Teresita Dovalpage & La Niña

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Teresita Dovalpage, college professor and author of three theater plays and twelve novels. The last four belong to the Havana Mystery series published by Soho Crime. Death under the Perseids is the most recent one, set on a cruise ship headed for Cuba. And then there is La Niña, a five-year-old English foxhound mix with some heeler and husky. A girl with an attitude!

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

The beginning of a new day. My husband and I love to have our morning coffee with La Niña in the sitting room. She plops down on a chair and watches us. When she considers that we should be done with the cafecito, she rolls over on the rug and demands a tummy rub. Naturally, she gets it.

What's brewing?

Café Bustelo. Espresso. Muy Cubano, unsweetened and super strong for me so I can start the day energized. With half-and-half and tons of sugar for my husband.

Any treats for you or La Niña on this occasion?

She adores fruit peels—mango, pear and apricot peels are her favorites. In the summer, our orchard provides fresh pears and apricots, but at this time of the year, store-bought fruit has to do.

How were you and La Niña united?

When we adopted her, she was a bit skittish at first. But one day she came over and put what we now call her “possessive paw” on my hand. She left it there for what felt like ten minutes, and I didn’t move. Perhaps it was some kind of a test. Afterwards, she became more comfortable and began to offer kisses on a daily basis.

How did your dog get her name? Any aliases?

I have always called her Niña, Spanish for “girl.” Sometimes we also call her Miss Fluff—tongue-in-cheek, because she has no fluff at all.

Does La Niña do more to help or hinder your writing?

To help, definitely. She sits on an armchair and takes long naps while I write. It’s a comforting, quiet presence, until she sees a squirrel outside. Then tranquility goes out the window! But usually she is just there, snoring softly. When I get tired, I take ten minutes off to snuggle with her—very relaxing. Inspirational, too. That’s how she made a cameo in Death under the Perseids. I was on “her” chair, proofreading a printed copy of the manuscript (it’s too easy to miss errors on screen) and La Niña placed her aforementioned possessive paw on a page. It was a scene where the protagonist’s grandmother, Mamina, complains about being lonely. So I gave Mamina a puppy and named her Nena—an affectionate Spanish term for “girl.”

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Squirrel! She has never caught one, though not for lack of trying. We have plenty in the backyard, but she has gotten a little Rubenesque lately, which makes chasing squirrels (and anything else for that matter) somewhat difficult.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Pillows. Of course, she has her own, but if she can get hold of some else’s, much better. Early on, she’d chew on books. La Niña mala! I am happy to report that she has outgrown that stage.

Who is La Niña's best pet-pal?

It used to be Maxx, our Rhodesian Ridgeback [photo, left] who is now in puppy heaven. Maybe it’s time to get her a new friend!

What is La Niña's best quality?

She is a people’s dog. She rarely meets a human she doesn’t want to play kissy face with.

If La Niña could change one thing about New Mexico, what would it be?

I think she would say something like: “The wind wouldn’t blow so hard here. It gets awfully windy in this corner of the world and it scares me!”

If La Niña could answer only one question in English or Spanish, what would you ask her?

Why do you always take bones to a rug and not, let’s say, the backyard, chica?

What advice would La Niña give if asked?

When offered treats or compliments, accept them graciously.

Visit Teresa Dovalpage's website,

Learn more about Death under the Perseids.

Writers Read: Teresa Dovalpage (April 2018).

The Page 69 Test: Death Comes in through the Kitchen.

My Book, The Movie: Death Comes in through the Kitchen.

--Marshal Zeringue

P. J. Vernon & Chauncey and Mikko

Who is in the photo?

The human is me, PJ Vernon. I’m a suspense author (When You Find Me is my Southern Gothic debut, and everyone should buy twelve copies from NY Times-reporting bookstores). These are my dogs, and they’re pretty grand, too.

In the foreground and half outta frame, we have Chauncey the eight-year-old English Bulldog.

Above him, is our three-year-old rescue, Mikko. Half-Husky, half-German Shepherd, half-Bolto, and half-White Fang. That math adds up; no follow-up questions.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

When it comes to my dog-children, I’m a pageant mom. I’ve forced this publicity upon them in an emotionally-fraught attempt to live vicariously through their impending celebrity.

What's brewing?

I’m no coffee snob [coffee not pictured for safety reasons]. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve got a collection of great beans—and one of those fancy-shmancy hand-crank grinders—but ain’t nothin’ wrong with Maxwell House in the morning. The addition of sweetened condensed milk, however, is an absolute must.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

No.

Mikko already indulged in sweet manna from the heavens (magpies dropped orange peels in the backyard this morning while I wasn’t paying attention).

Chauncey’s treat-less because he knows what he did.

How were you and your dogs united?

Chauncey was a poorly-advised-but-totally-worth-it-and-no-one-can-tell-me-otherwise purchase. In grad school, I emptied my entire checking account to bring him home. The bank teller’s face as I withdrew everything to acquire a puppy? Priceless.

Bless her heart.

Mikko’s a rescue. He hails from the far north of Alberta. Brrr. He has a prison [shelter] tat on his left ear, bum hind leg, and a heart o’ pure gold.

He’s also in doggie therapy working on his fear reactivity towards strange dogs (we all have a past). He’s making fabulous progress!

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Chauncey’s name just came to me. He often goes by Chaunpoo. My partner Barry named Mikko. Mikko also goes by Mikkiepoo.

Do Chauncey and Mikko do more to help or hinder your writing?

A mixed bag. I’m very productive in the mornings when they play the role of white noise machines (soothing snoring punctuated by an occasional fart).

However, once noon rolls around, they engage in mission creep but for dinner. At one point, feeding was 6 PM. They’ve now collapsed the dinnertime window to between 3 and 4. Success!

Have any actual dogs ever inspired dogs in your fiction?

Oh god no. I wouldn’t let them anywhere near my dark and twisty plots.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Baby strollers.

Our house is a downtown, so there’s always a flurry of activity outside. When—and this actually happened—drifters were having sex in our back alley? Not a peep from either of them.

But the menacing clickity-clack of a squeaky stroller wheel on an uneven sidewalk? Not havin’ it.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

All of the above for Chauncey. It’s unlikely Mikko had access to traditional dog toys as a pup, so he’s in the process of learning how to play from his brother. Although, he does have a serious sock fetish we have to watch out for.

Who is each dog's best pet-pal?

