Maryann Miller & Poppy

Who is in the photo at right?

Hi, I'm Maryann Miller, and I am so happy to be here today to introduce you to one of the special animals who grace my life. My dog, Poppy, a mixed Border Collie and Australian Shepard, has coffee with me in the mornings outside here at Grandma's Ranch.

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

We live in the country in East Texas, so going to town for a Cappuccino is out of the question. Don't tell Poppy, but I do sometimes sneak off without her to the coffee shop for my espresso fix, but that doesn't happen very often. Otherwise it is just a cup of Folgers for me, black, no sugar, and a Milkbone for Poppy.

What is a normal day like for Poppy?

My usual morning routine is to feed all the cats - we have four of them - and feed Poppy. Then I get dressed to go outside to take care of big animals and spend some time with the dog. Poppy is really good about waiting until I've had my coffee and maybe made a few notes about a story I'm working on. Then we are off the deck to go feed the horse and the goat before taking our morning walk. We go down the county road in front of our property and walk about a mile. She likes to woof at the cattle in the meadow across the road or stop and try to dig out a gopher she can hear burrowing.

After that, I am usually in my office for most of the day working on a book or doing other business related tasks, but the good thing about working from home is that I can take regular breaks. When I do, I'm back outside whenever weather permits and Poppy is always happy to tag along as I feed animals again or tend to my gardens for a while. And if I should pause in my work to throw the ball for her, all the better.

How were you and Poppy united?

Poppy is five years old and I got her one day when I saw some young boys on a corner in town with a box of puppies. On a whim, I stopped because the sign said they were mixed Border Collie puppies and my husband had been saying he would really like a Border Collie. Our neighbors had one that he enjoyed every time we visited.

When I peeked into the box, Poppy looked up at me with the most expressive eyes and there was no way I could walk away. I took the puppy and went back home. I carried her into the house and put her on my husband's lap and told him, "Happy Birthday." I figured if I gave the dog to him as a gift, he would not be able to refuse, even though it was a whole month before his birthday and we hadn't discussed actually getting a dog.

How did Poppy get her name?

We had a hard time coming up with a name at first and were calling her Puppy for so long, my husband suggested we just call her Poppy as she was really responding to Puppy and the words were so close.

Who are Poppy's best pet-pals?

At first we were not sure how Poppy would get along with the cats, but she has been very good with every cat we have had. She loves to play with kittens and they love to play with her. We have had three kittens since we got the dog, and they have all become fast friends. Once they grow up to be cats, Poppy isn't interested in playing with them, but she does herd them if they are outside and protects them from predators.

Squeaky-toy, ball, stick...?

Poppy's primary job in life is to play ball, and she thinks that anyone who comes to our house has come to play with her. She is obsessive about her ball and we have to tell our young grandchildren that they have to stop throwing the ball if they see Poppy's tongue hanging out and dripping with sweat. She won't stop, so the kids have to stop. Poppy can also be a bit of a pest if we have workers at our house and during a recent renovation of our deck, the workers would hide her ball in the bed of their truck so she would have to go looking for it.

What is Poppy's best quality?

We are not sorry that we took Poppy into our hearts. She is a devoted, loyal dog and minds her manners very well. She is very smart and was easy to train to sit and stay and come, although the "come" doesn't always work if she is chasing some critter off our property. She is loyal to us both, but knows she is my husband's dog and goes to him frequently for attention and sleeps by his feet.

If your dog could change one thing about Texans, what would it be?

Maybe she would give us robotic arms so we could throw the ball forever.

If Poppy were able to speak in a Maryann Miller biopic, who should do her voice?

I would love for Meryl Streep to do her voice. She is such an incredible actress who can do accents and voices so well, she would be perfect.

As a journalist and author, Maryann Miller amassed credits for feature articles and short fiction in numerous national and regional publications. She has a number of books available in paper and as e-books. To find out more about her books visit her website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Janet Gilbert & Fred and Gloria

Who is in the photo at right?

That's me Janet Gilbert; homemaker, mother of two, grandmother of three (one more on the way). Also mother to two very demanding Basset Hounds -- Fred (tri-colour), a 20-months-old male and Gloria (red & white) a five-year-old female.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Waking up and seeing the hounds are just so happy to see me every single morning!

What's brewing?

Folgers in my cup. One sugar and 1% milk. Mmmmmm!

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

More coffee.

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

They get one Milk Bone each while I have my coffee in the morning.

How were you and Fred and Gloria united?

