Katie Campbell & Annabell

Who is in the photo at right?

Hi, I am Katie Campbell and I am a professional lifestyle photographer. I own and run Katie Campbell Photography.

I consider Annabell the mascot of the company. Annabell is an 8-month-old female goldendoodle (golden retriever and poodle).

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Having coffee is an everyday routine in this household! Every morning Annabell follows me into the kitchen where she sits patiently as I make my americano on my Starbucks machine. I am a former Starbucks barista so coffee is serious business.

What's brewing?

I only brew the best, Starbucks! I love to make a triple tall with whip cream Americano.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

No goodies… I just love my coffee in the morning!

How were you and Annabell united?

I needed a great dog that didn’t shed, so I was on the hunt for a “doodle” of some kind. My husband surprised me one day and said I could get a puppy for my 25th Birthday. In May 2010 I picked Annabell up from a goldendoolde breeder in the area. She was the calmest puppy of the litter, but apparently that didn’t mean anything.

Any treat for Annabell on this occasion?

Whip cream is my special treat! So, Annabell also gets her share of whip cream every morning.

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

Dogs for sure! It usually consists of lots of balancing and talking! Holding a treat in one hand, saying the dog’s name, and balancing a camera in the other hand. Brides just stand there and look radiant!

How did Annabell get her name? Does she have any nicknames?

My husband and I both liked the name and so it stuck. I know, we are boring. For a nickname we call her Annie, but since she is always getting into trouble we often are yelling, “Annabell!”

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

Annie is all for cats! Some days I think she believes she actually is a cat.

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

Annie loves her squeaky tennis ball. Once she gets going she doesn’t stop!

Where is Annabell's favorite place for an outing?

Annabell loves visiting the local park that is walking distance from our home. She loves to play ball and run around in the field.

Who is Annabell's best pet-pal?

Annabell loves Diego, our big orange cat. They often chase one another around the home, snuggle together, and Annie can often can be found dragging Diego by his tail along the hardwood floors.

What is Annabell's most endearing quality?

Annabell adores people. You can never be sad or mad around her! She just makes you smile. You can’t help but laugh and be happy when you are with her.

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

Wow, this one is hard. I am sure Annabell would want me to loosen up and let her run wild through the house. Since I work from home I watch her every move. I am often stopping massive toilet paper unravelings through the home, drinking out of the toilet, and chewing on rugs. If Annabell had it her way, she’d run the home by her rules.

What is Annabell's proudest moment? Most embarrassing?

Annabell’s proudest moment was being chosen for a calendar shoot called Dogs and Kittens. She did a great job “posing” on set with the model. Also, she is often featured on my blog in a series called, “Dear Annabell, Letters to My Goldendoodle.” People love reading about her wild adventures!

Annabell’s most embarrassing moment… I think there are too many to count. If I had to choose, I would say there are 2 moments that clearly stick out. The first was eating my husband’s passport 3 weeks before he left for Nepal leaving him in a bind to get a replacement. Second, Annabell has a fetish with black socks. She ate 5 black socks in one week and had to go in for emergency surgery because her intestinal system shut down. Not a good week for us. Let’s hope there are no more embarrassing moments in her life.

Visit the official Katie Campbell Photography website and Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue

Gini Koch & Harley Quinn, Mileena, Goulash, and Baraka

Who is in the photo at right?

My husband is with our Dalmatian, Harley Quinn; my daughter is with our American Staffordshire Terrier, Mileena; and I’m with our late Komondor, Goulash.

In the photo just below, left: the girl dogs with their new little brother, our Pit Bull, Baraka, who we got after Goulash went to the Great Dog Park in the sky.

I’m Gini Koch, an author -- I write the Alien novel series for DAW Books. Touched by an Alien released April 6, 2010; Alien Tango releases December 7, 2010; Alien in the Family is coming April 5, 2011; and Alien Proliferation will hit the shelves Winter 2011. Alien Diplomacy and Alien vs. Alien have just been bought, and they’ll publish in 2012. I have two short stories, written under my Anita Ensal pen name, coming out in two DAW anthologies -- "Wanted" will be in Love and Rockets, releasing December 7, 2010; and “Being Neighborly” will be in Boondocks Fantasy, releasing January 4, 2011.

