Barry Good & Bella and Logan

Who is in the photo at right?

I am Barry Good and these are my dogs, Logan and Bella. Logan is a five year old English pointer and Bella is a three year old retired racing greyhound.

I have been a public safety dispatcher for over 10 years. Prior to that I managed a boarding kennel for dogs and cats for 8 years which was also home to a greyhound adoption organization. I returned to the kennel in the summer of 2008 on a part time basis, though the greyhound adoption agency has recently been dissolved. My wife, Terri, and I live with the dogs, two cats, and have a horse and 6 chickens. We enjoy gardening, camping, hiking and traveling when we can. I also consider myself an amateur naturalist, a not half-bad birder, and aspiring runner.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I'm taking advantage of Coffee With a Canine to actually sit and enjoy a cup in the company of the dogs. Things are usually rather rushed around here.

What's brewing?

Something special on this occasion. I drink a lot of coffee, but today we brewed a selection from Dean's Beans called Sirius Blend. I thought it appropriate. I have mine with a splash of 2% milk.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

None for me.

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

Logan has food allergies so he can only have a couple Hills Prescription Diet Hypoallergenic Treats.

Bella can and will eat just about anything. Today, she is sharing Logan's treats.

How did Bella and Logan come to be united with you?

We received information from one of our friends who boards her horse up the road from our place about a litter of pointer puppies that the barn owner had for sale. So, we visited with them to "just look". We were interested in a female, but she was already spoken for. One male really stuck out among the remaining pups. He was running around with a plastic water bottle in his mouth with this really proud, so-half dopey look on his face. We really liked him and decided that he was the one.

Bella was brought to the kennel sometime last year, not long after my return. She came from one of the Massachusetts dog tracks (now closed due to the racing ban in the state). The manager saw her and knew instantly that she should go to us, though she never really expressed this until after I was hooked. I think the manager knew me well enough to know that I would fall for this girl. Instantly. She was right.

In fact, she is an exceptional greyhound. She ran very few races and was apparently quite terrible at it.

How did they get their names? Do they have an aliases?

We decided on Logan after seeing the X-Men movie. My wife and I are both Hugh Jackman fans, so, at the time, it seemed appropriate.

When Bella came to the kennel, part of her track name was Rogue. I was not certain about how well the idea of a second dog would be received at home, but I sent a couple cell phone pictures to Terri and told her that the dog's name was Rogue knowing that she would get the connection. For those not familiar with the X-Men movie, Wolverine (Logan) has interaction with a character named Rogue early in the film. We thought this certainly was meant to be, though I did not really care what her name was. She was a perfect beauty and I wanted her. We changed her name to Bella soon after adopting her mainly because her track name was a bit awkward. Terri was reading the Twilight series when we were in the midst of trying to rename her. She suggested Bella and I agreed not really knowing anything about the book at the time. I still call her Rogue or Bella Rogue from time to time (among other things as you will see). In retrospect the way the dogs were named seems pretty lame, but here we are and they stuck.

Logan's aliases: Doodle, Doodle-bug, Lo-dog, Poodle.

Bella's aliases: Rogue, Bell, Bella-boo, Bucket, Banana, Bella-banana. I have no idea where some of them came from. I just started using 'B' words.

Where is their favorite place to go for an outing?

They are homebodies, but certainly enjoy tagging along when I am working at the kennel. There they are allowed a good romp in the fenced in pastures. Bella really lets loose and is quite difficult to photograph when she is running. They will also make any excuse for a car ride.

Tennis ball, stick, frisbee...?

Logan's all-time favorite is a soft frisbee, or floppy as I call it. He will chase and retrieve just about anything though.

Bella is rather fond of anything soft. She has a hedgehog plushie right now.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

They live with cats (Maggie and Sprout) and are indifferent to them. Our bird feeders are usually covered in gray squirrels, so the dogs could care less about them. Logan is a fierce watchdog and will advise us (loudly) of any perceived intruder on the property to include the UPS man, trash collectors, FedEx driver, and the postman.

What's an ordinary day like for Bella and Logan?

Mostly eating and sleeping unless they are at the kennel with me. Logan spends a lot of time on patrol keeping watch over the house. Bella plays the "I'm retired" card and enjoys hours of sleep.

Who are Bella and Logan's best pet-pals?

Well, I guess the simple answer is each other. When we are away they stay with the kennel manager at her home and get along quite well with her greyhound and chihuahua.

What are Bella and Logan's best qualities?

Aside from being fiercely loyal, Logan is, without question, the best watchdog I have ever had. He rarely misses anything and his bark, growl and appearance become quite menacing when someone approaches the house. He is also very loving and quite expressive.

