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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.
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 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.

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! (more...)

Farf and bouncy Bobby
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!

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! (more...)
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!
Farfl's snowsuit arrived!
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.

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. (more...)
The weather in Toronto has been amazing recently - cool, but sunny with blue skies and fantastic autumn leaves in the trees.
I've been taking Farfl out in the afternoons - it's too cold in the morning and the evening and she simply refuses. So we go for a long walk after lunch - usually about an hour - and finish up in the park where Farfl loves to chase and chew sticks. Hooray!