chihuahua advanced training at PetSmart!

I waited a long time to get a dog. And I'm so glad I chose a chihuahua. I haven't regretted it once!