Chauncey is not self-aware when it comes to his status as “pet”, so he’d likely say Mikko. His dog.

Circling back to Mikko’s fear reactivity, he’s made great furry friends in therapy (huge shout out to Dogma in Calgary). But at the end of the day, he loves Chauncey the most. He’s protective of his sibling.

What is each dog's best quality?

Chauncey spent his formative years with me as a single gay man, so his special power is the neediness I deliberately and carefully cultivated in him.

Mikko’s best quality is his ability to play the big spoon to my little spoon on the couch.

If Chauncey and Mikko could change one thing about you, what would it be?

They’d like to see the final remnants of my sand castle-like resolve wash away when it comes to staving off dinner until [currently] 3:30 PM.

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

How much more do you love me than Barry? If the answer’s not what I want to hear, I forfeit my question.

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

Mikko could be voiced by Michael J. Fox who played Chance in Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.

Chauncey could be done by Sally Field a la Sassy.

Neither has the gravitas for Shadow (played by the late Don Ameche).

What advice would your dogs give if asked?

Strollers belong in zoo enclosures where they can be appreciated from a safe distance. Not just… feral… in urban centers.

Visit P. J. Vernon's website.

The Page 69 Test: When You Find Me.

Writers Read: P. J. Vernon.

My Book, The Movie: When You Find Me.

--Marshal Zeringue

Janna King & Melvin and Olive

Who is in the photos in this entry?

I’m Janna King and I’m an author, screenwriter and playwright who, on rare occasions, directs. I’m with my dogs, Melvin, a 4-year-old Husky/Staffordshire Terrier/Shepherd mix and Olive, an 8-year-old English/American Bulldog mix.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

They are my writing partners. In our photos together, I’m chatting with them at home where I work. We’re discussing my debut novel, The Seasonaires, and I’m letting them in on some upcoming projects. Mel is never impressed. Olive has no idea what I’m saying, but she’s a good listener.

What's brewing?

I’m indulging my two-a-day almond milk latte habit, brewed and frothed by my beloved Nespresso machine in mugs made with my kids (now 19 and 21) at Color Me Mine. I plunk in two heaping teaspoons of sugar. I affectionately blame my coffee sweet tooth on my Grandma Honey who used to make me “coffee milk” when I was a kid: a teeny bit of coffee, the rest milk and a whole lot of sugar.

Any treats for you or Mel and Olive on this occasion?

Mel is also not impressed by treats, but he does like carrots. Olive’s mouth doesn’t allow her to chew carrots. She covets Greenies, but they don’t really help with her pungent dog breath.

How were you and your dogs united?

My daughter volunteered at a Los Angeles pet rescue and she fell in love with siblings Olive and Sully. The rescue didn’t want them separated, so my ex-husband adopted Sully and I took Olive. That way my kids could be with both dogs. I dogsit Sully on occasion so brother and sister can hang out together.

I was looking for another rescue pup and leaning towards German Shepherds because I had one I adored, Teddy. When we saw Mel, we thought he would grow to be Shepherd size, but he stopped about halfway there. He’s a handsome fella in his own right and knows it.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

I can’t remember their original names when we adopted them. The kids are in charge of naming pets and tend towards very human names for pups. We call Melvin “Mel,” unless he’s in trouble, and then I use his full name. My daughter also calls him “Mooey," so we’ve all taken to that.

Olive is “Lady” because she’s such a pretty lady!

Do Mel and Olive do more to help or hinder your writing?

Writing can be very solitary, so they keep me company. They are usually pretty chill unless the doorbell rings or dogs pass by the house or the mail carrier comes or Amazon delivery or... Mel gets very antsy when I’m on the phone, but that’s probably because I’m antsy when I’m on the phone.

They distract me sometimes because I love to take their photos, often for their Instagram account 2bulliesandaroo, which they have with Olive’s brother Sully. The “roo” refers to Mel, who we think looks like a kangaroo and can jump about as high. When Mel made the Boop My Nose Instagram feed, I was more excited about that than pretty much any accomplishment.

Have any actual dogs ever inspired dogs in your fiction?

I have a bulldog in the book I’m currently writing. But I imagine this one being more like my first bulldog (over two decades ago), Stella, who was so fat that she looked like a plump seal lolling on the beach. This novel takes place in Malibu, so that seemed appropriate.

Cat, postman, squirrel…?

Mel goes after the squirrels and crows. Olive barks at anything that moves.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick…?

Mel is pretty good at catch. We take him to the park and he’s fast, but in short bursts. Then he plops down in the dirt and lets the other dogs take over.

Olive likes rope toys. The two play tug-of-war, which is an entertaining distraction.

Who is each dog's best pet-pal?

They love each other. Sometimes they bicker over food we accidentally drop during dinner. I’m not crazy about that. They also get along great with Sully, who is The Man!

What is each dog's best quality?

Mel is the sweetest dog ever! He just wants everyone to love him. But he also has some ‘tude and often looks at us like he thinks we’re dolts.

Olive is just plain goofy. She is the best "Saturday morning snuggies" for my daughter Izzy, when Izzy visits.

If Mel and Olive could change one thing about Angelenos, what would it be?

Mel would like Angelenos to stop looking at their cellphones on our hikes and say “hello” to him instead.

And Olive feels like drivers should chill out with the road rage.

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

I would ask Mel, “What’s the secret to life?” because he’s so confident and content.

To Olive I would ask, "What are you thinking about right now?” because I always want to know that when I’m looking at her face.

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

Christian Slater = Mel
Aubrey Plaza = Olive

What advice would your dogs give if asked?

Mel would say, “You be you."

Olive would tell me that I need to take naps and drink more water.

Visit Janna King's website.

Check out Mel and Olive on Instagram.

--Marshal Zeringue

Brendan Jones & Colorado

Who is in the photo at right?

That's me, Brendan Jones, author of The Alaskan Laundry, behind the camera, with Haley the baby, Rachel the mom, and Colorado.

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

Coffee (and tea) with the dog most often happens as our family make the 1/2-mile walk in from our home, a WWII tugboat tied up on the docks in Sitka, Alaska, to the parking lot, or into town.

Colorado, the husky-lab-shepherd mix I wrote into my novel The Alaskan Laundry (I once tried to write him into a housing application in San Francisco as a 35-pound corgie-mix, unsuccessfully) waits patiently on the stern deck as I make Deadman's Reach drip coffee, an Alaska specialty, and Rachel's Irish Breakfast tea. In the winter it helps to run hot water in the mug and let it steep as the kettle heats, to make sure the chill of the mug doesn't cool our morning drinks.

