Jim and Marsha Bean & Susie and Sidebite

Who is in the photo at right?

Hi, my name is Jim Bean, I manage a quick lube oil change and a retail tire shop, the major part of the tire business is that we service drag races for Mickey Thompson Race Tires.

Pictured: my wife Marsha, who works for a major financial brokerage firm, and Susie, our puppy mill rescued female Scottie Terrier.

We found Susie at a rescue place on Friday after Thanksgiving; the lady got her from the city doggie pound, and she was scheduled to be put down because she was a mess--very scared and unsociable. At that time she was 9 months old. Now she is one silly, stubborn, Scottie-tute, crazy five year old girl who runs the place.

The other half of our blog is Sidebite, an AKC registered Male Scottie Terrier [photo below left]. We went to a breeder and picked him out of the pile of seven at three weeks, because he never whined. Then we had to get him at five weeks old and he wobbled around on unsure legs. He is now seven and claims everything in the house and Susie as his. He is the most happy, tale wagging little guy I have ever had.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Coffee with my dogs is usually on the weekends only and very early. On Saturday I go riding bicycles and it’s just a quick pot brewed and a small biscuit which I have to share with them, so it’s warm up two so I get some of them. Now on Sunday we are up early, make a pot of the same, fix a full breakfast and have the guys watching closely for their part and it’s our special share and bond day!

What's brewing?

My favorite is French Silk that I grind for each pot; during the week is a coffee service provided by work. Now out riding our little group always stops at various coffee shops, so we tend to try something different each time, and I will go for a good cappuccino, but only certain places on our rides have what I like!

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

No, nothing special, they love to eat anything we are eating; their treat time is in the late evening, and then it’s their favorite, Puperonni!

How did your dogs get their names? Any nicknames?

When we came home with Susie she was shaking and all she wanted was to be held. “Susie Q” by “Credence Clearwater” was playing on the radio, and Marsha said “That’s You Sweetie.” As for nicknames, I call her my “Sweetie Petunia” and “Little Miss Stubborn”.

When we brought Sidebite home I raced a Sprint Car on dirt. When you ran sideways through the corner, you would work on how much “Sidebite” the tires had. Well, with those wobbles when he walked and tried to run, it was sideways. So I looked at him and said “Sidebite that’s you, trying to keep the rear end under control!” Now he goes by “Bites” or “Dude” because he has become one!

How were you and your dogs united?

I had 3 Scotties prior to these two nuts. The previous Scottie was with us for eleven years, when he passed away; we began our search within a couple of weeks and found Bites. I took off work for six months to change jobs just before we found him; well, being home with him we developed a very special bond ... he’s my Technical Adviser. He never took up with Marsha, still doesn’t do anything she says.

Marsha always wanted a Scottie that was hers, so about two years after Bites, she sat down at the computer and after a whole week saw this messy little gal listed at the rescue. So, off we go to the rescue place, a two hour drive. When we saw her she was a huge mess, a very underweight starved puppy. Marsha held her and they both seemed to know they belonged to each other. Now Susie owns Mom!

Where do your dogs most like to visit on an outing?

My bunch is not much for going anywhere except the Vet and Groomer. We live on an acreage, and our back fence has a farm on the other side with all kinds of stuff that keeps them busy, and we make every effort we can to go out and play chase and soccer ball with them.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

You name it, it's game on: first the running around, then the barking begins. If they do catch something it's like a war zone with stuff everywhere. A Scottie has the attitude that if I can see it, it’s on my property and does not belong here, thus Scottie-tute.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

As far as Susie is concerned, it's only soccer ball out in the back acre and a good game of “Chase Me Dad”.

Now Bites, he goes for the ball playing in the house; he has a collection of over 20 different ones. His other passion is his stuffy bear collection, and he loves to chew and lick them.

What is each dog's best quality?

Susie’s love and loyalty for Marsha. You go to bring her in a night and all you have to do is say “let’s go see Mom”, and she is on the run to the couch to sit with Marsha and watch TV together, or straight to Marsha in bed if it is that time.

Bites is so happy that he has never met a person he didn’t like, always full of wiggles, but he will not answer to or do anything anybody asks, but me.

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

That we were home all day with them, or go with us to work, because they really love the weekends and always are wanting to be inside with us!

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

Easy for Bites: “The Dude” John Wayne, because he has a deep mean bark and he has a very obvious swagger when he walks.

Susie [photo right] would have to be Cyndi Lauper, because she has a high pitched bark and loves to sing when she howls at the weekly storm siren test.

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

Can you teach us to speak doggie so we could communicate all the time?

Visit Susie and Sidebite's blog.

--Marshal Zeringue