Heather Griffiths

Heather Griffiths 18 Min Read July 2, 2017

Doing What Comes Naturally: Barking and Howling

When we ran the pet resort, one of the things that became increasingly difficult to bear as time went on, was the cacophony of dogs barking together, and yes, often, right in our ears. The General and I were fascists about not letting anyone into the kennel to disturb the dogs’ routine, because while they did quiet down pretty quickly once they got over their first sight of us and got on with walks or playtimes or whatever was on the agenda, the sight of a stranger, especially with a dog, would set them all off roaring. Once they were quiet, all the gods in the pantheon showing up together complete with lightening bolts and magical hammers, would not have been permitted to get to anywhere near the dogs and start them all off again.

Heather Griffiths 18 Min Read June 30, 2017

Dear Auntie Awesome: I’m a Failure At Housebreaking My Dog

Dear Auntie Awesome

Dear Auntie Awesome: I feel like an idiot. I’ve followed all the advice I can find about housebreaking dogs, and still no luck. Everyone says keeping her in a crate should do the trick. My puppy totally hates her crate. She pees and poops in it, which all the experts say she shouldn’t be doing. What am I doing wrong? Any suggestions as to what else I can try? My husband is threatening to get rid of my dog. I love my puppy, but my husband has a point. I’m desperate.

Pooped in Toronto

Heather Griffiths 17 Min Read June 30, 2017

Judging By Appearances: That Championship Season

Activities with Dogs

I got my beloved Toby discounted, from the sale bin. At birth, he had been the pick of his litter of Belgian Terverun puppies. Then, he “went long”. Belgians are supposed to be about the same height as they are long, presenting a square appearance through their bodies and legs. At least this is how Lynn, his breeder, things to me when she offered him to me at a discounted price as a “pet” rather than a “show dog”.

Heather Griffiths 22 Min Read June 27, 2017

Boarding Kennels: Barking Prison Blues or Howling Good Time?

Activities with Dogs, Living Solutions

When I acquired my beloved Toby, we weren’t traveling a lot anyway.

We had two boys who the “Nanny State” told us we had to “feed, house and clothe”. We had a house to pay for and jobs that inexplicably and cruelly required us to be present at the office five days out of seven during the week and forty-nine out of fifty-two weeks in the year. After the bills were paid there wasn’t much disposable income left for that dream vacation to Maui.

Heather Griffiths 11 Min Read June 17, 2017

Book Club: Mr. And Mrs. Dog by Donald McCaig

Book Club

Donald McCaig is an American author who, like me, has had an unorthodox career. He earned a university degree in philosophy. Perhaps that explains why he started out in the advertising business on Madison Ave., then quit to move to a large farm in Virginia to raise sheep and devote himself to Border Collies. His biography says he has completed postgraduate studies in ‘shepherding and sheepdogs’. Who knew you could go to school to learn those things? And where do I sign up???

Heather Griffiths 14 Min Read June 17, 2017

Brachycephalic Dogs and Cats: The Skull Beneath the Skin

Cats, Health Solutions

Brachy – what? Is Auntie Awesome posting about dinosaurs now? If you have never heard this term and are just making a wild guess at its meaning, then you probably don’t own one of the most popular breeds of purebred cats.

Heather Griffiths 16 Min Read June 15, 2017

Listen to the Dog: Training

Behavioural & Training Solutions

If you live long enough in the dog world, you eventually realize that the training method you were taught is now not just out of fashion, but downright vilified. Every decade or so, like a messiah fresh off the morning train from Mount Sinai, a new dog training guru proclaiming the good news of an infallible method, rises to be anointed by the public as the Chosen One, and to smite all the unbelievers.

Heather Griffiths 13 Min Read June 14, 2017

Adventures in Sheep Herding

Activities with Dogs

A dog is not just a companion. He can be a hobby as well. There is a whole world of doggy things you can do for both his entertainment and yours. After having finally sorted out our initial problems, my beloved Toby and I started having major fun. After plunging into both conformation and obedience trials, for one brief glorious moment in time we put our toes into the world of sheep herding.

Heather Griffiths 15 Min Read June 14, 2017

You Don’t Learn By Blindly Following Rules: How Training My Own Dogs, Trained Me

Behavioural & Training Solutions

Before we acquired my beloved Toby the Terverun, we had two failed attempted with dogs. Neither of these dogs had been acquired of our own will. In both cases, well meaning but extremely misguided people had bestowed puppies upon us without asking us if we actually wanted a dog. In both cases, the people who did the giving were not people we felt we could say no to.

Heather Griffiths 16 Min Read June 11, 2017

Book Club: Eminent Dogs, Dangerous Men by Donald McCaig