Camille Egdorf & Kemuk

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Camille Egdorf and I make my living in the fly fishing industry. I work in Alaska during the summers as a fly fishing guide and cook then during the winters I attend college in Bozeman, Montana and am a travel host for a booking agent called Fishing With Larry. I also write for Muskegon River Lodge's monthly newsletter. My canine companion is named Kemuk (key-muck) and he's a 2 year old, 100lb male yellow lab.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Coffee with Kemuk is an occasion that mainly occurs while in Alaska. Before the rest of the camp is awake, I brew a pot of cowboy coffee, start a fire in the fire pit and sit listening to the river ghostly flow by with Kemuk at my side. It's the perfect way to start a day.

What's brewing?

"The best part of waking up, is having Folger's in your cup!" Folger's coffee is what I have perking on the stove top in the mornings. I'm not what you would call a "die hard" coffee drinker so I always mix in a little hot chocolate with my freshly brewed coffee. Which I guess is called a Mocha?

Any treats for you or Kemuk on this occasion?

Kemuk is spoiled and it's a wonder that he's not 20 pounds heftier than he is. I prepare lunches for clients before breakfast and I always chuck pieces of lunch meat to him. He definitely knows when to sit next to the counter in the morning and puts on his best beggar's face. He goes bonkers if there's bacon involved.

How were Kemuk and your parents united?

Kemuk was a gift from a family friend. My dad had been looking for a good lab for a few years but never found the right fit. When Ole (family friend) had a litter of puppies, he gave dad the biggest pup of the litter. Right from the start we knew Kemuk was different. He had no problems with being alone and was fearless. My dad was immediately attached.

How did Kemuk get his name? Any aliases?

My dad is a pilot and does all of our flying in Alaska. When flying to our camp there is one mountain that he always flies around and uses as a landmark. It's his favorite mountain and it's name just so happens to be Kemuk.

What's the wildest critter Kemuk has met in the wild?

Kemuk has had many encounters with critters in the great outdoors. Most of which take place in Alaska. He's seen bears and caribou but I think the most intense experience was when he had a stand off with a cow moose. This moose was crossing the river right in front of camp when Kemuk caught her scent and started barking and running up and down the river bank. She ran off into the bushes and about a minute later she came back out, mad. Before I could grab Kemuk, he took off and it looked as though he was going to chase the cow, however the exact opposite happened. The moose's ears went back, her hackles went up and she chased Kemuk back into camp. I've never seen a dog go from macho man to scaredy cat so quick.

You're a fly-fishing professional. Has a dog, your own or a client's, ever gotten rambunctious just when you were about to hook a big fish?

Kemuk is a fantastic dog but he's also 100 lbs of muscle and pure adrenaline. He's like a 5 year old trapped in a dog's body. With that being said, he's not quite ready to be in a boat while out fishing; he'd probably tip the boat over if he saw a fish. He's a great dog to have around though if you're out wade fishing. He always lets you know if there's something going on.

Does Kemuk have a favorite place to go for outings?

Kemuk loves going duck hunting so I'd say that his favorite place to be would be in the duck blind waiting for ducks or tearing through the water to retrieve one.

What is Kemuk's best quality?

He has many great qualities but his best one would have to be his persistence. Although it can be annoying at times, he just never gives up. If he wants to play fetch, he'll bug you all day until you finally give in and throw a stick for him. If you're out hunting and there's a bird you're unable to find, he won't quit until he finds it. I remember watching him bring 3 ducks back at once this last duck season. My dad and I were amazed. He truly has the gift of persistence.

If Kemuk could change one thing about Alaskans, what would it be?

He would most definitely have them throw more sticks for him.

If Kemuk could answer only one question in English, what would you ask him?

What do dogs dream about?

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Kemuk could speak, who should voice him?

That is a great question. It would have to be someone with a sense of humor and the ability to do goofy voices. Jim Carrey maybe?

Visit Camille Egdorf's blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Darden North & Valerie and Foxy

Who are in the photos with this entry?