How did the dogs get their names? Any aliases?

I call them the Canine Death Squad (our cats are the Killer Kitties…yeah, it’s a theme). Komondors are Hungarian dogs, so Hungarian Goulash (yes, note that this is our family’s level of humor).

Harley Quinn is a double -- harlequin and named for the Batman villainess who’s a total ditz but cute in her way.

Mileena and Baraka are both named for Mortal Kombat characters.

Their aliases are The Big Fella (Goulash), Li’l Leader (Mileena), The Spotted Fiend (Harley), and Big Baby (Baraka). I realize it’s kind of morbid to be talking about The Big Fella since he’s gone, but I still miss him (and our two late Greyhounds, too).

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We have a morning ritual. I crawl out of bed (the hubs is already up 99.9% of the time), and Dalmatian yodels that Treat Giver is awake. I give the Killer Kitties their canned food and the Canine Death Squad get their breakfast, then it’s out back for a drink, a roll, to sun themselves, or whatever strikes their fancy.


What's brewing?

Varies depending on what the hubs has brought home from Trader Joe’s or if I’ve picked up Starbucks or another brand at Costco. The hubs drinks his black, I drink mine with a lot of fat free half and half. Only “regular” drip coffee/Mr. Coffee maker stuff in the mornings -- I’m not coherent enough to make anything cool or interesting before noon. After noon, however, there’s always a chance for specialty coffees -- I can and do make everything from espresso through to Vietnamese Coffee and everything in between. Yeah, we’re coffee addicts here.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

For me, it’s whatever I can choke down and call breakfast. For the Canine Death Squad, it’s their morning meds (The Spotted Fiend requires several, the others don’t) with cheese, and then Milk Bones.

Coffee with a Canine?

Hurry it up, we’re starving!

Eating morning breakfast goodies

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

Every morning and before-bed-feeding is a treat, since they get cheese and biscuits. Sometimes they get gourmet cheese, like brie, if we have some we’ve been eating that’s too old for human consumption. Then it’s outside for the morning romp.


How were you and your dogs united?

All our dogs, other than The Big Fella, are rescues. We got The Spotted Fiend through Petfinder. We got Li’l Leader through Petsmart rescue. And we got Big Baby through the friend who helped us with Li’l Leader‘s adoption.

Eating morning breakfast goodies

Li’l Leader and Big Baby were both home abandonment dogs -- different times and places, but still, abandoned with their cats and no food or water for weeks. Neither one of them hurt their cats (who were taken by different rescue, or I would have adopted them, too). Both of them are awesome dogs. The Spotted Fiend was found abandoned on the streets, starving, and was in the pound for over a month and then in four foster homes before we got her.

Now all three of them have doggie beds in our bedroom and the living room, they get four squares a day, and lots of love and playtime. So, their lives might have started out badly, but they’re all living large now.

Waiting to go romp

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

The Killer Kitties don’t hold with dogs chasing or attacking cats, and neither do I. Squirrels and birds are fair game -- both pitties have caught at least one bird that we know of. They all think they’re scaring off the postman, but The Spotted Fiend really loves the UPS delivery men and likes to go out with me to claim packages and get pets.

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

Any damn thing you want to throw. The Big Fella was never a fetcher, but the current crop all are. They love anything, but their favorite is the super sturdy dumbbell toy they sell at Petsmart. All the “indestructible” toys

Baraka with the favorite toy

are quite destructible, but at least the dumbbell lasts a little longer than most (yes, all 3 dogs have destroy Kong toys, more than one each).


Where is your dogs' favorite place for an outing?

Probably Petsmart because of all the attention and extra goodies. But really, they like to go anywhere, be it around the block, to the park, for a ride, etc. They even like to visit the vet, again, for the extra attention and treats.

I take Li’l Leader with me to the Post Office late at night because she’s the best trained of all our dogs. She’s the only one I’ll allow to ride in the front seat of any car, because she’s the only one who “gets” that she’s not supposed to do anything other than sit there. This is her sitting in the front seat, on one of our most recent USPS excursions.

