60. Border Dogs

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60. Border Dogs

Our 60th episode is as true to form as the first: we go from worrying about whether we’re tainting your good name at the border, to the World’s Toughest Milkman, to tender moments in the Shuttle. RJ then dogsplains how to save big bucks on your telecom bill, PJ marvels at a really tough Samsung phone, and KJ frets about long flights. We wish a couple of daughters a happy birthday. Specifically, we shout them out. We’re everywhere and enjoying evey stop on this tip-laden podcast shuttle. Come along for the ride, but bring your own Kleenex!

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59. DogSpeak™

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59. DogSpeak™

As the waves crash endlessly onto the shore, the Dogs prattle on about a spectrum of interests and observations, criticisms and plaudits, tenderness and scorn. Reality doesn’t interfere much. Just sit down and hang out and hear about everything from salsa extraction to insurance to ghosts to plumbing to the threat of sophisticated AIs creating humanoid faces. Have a cup of whatever and a bite of something good—we’re happy you’re here with us in the uncanny valley.

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58. Catching up on listener mail

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58. Catching up on listener mail

Listener Mail is super important to us. We care about what our listeners think about and what they think about us. But somehow we fell far behind. However, not to worry, in this episode we really go to town on said correspondence. We do manage to squeeze in a little MooT, life tips from a professional driver , some old Spokane TV ad jingles, the last day of Spring, and of course the Phoenix Payroll System, incorporating something about ashes. But really: it’s all about that Mail. So whether you’re out on the road, preparing dinner, on your way in to work, or using us to go to sleep, settle in for some fun!

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57. Plumb excited Dogs

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57. Plumb excited Dogs

KJ, RJ, and PJ get the update on RJ’s home water situation, and as a result Episode 57 sees a wide range of plumbing opinion, advice, and information. It’s riveting. I mean come on, it’s handy guy stuff! We also look into a Neil Young concert RJ attended, more anecdotes from PJ’s driving job, KJ’s favourite Cominco year (doesn’t everyone have one of these? We think so), some fun news items, and even local politics. To top it all off we get to hear RJ use the expression “giddily excited” with only minimal irony - worth the price of admission by itself.

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56. The Dogs run with the pack

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56. The Dogs run with the pack

Episode 56 is chock full of great listener mail, including a harrowing coyote story. RJ gives us a fascinating look into the origins of the Cake Walk still seen at elementary school fundraisers, but It’s not all gâteau: our testosterone flows as we take heated issue with a recent controversy in the sports world. To round things out we have a fond look back at some of the best jobs we ever had, and come out strongly in favour of dog-centric walking and dogs in general. Of course we do!

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55. You talking to me?

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55. You talking to me?

Lacrosse is Canada’s national summer game, and in Episode 55 the Dogs take issue with how it’s being marketed and presented. We also debunk the idea that taxes led to the recent jump in gas prices, report on Uber’s supposed worth, relate a harrowing taxi tale, and reflect on who is, versus ought to be, paying to fix the Notre-Dame Cathedral. And in his regular Tales from the Shuttle segment, PJ provides advice to his spellbound, that is to say locked in a moving car with him, audience on whether or not to have kids.

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54. Peter and the Dogs

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54. Peter and the Dogs

Did you ever listen to “Peter and the Wolf” in early life?  We did, and we talk about that, as well as about whether tomato juice eradicates skunk smell, what happens when your boss is a robot, and some of the wrinkles that kept nuclear airplanes from ever really catching on. We also get to discuss how some of our earliest attempts to become self-made Dogs panned out...or didn’t.  But this podcasting gig has changed all that, I mean, Episode 54? It’s more like Studio 54 in the shed this week!

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53. Herbal dogs

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53. Herbal dogs

This episode finds the so-modern Shed Dogs hearing from Special Guest Deb of Cow Bay about the long-known but little recognized healing powers of colloidal silver and comfrey root. Blue bloods as ancient as the Dogs need this knowledge as we march ourselves through US and Canadian politics and find time to consider tattoos, zoot suits, and whether criminals should fear an overweight police officer more than a fit one. All this plus KJ’s impromptu rendition of an old Girl Guide camp song.  What is not to love, we ask you?

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52. Hula Dogs

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52. Hula Dogs

RJ delivers his Hawaii trip report and presents souvenir Hula Men to the other Dogs. Special guests Crome and Deb also sit in on an array of topics from aging cars and pets to disposing of latex paint to the future of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. We are sad to announce the demise of champagne as a colour for PJ’s car. Nonetheless this episode is a swaying, soothing, yet not-to-be-taken-lightly road trip through a plethora of topics!