That’s me Darden North and our two dogs, Valerie and Foxy. Both are hand-me-ups from our daughter. Valerie is a Chihuahua and Foxy a Pomeranian-rat terrier mix, otherwise known as a pomerat. Foxy indeed resembles a fox and Valerie a Chihuahua. I share the feeding, walking, and picking-up duties of these two beautiful girls with my wife Sally, although I do most of the meals and picking-up. As expected, Valerie and Foxy love me more. The two girls are at my heels the minute I get home from my day job as an obstetrician-gynecologist in a busy medical practice in Jackson, Mississippi. After a walk around the block, the dogs follow me to the computer where I write mysteries and medical thrillers. My books are set in the Deep South where lots of folks sport Labrador retrievers, but I leave the lab (our grand dog) to our son in Kentucky.

My fourth novel Wiggle Room is due in June as an eBook and in trade-paper print from publisher Sartoris Literary Group. My second novel Points of Origin was awarded an IPPY in Southern Fiction. The screenplay of my third novel Fresh Frozen is in film development.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine? What’s brewing?

Foxy is the first one up with me at 5:25 a.m. on weekdays. She follows me into a small room off the master bedroom where we keep a Keurig coffee maker. My wife Sally usually has two clean cups waiting. (Sally uses the other cup – not Foxy.) Since most days I am due at the hospital for gyn surgery by 6:45, I need a lot of caffeine. My favorite wake-up brew is Revv by Keurig Brewers, so strong that I choose the 10 ounce selection to dilute it somewhat. I alternate this with Green Mountain Coffee’s Dark Magic. Until about 18 months ago I wasn’t a coffee drinker, except to complement dessert in a nice restaurant. I abandoned Diet Coke and switched to java when I needed to lose the 25 pounds gained while writing three thriller novels. (A lot of sodium is ingested with four Diet Cokes by 9:00 each morning.) We have the same type brewer at the office, and I usually drink a Donut Shop or Our Blend about 3 p.m. every day. (I sneak in a Coke Zero now and then to supplement.) I never drink coffee in the hospital doctors’ lounge --- no reason in particular.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

While I drink about half of the Revv, I take both dogs out for their morning backroom break. (We actually call it potty around our house.) The trick is not pouring the hot brew on Valerie when dragging her from under the covers for the trip to the backyard. The Chihuahua’s wake-up schedule is more in line with my wife’s. Valerie growls at Foxy during this process; I think she resents her sister for being so chipper so early. Foxy’s treat is an immediate breakfast of Science Diet Adult Dog, gulped in less time than the coffee maker can brew, before retiring to my closet for a nap. Valerie’s treat is to get back in bed after a few seconds outside. She burrows under the sheets and bedspread, sometimes without even a nose showing from under the edge. The wife never stirs.

How were you and your dogs united? And how did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Valerie was originally a Valentine’s Day gift to my daughter when she was in the eleventh grade. Valerie seemed to go well with Valentine, so Valerie Valentine North it was. I doubt if there are many other Chihuahuas named Valerie. Because she was so difficult to housetrain as a puppy, my wife and I became Valerie’s keeper. We’re still working on that seven years later and finally rolled-up the hall rug and put it away. When the same daughter was in college, she secretly bought Foxy from a kennel in Tennessee and gave her a name that I cannot remember. But I changed it to Foxy (Again refer to photo) when the sweet pomerat was still very young and Sally and I became primary care givers. I don’t think we ever gave Foxy a middle name. Occasionally we call them Val and Fox. We love them both.

How do your dogs help, and how do they hinder, your writing?

My two dogs crave attention, but whose dog doesn’t? Valerie in particular will stand near when I’m writing at the desktop and bark the most high-pitched, irritating sound imaginable if I have been late with her second meal of the day. This is a late supper, usually around 10:30 before bed. Breakfast was around 6 p.m. Foxy has a favorite toy, a small yellow pillow – about her same fur color – that she likes to use in games of fetch. If I have ignored her, spending more than an hour or so writing, she appears with the toy and her own version of a piercing, irritating bark. Valerie and our son’s yellow lab (our grand dog Bandit) will play with the pillow when abandoned by Foxy. The toy is very durable, it seems. Sometimes sitting on the den couch and working on my laptop, I can accommodate both small dogs: Valerie in the remaining lap space between the keyboard and my stomach and Foxy behind my head at the top of the couch. She makes a great headrest.