Meanwhile Colorado amuses himself on deck woofing with Earl the harbor sea lion as we get the baby in the Ergo, or into her car seat. When Rachel still needs to get her things Cal keeps an eye on Haley.

What's a regular day on the docks like for Coffee with Colorado?

As Rachel and I walk with the baby, we take sips (Rachel drinks Irish breakfast tea) where we can get them.

Colorado is supposed to be on leash whenever he's on the docks - and it's generally in his best interest, considering the pit-bulls on a couple fishing boats, and a haughty Airedale who patrols the dock like a righteous British Naval Officer. But it also makes it difficult for him to get in all his smells and inspections, like the purple starfish stuck to the poles, the trails left by mink slinking beneath the bullrails, and it also crimps his favorite game of breaking up the unkindnesses of ravens, scattering the black birds.

He also gets annoyed with the leash when an otter sticks up his head, although he doesn't bark at the otters, who seem to demand more respect than Earl the sea lion.

The warm liquids are magic, especially in the winter, the liquid warming the chest and making a buffer against the wind. But by the time we reach the ramp either we're done drinking from our mugs, or the liquid has become cold. We toss the dregs into the ocean and go about our day.

Visit Brendan Jones's website and blog.

Learn more about The Alaskan Laundry.

Writers Read: Brendan Jones.

My Book, The Movie: The Alaskan Laundry.

--Marshal Zeringue

Ronni Ann Hall & Emma and Cobi

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Ronni Ann Hall and my biz is Designing Fairy. I’m a writer and and an artist who likes to make products and classes that teach with fun, like my fairy deck. I also write about being very sensitive and a dog mom. The pic is with my basset hound, Emma Lou Bangles, who is 9 years old and a bit of a princess. My other dog is Cobianna. She’s 4. Cobi is golden retriever/husky.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We are celebrating the launch of my new website and blog, Healingfairyalphabet.com. Emma doesn’t really care about the event unless it is food-related. (Shhhh….She’s a food stealer.)

What's brewing?

Decaf coffee for this fairy! But a little foam added on top is nice.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Both girls would love ice cream but instead get a piece of a blueberry muffin. Emma might steal the whole thing.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Emma Lou is also known as, Squooshy, Lasagna (new one resulting from food stealing) Mooshy, and Miss Thing. Cobi was recently dubbed “Kissalick” and I call her “Giant Puppy.” She has no idea she is large.

How were you and your dogs united?

Emma Lou was adopted at around 1 years old from the beautiful Sedona Animal Shelter. Cobi, who has been with me for two years, was being dropped off at the Golden Bone pet store and pet rescue and I just happened to be there with Emma Lou. Cobi was licking and kissing Emma like she knew her forever. We had just lost Sarah, my beagle, and Emma was lonely. When Cobi’s former person was filling out paperwork he mentioned her birthdate and it was the same as mine! I knew we were meant to be together. It was a bit of a rough beginning, as she thought she had to be a guard dog and in charge when she arrived, but she is a giant mush now.

Do your dogs contribute to your writing and art?

I draw them often in my illustrations. Emma has been seen in a tutu recently in one of my drawings. She doesn’t care for skirts. They both make it to my stories in one way or another, especially my little movies. I worry that Emma will have an attitude because she is famous now.

Cat, postman, squirrel....?

Definitely neighbor cat.

Squeaky-toy, ball, stick...?

Squeaky toy.

Where is your dogs' favorite outdoor destination?

Dog park of course!

Who is your dogs' best pet-pal?

Coralynn.

What is each dog's best quality?

Cobi is highly empathic and caring. She hates when anyone is upset and will kiss you until you feel better.

Emma is the best loyal companion. She is always by my side. We’ve been through a ton together.

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

Emma thinks I worry too much. Dang, I do.

Cobi thinks I should play more and get off my butt. I should.

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

Would be funny if Emma had a voice female version of James Earl Jones.

I think Cobi would definitely be voiced by Elmo. She has that constant sweet excitement thing going.

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

Why do you eat things that you shouldn’t eat off the floor? I probably should be asking something more like, “What is the purpose of life?”

What advice would your dogs give if asked?

Again, Emma would tell me I need to let things go and stop worrying. Poor dog has been trying to teach me for eight years.

Cobi would just lick me.

Visit the Designing Fairy website, and the Healing Fairy Alphabet website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

K.V. Johansen & Ivan

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m K. V. Johansen -- I’m the author of twenty-some books ranging from picture books to literary criticism, but lately I’m mostly known for fantasy, most recently, three epic fantasy novels published by Pyr: Blackdog, The Leopard, and coming in December 2014, The Lady, all of which are set in the same world and history, but only two of which (The Leopard and The Lady) need to be read together.

The dashing white canine is Ivan, who’s a six-year-old beast of indeterminate pedigree, though his ancestry is mostly German Shepherd and Siberian Husky, with a dash of Lab about the corner of the lip.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

The daily coffee date involves me staggering downstairs in my housecoat at an ungodly hour to put a mug of milk in the microwave, to which I then add instant coffee. Ivan generally condescends to look up, yawn, twitch his tail, and have some ear-scratching. Then he goes back to sleep for an hour or two on his bed near my desk while I do some writing. He’s not a morning person. Eventually we go for a walk in the graveyard before breakfast.

What's brewing?

Aside from my shameful addiction to the morning insta-cafe, I’m more of a strong tea person. But for real coffee, what I prefer is coffee from the Full Steam Coffee Co. in Guysborough, NS, made in a proper percolator on the stove. Ivan seems to enjoy any kind of coffee or tea, particularly out of the good china at my in-laws’, when there are cups left unguarded on the coffee-table.

Any treats for you or Ivan on this occasion?

A little hot buttered toast is always appreciated in the early hours of the day.

How were you and Ivan united?