Bella is, in my eyes, one of the most elegant examples of a racing greyhound I have ever seen. Her body is perfectly proportioned, she maintains her weight quite well and her musculature is just beautiful. Many greyhounds lose a lot of hair on their behinds, chest and sometimes their necks. She did not.

What's each dog's proudest moment so far? Most embarrassing?

We once brought Logan with us on a trip to Moosehead Lake in Maine. One day he accompanied us on a hike up Little Moose Mountain. I suppose if I had to choose a proud moment that would be it. He hiked well, though he did pull on the leash an awful lot.

I think Logan's most embarrassing moment was when I tried to get him to swim at a nearby pond. He was somewhat leery of the water. Eventually I carried him in and slowly lowered him into the water, but still kept hold of him. He began slapping his front paws rather wildly in what may have been an attempt at swimming. I let him go on his own and though he could still touch bottom quite easily he attempted to climb up the front of me. This was probably not the best approach at getting him in the water, but it certainly was entertaining. We never tried again.

I think Bella's proudest moment was the day she learned to sit. In my experience, it's not very easy to train a greyhound to sit. She picked up on it very quickly. Though it's not perfect, she does do it well and is quite willing to please which makes our job easy.

Her most embarrassing moment occurred fairly recently. I had her and Logan loose in the kennel compound while I was doing some maintenance work. She got up a little too much speed while chasing Logan around. As they approached the building she put on the brakes in an attempt to stop. She had too much speed going and slammed into the side of the building. She was fine, save for a few scrapes on her rear end and what seemed like a bruise on her pride.

Visit Barry Good's blog, "Frost Bottom Farm."

--Marshal Zeringue

Diane A.S. Stuckart & Ranger, Delta, Oliver and Paprika

Who is in the photo at right?

That's me, Diane A.S. Stuckart, author of various romances, short fiction, and mysteries, including my current Leonardo da Vinci mystery series published by Berkley Prime Crime. With me is my Italian greyhound, Ranger. He just turned six years old in December. He's what they call a "biggie Iggy" since he's about 25 pounds and 19 inches tall. Most Iggies are half that size.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Are you kidding? I can't eat or drink ANYTHING without Ranger and his brother and sisters wanting to join in!

What's brewing?

I'm no coffee snob. My favorite brew is fresh MacDonald's coffee, small, with two creams. I also have a weakness for chai tea latte ... Starbucks' version, in particular. Ranger likes cappuccino (hey, he IS Italian!)

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

If it's chocolate, it goes with coffee.

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

Our guys' current favorite treat is chicken jerky wrapped in dried sweet potato strips. But since the manufacturer has quit making that particular goodie, my husband has started dehydrating sweet potato strips for them.

How did your dogs come to be united with you?

Ranger and his sister, Delta (also an Iggy), came from a breeder in Oklahoma. Ranger was supposed to be my dog after my sweet white German shepherd, Aspen, died, but Ranger bonded more with my husband, Gerry. We had to go get Delta so that I'd have my very own Iggy. Oliver, our Australian shepherd, is three years old and is a rescue dog. Our friend Shelby took home a mama Aussie and her four 2-week-old pups from some woman trying to sell the little guys in a garage sale! She raised them in her condo until they were old enough to be adopted out, and then we brought Ollie home with us. Since he didn't go through the usual tail bobbing, he's an "Aussie with a Tail" which makes him look almost like a different breed. Paprika--or Rika Red Rocket, as we call her--is another rescue dog also three years old. She originally was sold in a pet shop as a miniature pinscher, but we're pretty sure she's half dachshund. We're her third home, and she's with us for good.

How did they get their names?

Ranger's full name is Lone Star Ranger. Though we live in Florida now, we're from Texas originally. He is white with chocolate markings that look like a Western vest and a little mask like the Lone Ranger wore, so the name seemed to fit. My husband chose Delta's name...he was riffing off of Ranger and came up with Lone Star Delta, as in Delta Force. But since she has a bad leg and ended up being a little fatty, we nicknamed her "Delta Bark", a play on Delta Burke (both of them are plump but beautiful). Paprika is red and spicy, just like her name, and Oliver just seemed like a good name for a big old fluff head.

Do they have any influence on your writing?

Rika sits under my desk when I write, and when she thinks I'm staying up too late, she'll jump in my lap and go to sleep, which tells me it's time for bed. But Ranger is the one who's really the literary dog. He was the inspiration for "Pio" the Italian greyhound who appears in my Leonardo da Vinci mystery series. In fact, he was the cover dog on the second installment, Portrait of a Lady. My husband was so thrilled to see his dog on my book that we bought the original art.

What's an ordinary day like for your dogs?