Squirrel, postman, cat....?

Both Valerie and Foxy chase whatever crawls, flies, leaps, or burrows into our fenced-in backyard: cat, possum, squirrel, bird, rabbit, or mole. As I am answering these questions, Foxy is intrigued by a sparrow that keeps flying against the window pane. We both heard the knocking sound and went to investigate. Foxy also nips at the bottom of human pant legs. The other day I noted an unusual aroma while writing at the computer desktop. I looked down to the rug to find Foxy enjoying the remains of a frog head.

What is each dog's best quality?

Sally and I have had smarter pets in the past, but none as sweet as Foxy. I cannot claim that Valerie is not sweet because she loves to roll over for a tummy rub or plant a lick in the face of her mom or dad, but she is the conniving one, the regal one. Fox wins the peppy and cuddly contest. Both dogs are fiercely loyal.

If your dogs could change one thing about you, what would it be?

They would want me to sleep later and not work so hard.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which your dogs could speak, which actors should do their voices?

No one could play Valerie Valentine North except Joan Rivers. Like Rivers, who also has her own jewelry line on QVC, Valerie loves jewels, particularly rhinestone collars, although she prefers diamonds --- maybe a reward for sparing the rug in the hall? At Christmas my wife wraps both Valerie and Foxy in a necklace of pet-store pearls. Valerie probably knows they’re fake – doubt if Foxy cares. Kristin Chenoweth would be a natural as Foxy North because the actress is soft and peppy and blond.

If your dogs could answer only one question in English, what would you ask them?

“Valerie, why do you like to pose on the furniture like the queen of the neighborhood but still roll around outside in smelly things?”

“Foxy, why do you like to lick expensive upholstery fabric, which stains it and causes my wife to insist on having the den sofa recovered for the third time?”

Visit Darden North's website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Erin McGraw & Max and Sister

Who is in the photo at right?

That's Max, Sister, and me, Erin McGraw. Max is the shaggy eight-year-old Labradoodle, currently weighing in somewhere between 85 and 90 pounds, and Sister is a hound mix of some kind, also somewhere around eight years old, her fighting weight a sleek 55 pounds. I'm the one between them. When I'm not walking the dogs, feeding the dogs, brushing the dogs, or dispensing ear medicine to the dogs, I write fiction and teach at the Ohio State University.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine? And what's brewing?

Every morning kicks off with decaf brew at home--Peet's dark in a French press is my preference. The decaf is a concession to my ulcer, which I regularly tell Max and Sister comes from them. That's not true, probably. They don't seem terribly concerned either way.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

I try to live a clean life, at least before noon. I have been known to bend the rules for a biscotti, but I'm afraid the dogs get butkus. My husband and I are constantly trying to keep weight off Max. He had a knee replacement two years ago and I tell Max often, in solemn tones, that we have to protect our investment.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Max came to us pre-owned and pre-named. Sister was a shelter dog, so she was pre-named, too, but we felt less commitment to the name given to her for a few days by the Union County Shelter. "Sister" is a common nickname in the South for the girl in the family. I'm not a southerner, but my husband is, so we figured we had the right.

How were you and your dogs united?

We got Max when our house cleaner went to a garage sale to look at a fishing rod and found out that the woman running the sale had an 8-month-old Doodle she wanted to place. She had gotten it from a neighbor who had wanted a puppy over her husband's objections. Figuring he wouldn't be able to resist an adorable puppy if it was placed right in front of him, she ordered a ten-week-old Doodle to be sent to her from Virginia. Turns out her husband was immune to the pup's charms, so the dog went to the neighbor. She was a good soul, but she was a single working mom with no time or space to care for a very rapidly expanding dog. By the time we got Max he was over 50 pounds, and his pads still hadn't hardened; they were as soft as a newborn's.

Sister came on the scene about a year later, when Max did everything short of presenting us with a petition saying that he wanted a playmate. We took him with us to the shelter, and when we saw how well he and Sister played together, the deal was sealed. Good thing, because she was destructive as all get-out for the next six months, and if it weren't for Max, I would have been tempted to take her straight back.

Are there any dogs in your new novel, Better Food for a Better World?

