Andrew Peterson & Gia, Lilli, and Fiona

Who is in the photo at right?

My wife, Carla, me, Andy Peterson, of course and our dogs – all female. The one out front is Gia, she’s a Spinone Italiano and is 1 year old. The proud black Giant Schnauzer is Lilli – she is definitely high energy and 2-1/2 in the photo. The big girl is Fiona, an Irish Wolfhound also one year old. We’re photographed at an open public preserve along the central coast of California. It’s a great place to walk our dogs

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

It’s a routine event with me! Every day I’m up with my pooches by 5:30am, with the coffee maker already brewing on auto. After adding half and half and squirt of Stevia, I’m out the back door into our fenced patio area with my girls. We live remotely in southern Monterey County surrounded by beautiful oak-covered hillsides and native grasses; lots of pines too. Here’s our morning view looking north on a clear day [below, left].

What's brewing?

Home prep includes a Cuisinart drip coffeemaker as my brew master. Yes, it’s that simple. I like a light roast that I purchase from the Naga Café, a local coffee house about 20 miles away near Lake Nacimiento. If you’re ever in the area and drop in, tell Tony I sent you. When I’m at Naga my order is a hot, triple shot, 16 oz latte with whole-milk and one Splenda. Okay, sometimes two Splendas.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

No, not really. Carla keeps our girls on a pretty healthy diet. Since childhood, we’ve always had dogs in our lives. We’re not really strict with their diet, but when we give treats we use glucosamine chewies, chewable vitamin C or something I’m eating - you know the last bite of my sandwich, a chip, etc.... Life without dogs is no life at all – at least that’s true in our home.

How were you and your dogs united?

We made an earnest effort to find the best breeders in the western states. We don’t mind supporting breeders working hard to keep improving their breed of choice. All of the breeders screened us with a telephone interview and written questionnaire – which we appreciated. We also traveled to the National Spinone Specialty dog show in Seattle to familiarize ourselves with the breed and meet a few breeders. It was a fun trip and we met some very interesting people and learned a lot.

Lilli, our Giant Schnauzer, came from Skansen Kennel in Sebastopol which is about an hour north of San Francisco (we’ve owned 2 other Giant Schnauzers from this breeder). Fiona our Wolfhound came from Taryn’s Kennel in Gainesville, Texas, and Gia’s from Alla Festa Kennel in Rapid City, South Dakota.

In case you’re wondering, we drove over 4,000 miles to pick up Fiona and Gia. Lilli went with us on the trip. Traveling by car with three dogs isn’t as bad as it sounds. We all survived!

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

We usually try to name our dogs after their ethnic origin. Lilli is named Lillith, a very old German name. Lilli’s also known as the “Monster” and “Gomer Girl.” Gia’s breed originates from Italy. She’s also referred to as “Peanut” and “Brown Sugar.” Fiona is an old Irish name and I especially like it because I love Princess Fiona in Shrek! She’s also referred to as “Lanky” and “Big Dog.”

Do Fiona, Lilli and Gia do more to help or hinder your writing?

It’s really a mix of both. I love being at my computer with all three of the girls at my feet – asleep of course. After a few hours they stir and remind me that I’ve been sitting too long. So I get up, walk them down two flights of stairs, grab another cup of coffee, and take them outside for some playtime. Of course, the day is a little different when Carla’s home.

Have any actual dogs ever inspired dogs in your fiction?

Absolutely! The working dogs of law enforcement agencies and the military inspired me to include them in my series. Nathan McBride, the hero of my novels, owns two Giant Schnauzers who are trained tactical dogs. I chose the Giant Schnauzer breed for a couple reasons. First of all, we owned 2 at the time I was writing First to Kill. Secondly, in Germany (as well as other countries), Giant Schnauzers are used right along side the German Shepard and Doberman as police dogs. If you ever see one in person you’ll understand why. The Giant Schnauzer commands a presence that makes a person pause before approaching. It must be something about their size, posture, color, and those high pointy ears. Their absolute fearlessness is another great characteristic when it comes to tactical work. To see Lilli jump in the air – like a Frisbee dog – is a sight to behold. Giant Schnauzers are not only athletic, they’re incredibly strong.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

All of the above for these three. Fiona can destroy anything made of rubber, including Kong toys. She loves to chew on hard toys that taste like wood. Gia loves to prance around with a toy football in her mouth. She also loves the hard wood-tasting toys. Lilli just wants to run, chase the ball. Her favorite thing to grab is a dirty sock out of the hamper – fortunately, she just carries it around and doesn’t eat it. Gia, on the other hand, eats just about everything. We’ve avoided serious vet trouble – so far…

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

With Lilli it’s literally anything that moves.

Gia’s all about birds – after all, she’s a hunting dog breed. [Gia "pointing" hummingbirds; photo left] It’s funny to note that she doesn’t like getting her feet wet. Go figure. I guess she’s high maintenance.

Fiona watches yellowjackets and butterflies, but she’ll chase down anything and anyone running away from her. She also focuses on Black-tailed deer moving through our property in the early morning and late evening.

Who is each dog's best pet-pal?

Carla is everyone’s best pal – she takes care of all of us!

When it comes to the dogs, Gia loves to wrestle with Lilli, Fiona loves to chase Lilli. And even little Gia will take on big Fiona at times. I refer to Gia as little, but she’s a 73 pound dog. Lilli weighs about the same, but is taller and much more athletic. Fiona weighs in at 140 pounds – we’re very thankful she’s a gentle giant.

What is each dog's best quality?

Lilli – Alert. Protective. Loyal. Affectionate. Wants to please and doesn’t shed!

Fiona – Gentle, but watch that tail. It’s at the perfect height to inflict major damage to a certain body part, or should I say “two” body parts! She’s super affectionate, but independent and very quiet. She hardly ever barks.

Gia – Goofy. Docile. Smart. Very tactile (she always want to be touching you, leaning on you, or resting her head on your foot, etc…) But she also stubborn!

If Fiona, Lilli and Gia could change one thing about Californians, what would it be?

I believe my girls would want people to be better stewards of their pets. Care for them properly. Don’t let them get overweight. If you don’t have the time to spend with dogs, don’t get any!!! Also be mindful of your dog’s activities, especially when they’re in public places. In other words, please pick up after your dog!!! Be responsible! The reason so many places don’t allow dogs is because people don’t act responsibly.

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

What do you dream about?

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

Wow, this is a tough question. Since I have female dogs this is especially hard. I guess my fall back position will again be based on ethnic origin. Gia would be good with Sophia Loren’s voice. Even though she’s Danish, I’d pick Brigitte Nielsen for Lilli’s voice. For Fiona I’d go with Saoirse Ronan (Atonement and The Lovely Bones); she’s not only Irish but is known for her excellent grasp of performing many accents. I’m thinking a couple of my choices definitely show my age.

What advice would your dogs give if asked?

Wag more, bark less!!

Visit Andrew Peterson's website, and learn more about the latest novel in his Nathan McBride Series, Hired to Kill.

--Marshal Zeringue

Pam Houston & Fenton Johnson

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Pam Houston, I am the author of five books including Cowboys Are My Weakness, Sight Hound, and most recently, Contents May Have Shifted. This is Fenton Johnson the canine, named after the writer Fenton Johnson, who around my house we call Fenton Johnson the Human. Fenton the canine is 8 ½, which is a very good number for an Irish Wolfhound to make. (Average lifespan, 7 years)

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

When Fenton and I are in Davis, California, where I teach part of the year and direct the Creative Writing MA Program, we often stop at the north side Peets on the way home from the Big Square, Fenton’s favorite walk in Davis because of all the opportunities for rabbit chases it affords. (Fenton doesn’t think of them as rabbits, he thinks of them as bunster fun boys.)

What's brewing?

Large nonfat latte for me, water out of the community bowl (kind of like an Italian soda, Fenton tells me, with all those other dogs’ saliva for flavoring) for Fenton.

Any treats for you or Fenton on this occasion?

A Noah’s cinnamon sugar bagel, lightly toasted with honey almond cream cheese. I get the top half, he gets the bottom.

How were you and Fenton united?

I got Fenton from a lady named Margo Coombs who lives in Grand Junction, Colorado. I got my first Wolfhound, Dante, (the dog that the novel Sight Hound is about) from her by answering an ad in the Denver Post. Her dogs are very special. After spending the last 15 years with them, it is hard to imagine not having their energy in my life.

How did Fenton get his name? Any aliases?

He is named after my dear friend and fellow writer Fenton Johnson, author of Geography of the Heart, and Scissors, Paper, Rock, among other books. Fenton has no children himself, but he has eight brothers and sisters who all have kids and not one of them named a child Fenton. Fenton the canine and I tried to make that right for him.

Aliases? Fenster. Fenton baby. Fentonian. Big man. Nose. Fellow-fellow. Wagmaster. Wagalicous. Wagamuffin. Fentaroonio. Fentonburger. Mr. Jonson. Mr. Johnson I presume. (And what’s funny is that sometimes I will call Fenton the human one of these names too.)

What role has Fenton played in your writing?

Fenton figures quite prominently in my writing. I would call him a major character in Contents May Have Shifted, and he figures into several essays I have written over the years. Much more importantly, I believe spending as much time as I do out in the world with my dogs generally, and with Fenton in particular, makes me a better noticer. Fenton is a great noticer, and all of my writing begins in my noticing, rather than in my imagining. Also, one of the things that gets me down on the couch with my laptop in my lap and really working on something is the knowledge that he will very likely join me up there on the couch, rest his chin across my ankles, keep me company while I work. Having a wolfhound rest his chin across your ankles is probably one of the top ten best feelings in the world.

Does Fenton have a favorite place to go for an outing?

In Davis, he likes the Big Square, a quarter section of durum wheat that the farmer lets us walk the perimeter of. In Creede, Co, our other home, there are 5 million acres of designated wilderness right out back door. Most mornings in Creede we go up into the National Forest behind the house to a spot we call Coyote Rock. When Fenton takes himself on an outing(which he occasionally seizes the opportunity to do even though it is not “allowed” in the strictest sense) he goes two miles down the road to the Bristol Head neighborhood, where he knows exactly which houses have the milk bones.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

He is very zen about the postman. (I originally read the question as possum, which is a different story…) Squirrel, absolutely, and the only thing better than a squirrel is a cat.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

No interest in sticks or balls. Where in my name, he often says, do you see the word retriever? A squeaky toy maybe, especially if the young dog, William, wants it. But even then he mostly just cuddles it up against him and rests his chin on it.

What is Fenton's best quality?

His self-possession. He has always been utterly non needy without being at all aloof. He is the friend who is always there, keeping track of you across the room if you need to meet his eyes for courage, but never demanding more than you have to give. I thought when Dante died I would never have another dog who would teach me so much about how to be a person. But Fenton has continued my education, with a slightly different set of lessons than Dante’s.

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

My travel schedule first, and then the amount of psychic energy I spend worrying, although truth be told, he is a worrier too. What the hell are the humans doing now?, you can often hear him saying, especially in the car, where he believes he has to keep all the other cars on the other side of the yellow line with his mind.

What is Fenton's proudest moment?

Once outside of Marfa, Texas, Fenton got on a herd of antelope. The antelope were either really bored, or really tired, because they did four loops around this giant fallow field in about third gear, giving Fenton the illusion that he was keeping up with them. Now Fenton is fast, mind you, but not fast like an antelope. Eventually they got sick of him, and found another gear and left him in the dust, but during those twenty minutes that they toyed with him, he kept looking back at me, like, can you believe I am keeping up with these SOB’s?

If Fenton could speak in the movie about your life, who should do his voice?

Morgan Freeman. No contest. And if Morgan Freeman were busy, Anthony Hopkins. And if they were both busy, Richard Ford.

Visit Pam Houston's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Anna Sheehan & Madra and Finbar

Who is in the photo at right?

The one in the middle is Anna Sheehan. I’m a YA author whose debut book, A Long, Long Sleep, just came out August ninth of this year. My lovely little dogs are Madra and Finbar, my Irish Wolfhounds. Finbar is a little over a year and a half – Madra about two years.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Early morning in the garden at my ranch, Wolfstead. Have to wake up somehow.

What's brewing?

Most of the coffee at our house is kona coffee, picked by my mother on a trip to Hawaii, and roasted in our own kitchen. The interesting thing is actually the cup, which was hand thrown by my late husband.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Summer in the garden means strawberries and snap peas, lemon cucumbers and lettuces. The dogs aren’t really interested in any of this, but I enjoy slipping bites into my mouth as I stroll through. Sometimes, they have been known to snap at the slugs.

How were you and Madra and Finbar united?

Finbar was picked up from a breeder in Texas. A special road trip just to get an Irish Wolfhound puppy. Madra was from Washington, and was about six months old when we got her.

Have your dogs played any role in your writing?

Oh, yes. In A Long, Long Sleep, I gave my character Rose an Afghan. My mother was a veterinarian, so I knew a lot about different dog breeds. I knew what comfort and use a dog could be in someone’s life – a stabilizing presence. Rose needed stabilization a lot, so I had to make sure I gave her a dog.

How did Madra and Finbar get their names? Any aliases?

We tend to name our Wolfhounds after Irish heroes or Gaelic words. Finbar means Fair Headed. Madra means Princess.

Do your dogs have a favorite place to go for walk?

My dogs love running down in the lower field, racing up the gravel road, and generally getting into the dust. We have twelve and a half acres at Wolfstead, so there is plenty of place for them to run.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

Calf. They love chasing the Dexter cattle. (We have Irish Dexters, too.) But mostly, they howl back at the coyotes.

What is each dog's best quality?

Madra is a devoted and wildly loyal little girl. Very shy, but very loving. Finbar is bolder, and more than a little silly. He stayed a puppy far longer than any dog has any right to, but he’s settled down now, and is a truly noble and handsome creature.

If Madra and Finbar could change one thing about you, what would it be?

I bet they both wish I would run around with them more. Mostly, that I was a dog.

What's each dog's proudest moment so far? The most embarrassing?

The worst dog moment in my household was when the silly puppy ate all the Halloween chocolate, and then proceeded to vomit it up on my carpet. I couldn’t eat chocolate for months – the smell was abominable.

My favorite dog moment is probably the one caught in the photo at left, as my daughter curls up on Wolfhound bellies, and is generally adorable.

How do you handle the sheer size?

Wolfhounds, though no one realizes this, are magical. They perform the Incredible Shrinking Wolfhound trick, and curl up into places you wouldn’t at all expect them to fit. Not only that, but the images you see in Celtic knotwork of dogs all twisted into insane positions and tangled up with each other are entirely accurate. Somehow, no one is quite sure how, Irish Wolfhounds turn their bones to rubber, and their musculature doubles back on itself. Even when they are lolling on my couch, they manage to knot themselves up into absurd contortions – thus they really don’t take up as much space as they look like they do.

Visit Anna Sheehan's website and Amazon and Facebook pages.

Writers Read: Anna Sheehan.

--Marshal Zeringue