Fred was born April 19, 2010 at Autumn Blaze Bassets. Three days after our 11-year-old Basset Barney had to be put down. We got Fred when he was 8 weeks old. Gloria was a retired breeding dog from the same place looking for her forever home. We got her to teach Freddie some manners. It didn't work!

How did your dogs get their names? Do they have any nicknames?

Fred is Fred, no reason. His registered name is "Fabulous Fred." I call him Freddie Spaghetti, Fredrico and Mr. Dramatica.

Since Gloria was older when we got her she already had her name. I call her Missy Loo.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

Definitely squirrel. They both go "squirrelly when they see one!

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

Squeaky toy. Gloria is afraid of the squeak so Fred does it constantly to scare her.

Where is Fred and Gloria's favorite place for an outing?

Our backyard. It's fenced in and large enough for them to run and chase each other around.

Who are Fred and Gloria's best pet-pals?

Fred's best pal is me, but slowly becoming Gloria. Gloria's best pal is Fred. She gets upset if he's having a time out...and believe me he gets a lot of them!

What is each dog's most endearing quality?

They both give Basset Hound hugs where I kneel down and they squish their heads into my legs and wag their tails. It makes my heart melt!

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

That I'm boss!

What is each dog's proudest moment?

Fred's proudest moment was when he first climbed the stairs all by himself. Gloria's was when she learned how to jump up into the big brown comfy chair. She just sat there looking all proud of herself.

If Fred and Gloria could speak in a movie about your life, which actors would you have doing the dogs' voices?

I would have Jennifer Garner doing Gloria's voice. Sweet, but can be stern if need be and definitely Ashton Kutcher for Fred's voice. Whiney, goofy, dramatic who can "think" they're tough!

Visit the Basset Momma blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Glen Tickle & Elvis Costello

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Glen Tickle, the one with the beard. I’m a comedian and host of Pretending to be on TV with Glen Tickle. With me is my lovely wife Stephanie and our five year old English Pointer Elvis Costello.

What’s the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We took Elvis to a new dog park that opened in Easton, PA which happened to be nearby The Quadrant Book Mart and Coffee House. He was really pumped for the dog park and Steph was really pumped for the book store. We went there because they had outdoor tables, but we didn’t stay long because it was freezing that day.

What’s brewing?

I had a cappuccino. Steph had something pumpkin flavored.

Any treats for you or Elvis on this occasion?

We brought along a doggie biscotti for Elvis from home. That dude loves biscotti. Steph and I each had a bagel.

How were you and Elvis united?

Elvis used to live with a woman my mother worked with who had to give him up. She didn’t want to take him to a shelter and tried very hard to find a good home for him. Steph and I had just bought a house and I really wanted a dog, so I went to meet Elvis and the first thing he did was shake my hand. He’s very polite. When I came back with Steph so she could meet him, the woman had just gotten home as we pulled up and hadn’t had a chance to let Elvis out yet, so as soon as she opened the door Elvis bolted passed all of us and ran around the yard non stop for a solid twenty minutes at full speed before finally calming down enough to meet Steph. It took some convincing after that to get my wife on board, but she came around.

How did Elvis get his name?

He was three when we adopted him, so he already had the name. Although he originally he was named after Elvis Prestley, but because he’s an English Pointer I thought Elvis Costello was more fitting. Now he’s a lot hipper.

Aliases?

I tend to give his name a French accent a lot of the time for no real reason, calling him “El-vee”.

Does Elvis make any contribution to your comedy?

Constantly. I’ve written more jokes about Elvis than anything else. Some people would say I have too many jokes about him. Those people are wrong. The first thing I shot for Pretending to be on TV was an interview with Elvis, and he’s made a few minor appearances on the show since. Last year during National Novel Writing Month Elvis featured prominently in what I was writing.

Also, often when I’m writing things like guest posts for blogs like this one, Elvis will decide he’d rather I be chasing him around the dining room table while he carries his favorite toy in his mouth. Be back soon.

Does Elvis have a favorite place to go for a walk?

He doesn’t seem to have much of a preference for where we go, just as long as we go for a walk. He does it for the love of the game. He really likes walks, but he goes completely bonkers when he gets to ride in the car. He looks out the window, but pants with such vigor that the glass fogs up, so he licks it clean. The back seat of my car is coated in fur and slobber. He’s really sort of disgusting.

Squirrel, postman, cat…?