Since both my husband and I work full-time, they spend the day on the big screened-in sun porch on the back of our house. Once we get home, they run around outside for awhile, come in for awhile, go out for awhile...and repeat until bedtime, when all of them but Oliver crawl under the covers with us and go to sleep.

Do you & the dogs have a favorite place to go for walk?

We're on more than an acre, so they have plenty of room to run right here on the property. But every so often, we'll go for walks in the neighborhood (kind of a risky business, since we're in an area where there are no sidewalks and certain people feel free to let their dogs roam unleashed). Their favorite thing, though, is to hop in the back of my SUV when I get home at night and ride with me the whole 20 feet down the driveway from the gate to where I park. What fun!

Stick, tennis ball, frisbee...?

Ollie and Rika are big on fetching any of those. Ranger and Delta prefer to chew on their stuffed toys and rip the squeakies out of them.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

Squirrel chasing is a big pastime here, as is trying to catch birds at the bird feeders. Rika is fast enough that she's snagged a couple. And then there was that rather grisly incident with the baby bunnies. As for cats, we have two orange tabby boys, Butch and Sundance. Dogs and cats, they all get along just fine together. The only problem is that Butch is a bit flighty, and inevitably he will run if he sees Rika or Ollie heading toward him. So, of course, they chase him, and the race is on. Ollie and Rika think it is great fun...Butch, not so much. The postman (actually, a postwoman) drives in a car, so she just gets barked at.

Want to share a favorite dog story?

Soon after we got Ranger, we headed out to Lake Powell in Utah for a houseboat trip we'd planned for a long while. At that time, we only had Ranger and our previous Aussie, Matilda. Both of them wore life jackets while on board. Ranger was still a little guy back then, so anytime we needed to we could just pick him up by the handle on his life jacket and carry him around. And he was a big hit every time we docked. People--women, especially--would see him prancing around in his little yellow life vest and decide he was the cutest thing ever. My husband calls him a chick magnet, as a result.

What's each dog's best quality?

Of course, ours are the best dogs in the world! Ollie and Ranger are the people persons, er, dogs. Rika is the star athlete despite her stubby legs, and Delta is the pampered princess.

What's each dog's proudest moment so far?

All the dogs are proud of Ranger being on the cover of a book AND having his very own page on his mom's website, especially since he puts their pictures on the site, too. Their most embarrassing moments? Any time mom catches them counter surfing, or eating the kitties' food, or sticking their snouts in the kitty box.

Besides Ranger's appearance in your Leonardo da Vinci series, have you used any of your other pets as characters in your books?

Our Mitred Conure, Rascal, inspired a parrot in one of my romances. And the two cats who try to raise a mummy cat from the dead in my short story, "Once We Were Worshipped" (which appears in the A Constellation of Cats anthology from DAW), were based on various cats we've had over the years, although none of them actually talked or performed magic. But one of my favorite animal characters was Tiffany the talking rat in my short story, "Business as Usual" (also in a DAW anthology, this one called Familiars). Tiff was no ordinary talking rat, but was a reincarnated saleswoman who'd been a queen of mean in life and was sent back to earth to help a meek coworker win a sales award. Unfortunately, she finds it hard to change her ways, even in rodent form.

Visit Diane A.S. Stuckart's website and learn more about her latest novel, A Bolt from the Blue, the 3rd Leonardo da Vinci mystery.

View the video trailers for A Bolt from the Blue and Portrait of a Lady.

--Marshal Zeringue

Jennifer King & Poppy

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Jennifer King, and I’m a writer, novelist, wife, and mom — to three great boys, and a precious puppy named Poppy. Poppy is three months old, and is a miniature Labradoodle.

What’s the occasion for coffee with a Canine?

European coffee has us hooked, and we’ve recently invested in an European coffee machine … so, I love to have coffee with Poppy, everyday, any time.

What’s brewing?

Illy Espresso Long Coffee, prepared as a Latte or Cappuccino.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Not usually, unless someone happens to have a bit of dark chocolate out …

Any treat for Poppy on this occasion?

Eukanuba Puppy food, for now. She still loves it.

How did you come to be united with Poppy?

Our family moved this past summer from Cincinnati, Ohio, US, to be expats in Prague, Czech Republic. We’ll be here for a few years, which is really exciting for us. But our former family dog died a few months before we moved—she was a Boxer, and was 10 years old, and her passing left a huge hole in our hearts. So when things settled down for us here after the move, Prague felt like home, but our new home was missing a dog. After mentioning this to a friend, we discovered another new expat family’s two Labradoodles had just had a litter of puppies. And the rest is history! Poppy joined our family about a month ago, and is a real delight to us all. We’re so grateful.

How did she get her name?

Actually, her name is Popelka, which means Cinderella in Czech. We call her Poppy, like the flower, but she is mostly black (Popel in Czech means ‘soot’) with two white back feet, which we call her glass slippers. Popelka is a perfect name for her.