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

They love each other very much, and their cats. And of course, all of us.

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

All walkies and all treats, all the time. Oh, and the permanent removal of the “no dogs on the beds or couches” rule. (That’s the hubs’ rule. If it were just me, they’d be up on the couches and beds with me. Only the Killer Kitties are allowed this privilege, though.)

Big Baby likes to rock the cool. He’s our big goofball, basically

What is each dog's proudest moment? Most embarrassing?

When he was 7 months old, The Big Fella scared off an escaped criminal who was in our back yard. Li’l Leader and The Spotted Fiend learned from him, and are teaching Big Baby the ropes. They all do a great job of being good protectors as well as fun, loving pets. Otherwise, not a lot of “big” moments, at least that I’m aware of. Per the Canine Death Squad, they protect us from invisible enemies at all times, but per the Killer Kitties, it’s really only about 25% of the time.

Visit Gini Koch's website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Beverly Varnado & Lucy

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Beverly Varnado with my dog, Lucy. We’re at the foot of the storied Arches at the University of Georgia. I’m a screenwriter, blogger, and author of three novel manuscripts. I’ve won several awards for screenwriting, which include being a 2009 finalist for the international Kairos Prize. I currently have a screenplay “Give My Love to the Chestnut Trees” under option with Elevating Entertainment Motion Pictures.

Lucy’s a female Chocolate Lab-Australian Shepherd mix and is about five months old.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We’re picking ups some tea before we take a stroll around the historic North Campus of UGA.

What's brewing?

I chose Ruby Fruit Tea at Espresso Royale just across Broad Street from North Campus. I’m a caffeine free kind of gal.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

There’s no way I could handle eating a pastry, hold my tea, and keep a good grip on Lucy.

Any treat for Lucy on this occasion?

Lucy has a proclivity to counter cruise at home, so we have to watch the treats.

How were you and Lucy united?

We lost our two old female labs within about six months of each other. Though we still had our two cats, and an elderly poodle we felt an agonizing ache for our big girls, as we called them. So my daughter and husband set out to get another dog. I didn’t go, because I’d bring home every dog in the pound. They finally chose Lucy from Disaster Response Canine Rescue, an organization that started just after Hurricane Katrina and has since rescued about 8,000 animals.

How did Lucy get her name?

Lucy was the one name on which my kids could agree and which I also liked.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

She’s a bit overly friendly with the felines. Hiss and claw are the current responses from the cats.

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

She thinks Charlie the poodle is her personal toy. He hasn’t adjusted to the idea, however. She also has tennis balls, a rope thing with fringe, a turtle minus one flipper, a beanie dog, a stuffed Tigger, plus whatever else she can dig up out of the back yard. Oh, and I almost forgot the fake floppy squirrel.

Where is Lucy's favorite place for an outing?

She loves to go for a walk in our neighborhood and visit the other pets.

Who is Lucy's best pet-pal?

It would have to be Charlie, although I’m not sure he’d agree.

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

She’d wish I would run with her around the block rather than walk. She often gives me the “old person” look.

What is Lucy's proudest moment?

Lucy has not been welcomed with open arms by all neighborhood dogs. Her proudest moment was when she could walk by the maniac hound in the invisible fence and not wet on herself. Most embarrassing? When she walked by the maniac hound in the invisible fence and wet on herself.

Visit Beverly Varnado's website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Roxanne Hawn & Lilly and Ginko

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Roxanne, and this is Lilly. I’m a professional freelance writer and dog blogger. Lilly is a 6-year-old smooth coat border collie. We live in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Our blog is called Champion of My Heart.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Thanks to my very independent job and living in a relatively rural, remote location, I work from home most days. Since getting to the nearest independent coffee shop requires a 10-mile drive (about 20 minutes) down a steep, winding canyon, if I’m having coffee … I’m having coffee at home.

The occasion is usually that I need to get a lot done.

What's brewing?