Squirrel. No contest. He spends most of his time outside in our yard running between two trees and barking at the squirrels. He loves the postman because he carries treats, and he’s afraid of my in-laws’ cat.

Squeaky-toy, ball, stick…?

Elvis is a big proponent of the squeaky toy. His favorite right now is a monster I bought him for Halloween. It seems like his favorite time to really get into a good rhythm with his squeaking is when Steph and I are trying to watch TV. He's also a pretty big fan of his moose, with whom we caught him snuggling.

Who are your dog’s best pet-pals?

Elvis’ best friend is Dylan, the German Shepherd that lives behind us. Over the summer he regularly wanders over to our yard to visit.

What is Elvis’ best quality?

He’s exceedingly polite. His go-to move when he meets people is to give them a high five. When he’s around other dogs he shares his toys, his water, whatever.

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

I think he would like to see me unemployed so I’m home all the time. He does his best to break my heart every time I leave. And he reacts with the same raucous enthusiasm when I walk in the door whether I had been gone for two weeks or just walked out to get the mail.

What is Elvis’ proudest moment?

When he finally caught one of the squirrels in our yard.

Most embarrassing?

Probably when I told him that he’s not actually supposed to catch the squirrels.

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

I suppose it should be the human Elvis Costello.

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

“You’re happy you live here, right?”

Visit Glen Tickle's website and Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue

Ann Elwood & Louie

Who is in the photo at right?

The human is Ann Elwood, a historian and writer, and the dog is her friend, Louie, an eight-year-old German shepherd.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Louis and I often have coffee with Pat Keller [photo below left], his dog walker (actually dog runner), at the shopping center in our town, Cardiff-by-the-Sea. While Pat and I talk about world and local events (as well as more low-down subjects), Louie waits for something edible (not lettuce) to drop from the table and happily greets the people who stop by to say, “Oh, I love German shepherds. When I was a kid, we had a German shepherd.” Louie hears not just blah-blah-blah but the sound of affection and responds by licking their faces – if they're bending low enough. If not, it's a tail wag or even a rollover, waiting for a belly rub.

What's brewing?

Whatever Seaside Market, the grocery store, has in the pot. We could go to Starbucks, which is quite close, but it means waiting in line. Besides, it's cooler to go to Seaside.

Any treats for you or Louie on this occasion?

Louie always gets something. Often it's a quarter pound of roast beef, while Pat and I usually split a tuna sandwich from the Seaside Market deli. I try to stay away from evil treats for myself, though on occasion I've been known to indulge in a red velvet chocolate cupcake.

How were you and Louie united?

After one of my dogs, Abbie, died at age 14, and my other dog, Casey, also 14, was nearing the end of his life, I decided I wanted to adopt another dog, perhaps a year-old mixed-breed, but, looking through Petfinder, I saw a litter of five three-month-old puppies, almost identical to each other in looks and personality, identified as possible German shepherds. I'll just go look at them, I said to myself, puppies are so much work. So I looked – they were so cute – and left. Then, knowing I was smitten, I came back. Louie was the puppy who came up to me to say hello. I filled out the paperwork and stowed him in the back seat of my car. Immediately, he found a way to put his paws on the console between the front seats, in copilot position, and that's how he's ridden in the car ever since. Once home, he insisted on trying to play with poor old Casey, who by then found puppies irritating, so I put him behind a child's gate, which he promptly jumped.

People kept asking, “Is he a purebred German shepherd?” So I had his DNA tested and found out that indeed he is, at least according to his saliva.

How did Louie get his name?

He's named after Louis XIV, because he is a king, and Louie Armstrong, because he has soul. His nicknames are Lou and Lou-Lou.

What is Louie's influence on your writing?

Louie has taught me a great deal about how to be in the world – to sit and really study something, to approach a stranger expecting friendliness, to ignore the insistent hostility of a bully. Through Louie, I have met many people, some of them close friends, whom I might not have gotten to know otherwise; some of them are not like me except in their love of dogs. This has given me a better understanding of life and human nature, which of course makes for better writing of fiction. My book of short stories, The Dog Park, is available on Amazon.

Louie also played a big part in my decision to learn about about the history of dogs and their relationship with people. A couple of years ago, I taught a history seminar in Animal and Human Relations. (Louie came to the last class session.) At the same time I started a non-fiction book on the history of dogs in 20th century America, which I abandoned to write my biography of Rin-Tin-Tin. Louie, of course, is its inspiration. He even looks like Rin-Tin-Tin.

Please tell us about your book on Rin Tin Tin.

You can find Rin-Tin-Tin: The Movie Star at Amazon. (I also have put up a website about the book. The first Rin-Tin-Tin, a movie star of the 1920s and early 1930s, was as famous a hero as Rudolph Valentino or Douglas Fairbanks. His athletic feats astonished audiences – he could scale an eleven-foot fence, leap over chasms, and climb trees. His acting brought tears, laughter, and amazement. At train stops, when he was on tour, crowds gathered to give him ice cream. Thousands of children wrote him fan letters, and he answered with a paw-autographed photograph. This book is a biography of both Rin-Tin-Tin and Lee Duncan, his owner and trainer. It places their lives in the context of their times, especially France, where they met, and Hollywood, where Rin-Tin-Tin became a star. At the heart of the book are the questions: “Why did a dog, at that particular time, become so famous?” and “How much of the legend of Rin-Tin-Tin is really true?” A good deal of the legend is false. For instance, I am almost certain that he was not born on a battlefield in September, 1918, but was the son of a male German shepherd found on that battlefield – I have a great deal of evidence to support that.

Does Louie have a favorite place to go for a walk?

Del Mar Dog Beach. When he was three months old, I took him there and he immediately ran into the surf. He likes to stand on the rocks and look regal. But he also plays chase and hide-and-seek games among the rocks with all manner of dogs, including the occasional pug.

Who is Louie's best pet-pal?

He's had several. There was Sprocket [photo above right], a long-legged black mixed-breed. Gracie, a very talented black lab and Gus, a sweet yellow lab. Hugo [photo left], a Hovawart, who lived down the alley from us. Now Sequoia, a Chesapeake Bay retriever, and Emily, a street dog from Texas, who has had the good luck to end up here in the care of someone who calls her his “girl.” And of course, our cats – Fred, Clio, and Arthur. Louie likes to take Arthur's head in his mouth, sometimes to discipline him, and Arthur likes it.

Squeaky toy, ball, Frisbee...?

Louie doesn't pay much attention to toys much anymore. He thinks that's for puppies. However, he does like to play with tennis balls in the surf. He thinks they are alive.

What is Louie's best quality?

Soul. He connects, and not just with me, but with all creatures, in a way that I cannot even explain. He is a therapy dog with Love on a Leash and likes to work with children. He allows a three-year-old to think she's in control when she takes him for a walk; he also lets her stroke his fur backwards and pat him vigorously on the head. However, he has a few limits on how far he will go in entering the human world. As one child pointed out when she was reading to him in an after school program, he “doesn't pay enough attention.”

If Louie could change one thing about Californians, what would it be?

One-third of them would move away so that there would be more space for dogs.

If Louie were able to speak in an Ann Elwood biopic, who should do his voice?

Richard Burton or Don Ameche (who played Shadow in Homeward Bound).

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

“What can I do to make your life even happier?”

Visit Ann Elwood's website, and learn more about Rin-Tin-Tin: The Movie Star.

--Marshal Zeringue

Mark Condon & Dutchess

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Mark Condon, and in the photo with me is my Golden Retriever, Dutchess (“Dutchess the Dog” on Facebook; @DutchessTheDog on Twitter). I’m a biology professor. Dutchess, who is almost nine years old, is a therapy dog for The Good Dog Foundation.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Dutchess and I are on the way to Pause Dog Boutique in Rhinebeck, New York to pick up some Christmas gifts for some canine friends. We’re at Bread Alone bakery.

What's brewing?

I’m having a black decaf “Counter Culture” coffee (think fair trade and sustainable!).

Any treats for you or Dutchess on this occasion?

Dutchess is working on a peanut butter-stuffed Kong. I’m having a morning glory muffin.

How were you and Dutchess united?

Dutchess was born at Shasta Kennels in Sussex, New Jersey. She came to live with me in March of 2003, when she was ten weeks old. We’ve been best friends ever since.

How did she get her name? Any nicknames?

I teach at Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, New York, and “Dutchess” seemed like a good, solid dog name (sort of regal without being pretentious). Nicknames include “Dutchie”, “Dutch”, and “Puppy”.

I've read about Dutchess's loss of sight. Did it take long for her to adapt to blindness? What's the biggest change in her life from before?

Dutchess was diagnosed with pigmentary uveitis, an inherited eye condition, in August of 2010. Her condition eventually required surgical removal of both eyes in February, 2011. Her adjustment to blindness was extraordinarily smooth. I had taught her a few new commands as she was losing her vision (“step up” and “step down” when approaching curbs, for example), but the seamlessness of her adjustment was due mainly to her remarkable self-confidence. Her love of life and its experiences prevented her from withdrawing from her routine, and she resumed her favorite activities almost immediately after her surgery. Within one week, she was fetching tennis balls in the back yard (sniffing them out instead of tracking them visually), and two weeks post-surgery she returned to work as a therapy dog. With the exception of no longer catching tennis balls on the fly, her life is essentially the same as before her vision loss. Her blindness certainly hasn’t dampened her warm, extroverted personality!

Please tell us about Dutchess' work as a therapy dog.

Dutchess works regularly (once or twice per week) at the Anderson Center for Autism, where she brings joy, comfort, and learning opportunities to both children and adults. She is a valued companion to many Anderson students, helping them overcome communication obstacles and build social skills, and grounding them with unconditional affection and companionship. The students love to walk, brush, feed, read to, and play ball with her, and she is exuberantly happy to participate. Dutchess has a knack for reaching the students in a manner that only a dog can.

Does Dutchess really sleepwalk?

No, but she appears to be, since her eyelids were permanently closed as part of her surgery.

Who is Dutchess' best pet-pal?

Dutchess’ best canine pal is my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Holly [photo above right]. She is just nine months younger than Dutchess, and they’ve grown up together.

Dutchess also likes to pal around with my cat, Tweak [photo left]. The two of them spend many hours each day huddled together, sleeping on the sofa. Tweak likes to knead Dutchess’ back, and I think Dutchess enjoys the massages.

What is Dutchess' best quality?

Dutchess is an incredibly loving dog, and is extremely outgoing about expressing her affection towards others. Her gregarious personality is delightful, and she is always in a cheerful mood. The positive energy that she brings to my life is priceless.

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

I think that Dutchess would like me to quit my job so that I could spend more time with her.

Though this is financially impractical, I do manage to get home at lunchtime on most days to take her and Holly for a walk.

If Hollywood made a movie in which Dutchess could talk, who should do her voice?

Dutchess’ ability to communicate nonverbally is one of her most endearing qualities. However, if she had a “human” voice, I imagine it would sound like a blend of comedienne Ellen DeGeneres’ (cheerful, with quirky, inquisitive inflections) and jazz artist Diana Krall’s (smooth, mellow, soulful, and expressive).

Visit the “Dutchess the Dog” Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue

Elizabeth & Jon Farleigh and Dewi

Who is in the photo at right?

That’s me, Elizabeth, and my two soon-to-be two-year-old Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Jon Farleigh and Dewi. The dogs are the stars of my pet humor blog, The Chronicles of Cardigan.

By the way, the dogs didn’t actually go in the Starbucks; I just thought it would make a good picture.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I had to run an errand at my local dog-friendly mall, which happens to have a Starbuck’s. My daughters are off camera imploring me to hurry up.

What's brewing?

Me: Christmas Blend brew with half of a pink packet and some skim milk (By the way, it was okay, but I’d have liked the Pike’s Place better.)

Daughter 1: White chocolate mocha

Daughter 2: Salted caramel hot chocolate

Any treats for you or the dogs on this occasion?

Ahem. Well, the dogs had just eaten some dog biscuits inside the Tiffany & Co. (When I said dog-friendly mall earlier, I wasn’t kidding.)

I wrote a series of articles about the dogs’ Tiffany adventures on my blog.

How were you and the dogs united?

My husband and I had wanted a Corgi for nearly 15 years. When the time came, we found two different litters and could not agree on just one puppy. The worst and yet best problem we’ve ever faced.

How did the dogs get their names? Any aliases?

I could write a short story on how we chose their names, so I’ll just give you the meanings:

Jon(athan) Farleigh (Old English): Jon from the bull pasture

Dewi Vaughn (Welsh): David the younger/smaller

Jonathan and David are blood brothers in the Old Testament.

The dogs have many aliases, but mostly they’re Jonny and Dew Dew... hee hee.

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

Yes, the dog mall.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

If allowed to, they’d try to herd the deer in our neighborhood. But since they’re not, they settle for our three cats.

Squeaky-toy, ball, stick...?

The only toys that last at our house are ropes and Kongs. Jon Farleigh tugs and Dewi fetches – all day.

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

Jon Farleigh and our cat, Lulabelle, have an interesting bond. They played together as babies.

Both dogs get on well with Nick (Jon Farleigh’s nephew) and Georgia (Jon Farleigh’s sister), who live fairly close by.

[photo left: Nick is the red dog on the far right and Georgia is the red dog on the far left.]

What is each dog's best quality?

They both crack me up. Cardigans are clowns.

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

That’s hard. Since they watch me write for my blog each weekday, I suppose they’d prefer for me to write it in the middle of the night, when they’re asleep.

What is each dog’s proudest moment?

Probably the time they destroyed my hand-hooked footstool from inside their x-pen. Clearly, not the same as the moments during which I was most proud of them.

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

Will Ferrell as Dewi and Steve Carell as Jon Farleigh. No question.

Visit The Chronicles of Cardigan blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

A.J. & Bella

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm A.J., a thirty-something blogger with a pop (and pup) culture addiction. I moonlight (daylight?) as an attorney. The pup is Bella, my rescue pup. She's approximately 10 years old (we think) and is a Beagle-Jack Russell Terrier mix (we think).

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Bella's not exactly what you'd call portable - she has a bad case of motion sickness. Sometimes, even a rocking chair will prove too much for her delicate stomach. So, Bella and I like to enjoy our coffee snuggled up on the couch before we begin our day. It's our weekend routine.

What's brewing?

I'm pretty low key - just regular coffee with a touch of milk and one packet of Splenda will do the trick. I usually brew Dunkin' Donuts at home.

Any treats for you or Bella on this occasion?

My above comments regarding my pup's delicate tummy still apply - however, I might sneak her a bite of my cranberry muffin. (Seriously, muffins made with leftover cranberry sauce are a wonderful creation.)

How were you and Bella united?

After I finally graduated college and no longer lived on campus, adopting a dog was first on my list of priorities. I found Bella on Petfinder, sent the photo to my then-boyfriend (now husband), we went to meet her, and the rest is history.

How did she get her name? Any nicknames?

We discussed several possible names (including Gizmo, based on her coloring), but somehow Bella just seemed right. She has a ton of nicknames - to name just a few: Monster, Bella J. Puppington the Third, Puppyface, Bellaboo, Cave Dog, Bellington...

Who is Bella's best pet-pal?

Great question. Bella can be a bit like an old person shaking her fist at the neighbors to get off her lawn. She tolerates our various canine visitors, including our friends' dog Dozer and my dad's dog Roscoe.

Does your dog have a favorite place to go for walk?

Bella's happy to take a walk anywhere. However, what she really loves is our fenced in yard - for years, we lived in an apartment, which meant that off-leash adventures were generally limited to the dog park. She loves being able to run around outside in our yard and do her own thing now that we have a house.

One of your blogs features puppies, the other features cupcakes. Is there any overlap in these enthusiasms?

Not really - other than the fact that Bella camps out in the kitchen when I'm baking, hoping morsels will fall from the sky. (Perhaps in the future, I'll make some pupcakes and really tie them together.) Both blogs do allow me to have a creative outlet and give me a chance to explore my other passions, which are writing and photography.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

Bella will take one of each please! (As I mentioned, she has a "get off my lawn" mentality these days.)

Squeaky-toy, ball, stick...?

Squeaky toy or rope bone. Bella has never been very interested in balls, sticks, or rubber squeaky toys. She's very particular - she prefers rope bones or plush squeaky toys.

What is Bella's best quality?

Honestly, she's one of the most easygoing dogs I've ever met. Other than a brief flirtation with noise anxiety (thanks to some horrible neighbors who lived above us for a month) and her issues with thunderstorms, she's one cool customer. Although she's very routine-driven, she's highly adaptable as well. I need to take a page from her book sometimes.

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

She probably wishes I wasn't so Type A. She always gives me an annoyed look when I clean up the stuffing she so meticulously removed from her toys and scattered all over the floor. (However, she can be a bit Type A herself... she returns all of her toys to her chosen Toy Corner, and they aren't supposed to be anywhere else.)

What is Bella's proudest moment?

I think Bella's proudest moment was when we moved into our new house and she settled in right away. Prior to our move, we had to send her to puppy rehab (aka my in-laws) because our horrible neighbors were driving her crazy. I was worried she would be forever changed, but she overcame her anxiety and settled into the new house like she'd lived there for years. (Bella, on the other hand, is probably proudest of the time she figured out that "six o'clock" was code for dinner.)

If Bella could speak in a movie about your life, what actor should do her voice?

Kristen Schaal.

Visit the I Still Want More Puppies blog and Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue