Rebecca Enslein & Maccabee

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Rebecca Enslein and I’m a wedding photographer. Maccabee is a 2-year-old male Doberman.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We like to go outside in our backyard every afternoon and evening for some play time.

What's brewing?

No coffee here, my caffeine drink of choice is Sugar Free Red Bull.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

I made some peanut butter and nutella bars last night for our friends who came over for dinner. Maccabee can’t have any though, because there’s chocolate in them.

How were you and Maccabee united?

My husband and I had been waiting for the right time to get a dog and finally we came across a great opportunity. The breeder who my in-laws got their Doberman from had a new litter of pups available and saved one just for us.

Any treat for Maccabee on this occasion?

Maccabee’s chewing on the remnants of a foot long rawhide he started a couple of days ago.

You've got some beautiful wedding photos on your website and blog. Which are more challenging to photograph: dogs or brides?

I’d say that brides are more challenging to photograph. They don’t respond nearly as well to treats as dogs do.

How did Maccabee get his name? Does he have any nicknames?

The story of Hanukkah involves a tribe of warriors, called the Maccabees. We liked the sound of the name and the story, so Maccabee he became. He has a bunch of nicknames: Beetle, Beetie, Snuppy, Snuparoon, Roon Head, Smelly pup…I could go on forever. We hardly ever actually call him Maccabee.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

Maccabee loves to chase squirrels. We moved from an apartment to a house and basically picked our home because of the huge backyard. He has an acre to run around and chase squirrels up trees and he loves it. He loves squirrels so much that he’ll run and bark at imaginary ones when he can’t find the real thing.

Tennis ball, Frisbee, squeaky-toy...?

The Waggle. I found it on Amazon one day after researching dog toys that would stand up to a strong and relentless chewer. It’s a dumbbell shaped rubber toy that dispenses treats randomly when shaken around or bounced on the floor. It keeps Maccabee busy for hours and he gets so excited when you bring it out of the toy box.

Where is Maccabee's favorite place for an outing?

He loves going to the local Pet Smart. He usually sniffs out a new toy while we’re there and the friendly cashiers always give him a treat or two.

Who is Maccabee's best pet-pal?

Boots, a bloodhound/lab mix from our old neighborhood. They still have play dates at our new house and Maccabee shows him where all the squirrels hide out.

What is Maccabee's most endearing quality?

Definitely his ears. When we got him as a puppy his ears were still in braces after having them cropped. We took his braces off of him too soon and his ears sort of touch over his head instead of standing up straight like they should. People always ask why his ears look funny, but I think it’s part of his charm and I love them.

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

He’d probably want me to let him up on the couch with us while we watch TV so that he could snuggle some more.

He’s kind of an attention hog.

What is Maccabee's proudest moment?

His proudest moment was probably making his modeling debut a few weeks ago at one of my photo shoots. It was an bridal shoot, and the night before my husband suggested that we bring Maccabee on set at the end and take some pictures of him with the model. The model was up for it and Maccabee is always happy to be bribed into doing anything for treats. He was a star!

Most embarrassing?

Definitely when he ate over 100 rocks at the dog park as a six-month-old pup. He had to have them surgically removed because there were so many and then he had to wear a muzzle every time he was outside for a couple of months afterward. He learned the hard way to stay away from eating non-food objects.

Visit The Studio B Photography blog and website.

--Marshal Zeringue