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51. The Dogs decimate their taxes

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51. The Dogs decimate their taxes

Are smart dogs as smart as big dogs? Smarter? Smart enough to do their taxes? Smart enough to lobby for complex returns? The rest of the world Eurosplains how taxes should work while we put H&R Block in the doghouse. Don’t trust the CRA Download feature. Don’t trust but verify. We’re not judging but we might have found a shortcut to deciding cases, while Rex plods along. Speaking of which, RJ endorses Global National, and we cover Rachel Maddow’s performance as fisherman. Plus bonus Brexit material!

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50. Canine fragility

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50. Canine fragility

Note: we lost some footage this episode, so please forgive a few oblique references as you listen.

Our landmark 50th episode sees the Shed Dogs enjoying Listener Mail, examining “Chinese” dance as seen lately in Vancouver, and continuing our discussion of the article on white fragility that we started in Episode 49. What this episode doesn’t see us doing is getting closure on that topic nor holding back on Tales from the Shuttle, the Internet Research Agency, or Attorney General Barr’s recent letter to Congress. Ladies and gentleman, sit back and enjoy the wonders and culture of ancient Shed Dogs.

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49. Snowflake Dogs

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49. Snowflake Dogs

Everything’s fine. It really is, the settlers are just a little tender at the moment. We’re swimming in the deep and troubled waters of racial fragility, and of how and when to draw ethical lines around everything from conversations to music purchases. The Dogs ponder whether people still listen to music on radio, and if so do they listen to Michael Jackson? Hip Hop? Can the hearing impaired enjoy hip hop? In this week’s Stories From the Shuttle, an Olympian ski jumper looks for gainful employment as a stuntman. It’s a frustrating world when studies conclusively prove that studies keep getting it wrong. Need to lose weight? Get a hold of RJ, he has a deal for you.

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48. Beagle to Queen 4

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48. Beagle to Queen 4

Suggesting how grocery stores should be organized, opining (omapling?) on a high school unfinished woodwork master(chess)piece, KIR (keepin’ it real) on texting slang and abbreviations, blocking calls, sharing Netflix recommendations, and remembering old TV theme music: these are what retirement is made of, and consequently they’re also what Episode 48 of our podcast is about. Shout out to Cranbrook!

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46. Cromer and the Misspent Dogs

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46. Cromer and the Misspent Dogs

Cromer of Cow Bay, the fourth Dog, joins us in the Shed for the first time since appearing in our group picture a year ago. We go over elementary school days, collect some bottles (empty and full), opine on the correct employment tenure at Cominco, and marvel at both the luxury of the (relatively) new Kokanee Glacier Cabin at Kaslo Lake and the use of tension/resolution in the new Ray Romano special. We share our vast and well-earned pinball experience in discussing our all-time favourite machines, yet remain current with a conversation about the Canucks and when you should really care about that darned Check Engine light.

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44. The Dogs don't forget anniversaries

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44. The Dogs don't forget anniversaries

In the Shed Dogs’ first annual Anniversary Episode we quietly celebrate a year of podcasting fun. We begin with a sparsely edited behind-the-scenes discussion of what happens after Episode 50, as well as providing public service announcements about oil change scams, coyote pee, and a spectacular hike coming this summer that you’re all invited to (see inside). We settle down beside the fire with several pieces of much appreciated Listener Mail, as we do. Finally, for those paying attention to our recent spate of band names, we hereby add Thieving Grizzlies to our offerings.

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43. The Dogs look down their snouts at Hollywood

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43. The Dogs look down their snouts at Hollywood

In this episode, the Dogs come out strongly in favour of Roma and then stick it to Guillermo and critics who don’t like what we like. There’s a lesson offered to writers of series (Don’t consummate that relationship! Ever!), and some caustic remarks about the state of copyright law in North America. We also explore tips and tricks for buyers and sellers of door-to-door goods, and pass along essential tips for traffic navigation and control. All this and the Canucks’ playoff chances!

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42. Rex *approves* of this *episode*

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42. Rex *approves* of this *episode*

In Episode 42 the Shed Dogs revisit their really old friend Rex Morgan, M.D., and try to sort out just who’s reading this strip, anyway? And why? We look at Listener Mail and touch upon what that bottom stove drawer is for and what to look at and maintain in range hoods. It will be no surprise to read that talking about those tricky “inheritance” conversations follows naturally from all that.

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