Laura Norris & Charlie

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Laura, a freelance writer and running coach, and this is Charlie, a 3-year-old male rescue puggle.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We just finished a run, which is one of our favorite activities to do together, and heading out to grab a cup of coffee!

What's brewing?

Black coffee for me, which is my favorite, and water for Charlie.

Any treats for you or Charlie on this occasion?

Charlie will probably enjoy some homemade chicken broth when we get home, which is his favorite treat.

How were you and Charlie united?

My then-boyfriend (now husband) and I decided to adopt a dog to keep me company when I lived alone in a strange city for graduate school. We found Charlie through Petfinder and immediately knew he was the dog for us.

How did your dog get his name? Any aliases?

Before we even knew of Charlie, my husband and I decided that Charlie was the perfect name for a dog. It just came to us one day! We also call him "Snuggle Puggle," and "Chuckles" as nicknames.

You have a very lively blog about food and running. Would you tell us a bit about Charlie as a runner and as chowhound?

Charlie loves to run and to eat! He first starting running when he was 9 months old, and now runs 3-5 miles a few times per month. He also loves to go hiking and explore the outdoors. Charlie is quite the foodie and loves wholesome foods such as roasted chicken, homemade chicken broth, any time of cheese, and (oddly enough) raw cabbage and cauliflower.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Where we live there are lots of birds, and Charlie will always try to chase them! Meanwhile, the USPS and FedEx workers are usually terrified of him, because he will bark at them.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Charlie's favorite toy is a Durabone, but he also has several squeaky-toys that he is fond of. He removed the squeakers from most of them though!

Who is Charlie's best pet-pal?

Charlie's best pet pal is his puppy-uncle Frankie, who is my parents' 2-year-old puggle.

What is Charlie's best quality?

Charlie's best quality is that he is kind and friendly. He always knows how to put a smile on someone's face!

If Charlie could change one thing about Washingtonians, what would it be?

Charlie would change how they drive! He doesn't like the traffic around here and wishes he could get to the park sooner.

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

I would ask him how we could make his days even better, since he is such a sweet dog and I want the best for him.

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

The voice we gave Charlie sounds a lot like Ralph Wiggams from The Simpsons, so the same actor would have to voice him.

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--Marshal Zeringue