Riley. He's a redbone coonhound and at the moment is a point-of-view character. In his big scene, he gets a mouthful of porcupine quills. He also engineers the big love scene (between people).

How do your dogs help, and how do they hinder, your writing?

I don't find many things more comforting than the soft breathing of comfortable dogs beside me while I work. I'm also crazy about the smell of clean dogs in the sun. Sister, who's very catlike, follows the sun all day as it moves across the windows, and I frequently bury my nose in her warm fur.

But dogs know how to tell time--any dog owner knows this--and when it's nine o'clock Sister and Max don't give a rip whether my work is going well: They want their walk. Same deal at three o'clock. Is it my imagination, or is work always going at its best at 9 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon?

Squirrel, postman, cat....?

The UPS man has bought off their affections by bringing treats every time he leaves a box. They alert me to his presence when the truck turns a corner three-quarters of a mile away. But the mailman? Yes, they'll happily tear his throat out. After that, it's possum, cat, and squirrel in descending order. Oh, and also the neighbor's Maltese.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

Revolting plush toys that have long been eviscerated and reduced to scraps of one-time pink or blue. Max is also very fond of hard plastic Y's that he gravely gnaws on, one arm at a time, while Sister tracks the sun in another room.

What is each dog's best quality?

Max is as affectionate as they come. If you want an extremely heavy, extremely hairy dog to recline on you, and often I do, Max is your fellow.

Despite her rocky start with us, Sister wants tremendously to please. As a result, she is an incredible heeler. Head high, tail high and wagging, she'll heel all day long. She looks good and she knows it.

If your dogs could change one thing about you, what would it be?

That's easy. Waaaay more accommodating with the treats.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which your dogs could speak, which actors should do their voices?

Kathleen Turner would do justice to Sister--a throaty, sexy voice and a mind with an agenda. Max lacks her impulse toward intrigue--he's very guileless. I'm thinking Steve Carell.

If your dogs could answer only one question in English, what would you ask them?

Can I wear your nose for five minutes?

Visit Erin McGraw's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Marianne McKiernan & Mina, Meryl, and Jeb

Who are in the photos below?

I'm Marianne McKiernan and I work at KMGH-TV in Denver as a producer and consumer advocate. I'm also a volunteer puppy raiser with my husband John, an author and an animal communicator.

[photo right: Marianne and Hydra, recently graduated as a Skilled Companion]

The photos are of our dogs, Mina, Meryl and Jeb, and the cats, Dewey and Diddums. The photo of me is with a "grandpuppy" from Ross, the sixth Canine Companions puppy we raised who was selected to be a CCI breeder dog.

Jeb is our current Canine Companions puppy in training. He's a Labrador/Golden Retriever cross, almost nine months old. Mina is eleven years old and she is a Saluki/Terrier mix. Meryl is a five-year old female Great Dane. Dewey is an Oriental Shorthair and Diddums is a British Shorthair. Both are males, rescues, around six years old, and extremely friendly and dog-tolerant.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We're celebrating my book, Let the Dogs Speak! Puppies in Training Tell the Story of Canine Companions for Independence.

What's brewing?

It's a cold snowy night in Denver so I'm having freshly brewed New Mexico Piñon coffee with half-and-half. [photo left: Mina]

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

I made myself a 70-second chocolate cake (let me know if you want the recipe!) and each of the dogs got a small cookie. The cats don't particularly care about treats.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Jeb II came named by Canine Companions. All the puppies in a litter are named with the same initial so all his siblings are also "J" puppies. Jeb is named in honor of Jeb the First, a Canine Companions Facility Dog. Jeb the First has gone to the Rainbow Bridge, and we're honored to raise his namesake. We also call him Jebbity, Jebby, Jebenezer, and Jebidiah. I will admit to having moments of confusion when I lose track of who the current puppy is and revert to a previous puppy's name, so he's sometimes called Rocket, Ross, Mars or even a puppy for whom we recently sat! For instance, he got called Charlie this morning. Puppy raisers trade pups and puppy sit for each other, so it's often a rotating cast of puppies at our house. This week Otter is staying with us for a few days while his family is out of town. So far today he's been called Otter, Jeb and Charlie. I've been known to resort to "You there, puppy! Whatever your name is, stop that!" when all else fails.