Stick, ball, Frisbee?

Chewy toy … anything but slippers (which are currently her favorite).

What’s an ordinary day like for Poppy?

We get up quite early to work out in the morning. And Poppy is up right with us, which means she’s sacked out quite soon after our boys are up and out the door for school. When I write, Poppy loves to lay under my chair, and chew on toys, or sleep. And the rest of the time, she’s about two inches behind my feet at all times. She’s a great companion.

Does she understand Czech as well as English?

I actually think the only Czech word she knows is her name!

Where is Poppy’s favorite place to go for a walk?

Soon, when Spring comes and Poppy is a bit bigger, we’ll be walking her near our home in the Czech National Forest just down the street from our house. It’s beautiful—and it goes for miles and miles.

Who is Poppy’s best pet-pal?

Poppy’s only pet-friend so far is a dear friend’s dog named Pepe, who is a Spanish Water Dog. Just based on the combinations of their two names alone, I’d say they’ll be friends for life.

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

That I would never have to leave the house …

What is Poppy’s best quality?

That she loves to be with us!

What’s her proudest moment so far? Her most embarrassing?

Poppy must be most proud that she is finally learning to do her business outside. Certainly her most embarrassing moments result from her lack of discretion on where she does her business (in the house). She’s trained very quickly (and we’re very grateful!).

Visit Jennifer King's website and blog, and follow her on Twitter.

Read more about her book, The One Year Mini for Busy Women.

--Marshal Zeringue

Mike Angley & Brynn

Who is in the photo at right?

This is me, Mike Angley, mystery/thriller writer and my two-year-old American Beagle, Lady Brynn Starr, or just Brynn, for short.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Brynn and I have coffee every morning together. Okay, actually, I have the coffee while Brynn “hangs out” with me, typically curled up next to me on a chair as I work on my novels, the Child Finder Trilogy, on my laptop. I guess she’s a laptop dog…alright that was corny.

What's brewing?

Starbucks French Roast! It’s my absolute favorite. I tend to be a bit of a coffee snob (so I’m told) so it has to be Starbucks-Something. If I go out for coffee, I usually will get a café mocha since I lack the skills to brew that myself.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Brynn gets her breakfast when I make the coffee, so she typically wolfs that down and finishes it off in time to curl up with me as I sip and type. Me? Just an apple. That’s my daily breakfast.

Any treat for Brynn on this occasion?

Nothing special this time since it really is a daily ritual for us.

How did you come to be united with Brynn?

We used to have an English Cocker, Shanna, who passed on in 2004 while we were stationed in Okinawa, Japan. We had had her for over 16 years, so she had a great life and got to see the world (two times in Japan!). It took us awhile to get our heads into the idea of a new dog, but a couple years back, our daughter Meghan (13 at the time) had been pining for a beagle puppy. I started looking via the Internet but found it very difficult to find beagle puppies in Colorado Springs. I even checked the neighboring states for breeders! We got lucky one day when I read a good old fashioned print newspaper and saw an ad from a breeder in Pueblo. She had a new litter ready for adoption. We made the drive and our kids fell in love with Brynn instantly. The rest is history!

How did Brynn get her name?

We’re an Irish-American family (as is the main character in my thrillers, Air Force Special Agent Patrick Sean O’Donnell), so we’ve always liked Irish names.

Does she have an aliases?

No, but the way she acts up sometimes I think she may be wanted in a few states…okay, getting silly again.

Has Brynn had any influence on your work?

Not really, other than letting her snoot hit the keyboard when I write and causing stray characters my editor and I fight to catch! In my trilogy none of my characters have pets, except for a bit player…some old woman in a trailer park in the first novel, Child Finder, who had a cat that my protagonist was allergic to.

What's an ordinary day like for Brynn?

Coffee with me, curling up next to me on my writing chair, and sometimes putting her face on the keyboard because it’s warm. She spends the rest of the day sleeping or trying to play catch with me, or even tug-of-war with a toy.

Postman, cat, squirrel...?

We have lots of wildlife in our area, and if there’s a squirrel, fox, or coyote in the yard, she will growl and try to chase it. She’s always on a leash so we keep her out of mischief. One night, there was a giant buck in the yard…had to have a 14 point rack, and easily stood six feet to the shoulder. Bryn decided to growl…the buck lowered its antlers, and I calmly and slowly walked backwards until we were safely back inside our house. I got on my knees and had a long chat with Brynn about big animals, but she just licked my face. Not sure she got it.

Tennis ball, Frisbee, stick...?

She loves rubber toys like bones and balls. She enjoys fetch and tug-of-war.

Where is your Brynn's favorite place to go for walk?

Around our neighborhood, except on Mondays because that’s when the trash collectors come around. To her, the trucks must seem like enormous steel monsters…loud and angry with giant forked jaws. It is hard to get her out of the house when she hears them, even if they are blocks away.

Who is Brynn's best pet-pal?

I think it’s everyone in the family. She has no other pet friends, just humans!

What's Brynn's best quality?

Her “clinginess.” She’s not content with simply being in the same room with us; she has to be snuggled up to someone whenever possible. If I take a snooze during the day on the sofa, she’ll squeeze in and “spoon” up with me even if there’s only a few inches of sofa surface available.

What's Brynn's proudest moment so far? Her most embarrassing?

As a hound dog, she is a great “early warning system” for the house. She’s very territorial, so if someone walks near the house she starts to bark or growl. We’re real proud of that (but she can overdo it, like when I come in with groceries and she starts howling at me for a few moments). Embarrassing? Probably when one of those big green steel Waste Management monsters frightened her so much, she ran upstairs and hid under our bed for over an hour.

Mike Angley is the award-winning author of the Child Finder Trilogy. When his debut novel, Child Finder, launched in June 2009 the prestigious Library Journal placed it on its Summer Reads List and called it a “compelling debut novel,” and “a real find.” It won the Silver Medal for fiction from the Military Writers Society of America in 2009. The second novel, Child Finder: Resurrection, released in November 2009, and is available for purchase, as is the first novel. The final story in the trilogy, Child Finder: Revelation, will release circa December 2010. Mike promises this one will “blow your mind!” On his website he says, “Some people think the truth is out there, but it’s not. It’s in here. In the final book, and it’s not anything you can imagine.”

Mike is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and Special Agent with the Office of Special Investigations (OSI – similar to the NCIS). He served on five command tours, and in his last assignment as Commander of OSI Region 8, at Air Force Space Command, he was fond of saying, “If it entered or exited Earth’s atmosphere, I had a dog in the fight!”

Visit Mike Angley at his website. He is also on FaceBook, Twitter, MySpace, and PoliceLink. Links to his social network sites appear on his website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Robert Forto & Ineka

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Dr. Robert Forto and I am a professional musher, public speaker, business coach and father of three. I live in beautiful Colorado with my family and we own and operate several business including Denver Dog Works. The picture is of me and my 12 year old Siberian Husky Ineka.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I was given the wonderful opportunity to share my story on Coffee with a Canine.

What's brewing?

Since it is the week of Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday season, I thought it would be appropriate to brew up a pot of Eggnog coffee purchased from a specialty grocery here in Denver with a scoop of Maple Sugar and a dash of cream.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

No goodies. I am in training for the Iditarod in the next couple of years so I am watching what I eat, especially treats!

Any treat for your dog on this occasion?

No, Ineka is very finicky when it comes to treats. The only thing that he really likes is cheese. He and I have been sharing cheese since they day he came to us from Washington. I remember when we used to live up in the mountains in Bailey, Colorado, we used to have our office in the basement and that’s where I would spend most of my time. We also had a refrigerator down there and I am a huge cheese nut! Every time I would head to the fridge, Ineka would run in and follow me and he and I would share a hunk of cheese. The smellier the better! Our favorite has always been garlic cheese from a mom and pop operation out of Wisconsin (of course!).

How did your dogs come to be united with you?

I had just recently moved from Northern Minnesota to Bailey, Colorado and I wanted to start up a dog sledding team here. I started scouring the Internet for Siberians for sale of rescue and came across a lady in Washington State that was fostering a male Siberian that was up for adoption. He was supposed to be 2 ½ years old. After numerous calls and email, I arranged to have the dog flown to Denver so that I could adopt him. He arrived on a cold March morning and was not what I or my wife, Michele, was expecting. He was a large 60-pound black and white male with striking blue eyes and missing one of his canine teeth. The lady in Washington said he was pure white!

We loaded him in the truck and headed back up the mountain to Bailey and talked about what we would do with him in training for the next racing season. Neither Michele nor I held much hope for this new member of the team but we wanted to see what he was made of. We already had thirty Siberians so it would be hard for the new dog to make the team.

How did he get his name?

Ineka, pronounced IN-eck-A means rescued friend in a northern Canadian dialect.

What's an ordinary day like for your dogs?

While Ineka is now retired I would like to share a quick story about Ineka’s first days as a member of our family. The morning after we brought the new dog home a storm rolled in and dumped several inches of fresh snow in Bailey, so I decided to take the team out for a run. I started putting the harnesses on the team and the new dog, which now had his name, and he went nuts! He was barking and jumping around like mad and I made a comment to Michele, “I think he has done this before!”