One of my sisters-in-law lives most of the year on Molokai, one of the smaller Hawaiian islands. She is my direct source for coffee. I suspect that has spoiled me. We do keep a can of Folgers (or something) in the pantry for emergencies, but 99% of the time, we’re having Hawaiian coffee.

I hope this doesn’t disqualify me, but I actually don’t drink a ton of coffee. So, I only have it when I really need it … maybe once a week (sometimes less).

For that reason, I don’t clog up the counter with a coffee maker. Instead, I use a French press. It’s simple. It’s fast. It makes good coffee.

Milk. Sugar. Whipped cream (if I have it in the house).

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Usually if I’m having coffee, I’m also having a full-on breakfast. Since we’re getting close to the holiday season, that often means this Italian frittata.

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

I usually give the dogs the last bite or two of whatever I’m eating (assuming it’s safe for them to have).

How were you and your dogs united?

My first dog (as an adult) died in June 2004, at age 14. Her name was Penelope Grace, and she was a hilarious Dalmatian. I was so heartbroken that I didn’t think I would be ready for another dog for at least a year, but my husband’s dog – Ginko (a lab + greyhound mix) – was so lonely. So, we adopted Lilly in October 2004 from Humane Society of Boulder Valley.

I wasn’t quite ready emotionally, but she has been an amazing addition to our family. I’ve learned so much from her. I’ve never lived with such a fearful dog. I joke that I’ve earned my PhD from the University of Dogs With Issues.

Ginko came into our life in 2000, after we had suffered numerous deaths in the family (including pets). We decided then that we desperately needed a puppy in the house.

How did your dogs get their names?

Lilly came to/from the shelter with the name Daisy, but my mother-in-law had just lost her sheltie named Daisy. So, I flipped through a flower book, wanting to stay with the theme. I was keen on naming her Poppy Anne, but my husband could not get past that Seinfeld episode where the character Poppy peed on the sofa. So, we went with Lilly Elizabeth instead.

Ginko got his name because as a young pup he seemed to have such a good memory (a la ginkgo biloba). We considered naming him after a famous scientist, like Copernicus, but that seemed too unwieldy. I’ve read behaviorists who say that two syllable names for dogs are best. And, Ginko had that B-I-N-G-O ring to it.

His middle name is Cornelius.

To this date (and likely for the rest of my life), it’ll stand as my most creative dog name choice.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Squirrel, for sure … but only because we don’t have tree squirrels where we live, so seeing them down in town is very exciting.

Frisbee, squeaky-toy, stick...?

At our house? The squeaky ball reigns, but Ginko always steals it, so Lilly has learned that playing fetch with a stick is pretty fun. Ginko pays no attention to sticks.

Where are your dogs' favorite places for outings?

Truly, anywhere we go. Lilly loves to go for walks in our valley. She loves to go for hikes on the mountains around our home. She gets a real kick out of any dog training classes we take. She even likes running errands with me.

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

Neither of the dogs have terrific social skills, so other than each other, they have very few dog friends. Plus, Ginko is getting old enough and has bad knees (long story), so we don’t let him run around too much.

Lilly did have one best, best friend named Katie. She was a young borzoi who lived just up the valley from us. Since Lilly is so fearful/reactive towards other dogs, it was a miracle that she loved Katie so much. And, Katie loved her back.

Sadly, Katie had to be rehomed. We seriously considered adopting her, but we’ve always had just 2 dogs for some very specific reasons. And, it didn’t seem fair to Katie. She would have been more like Lilly’s dog.

We were so sad when she moved away that I made a 5-minute tribute video to their friendship. How sappy is that?

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

Work less, worry less.

What's each dog's best quality?

Ginko … enthusiasm. He is up for anything you want to do. And, yet, he makes an excellent Sofa Captain. He is perfectly happy to sleep, as long as he can be nearby.

Lilly … intelligence and work ethic. There is a joke that says having a border collie makes you think you’re the best dog trainer in the world, so I try to remember that she is doing most of the work.

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

Let’s see. Ginko is most proud when he has the toy, the ball, whatever. He does this little prancing victory lap that makes us laugh.

Lilly is proud anytime she learns something new. You can just see this light click on in her head, and she gets so happy.

As for embarrassing? Well, because of Lilly’s fears, she often ran into agility tunnels at class and would not come out – for love, money, or hotdogs.

I actually talked about this unique embarrassing moment in the acceptance speech when we won the DogTime Media Best Dog Blog Award. People got a real kick out of it.

Visit the Champion of My Heart blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Rachel Aaron & Lettie

Who is in the photo at right?

Myself, Rachel Aaron, and my dear little dog of very little brain, Lettie. (Aliases include Lettie Biscuit, Pumpkin Princess, and Letterbox Edition). I am a the author of The Spirit Thief, book one in The Legend of Eli Monpress, a humorous/adventurous fantasy series about a charming wizard thief. Lettie is a little sausage roll of a dachshund/pit bull mix who spends her time eating lizards, being lazy, and distracting me from writing with bursts of extreme cuteness.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

When the weather is lovely, Lettie and I will sit on the porch in the mornings. I drink coffee, watch the trees, and check my email. Lettie chases the garden lizards and generally disturbs the morning tranquility.

What's brewing?

On special occasions like fine fall mornings, I drink a medium roast from the local Thousand Faces Coffee Company. Fresh ground in the grinder and then french pressed, it's mild, smooth, and utterly delicious. I like to drink it black with just a little sugar to bring out the flavor.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Sometimes, if I look exceptionally overworked and pitiful, I can trick my husband into cooking me scones. He thinks he's helping my writing career, but really it's all an act so I can get scones! Both Lettie and I ruthlessly abuse my husband's generous and helpful nature. It is a bond we share.

Any treat for Lettie on this occasion?

Depends on if she's fast enough to catch a lizard! None from me, to her great sadness. But too many treats make Lettie Biscuit into a Lettie Loaf.

How were you and Lettie united?

Lettie was a rescue dog from Athens Canine Rescue here in GA. She spent the first year of her life as a stray, which was probably where she acquired her taste for lizards. She was rescued by a family who took her to the vet and got her spayed and up to date on vaccinations only to then have their landlord tell them they couldn't keep a dog on the property. They surrendered Lettie to the tragically overcrowded Animal Control office in Athens hoping she would be adopted. But because there was no room in the inn and she was an owner surrender, Lettie was scheduled to be euthanized that same day. Fortunately for all involved, her future foster mother had come by the shelter on an unrelated errand that day. She stopped by to look at the adoptable dogs, saw Lettie, and couldn't stand to think of such a sweet, adorable dog being killed. She took her home that day and put her into the Athens Canine Rescue network where I found her a few weeks later. We'd actually just decided to get a dog, and Lettie was the first we looked at. We didn't have to look twice! She's been with us ever since, and is now a fat, happy little goofball.

Has Lettie had any influence on your writing?

I would say she's had a much greater influence on my not writing. Not writing is the worst part of being an author. I'm talking about those times when you have a deadline and you've been writing for hours, but somehow you only have 200 words to show for it and your novel's a mess and you're a failure at everything and why are you even trying. You know, those days. When those days happen, I flop on the couch and hug my dog. Nothing can be that horrible when you're hugging your dog.

How did Lettie get her name? Any aliases?

The Athens Canine Rescue people named Lettie Lettie. We thought it was too cute and fit her perfectly, so we kept it. However (as seen in the first paragraph), she has many other names, including Lettiebell, Lettie Pumpkin, Pumpkin Muffin, Lettie Poochums, Letterbox, Letterbox Edition, House Weighs and Means Committee Letters and Numbers Division. Etc., etc.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Yes please, with a side of lizards, grasshoppers, and bees. (How my dog can chase and try to eat a bee I will never understand).

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

Lettie is an adorable dog, but she's not very bright. That's fine, we bought her to be loyal and loving, not bright. However, she doesn't seem to get fetch or the idea of toys. You throw the ball and she will stare at you like “What? Why did you throw it away? Well, if you don't want it, I don't want it.” Or, if you get her really excited, she'll run to where the ball landed and stare at it, then at you, as if to say “Here! I found your ball! It's right here! Now you know! Can we do something more interesting?”

Hmmm... perhaps she is smarter than we give her credit for.

Where is Lettie's favorite place for an outing?

The dog park! She can not wait to go and run with the other dogs, even though almost all the dogs are twice her size. She will run with the best of them until she is a horrible, filthy mess of dog. Sadly, this means going to her favorite place inevitably ends with going to her least favorite place – the bath.

Who are Lettie's best pet-pals?

Lettie loves to bully our friend Zack's pug/chihuahua mix Charlie. Charlie, however, does not like to be bullied by a dog who's twice his height and three times his weight, so the love is pretty one sided.

What is Lettie's best quality?

Her endless, unquestioning, unflagging love. This dog still loves me when I'm giving her a bath. That's some serious devotion right there.

What is Lettie's proudest moment? Her most embarrassing?

Lettie has no embarrassing moments. You need dignity to feel embarrassed. But her proudest moment by far happened a few days ago. My infant son has just reached the point where he can eat crackers unassisted without choking to death. So I had given him a cracker to keep him happy while I did the dishes. I'm standing in the kitchen with my back to him, washing the dishes and describing the process in lurid detail (my son has a pretty low bar for what he considers fun), turning back to check on him every twenty seconds or so. Now, Nate is sitting in his chair, which is low to the ground, and Lettie is sitting right beside him. He's watching me, I'm watching the dishes, and Lettie is watching the cracker in my son's hand.

You can guess where this is going.

I put a glass in the washer and turn around just in time to see Lettie look around suspiciously, lean in, and snatch the cracker right out of my son's hand. It's gone in one bite. My son didn't cry, he just stared at the dog with this look of utter betrayal. Like, “You stole my cracker. Why would you do that?” And Lettie's just sitting there, licking her chops like “Hell yes I stole that cracker.” And meanwhile I'm laughing so hard I can barely discipline her.

Lettie is the worst older sister ever.

Visit Rachel Aaron's website and blog.

Read the first two chapters of The Spirit Thief, Book 1 in the Legend of Eli Monpress. Book 2, The Spirit Rebellion, is out now from Orbit books, and Book 3, The Spirit Eater, launches December 1st.

The Page 69 Test: The Spirit Thief.

--Marshal Zeringue

Veronica Schiller & Thomas

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Veronica Schiller: I am about to launch a line of puppy treats, we are in the final stages of the packaging, so it is very exciting. I used to be a jewelry designer, but randomly now I am a pet lover and dog treat chef!

My puppy’s name is Thomas, he is a gorgeous male King Charles Cavalier, he’s almost 2 years old. January 12 is his birthday, only a day before mine!

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Thomas and I do pretty much everything together, he’s a very spoiled pup, so I do not miss a chance to take him with me wherever I go.

We usually stop by the farmer’s market on Tuesday’s in downtown Houston and we grab a cup of coffee and something to munch on.

What's brewing?

I like caramel anything!!! Cappuccino would be my first choice, but I also like chilled coffee and affogato, which means "drowned" in Italian. It is a coffee-based beverage it is usually a scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with a shot of hot espresso and a shot of Godiva white chocolate liquor! Yum!

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Biscotti! My favorite kind of dessert, specially Almond flavored ones!

Any treat for Thomas on this occasion?

Hmmmm yea! I always give him a little piece of whatever puppy proof cracker or cake I am having.

I avoid chocolate of course, but he pretty much eats everything and anything I eat… as I told you before he’s very spoiled!

But when he is not eating what I am having, I have with me some GRUFFINS, which are the treats I am making… there are 100% natural fruity dog treats made with human grade ingredients only! So far we have only 1 flavor, banana -- it was our most popular one when we were in the testing stage.

How were you and Thomas united?

It was actually a sad story. I used to own Thomas' half brother: 2 years ago, one weekend we were at a farm in College Station, TX, and while he was running around with the other dogs his little legs got trapped in an old cattle guard. At the same time someone was driving in a huge truck on the road, and could not see him and Fredrick was run over. That same night my husband made our breeders drive all the way to the farm and deliver Thomas for me. Since then he never leaves my side!

How did Thomas get his name? Any aliases?

Actually my husband and I were not sure what we wanted to call this new puppy, and all of a sudden we both thought of Thomas… don’t know why we thought of Thomas, but it kind of sounded right… we like to call him Tom Tom, and Mr. T, or Tomacho….

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Pigeons or any kind of birds! Impossible to take him to the beach -- he goes nuts for seagulls!

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

Empty water bottle, his favorite toy ever!

Where is Thomas's favorite place for an outing?

The nicest couch in the house of course, right over the very expensive decorative pillows….

Who are Thomas's best pet-pals?

Clifford, his half brother, they are BFFs. It’s s cute when they are together… they don’t stop playing!

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

Hmmmmm, I don’t know… Maybe he would prefer if we could sleep for 12 hours instead of six….

He can sleep all day if it left up to him…

What is Thomas's proudest moment?

He actually takes his toys to his toy box when he is done playing with them.

Most embarrassing?

He peed on my bed after I gave him a bath for last year’s Christmas party; we had like 20 people over and he just went in front of everyone!

Learn more about Veronica and Thomas at the Tiny Little Dog website, Tiny Little Dog Blog, and their Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue

Amy Siegel & Ray, Flirt, and Bodhi

Who is in the photo at right and below?

That would be me, Amy Siegel, recently retired from a long career in Information Technology with Australian Shepherds, Ray who is 13, Flirt, 7 and Bodhi, 4.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

It's an every morning thing with me an the herd. There's no getting going without it.

What's brewing?

Trader Joe's Decaf French Roast prepared with a vacuum brewer.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Just breakfast.

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

Usually they have eaten their breakfast, so to keep them out of my breakfast, they all get a rawhide chew flip to gnaw on and brush their teeth.

How were you and your dogs united?

I found Ray through the local newspaper. Flirt and Bodhi are 1/2 siblings from a wonderful breeder of working Aussies in Lawrence KS.

How did the dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Ray is named after an old friend who is a chef. Their mutual love of food just made it a name made for my dog. He is often called PIG because he will eat anything. Flirt was named before I even got her. I wanted a dog with a lot of spirit who loves to play and loves everyone. I thought if I named her that, she would be that. And I was right. Her nickname is Flirty McSquirty because of her tendency to squirt off course when we are running an agility course. Bodhi was named for his zen like demeanor. His alias is Dopey.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Anything that moves down our road. Ray is widely known for his success at killing chickens and groundhogs. Flirt and Bodhi are his peanut gallery, cheering him on from the sidelines.

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

A semi deflated soccer ball is the favorite. Hours of chasing, playing keep away.

Where is your dogs' favorite place for an outing?

Round Valley Reservoir in Lebanon, NJ. Hiking and more importantly swimming. Flirt took her 1st dip in the water at 3 months (in the dead of winter) and hasn't come out yet. She loves to swim and will just swim out to visit people in their boats.

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

Flirt's best pal is a BC named Jus who lives in Michigan now. She misses him a lot.

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

They would like me to sleep a little less and feed them more.

What is each dog's proudest moment? Their most embarrassing?

I think my proudest moment with Ray was when he finished his PIII Agility title. He had a early onset of arthritis and I didn't know how much agility he would be able to do, but he loved it so much and kept wanting to play. Eventually he retired at 8 years old has led a life of leisure since. The most embarrassing: The chicken killing. Oh my. He just scared the darn thing to death.

Flirt's proudest moment was achieving her Agility Dog Champion title. She's a talented dog but we just couldn't seem to get through a Standard Agility course without one glitch or another. It took us 3+ years to get our 1st Master Standard leg and another year to get the 5 we needed for her Champion title. She had all the other requirements in the bag long before. I don't think Flirt has ever embarrassed me. Likely I have been more of an embarrassment to her.

Bodhi is just too mellow to engender either pride or embarrassment. But he keeps my blood pressure low and assures that I will never be cold at night.

Visit Flirts Dog Agility Blog and the Bodhi Blog.

--Marshal Zeringue