Meryl, our Great Dane, [photo right, with Diddums] was originally named Madeleine, but we'd recently lost our elderly Greyhound who was also called Madeleine. Since there could only be one Madeleine, Meryl graciously agreed to be renamed. Aliases include Tall Girl, Tall Dog and Tall Doggie. Notice a theme?

Mina, our small Saluki/Terrier mix, was originally called Willamina which seemed way too long for her dainty self, so we shortened it to Mina, then lengthened it to Mina Mouse. She also goes by Mouse, Miss Mouse and Mousie.

How were you and your dogs united?

Jeb [photo left] arrived in Denver from Santa Rosa, California (where Canine Companions breeding program is headquartered) via United Airlines October 3, 2013. He's the ninth puppy we've raised for Canine Companions.

Meryl came from Great Dane Rescue at a year of age. Her previous family had a change in circumstances so they couldn't keep her, but we are very glad she came to live with us! There's a chapter in the book with one of Penny Blankenship's hilarious illustrations, showing how Santa brought her to our house.

Mina was at the Colorado Humane Association with her two sisters. We were looking for a medium or big dog as a playmate for Madeleine the Greyhound, but Mina was just too cute to pass up. Mina chose us, as so often happens. When we sat down with the three sisters in a visiting room, Mina came over to me, put her paws on my lap, looked into my eyes and I knew she was coming home with us. She is all of 23 pounds but she's the boss of the house.

Please tell us about your new book and Canine Companions for Independence.

Let the Dogs Speak! tells what it's like to be a puppy in training, from the dog's point of view. It's written by four of our previous Canine Companions pups: Hudson, Parker, Ross and Mars. It is humorous, heartwarming and informative, and the illustrations are delightful. Canine Companions for Independence provides highly-trained assistance dogs for children and adults with disabilities other than blindness, free of charge. Their motto is "Help is a four-legged word." Canine Companions trains four types of Assistance Dogs: Service Dogs, Skilled Companions, Hearing Dogs and Facility Dogs.

Squirrel, postman, cat....?

Mina is our ferocious hunter, despite my best efforts to convince her to live and let live. She occasionally kills snakes, squirrels and birds in our back yard, and would like to take on the foxes and raccoons that wander through the neighborhood, She cannot understand why the postman persists in coming to our house, since she hurls curses at him Every. Single. Day.

Jeb [with Diddums, photo left] loves all beings, including our two kitties. Everyone and everything is his friend, especially if there's a cookie involved.

Meryl loves our kitties and barks hello! at everything else. Meryl would only kill something accidentally, either by stepping on it or with her whip-like tail. She has given me a black eye with that tail! Meryl wants to greet and/or play with everyone. I'm not sure our postman is convinced of that, however. He flinches when she grins and barks at him.

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

Jeb's best friend is whoever wants to play with him. We have frequent play dates with other CCI puppies and grad dogs, so he has lots of friends, including Chisum, Lionel, Kindle, Pilar, Pella, Hughy, Charlie, Waffle, and Palima. Don't you love those CCI names?

Meryl's best pet-pals are Mina, whoever our current puppy in training is, and Diddums, who loves to snuggle with (and often on) her.

[photo right: Dewey]

Mina's best pet-pal is Meryl. She mostly tolerates the foolish puppies in training, teaching them manners and boundaries. She generally ignores the cats.

What is each dog's best quality?

Jeb is cheerful, playful and adores little kids. Meryl is happy and silly - she makes us laugh a lot. Mina is bossy, focused and endearing.

If your dogs could change one thing about you, what would it be?

Hmmmm, I'm guessing Mina and Meryl want me to stop reprimanding them for barking at the people passing by the house. "Just let us bark - it's our job!" they say. "Yeah, but Meryl's bark rattles the windows and Mina's is ear-piercing," I grumble. It's an on-going discussion at our house.

Jeb wants me to stop making him wear his detested Gentle Leader head collar, to which I say, "Sorry, Jebbity. You need to learn to walk on a loose leash and learn impulse control." This is another on-going topic of discussion. *sigh*

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which your dogs and cats could speak, which actors should do their voices?

Meryl - Ellen DeGeneris
Mina - Holly Hunter
Jeb - Jordan Nagai (the kid in Up)
Dewey - Rhys Ifans
Diddums - Colin Firth

If your dogs could answer only one question in English, what would you ask them?

Ah well, you see, in my spare time I provide services as a professional animal communicator, so animals (mine and others) actually do talk to me. No, really. I know it sounds wacky, but it's true. That's probably a whole different interview.

Visit the Telling Tails website and read more about Let the Dogs Speak! Puppies in Training Tell the Story of Canine Companions for Independence.

--Marshal Zeringue

Caetlin Benson-Allott & Frisco

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Caetlin Benson-Allott, assistant professor of English and Film and Media Studies at Georgetown University. And that's Frisco, my Shih Tzu. He's three and a half years old. My partner Seth is not pictured because he took the picture, but he's Frisco's second in command (that is, the second person Frisco is in command of).

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

First beautiful summer day of the year, so we shaved Seth's head. Then Frisco insisted we all go out for cocktails.

What's brewing?

I'm having a Hendricks and tonic, Seth is having a Saranac Pale Ale, and Frisco is having water.

Any treats for you or Frisco on this occasion?

Frisco broke into a bag of apple-flavored rice cakes earlier, so no more treats for him today. Seth and I are having mini fish tacos.

How were you and Frisco united?

My friend Irene brought us together. She told her good friend at San Francisco Animal Care and Control that I was looking for a shih tzu. When my little dog Joe died of old age, I desperately wanted another shih tzu to replace him, but I had to wait until the new dog wouldn't just be a replacement before I adopted again. After two years, I was finally ready. Well, less than I week after Irene told her friend to keep an eye out, she sent us a picture of the most terrified little shih tzu I'd ever seen. In twenty-four hours, I got permission from my landlord, lined up daycare with my sister, and called to say I wanted that little puppy. Unfortunately, I had to teach the next day, so it was another twenty-four hours before I could go pick him up. I was terrified Frisco would disappear before I got to the shelter! We met on the sidewalk outside ACC, then went inside to play ball and get to know one another. After about ten minutes, Irene's friend asked, "Well, do you think it's a match?" I was dumbfounded. It had never occurred to me that Frisco wasn't the one for me. I had been worried they'd think I wasn't the one for him.

That was three years ago. We've been "pair bonded" ever since.

How did Frisco get his name? Any aliases?

He came with it! I considered it my duty to get little Frisco out of San Francisco as quickly as possible. So we moved to Washington DC. But now when I tell people his name I have to tell people it's "Frisco, as in San Francisco" (not Crisco). His nicknames are Fritz Co Co, Little Man, and Little Boo.

Does Frisco do more to help or to hinder your scholarship?

Help! He sits on my lap and prevents me from leaving my desk. He also keeps me company while I am watching movies for work (although he tends to fall asleep).

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Squirrel (but I doubt Seth's cat would agree).

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Ball. In fact, he's kind of a tennis ball miser at the dog park. If there are any balls to be found, he carries them away from the other dogs and refuses to play anymore.

Does Frisco have a favorite place to go for outings?

Ithaca Falls park in Ithaca, NY. He doesn't like to swim, but he's very interested in watching the water from afar. He loves Rock Creek Park in Washington DC for the same reason.

Who is Frisco's best pet-pal?

He thinks it's Seth's cat, Baker, but she's been trying to dump him since day one. His best doggie pal is Derby, who belongs to a colleague of mine at Georgetown. He likes to chase Derby through Rock Creek Park.

What is Frisco's best quality?

It's so easy to make him happy. One used tennis ball or a fifty-cent Greenie, and it's best day ever.

If Frisco could change one thing about you, what would it be?

I would give him scraps every time he asks and take him to class with me. He believes he's earned both by just being cute.

If Frisco could answer only one question in English, what would you ask him?

If I take you you to class with me, do you promise to sit still and be quiet until class is over? No flirting with the undergrads?

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Frisco could speak, who should voice him?

Jack McBrayer, no question!

Learn more about Caetlin Benson-Allott's Killer Tapes and Shattered Screens at the University of California Press website.

The Page 99 Test: Killer Tapes and Shattered Screens.

--Marshal Zeringue

Katherine Keenum & Palmer

Who is in the photo at right?