After my dog Pippin died, it was over a year before my husband and I were ready for another. I had started looking at the SPCA website for German Shepherd-ish possibilities, because I like a dog that thinks. They had a litter of shepherd-mix puppies. We went to look; they had that curly husky teacup tail, and Pippin had been in appearance an Akita/Shepherd mix, so the curly tail was just that extra pull at the heart. “Neige” was the one who seemed fascinated with us, so we chose him. He was twelve weeks old and was the only one from the litter who had never been fostered out. They’d been born there, and he’d never really been out of his kennel. He found the world utterly overwhelming, plus he had health problems, which have left him with IBS. As a puppy he was a lot of work! But once we figured out what was going on with both his digestion and the way he was so overstimulated by the world, we were able to work with that and he’s turned out to be a great dog, never a cuddly dog but very friendly and extremely intelligent. It took us a couple of years to find a food he could eat without it making him sick, though. Obedience training was tricky. I had to use bits of clementine as a treat, because it was one of the few things he liked and one of the few things that didn’t upset his insides. Try carrying bits of clementine around in your pocket all the time...

How did Ivan get his name? Any aliases?

We named him Ivan after a character in Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan Saga science fiction series, hoping it would inspire him to turn out to be a laid-back, Drones Club kind of dog. Instead he ended up like Ivan’s cousin Miles, the moody, hyperactive, military genius. Online, I generally refer to him as “Mr Wicked” or “WickedDog”, because I figure even a dog needs some distance between real life and his social media persona, and we call him Ivan the Wicked because, though he’s not so terrible since he got over being a puppy, he still likes to steal the shoes of visitors and gallop defiantly around the house with them.

Does Ivan do more to help or hinder your writing?

I like to go for long walks to think and let the book simmer. Ivan likes to go for walks to stop and chat with everyone and socialize with every dog and small child in the neighbourhood, all of whom he knows by name. These two intentions in walking aren’t really compatible. He’s the village gossip. However, he’s very good about just napping while I’m writing. He knows it’ll be time to do something fun before long.

Have any actual dogs inspired fictional dogs in your published work?

The real Pippin (named after Eleanor Farjeon’s minstrel Martin Pippin) was the inspiration for the dog in my Pippin and Mabel picture book series in his enthusiasm for life -- and also the bit about burying a bone under the tomato plants and carefully putting the plants back, but upside down. The dog Yah-Yah in Torrie and the Pirate-Queen is a tribute to Lucky, the dog we had when I was a child, who a year older than me; that’s why she has this attitude that she’s the old, wise, sensible one on the adventure. I’ve tried to put a bit of both Pippin and Ivan into Jiot and Jui, the dogs one of the heroes acquires at the end of The Leopard, as a way of keeping them honest dogs even as they begin to become something more in The Lady -- they’re very responsive, shaping themselves to what Ghu wants of them and being shaped by him, even when he doesn’t realize it, but they’re somewhat independent-minded too. The Blackdog, though -- a man possessed by a goddess’s shapeshifting guardian dog-spirit -- is entirely his own dog.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Ivan likes cats, though we don’t have one. He always wants to go into a neighbour’s house to see the cat. He likes delivery people, because he’s nosy and likes to investigate parcels. I found him curled up small at the back of his box one morning recently -- he usually sleeps on his pillow -- and discovered it was because there was a squirrel ricocheting around the house. Outside, though, squirrels exist to be chased up trees.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

All of the above. He used to bring home a stick from every walk and leave them in a pile on the deck. He’s cut back on sticks lately. Now he steals all the soccer balls kids leave on their lawns, or tries to. We generally tell him not to, but he has a small collection none the less. And gloves. You lose your glove or mitten in this neighbourhood ... it’s probably at our house.

Who is Ivan's best pet-pal?

He has a large number of friends. Mika, another German Shepherd-mix on the block, was his first friend. She seems to regard him as her personal possession, possibly her pup, and gets very jealous of other female dogs being friendly with him. There are about eight or nine dogs in the neighbourhood who are his friends. I think he’d like to form a gang with them, with a secret hideout and passwords. They’d let all the four-year-olds in as honorary dogs, and steal the big kids’ soccer balls.

What is Ivan's best quality?

He’s very intelligent and has a large vocabulary, so he pays attention all the time; he’s very focused on what the humans are doing and saying. There’s continual interaction and learning.

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

I suspect I would be a person who invented more new and exciting tracking games and spent less time writing. I would also cook steamed broccoli for the dog every night and not just sometimes.

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

My husband, looking over my shoulder, wanted me to ask, “What is it about shiny floors and why do you think it’s safer if you cross them by walking backwards?” I, however, want to ask, “Can you tell me about smells?” It would be fascinating to really understand what the scent-world is like to him.

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

It would have to be someone with a very expressive voice that could be by turns charming, insouciant, arrogant, commanding, impassioned, enthusiastic, impulsive, and deadpan funny. I’m not sure modern Hollywood is up to the challenge. David Niven, though -- I think David Niven might have managed it. Plus, they have an affinity, because when Ivan is wet, this thin black moustache shows on his upper lip.

Visit K. V. Johansen's website.

The Page 69 Test: The Leopard.

--Marshal Zeringue

Christy Bassett & Jagger, Dozer, and Ruger

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Christy Bassett. My husband Harley and I have a small backyard farm, Barefoot All Natural Farm, where we raise chickens, turkeys, goats and a couple of crazy kids. We have a new blog that focuses on the perspective that farming can give you and techniques that we employ. I am also a full-time assistance dog trainer and Harley is an airplane mechanic for the United States Air Force. We have 3 dogs, all males. Jagger is a Pit Bull/Husky mix who will be 11 this year. Violet and Windy are our 2 Saanen dairy goats and Shine, our cow, is peeking through the barn door. Our other dogs are pictured below. Dozer is a 4-year-old Catahoula Leopard dog mix and Ruger is a 1-year-old Great Dane mix.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Morning chores require coffee. And some good animal company is always welcome when making the rounds.

What's brewing?

We brew Dean’s Beans at home, our locally based, organic fair trade coffee company. Moka Sumatra is a favorite. I could lie and say that I squirt some goat’s milk right out of the goat and into my coffee cup during the morning milking for a “farm fresh latte”, but that’s even a little strange for me.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

We make our own dog treats from our pastured chicken and vegetables, so I always have a pocket full of those to reward good doggie behavior. And of course the ladies are enjoying their morning hay and grain breakfast.

How did your dogs get their names? Any nicknames?

Jagger was my first dog. I got him as a puppy 2 months after I moved into my first apartment and started working as a dog trainer. I like to tell people that he is named after the famous “Mick Jagger” since he howls like a rock star. But the embarrassing truth is that he’s named after my adolescent crush on a soap opera character- Jagger Cates from General Hospital. I do like to sing “he’s got the WOO like Jagger” to him on occasion though. When no one is looking. Or listening. Or within miles. We also call him “Jaggaboo” and “Jags” when we’re in the midst of oogey boogey sweet talk.

Dozer [photo left] came with his name, although it was a nickname at the time. The rescue that had him named him “Pete”, but he was so friendly that he would bulldoze the other dogs in the home to get to people for attention. My son was obsessed with bulldozers at the time when he entered our family, so it was a no brainer to stick with it. Jake, our 4 year old son, calls him “my dog, Dozey Doze”. And Harley likes to call him by some other endearing pet names, like “nut-job” and “freak show”. Isn’t that sweet?

Ruger is named after a gun company, as you may imagine. He is our first dog since entering into our new farming lifestyle, so we wanted a name that felt powerful and embodied a country feel. We also seem to have an “er” theme in the ending for our dogs’ names, as it happens. No nicknames yet- but I’m sure they’re coming.

How were you and your dogs united?

I found all of them on Petfinder.com, actually. Do not go on that website unless you plan to come home with a dog. Like, tomorrow. Or you have amazing willpower. Harley has banned me from that site since I spent almost our entire vacation last summer scanning dog profiles and pictures, and at the end of the week we came home with Ruger. Turns out 3 dogs is enough.

I’ve always had a weakness for blue eyed animals, so when I saw Jagger’s profile with those sweet little blue puppy eyes staring back at me there was no question that he would be mine. I visited the Fitchburg Animal Shelter, where he and his siblings were just put up for adoption and spent a good long hour trying to be objective and pick the puppy with the best temperament. In the end, Jagger (or “Tubbo” as he was so aptly named because of his tendency to crawl over to people on his big round belly) was not the puppy with the best temperament, but I knew that I would be back for him the next day if I didn’t bring him home right then and there. Those eyes would just haunt me forever. We’ve gone through so much together- we met Harley only 5 days after I brought Jagger home (he even accompanied me on our first date, as a “bad guy detector” and easy out if it turned out badly), and we’ve watched our family grow and our scenery change side by side for over a decade. He’s definitely my heart dog. Good thing he’s going to live forever to finally live up to his “grumpy old man” image that he’s always had.

We lost our second dog, Ninja, a Great Dane mix, to cancer at only 7 years old shortly after my daughter was born. Jagger had become accustomed to living with another dog and didn’t do well by himself. So the search for a new buddy started while I was still home with a newborn. I had always been drawn to blue merle or blue colored dogs (see a blue theme here?) so I narrowed my search for one of that description. Dozer (or “Pete” at the time) came up on the screen and had been in a rescue for over 6 months in his southern foster home. He had escaped a high-kill shelter in Kansas, despite being heartworm positive, being a large breed and also being dark colored. All 4 of those things are strikes against a dog’s chances in a shelter, and he had beaten the odds and beaten the parasite that threatened to kill him, all due to his wonderful temperament. But he still didn’t have a home. After questioning his foster mom intensely about his personality (there were some high demands put on a dog entering our home with cats, dogs, farm animals, babies and also the fact that I take my dogs to work), I was confident that this was the dog for us. When we went to pick Dozer up from the transport, I opened the back door to my SUV to put his paperwork in and he jumped right in onto my son’s lap and made himself comfortable in his car seat. They hugged and kissed and laughed a lot. And he was home.

Although Dozer was a great addition to our family, we really missed our Great Dane mix, Ninja. That big, dopey personality that a Dane brings into a home is really powerful and it’s absence was felt in ours. It took some time before we decided that we could break our “no more dogs than adults” rule, but we went for it. Again, I searched on Petfinder and came up with a blue colored Dane mix from the Fitchburg Animal Shelter, the same place that I had gotten Jagger 10 years earlier. I took it as a sign and made an appointment to meet the big guy on our way home from our family vacation in New Hampshire. The day before our appointment, I emailed the coordinator to confirm and found out that the dog had been adopted. But…there just so happened to be another Dane mix that just arrived who had an even better temperament. We watched a video of the dog playing with those long puppy-like limbs, and felt that familiar joy in watching him romp about, making people laugh. And he just so happened to look almost exactly like our last Dane mix, Ninja. Sold.

You've got a wide variety of animals running around Barefoot All Natural Farm. Do your dogs get along with all of them?

It is somewhat unnatural for so many different species to have to coexist, as we’ve asked our animals to do. But they seem to do just fine. Jagger started out pretty intense with other animals. Since he’s a Husky mix, he has a very high prey drive and likes to chase small animals. But I’ve worked with him a lot, and with each new addition to our home, he’s learned that chasing is just not allowed and that you can actually be friends with chickens and bunnies. Actually, when he was younger he found a nest of newborn baby bunnies in the yard when I wasn’t looking. When I finally noticed him visiting several spots around the rock wall, I went to investigate. Sadly, there were 3 little bodies in the grass, covered in dog slobber from Jagger licking them and nudging them so much. I was sorry that I wasn’t able to stop him from bothering them while they were in their hiding spot, and ultimately killing them, but I was proud that he didn’t even place a puncture wound in any of them. Since then he’s gotten even better about not bothering baby animals on the farm, but we of course don’t leave them unsupervised.

Dozer is great with all of the animals. From the day he stepped foot at our house, he hasn’t cared one bit about sharing his space with so many different animals. As long as he has his ball, his focus is completely on fetching.

Ruger is the newest of course, and he still has quite a bit of puppy in him. He does pay too much attention to the goats and the cow at times, so we’re working on that. He gets so confused when they don’t want to play back when he barks and play bows at them, that he gets very conflicted. The goats have done a pretty good job of teaching him to mind his own space, but it’s a work in progress. He’ll get there.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

Nope. No chasing allowed here. But given the opportunity I’m sure they’d enjoy a good squirrely-snack.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

Dozer’s a ball-a-holic. He must have some Border Collie or other obsessive breed in him because he can’t think straight when there is a ball present. Must. Get. Ball.

Jagger and Ruger join in the play as well, so we always make sure there are at least 3 balls available at all times. But of course the one that Dozer is currently obsessed with is the one that everyone wants. Luckily Ruger isn’t picky (or isn’t all that bright, I’m not sure) and will play with just about anything he can find. He can often times be seen romping around the yard with an empty milk jug or pail from the kids sand box. Maybe we should introduce him to sticks…

What is each dog's best quality?

Jagger is my boy. He is incredibly intelligent and we are very strongly bonded. We know each other so well that we often times don’t have to communicate with much more than a look. That can be good and bad though, because he knows when I’m not 100% attentive and he can be sneaky. But as much as that frustrates me, I do respect that quality in him.

Dozer is a real kids’ dog. He is so gentle and submissive that my 4 year old can completely control him verbally. I never knew that there were real, actual, dogs out there that respected kids as much as they do adults until I met Dozer. It’s amazing to watch.

Ruger is very well rounded. I take him to work with me and use him as a demo dog with my assistance dog handlers and I never have to worry about him being afraid or aggressive toward anything or anyone. That and his goofy nature. With him around, a laugh is never too far away.

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

Jagger is actually a pretty good New Englander. He loves the snow and cold weather and has the New-England-Cold-Shoulder mastered. But Dozer and Ruger would love to have some more friendly neighbors. Not that people around here aren’t friendly, but they’re very private. I can appreciate that, as we are fairly private people as well. But those 2 social butterflies might have it differently. Dozer is from the South, after all.

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

Well, automatically when you ask me to pick an actor to represent Jagger, I think of his namesake- Antonio Sabato Jr. Great. Now I’m going to picture Jagger speaking in a husky Italian voice whenever I look at him. I don’t think Harley’s going to appreciate that one.

Dozer would probably be played by the guy that did the Micro Machines commercials, John Moschitta Jr. His mind is always going 100 mph when playing with his ball.

And Ruger might have the same voice as Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. A little slow on the uptake, but always up for a good time.

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

I’m actually okay with dogs not speaking English. They have too many secrets to tell. And I feel like I know them well enough to know what they want and need. But if I had to ask them one question, it might be “what’s the appeal of rolling in poop?” I just don’t get it.

Visit the Barefoot All Natural Farm website and Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue

Bart Rochon & Halle, Toba, and Loki

Who are in all these photos?

My name is Bart Rochon and I am an actor. I currently star as “Hans the Scantily Clad Correspondent” on the off-beat, unique, and fun cooking show called Bitchin Kitchen. The show is airing on the Cooking Channel (United States), Food Network (Canada and the United Kingdom) and Kuchina+ (Poland).

I’d like to introduce you to my pack – My sidekick Halle (12 years old, Husky Mix), Toba from the Yukon (7 years old, Husky Mix) and the littlest one, Loki (3 years old, Husky Mix).

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I just started filming a new movie called Berkshire County, where I am playing the role of ‘Swine”. I like to sit down with a green tea and review the script.

What's brewing?

Don’t get me wrong, I love a cup of coffee here and there, but I’m a tea guy all the way. Green tea is by far my favourite and it has a lot of health benefits too.

Right now, I’m drinking “Organic Silk Dragon Jasmine Green Tea” from David’s Tea.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

If you take a look at my character on Bitchin Kitchen, my character is usually in a pair of red tights – that’s it! Diet and exercise are important for me to stay in shape for the show (and in general) so I don’t stray too far from eating healthy. But if I were to have a treat, it would likely be soft serve ice cream…or maybe a blizzard…or a sundae…

The dogs are loving their current cookies, “Northern – Smoked Fish and Blueberry.”

How did your dogs get their names? Any nicknames?

Well, I’ll start with Halle. She is named after an actress I had a huge crush on...Halle Berry.

I grew up in Manitoba playing football and one of the teams I played for used to break the huddle with “Toba!” (short for Manitoba)...so Toba is named after Manitoba the province I grew-up in.

And Loki is named after the Greek God of Mischief, and he has really grown into his name!

How were you and your dogs united?

Halle [photo right] was given to me by one of closest friends. His dog had just had puppies, I went over for dinner and the rest is history. We have been inseparable ever since!

I adopted Toba from the Humane Society; he was a rescue from up north.

And then I thought, why not add to my pack, and picked up Loki.

You're "Hans" on Bitchin Kitchen--and chance of any of your dogs making a guest appearance?

That would be amazing if they could! They are the masters of shedding, so they likely would not be allowed in the kitchen on set. Do they make hairnets big enough for dogs?

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

They absolutely love going up to Deep River to visit my mom. They get spoiled, go for lots of walks and spend a lot of time in the water – I think Halle is part mermaid.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

Loki – Squirrel for sure.

Toba – Postman, because he loves everyone.

Halle – None of the above. She would like her answer to be “Food.”

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

Stick…but ask Halle, and she will say “Food.”

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

Wow, that’s a good question! I am away on set a lot, so they would probably want me to be home more. If I could pack them and take them everywhere with me, I most definitely would.

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

I’ve often thought of what kind of voices they would have, I change my mind on it often.

For Halle, she is such a quiet dog, she barely makes a peep. I would have to say Charlie Chaplin (quiet…but definitely gets her point across without having to vocalize).

For Toba, I would have to say Woody Harrelson.

And for the little one Loki [photo right], Robert De Niro.

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

“Would you like to start a dogsled team?”

Visit Bart Rochon's Facebook page, and Twitter perch.

--Marshal Zeringue

Diane Kelly & Reggie, Junior, and Brownie

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Diane Kelly, author of the funny Death and Taxes mystery series from St. Martin’s Press. In my previous life as a CPA/tax attorney, I inadvertently worked for white-collar criminals - twice. Lest I end up in an orange jumpsuit, I decided self-employment was a good idea. So I became a writer. My brushes with white-collar crime gave me great fodder for my novels, which star a rookie criminal investigator for the IRS.

On the left is Reggie, a Dalmatian/Tasmanian devil mix. On the right is Junior, a shepherd/husky mix. In my lap is Brownie. She belongs to my daughter’s best friend, but she’s hanging out with us for a few days while her family is out of town.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We’re celebrating that the groundhog did not see its shadow, so spring will come soon. That means good weather at the dog park! Yay!

What's brewing?

We’re drinking chai tea lattes with soy. It tastes like liquid spice cake. Yum!

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Peanut butter dog cookies. They love them!

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Junior had been surrendered to the city shelter by his previous owners, so he was already named when we got him. Reggie was just a name we liked. It sounds more like a male name and she’s a female dog, but since she’s deaf she can’t hear her name anyway so we figured she wouldn’t mind. They both have several nicknames. Junior is also June-bug, Junie, and Justin Bieber. Reggie is also Reggers, Reginald P. Kelly, and Noodlebutt (I have no idea where that one came from!).

How were you and your dogs united?

I had a dachshund mix who lived to be 19 ½. I’d had him since I graduated from college and it was really hard when he passed away since he’d been with me my whole adult life. When he died 3 years ago, we knew we wanted to get more dogs. A house doesn’t feel like a home without a dog or two. I took my kids to the city shelter and let them each pick a dog. My daughter picked Reggie and my son picked Junior. The dogs are a good match. They get along great and love to play fight.

Are your dogs more help or hindrance to your writing?

As much as I hate to say it, they are definitely a hindrance! They want in, out, in, out, in, out all day long. It really interrupts my train of thought. Not that I blame them. I’d get bored being in one place, too. I take them to the dog park every morning it’s warm enough so they can run around and burn off some energy. Sometimes I even take my computer and sit at a picnic table at the dog park to write.

Squirrel, postman, cat....?

Squirrels! Especially a particular one that likes to sit on top of the back fence and flick his tail in challenge. We call him Taunty. He’s a jackass.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

Nylabone. Reggie has had one particular bone since we got her and it’s really held up well. She gnaws on it constantly and has gorgeous white teeth as a result.

What is each dog's best quality?

Junior’s best quality is that he’ll round up Reggie for us. Since she’s deaf, we can’t simply call her into the house when she’s out moseying around in the yard. But if I tell Junior to “go get Reggie,” he’ll run over to her and somehow communicate that we want her to come in. Reggie’s best quality is her sweetness. She loves hanging out with us and always greets us with a wagging tail in the morning.

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

That I’d stop being so stingy with the Oreos.

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

Since Reggie is both deaf and cute, Marlee Matlin would be perfect to do her voice. Junior would best be played by John Krasinski who plays Jim on The Office. Junior and Jim are both basically nice guys, but they don’t tolerate a lot of BS, either.

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

I’d ask Reggie what she’s dreaming about when she makes that whimpering sound and twitches her nose in her sleep.

Visit Diane Kelly's website, blog, Facebook page, and Twitter perch.

My Book, The Movie: Death, Taxes, and Peach Sangria.

--Marshal Zeringue

Ceiridwen Terrill & Argos

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Ceiridwen Terrill. I’m a writer and professor at Concordia University in Portland, Oregon. My dog’s name is Argos. He’ll be thirteen this year. A few years back I tested his DNA to find out what breeds went into his mix. The results came back totally inconclusive. He’s so mixed that not even a geneticist could figure him out. Based on appearances and the thickness of his coat, I’d say Argos is a mix of shepherd and husky and a few other tidbits. I call him my 100% pure American street dog.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Argos and I always get coffee on the way to teach my university classes.

What's brewing?

We stop at Anna Bannanas in the St. Johns neighborhood of Portland, Oregon and order a Doot-da-doo, a mix of espresso and chai. You ask for it by saying "Doot da doo me."

Any treats for you or Argos on this occasion?

Argos and I get a breakfast sandwich to share. We love the organic sausage with scrambled egg on a basil pesto bagel. (Argos likes the sausage best.)

How did Argos get his name? Any aliases?

Argos is named for Odysseus’ faithful dog in Homer’s Odyssey. After being away for twenty years, Odysseus returned to his home in Ithaca, but the only one to recognize him was his very old dog Argos. My Argos is an incredibly loyal companion who has accompanied me on many wilderness adventures.

How were you and Argos united?

I found Argos in the pound in Reno, Nevada. He was a few months old and very sick. He’d been living on the streets with his mother and brother. He’d obviously been kicked around because he was nervous about having his head and ears touched, and he was clearly starving out there. When I saw him in that wire kennel, wheezing and sniffling, I squatted down for a closer look at him, and he pushed one of his paws under the gate to touch me. That was it. He was going home with me.

Who are Argos's best pet-pals?

Rooben, a dachshund, is one of his best pals. They sleep on the same giant bed. William and Donald are his other best four-legged pals. William is a thoroughbred ex-show jumper and Donald is a St. Croix hair sheep. Twice a day, morning and evening, Argos walks to the nearby pasture with me to feed and visit them. Sometimes Argos has to watch out because Donald gets playful and tries to head butt him. But mostly Donald just bounces around the pasture when he’s happy and Argos chases him and barks.

Please tell us about your new book.

My new book Part Wild is about my experience raising a wolfdog named Inyo alongside two rescue dogs, Argos and Thelma. The book is framed by my personal story and explores the similarities and differences between wolves and dogs.

Does Argos ever go to school with you?

Argos loves to go to school with me. He goes into the classroom or hangs out in my office while I teach. Students love him.

Elk, deer, beaver, and coyote live near your home. What's the wildest encounter Argos has had with these animals?

The day of my wedding, Argos disappeared into Forest Park, the 5,000-acre urban wilderness surrounding my home. With the wedding cake safely stowed in the fridge, our deck scrubbed and chairs set out, the ceremony was just hours away. I’d led Argos outside to pee when he suddenly picked up a scent and dashed into the trees. Nothing like that had ever happened before—or since. I called and called, bushwhacking a four-mile loop through tangles of sword fern and vine maple--no sign of him. At dusk, sobbing and hardly able to put two words together, I was ready to call off the wedding. Then Argos trotted happily out of the woods, a squirrel in his mouth. My old pal, ordinarily perfect on recall, impervious to distractions, had gone stone deaf in the heat of the chase. I felt terrible for the squirrel, but I was incredibly relieved to see Argos. I was reminded of how much I rely on his steady presence.

If Argos could change one thing about Portlanders, what would it be?

Argos appreciates how much Portlanders love their dogs, but he wishes they were better about picking up their dog poop, particularly in our urban wilderness of Forest Park. Sometimes, people bag the poop and forget it along the trail. Or they sometimes leave their dog’s business on the open trail for others to step in. Or perhaps worst of all, they kick it off into the brush—poor etiquette and dangerous for wildlife. Argos would really like to tell Portlanders that a dime-size amount of dog poop has about 23 million fecal coliform bacteria that when left in the woods end up in our waterways and cause serious illness in aquatic and other wildlife.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Argos could speak, which actor should do his voice?

Ben Stiller without a doubt. Argos is so much like Stiller’s character, the male nurse Greg Focker, in Meet the Parents. He wants to please so badly and gain approval, but no matter what he does he messes up.

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

Did growing up with a wolfdog turn you into a nervous wreck?

Visit Ceiridwen Terrill's website and read more about Part Wild: One Woman's Journey with a Creature Caught Between the Worlds of Wolves and Dogs.

--Marshal Zeringue

Beth Poole & Lizzy, TJ and Tank

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Beth Poole; I am a retired chemist. I currently make jewelry, am studying for my NAPPS certification and most importantly work in rescue. I also have a blog, where I talk about the dogs I work with everyday at Husky Haven. I am hugging my 6-year-old red and white Husky, Lizzy... and Tank, my 7-year-old Pit mix is trying to get in the picture. I also have TJ, he is my all white 6-year-old Husky.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I have coffee every morning after I walk all three of my babies...a time for us to relax together before I start my rescue work.

What's brewing?

I have a glass of Gevalia Expresso Roast, Iced, with two Stevia in the Raw.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

No treats for me, but the dogs usually get a Purina Pro Plan biscuit.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Lizzy was named Liza at the rescue: my son said we should liven up her name so she became Lizzy. I also call her Lizzy Bear.

TJ's name was that at the rescue and we kept it. I call him Jay, Jayster and Ouija Board...don't ask me why!!

Tank [photo left] was named by the people who found him wandering the side of the road after he was tossed out of a car...the name seemed apropos (he's a really muscular short guy), so it stuck. His only other alias is Tanky.

How were you and your dogs united?

Both of my Huskies came from Husky Haven...about the time I started volunteering there. Tank, as I said was found on the side of the road by some of our volunteers, it was love at first site for both of us and we had a trio.... Tank thinks he's one of the Huskies!!!

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

We have a couple of other volunteers and Husky owners that we pal around with, but usually I have one or two fosters here, so they always have a few friends hanging around.

Squirrel, postman, cat....?

Squirrels definitely!!!

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

Lizzy [photo right] is the only one who will play with toys, squeaky for her. The boys only want to tear up the toys!!

What is each dog's best quality?

Lizzy is my playful,sweet girl. TJ is my laid-back,loving guy. Tank is the most affectionate of the group, he always wants to be near me. (He is, in fact, sitting by my feet right now).

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

They hate it when I'm blogging and thought that when I retired I'd spend more time with them. They would want me to spend less computer time and less time with all the rescues I work with.

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

Lizzy would be Julianne Moore, another feisty redhead.

TJ [photo left] would be my favorite actor of all time, Vincent D'Onofrio.... I can just hear TJ with that voice.

Tank would be the comic relief...Jack Black.

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

For both TJ and Lizzy I would ask: What happened to both of you wonderful dogs that you ended up in animal control and then rescue?? For Tank I would ask: How did a sweet dog like you end up being tossed by his owners?

Visit the Lizzy's Life blog and Husky Haven website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Susan H. James & Isabella and Jake

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Susan and I'm the owner and photographer at Susan H. James Photography. I also blog about the adventures and antics of my huskies at A Tale of Two Huskies. This photo is of me, my husband, and our Siberian huskies Isabella and Jake at the beach this past Christmas. Isabella is 1 1/2 years old, and Jake is 1 year old.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I stopped for a frappe on the way to the park with my huskies.

What's brewing?

McDonald's mocha frappe.

Any goodies to go with the coffee? Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

I don't usually have anything with my frappe, and my huskies get treats after their walk-- usually Dentley's rawhides or peanut butter-filled stuffed hooves.

How were you and your dogs united?

My husband found a breeder outside of Raleigh, NC and loved the picture of one particular husky, now our Isabella. A little over six months later, we started searching for a good playmate for Isabella, and ended up going back to the same breeder, where I picked out Jake. They have the same parents, so they're full-blooded brother and sister, just from different litters.

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

Thanks. Definitely brides. While dogs may move around a lot more, they don't care if they look a little heavier than usual or make a weird face in the photos. Brides do.

How did your dogs get their names? Any nicknames?

My husband liked the name Isabella, and we went through lists and lists of names until we both finally agreed on Jake. (Note: The names were not picked in connection with the Twilight saga. I've had many point out that connection, but we never read the books or watched the movies. Just a coincidence.) Isabella's nicknames include Baby Girl (which we used just as much as Isabella, if not more), Missy (when she's getting a little brave), and Princess (when I'm annoyed with her and she's acting "too good" for something). Jake's nicknames include Jake-Jake, Jakey-boy, Big Boy, and Goober. Ironically, before getting Jake, my husband suggested this name, and I told him that you couldn't name a dog Goober, it would just be wrong. Turns out Goober would've been a perfect name because he's so klutzy and makes the funniest faces.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

Anything and everything that moves excites my huskies-- people, squirrels, cats, other dogs...Isabella wants to greet every person and dog, and chase everything else. Jake likes to greet all people, but is more likely to bark at another dog until he gets to know them a bit. He'll also chase squirrels, cats, leaves, etc. Any time the doorbell rings or someone knocks at the door, they go crazy, trying to see who can get to the door first and jump up to see who's outside.

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

They love toys. Isabella never tore up a toy until Jake arrived. He's a chewer and can de-stuff or de-squeak a toy fairly quickly; Isabella is now just as good at it. Ropes, tennis balls, and more recently, really bouncy balls-- they can't get enough of them. Huskies aren't known for fetching, but Isabella will retrieve a ball almost every time, in hopes you'll throw it again and continue the fun. Jake may or may not return it-- he's a bit hit-and-miss on that.

What is each dog's most endearing quality?

Isabella has never met a stranger. She loves meeting new people and seeing old familiar faces.

Jake is the sweetest dog. He loves to lay on my feet anytime I sit down. He will also lick you to death if you'll let him-- hands, face, neck, toes, whatever he can get to.

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

They'd want me to allow them to sleep on the bed more often, or every night.

Where is your dogs' favorite place for an outing?

Anywhere in the open that allows them to run free like the wind. There's not too many places that they get that opportunity, so anytime they can, they have a blast.

What is each dog's proudest moment?

For Isabella, it's anytime she thinks she's outsmarted me or my husband. She's always been smart as a whip, so anytime she figures out how to escape the screened-in porch, or finds a toy that I've hidden out of reach (or so I thought), she's happy.

For Jake, it'd probably have to be finding yet another tree or post to mark every time he's outside.

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

For Isabella, probably Jennifer Garner or Kate Beckinsale-- they have the beauty, brains, and kick-butt attitude that Isabella has.

For Jake, I'd say maybe Jim Carrey or Adam Sandler-- someone that's a bit of a goofball and bumbler, like Jake always is.

Visit the Susan H. James Photography website and A Tale of Two Huskies blog.

--Marshal Zeringue