I hooked up the team and placed Ineka in point position, right behind Zerlina, one of the lead dogs. During the five-mile run Ineka knew just what to do and even responded when I barked out commands from behind the sled. Ineka was a natural -- a rare find, and he showed promise to the up-and-coming team with hopes of running the next season.

During the warm spring and summer months Ineka took on the job as the kennel Sergeant. His unbridled confidence was shown in his “strut” around the kennel and he would keep all the dogs in line when they started to make a ruckus. When the new puppies were able to join the kennel, Ineka took on the job as mentor for the little guys.

As the snow fell the next October and I made up my team line ups for the racing season, I had learned over the summer training runs on the cart that Ineka could be placed just about anywhere from leader to wheel. This is rare for a dog to hold that many positions and do well. The racing season didn’t go as expected and I didn’t qualify for the Iditarod as I had hoped, but Ineka was right by my side through it all.

Can you briefly tell us about your radio show?

The Dog Doctor Radio Show is a weekly radio program that can be heard on www.blogtalkradio.com/dogdoctor. It is a worldwide show with a different topic each week. We talk about everything DOG on our show. We are not your typical pet radio show: we have covered such topics as breed bans, Michael Vick, therapy dogs, service dogs, canine sports, working dogs and of course dog sledding. Our show can be heard every Saturday morning at 9:30 am MST or you can download it anytime from our website www.denverdogworks.com or through iTunes -- just search Dog Doctor in the iTunes store. We welcome callers and guests. We have a live chat room and people can email us questions, stories and show topics to live@dogdoctorradio.com.

How well does Ineka get along with others?

Ineka is been called the Sergeant of the dog kennel, whether it be my sled dog kennel in Bailey or our training school at Denver Dog Works, Ineka has an uncanny ability to keep everyone in line. He is a true alpha dog and any dog that comes in contact somehow knows that immediately. I have seen the biggest, toughest dogs move out of the way when Ineka “struts” on his toes and his tail held high.

Ineka also has an ability to be one of the best therapy dogs I have ever seen. We have taken him many times on visits to different places and he lets anyone just grab on to him and hug him. I remember one time we went to a nursing home for people with Alzheimer’s and he sat there patiently while they petted his soft fur and asked questions about sled dogs.

What's Ineka's best quality?

I dedicated my doctorate dissertation to my friend of friends, Ineka, he who has taught me the definition of unconditional love. In addition to Ineka, I dedicated my opus to all other sled pups that have unselfishly provided comfort, compassion and unparalleled commitment to humans. This dedication is generally without measure of our right to such gifts or of our own commitment to reciprocate.

It is this affection that has given me the ability to survive, with relative sanity, in an often difficult world. The power of this unconditional love has been the inspiration for my dissertation and the project that produced it. May this project bring power to those who want to chase their dreams. May this project also give us a better appreciation for those creatures with which we share the earth.

What's Ineka's proudest moment so far?

Ineka is now retired and spends most of his days lounging around the house or at Denver Dog Works where he still tries to be the boss. Most mornings he can be found with me in my home office working on my first book, Run With Poodles; it is about overcoming adversity in business based on the principles of leadership on a dog sledding team. I had no idea just how difficult a project it is to write a book from scratch!

Ineka is the inspiration behind our service dog training organization, aptly named, The Ineka Project. The Ineka Project is a service dog training organization that trains service dogs for children with Autism, although we have placed several dogs with other disabilities such as PTSD, bi-polar, and mobility. Every day when we are training dogs a little bit of Ineka is rubbed off on the new members of the team.

Ineka is now twelve and he is showing his age. While it will be the most difficult thing for me, when he passes his legacy will live on. He truly is my inspiration and he keeps my drive alive. I have named my Iditarod team, TEAM INEKA and plan to run under that banner when I attempt the 1000+ mile race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska in 2013. And if Ineka has passed on by then my goal is to spread his ashes along the Iditarod trail. If he has not passed, he will be 16 at the time, he will be waiting for me at the famed arch in Nome with my wife and kids!

Visit the Denver Dog Works website and learn more about Team Ineka.

Listen to The Dog Doctor Radio Show.

--Marshal Zeringue

Juliet Marillier & Gretel, Pippa and Sara

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Juliet Marillier, a full time writer of novels that span the genres of historical fiction, romance and fantasy. My most recent book is Heart’s Blood, a romantic ghost story loosely based on Beauty and the Beast. I live in a riverside suburb of Perth, Western Australia. With me in the picture are Gretel and Pippa. My third dog, Sara, needs her own photo [below left] because she’s fussy about whom she allows close. Gretel is an intriguing cross breed, aged about 8. She’s part miniature pinscher, part something with really big ears. Pippa is a purebred miniature pinscher, aged 4. Sara is mostly Maltese. She is an old lady, at least 12.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

A work break for me, on the couch at home. The dogs are very strict about enforcing these breaks, so I can attend to their needs.

What's brewing?

A decaff long black for me, made in the plunger.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

I’m having almonds and dried apricots.

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

Pip and Gretel are having a Greenie, a type of dog treat that is good for their teeth. Sara is too old to be bothered chewing anything challenging. We’re all on special diets for various health reasons.

How did your dogs come to be united with you?

They are all rescue dogs. Gretel has been with me for six years. She was found wandering in an industrial district and taken to a refuge – she was there several months before I adopted her. It is amazing that nobody took her earlier as she is a good-tempered, pretty little dog. She does have a major health issue – she’s epileptic and needs daily medication for life. My best companion.

I’ve had elderly, blind Sara for just over a year. Most of the time she’s sweet as pie, but she can transform instantly into a growling, biting ball of aggression. I took her in as a foster dog, and once she was settled here it seemed too cruel to expect her to move again. She has a heart condition but is doing OK thanks to good veterinary attention plus love and care. She spends a lot of the time sleeping.

Pippa is the newest arrival. Her owner was an elderly acquaintance of mine who died suddenly last winter. Pip was his precious only child, and I took her rather than see her go to a refuge. She came complete with a wardrobe of hand-sewn dog coats ranging from brocade to faux fur. She’s had to learn to share her house and her human with other animals. A bundle of energy in a small body. Oh, and she’s so good at those pleading eyes…

How did they get their names?

Pippa was originally just Pip, and named after an English cartoon character called Pipsqueak. Sara came from the shelter with her name, which I thought suited her, though on second thoughts Her Ladyship or Princess might be more apt. In the refuge Gretel was named Petunia. I knew I’d never use that in public! Since she’s part pinscher, a Germanic name seemed appropriate, so I named her after a German fairy tale character.

What's an ordinary day like for your dogs?

In theory it’s structured around my work routine, but actually it’s structured entirely around the animals. Gretel, Pippa and Sonia the cat all sleep in with me. Once someone wakes up, we’re all up. I make their breakfast and administer their various medications, then we listen to the radio news while I have my breakfast.

Next come walkies in rain or shine. Dogs never seem to understand that if it’s raining out the back it will be raining out the front as well. I’m lucky enough to live in a riverside suburb with many great places for dogs to play, explore, socialise and, in summer, swim. Not that mine do – they are all timid about water. Gretel and Pippa get their walk first, a long, brisk one. Sara lives her life at a slower pace than the others, and that includes her walks. Being totally blind, she has to stay on the lead. We make a regular visit to the corner store for our daily newspaper. Sara likes to stop every few paces and have a good sniff around.

After the two walks, I settle down to write for most of the day, with breaks for coffee and meals.

In the late afternoon we repeat the whole routine. I usually work some more in the evenings, but the dogs prefer it when I watch TV. Gretel, Pippa and Sonia the cat take turns on my lap, with the others snuggling as close as possible. When Sara has her turn on the lap, everyone else moves away rather than risk a sudden random attack.

Do your dogs have any influence on your writing?

They provide inspiration for the dog characters in my books. In my most recent novel, Heart’s Blood, there is a giant hound named Fianchu, of whom it’s said that he can eat a ram in one bite. He plays quite a big role in the story, and part of his tale is based on real life experience. I think readers will be able to work out which part it is and why it was so difficult to write. My work-in-progress contains a crotchety little white dog called Fang. No prizes for guessing which member of the household she’s based on!

Cat, rabbit, postman…

Cat, but not our own cat Sonia, who is unafraid of dogs. Pippa is still learning about this.

Who is each dog's best pet-pal?

Gretel likes Sonia the cat – they’ve been here longest and are happy to curl up and sleep side by side. Pippa likes Gretel best, as she is a good walk buddy and super-tolerant. Sara doesn’t like anyone.

What's each dog's best quality?

Gretel: sweet temper
Pippa: courage
Sara: super-cuddliness

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

They all get ‘proudest moment’ awards for their unstinting support this year during my long course of breast cancer treatment. That’s why my hair is so short in the photo – it’s growing back after chemo. My dogs’ unconditional love was a major factor in my staying brave and positive through this challenge. Gretel especially liked sharing the daytime naps.

Most embarrassing? Well, dogs have no concept of embarrassment, but there have been a few moments involving bodily functions and public places.

What would your life be like without your dogs?

Too quiet! I’d go a little crazy if it was just me and my laptop all day. My exercise regime would suffer, and instead of talking to the dogs I would have to start talking to myself … I’d miss the cuddles and affection terribly. The love you give a dog is returned a hundredfold. It’s unlikely I will ever be without at least one dog. I find it very hard to turn away a waif who needs a home.

Best dog book?

Street Dogs by Traer Scott, a wonderful photo essay on dogs living alone or in packs in Puerto Rico and Mexico. It will make you cry, but it’s uplifting too.

Juliet Marillier's historical fantasy novels are published internationally and have won a number of awards.

Her Wildwood Dancing made Amazon's 2007 list of top ten books for young adults; it also won the 2006 Aurealis Award for best fantasy novel.

Visit Juliet Marillier's website to learn more about her books and works in progress, and read her "author's spotlight" essay at the Random House website. Also, check out Writer Unboxed, a genre writing blog which she shares with several other writers and editors.

Read an excerpt from Heart’s Blood.

The Page 69 Test: Heart’s Blood.

--Marshal Zeringue

Shari Margolin & Cali

Who is in the photo at right?

That’s Miss Cali, our 8-year-old black lab mix. She’s posing as a reindeer for our holiday cards. My husband’s a photographer, so she has a standing gig as a model.

Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Shari Margolin, and I’m a graphic designer and writer. I design full time for Cartoon Network, part time as a freelancer, and I also freelance write for Daily Candy Atlanta.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I’m not a regular coffee drinker, but I love iced coffees and have a bit of a weakness for pumpkin lattes this time of year. Cali has a fondness for walks and outings any time of the year, so she’s always up for a quick trek to the neighborhood coffee shop. And so am I when I’m procrastinating on this project I’m working on….

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Nope! We’ve actually tried to be strict about not giving Cali too much people food or extra snacks. Even though she’s a skinny girl, she’s gained more weight than she should have in the last couple of years. So it’s pretty much a milk bone before bed if we don’t succumb to the puppy eyes at dinner!

How did your dog come to be united with you?

I’ve had dogs all my life, but had just graduated from college and moved back home to Philadelphia to figure out the next step. Our family dog had passed away about a year before that, and it was a little disarming to me how empty the house felt. I kept dragging my mom to animal shelters where we would cuddle puppies and then she’d say no – she and my dad had just moved to a brand new house and didn’t want a puppy chewing on or ruining anything. Eventually we wound up at a humane society that had just got in a litter of ten black lab mix puppies. They were so tiny and sweet, and the longer we held the runt, the harder it was to give her back. So my mom said, Your dad will get over it. (Shortly after I moved out, my mom decided they needed to get their own puppy - oops!)

How did she get her name?

I was planning on moving to California after college, but things didn’t work out that way. My mom joked that that little puppy was my consolation price for moving home instead. So we called her Cali.

Tennis ball, stick, frisbee...?

Oh, tennis ball for sure! Every morning for at least twenty minutes. Although sticks do make a good substitute when we’re walking. Frisbees are a hard concept to grasp apparently.

Cat, squirrel, postman, car...?

Bus, leaves, neighbors, friends, us. When Cali’s in the house, it is her house. And if anything moves outside of it, she makes sure everyone knows. Funnily enough, she doesn’t make a peep when she’s outside of the house.

What's an ordinary day like for Cali?

She comes to visit me when my alarm goes off and then goes back to sleep until I’m showered and dressed. Next, she fetches the tennis ball for 20-30 minutes. Then eats breakfast. Wakes up my husband. Plays with her treat ball (oh wait, maybe that’s why she’s gained some weight…) or her favorite toy, her hedgehog. Naps until everyone’s home for dinner. Silently wills us to give her table scraps, goes for a walk, and then hangs out with us until it’s time for bed.

Who is Cali’s best pet-pal?

Cali isn’t much of a dog-dog. When we go to the dog park, she scoots her butt in between the humans sitting on the rocks, joining the group she thinks she belongs with. But she does have one buddy. My mother-in-law’s dog Bailey. He’s also a black lab and loves tennis balls even more than she does!

What's Cali's best quality?

She’s just so sweet. She loves to cuddle and is very equal opportunity with her affection. If you pet her for 3 minutes, she’ll lick you for approximately 2 minutes and 55 seconds.

Has Cali inspired any design work?

Yes, she certainly has. For the longest time, I couldn’t find a collar or leash I felt matched her personality and my taste. Finally I gave up and decided to make my own! I’ve developed 5 designs [photo at right] and am in the process of getting a line produced to hopefully sell in doggie boutiques. Keep your paws crossed!

Does Cali have any tricks?

Yup, tons. She can dance, hop across a room on two feet, and play dead. But Cali’s best trick is waving goodbye.

Shari Margolin-Meister is a graphic designer and a contributing writer for Daily Candy Atlanta. Her husband Josh Meister is a commercial photographer. They live with Cali in Atlanta, Georgia.

--Marshal Zeringue