The gorgeous hairy one is Palmer, a three-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi. His extra-long coat makes him a “fluffy” in the Corgi world, i.e., pet quality not show quality (what is wrong with the AKC?). The person is me, Katherine Keenum, a writer whose debut novel, Where the Light Falls, was published in February 2013.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Palmer and I were inspecting our almost-finished new kitchen (note the absence of knobs or pulls on the drawers and cabinets). What better way to celebrate a new countertop than to hoist him up to see where the coffee machine could now sit and then put it to work?

What's brewing?

One of the sad and almost unbelievable handicaps for a writer is my need to limit caffeine, so it’s decaffeinated French Roast from Ed Hyder’s Mediterranean Market in Worcester, Mass.

Any treats for you or Palmer on this occasion?



Is there any occasion when there is not a treat for Palmer? He will eat just about anything (unfortunately including pencils), but the box of Milk-Bone Mini’s with a Corgi on the front is our reliable stand-by. For myself, I keep McVitie’s Digestive Wheat Biscuits handy.

How were you and Palmer united?

After our previous dog died in December 2010, I got in touch with his breeder, who in turn put me in touch with a colleague, who just happened to have a winter litter. My husband and I were not sure we were ready for a new puppy yet, but we went to visit in February 2011. Need I say more? It is a joy to us that Palmer’s and Badger’s bloodlines cross. (And the late Badger is now called Uncle Badger within the family.)


How did Palmer get his name?

Palmer’s dam lived on the Brimfield/Palmer line in Massachusetts, and his sire on the Springfield/Palmer line. Since Palmer is a name in my family tree, my husband suggested it on our drive home. I was already using it for my heroine in Where the Light Falls. No one will believe me, but it was months and months before I made the connection. All the children in the neighborhood assume Jeanette is named for the dog.

Any aliases?



Pomme, Pummy, and Mr. Boy.

Does Palmer do more to help or to hinder your writing?


I write in the morning on a regular schedule. Provided I have given him a chew stick after breakfast and played with him for ten minutes, Palmer settles down very companionably beside my computer.


Cat, postman, squirrel...?



Ah. If the mail arrives in the morning, my writing is interrupted by barking hysteria, but at least he doesn’t chew first-class mail. He goes for the advertisements. (In a lot of ways, he’s the smartest dog we’ve ever had.)

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?



Palmer likes to chase balls and play tug-of-war with squeaky toys. We call him the A.D.D. dog because he goes rapidly from one toy to the next during a play session—except with sticks. Those he eats. At first, neighbors were alarmed when he was clearly swallowing them, but they keep him occupied when I stop to chat on a walk and so far his digestive system has been equal to the task.

Does Palmer have a favorite place to go for outings?



No question: Moore State Park in Paxton, Mass.

Who is Palmer's best pet-pal?



We have a neighbor whose part-Great Dane named Duke outweighs Palmer four to one. I’m never sure whether Duke even knows he has an adoring follower when we go for walks together, but I only have to say “We’re going to go see Duke” to send Palmer sprinting to the front door.

If Palmer could change one thing about you, what would it be?



He thinks I’m a fascist to make him walk properly on his leash instead of allowing him to switch sides at will in wild criss-crossing dashes.

If Palmer could answer only one question in English, what would you ask him?


How many words do you really understand?!?


If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Palmer could speak, who should voice him?

Oh, boy, this one has me stumped!

Visit Katherine Keenum's website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Lisa Schweitzer & Doc

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Lisa Schweitzer and I’m a freelance writer for Write 2 Fly-Fish. I also work part-time at a restaurant in West Seattle. My dog (whom I share with my husband), is “Doc”. We think he is about 2 or 2 ½. He is most likely a lab/chow/pitbull/Aussie mix. His looks reflect all of them, but his personality is definitely lab all the way. We rescued him while we were living in Eastern Washington during my husband’s first year of medical school, hence the name inspiration.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Every morning Doc lays by my feet while I enjoy my morning cup of joe and work on my laptop… He does this for about two hours until he starts to get anxious to go to the park. I think he feels this machine attached to a cord that I loudly tap away at is a detriment to his well-being and overall quality of life. In his defense, I would have to agree, but then again, he doesn’t make any income for us, so he shouldn’t complain. (I contradict myself a lot when speaking through my dog…)

What's brewing?

Usually whatever my med school roommates brew up (Tully’s, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts… whatever was on sale) since they get up before I do to study, so I rarely make the morning batch of coffee. (Yes, my husband and I currently live with two other medical students. It’s been a fun past year experience, but we are in the process of moving into our own apartment.)

Any treats for you or Doc on this occasion?

On the way to the off-leash dog park nearby, we have started a dangerous ritual of stopping at the Metropolitan Market and getting a sandwich at their deli (usually the Melted Mozz aka MM sandwich that has melted mozzarella, basil, arugula, tomato and prosciutto.) and I end up giving Doc part of it while we eat it in the car.

How were you and Doc united?

My husband and I stalked his photo on petfinder.com for almost 3 months while living in Pullman, WA, and finally went to the shelter in Moscow, ID where he was being held on October 31st 2012 and ended up taking him home the next day. So, we celebrate his “birthday” on Halloween since his actual birth date is unknown.

How did Doc get his name? Any aliases?

As I said earlier, he got his name from the inspiration that his new dad was in medical school to become a doctor, and it was an idea that ended up sticking. As far as aliases go, he has several… Hound Chow, Wolf Puppy, Monkey, Chow Face, Wolfacinno (with an Italian accent for some reason), and the list keeps growing… We say all of the names in the same tone, so he responds to all of them. (His parents are a little weird.)

What's the wildest critter Doc has encountered in the wild?

That’s funny that you ask this question, and I hope there are no “Squirrel Protection Advocates” who read your blog or might come across this post… We were told by the shelter that Doc would not do well with cats. What we didn’t realize is that cats were just large squirrels in his eyes. A lot of dogs go crazy when those fluffy tailed creatures are around, but our dog actually killed one (a squirrel that is, not a cat thank God)… in front of my mother-in-law’s face while she was dog-sitting him at the park. All she said was he took off running faster than ever, and moments later she heard the squeals of a critter in distress. By the time she made it up the hill to where Doc had run off to, the squirrel was gone.

You're a fly-fishing expert. Has Doc ever gotten rambunctious when you were just about to hook a big fish?

Doc always goes ballistic when a fish is being fought. Luckily, he has never jumped in where the fish might be laying or caused a ruckus to where he may have scared anything away. He did try and jump on a wild steelhead that my husband was about to land in shallow water, but thankfully he just got the line and the fish came off and swam away. We try not to harm wild steelhead, so we do our best to keep Doc away from them just in case.

Does Doc have a favorite place to go for outings?

Doc’s favorite place is the off-leash dog park. He isn’t picky about which one, but anywhere that has water that he can swim in and chase after his ball. He only has one ball he likes, and it’s an orange and blue Chuck-It ball that floats and bounces. He would probably swim after it until he drowned from exhaustion, so we try and limit his swimming time to 20 minutes or so. He is an avid, hyper-obsessive “ball dog”.

Who are Doc's best pet-pals?

Doc’s best dog-friends are his “cousins”: A pug named Xabi (pronounced, “Shabby”), a Golden Retriever named Duchess, a terrier mix named Callie, a Pomeranian/Chihuahua mix named Coco. We are also dog-sitting a friend’s dog, Thompson, for about a month, and they are like brothers separated at the litter.

What is Doc's best quality?

I would have to say his goofy and super sweet personality. He rarely barks, so when company comes over (dogs or human) he doesn’t bark or growl at them when they come in the door. In fact, he’s a little too friendly to anyone who comes in the door, so I don’t know if he would be a very good “guard dog” if necessary. He sure is a big love.

If Doc could change one thing about you, what would it be?

He would probably take away my job and my computer. He assumes I have nothing else to do but take him to the park and feed him.

If Doc could answer only one question in English, what would you ask him?

I would ask him to fess up to how many squirrels and kitties he has harmed… and why.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Doc could speak, who should voice him?

That one is tough, because I see him as a kid and don’t know a lot of child actors who could voice him, but if he was an “adult” character in the movie, I would have to say Billy Crystal.

Visit the Write 2 Fly-Fish website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue