Susan Sherman & Henry and Bessie

Who is in the photo at the right?

Hi, my name is Susan Sherman and I’m the author of The Little Russian which was published last month. The unassuming canine to my right is Henry Head, a Chow/Aussie mix, 15 years old or thereabouts. Henry was a real rescue, right off the street, so we don’t exactly know how old he is. On the other side is his bratty sister, Bessie Sherman, a lab/pit mix, six years old, named after my grandmother, Bessie Sherman née Berta Alshonsky. Berta is also the protagonist of my novel, which is based on my grandmother’s story set during the Russian revolution and the civil war that followed.

What’s the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Whenever I take my furry kids to the doggie spa for a bath, we always treat ourselves afterwards to an ice coffee and several pieces of dehydrated liver. I usually forgo the liver because I’m watching my weight, but I give my share to the canines.

What’s brewing?

I’m not real picky about my coffee, but I usually like to stop at Peets and order whatever they’re brewing with lots of ice, soy milk and sugar. Henry always orders a double espresso because he has trouble staying awake. He’s a chow, which means he’s always guarding his toys and needs his caffeine to stay alert. Bessie likes bling, so it’s a mocha latte with sprinkles and two pink straws in a glitter cup.

How were you and your dogs united?

I found Henry when I was working in TV. I used to take long walks whenever I had to come up with story ideas and one day there he was looking terrified and hungry. I tried to coax him with kind words, but he kept running away. I finally gave up and went to Jack in the Box for a plain hamburger, no pickles, no ketchup or mustard. Well, the rest they say is history. Only it’s not really, because Henry had had a terrible life and hadn’t been socialized. He’d growl and show his teeth to everyone he’d meet. The vet said he would never make a family pet and advised me to put him down. But instead I put the vet down or at least erased her number from my contacts and now, after fifteen years, Henry is the friendliest dog you’d ever want to meet. Except if you happen to be another dog and then he still growls and shows his teeth.

Bessie came to us from Downtown Rescue. She had belonged to homeless people who were placed in a shelter that didn’t allow dogs. By now she has completely forgotten her roots and is comfortably ensconced in her pink frilly bedroom, forever texting on her IPhone decorated with rhinestones that spell Bessie!

How did they get their names?

My son Ryan named Henry. As I said, Bessie was named after her great grandmother. We have many nicknames for the kids: Bessie Lou, Bess, Boodal, Bessel and Bessela, Hen, Henri Quatre, Hensgerling, Bud and Buddy.

What role have your dogs played in your writing?

Let me just say right up front, that contrary to statements recently made in the press, Bessie Sherman did not write The Little Russian. Yes, she has an extensive vocabulary, but she is a dog and she doesn’t have opposable thumbs. So I don’t see how she could make the claim that she is the real author of The Little Russian. All right, so she gave me a few ideas, but I didn’t even use them all.

Do your dogs have a favorite place to go for an outing?

Any place where there is a lot of cat poop or horse poop to eat, dead, decaying things to roll in or squirrels to chase. I prefer a nice hike in the Santa Monica Mountains.

What is each dog’s best quality?

Henry is loyal and brave, and although he’s pretty much afraid of everything, including small flying insects, at least he acts brave. Bessie is good with fashion, outgoing and very affectionate.

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

Henry would change nothing. He thinks I’m perfect in every way. I often catch him gazing at me as if he can’t quite believe his good luck at having found me.

Bessie thinks I should stop wasting time at the computer and focus on her and her needs.

What is each dog’s proudest moment?

Every morning Henry protects his home and toys from a strange man carrying a large satchel filled with magazines and envelopes, who is evidently up to no good.

Bessie got a genuine plastic gold medal for her precision execution of “down” at obedience school. (this is true!)

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

Bessie could be played by any of the girls on Jersey Shore. Jack Nicholson in About Schmidt should play Henry, the same bewildered gruffness.

Visit Susan Sherman's website and blog.

The Page 69 Test: The Little Russian.

--Marshal Zeringue

Dominique Tobbell & Taka

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Dominique Tobbell. I’m a historian of 20th century medicine, science, technology, and health care politics and policy. I teach in the Program in the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine at the University of Minnesota. Sitting next to me is Taka, my wonderfully goofy two-and-a-half year old German shepherd.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

A small thermos of home-brewed coffee to take with us on our early morning play date with Taka’s sister Stella (owned by my friend Brittany) at the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Dog Park.

What's brewing?

Peets’ Major Dickenson’s coffee.

Any treats for you or your dog on this occasion?

No food treats—a play date with Stella is treat enough for Taka! (In fact, when Taka knows we’re off to meet Stella he’ll turn his nose up at any offered treat. No time to eat—he must get to his sister as fast as he can!)

How were you and your dog united?

I met Taka (and his sister Stella) [photo left] when he was just seven weeks old. During his first weeks of life, Taka was raised by his mother Lonnie, and Sheila and Mike Metz of Lindenhill German Shepherds in the Roseville suburb of St. Paul. Taka finally came home with me when he was 11 weeks old.

How did your dog get his name? Any aliases?

My partner Danny and I named Taka after one of our favorite Japanese judo players (we’ve both trained in judo since we were young children): Yasutaka Ohkawa, whose nickname is Taka. Our Taka, however, goes by a number of nicknames depending on his mood. His most common nicknames are the T-Man and T-Butts, but he also goes by (and responds to) Taka-Butts, Taka “The Terror” Tobbell (for when he’s in one of his loony-tune moods), and T-Bones-Jones.

Did Taka play any role in researching or writing your new book?

Although I wrote most of the book before Taka joined my family, he played a very important role as I finished the manuscript. Every writing day would begin and end with a lengthy cuddle with Taka on the futon in my office. Taka would also let me know throughout the day when it was time to take a break. He had several strategies for this: a) barking or pawing at me to “come play,” b) gently nibbling at my sleeve or leg to get my attention, c) bringing his favorite toy and depositing it either on my lap or my desk, or, more often than not, d) all of the above! These playful “disruptions” and the frequent neighborhood walks and trips to the dog park with Taka provided the best relief from writing and brought joy to even the most frustrating of writing days.

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

He loves to go everywhere he can with us (except, that is, to the vet’s office and the pet store) but he especially loves going to one of the many amazing dog parks in the Twin Cities. His absolute favorite is the Minnehaha Dog Park followed closely by the Airport Dog Park and Battle Creak Dog Park. He also loves to go to anywhere his sister Stella is.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

Taka has a “special relationship” with his brother-cat Ben. Ever since he was a pup, he’s been fascinated with Ben and Ben’s sister Turtle. Taka expresses his fascination with them by either chasing them or smothering them with doggy slobber (or more often than note, chasing them so that he can then slobber them).

While Turtle abhors this type of behavior and thus does her best to avoid Taka by hanging out in places that Taka can’t reach (the top of the freezer is her favorite spot), Ben apparently relishes it. In fact, Ben seems to take great pleasure in tormenting Taka He’s especially fond of stealing Taka’s bed [photo left], swatting Taka from the tabletop as he passes by, and flaunting his freedom by strutting his stuff in front of Taka’s crate when Taka is on a “time-out.” Taka will often return the favor by swatting back at Ben (with his ridiculously over-sized paws), chasing him around the house, or giving him an unwelcome slobber bath. Many other times though they can be found almost-snuggling together, sharing nose-kisses, and generally behaving like buddies.

What is Taka's best quality?

He has too many to name just one, but if I had to choose, I’d say it’s his warm and friendly goofy personality. Incidentally, his goofiness is best reflected in his goofy-looking “airplane” ears, which just refused to stand up like regular German shepherd ears!

If Taka could change one thing about Minnesota, what would it be?

That he could come to work with me every day at the University.

What is Taka's proudest moment?

Squeezing through Ben’s kitty door as a 65 lb puppy (followed closely by breaking into the refrigerator and stealing leftover turkey burgers and breaking into the cooler and taking out a bottle of beer).

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

Brad Pitt—a fitting combination of handsomeness, toughness, intelligence, and goofiness!

Visit Dominique A. Tobbell's website, and read more about her book, Pills, Power, and Policy: The Struggle for Drug Reform in Cold War America and Its Consequences.

Writers Read: Dominique A. Tobbell.

--Marshal Zeringue

Nancy Jensen & Gordy

Who is in the photo at right?

This is a photo I had taken of me, Nancy Jensen, with my dog Gordy when my editor told me I needed some new press photos in preparation for the publication of my novel The Sisters. I hate to be photographed, so I took Gordy with me to help keep me relaxed during the shoot. I also took the chance to ask the photographer to take a photograph of me and Gordy together, as I’ve found it very difficult to get my wiggly dog to sit still for any photo at all. Whenever I try to snap a shot of him, he dances around, obviously waiting for me to toss the camera across the yard for him.

Gordy is five years old, a Heinz 57 stray. When he first turned up, everyone assumed he was Black Labrador mix, but I had a DNA analysis done, and it turns out he’s about 40% Beagle, followed by lesser percentages of Afghan hound, Rottweiler, Weimaraner, and several other breeds.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Here [photo left], Gordy is enjoying a break with his beloved surrogate grandma, Mia Culling, who is also the brilliant trainer who had, luckily for me, just moved to the rural area where I was living when 6-week old Gordy turned up at my house frozen and starving in February 2007. This is Mia’s kitchen, one Gordy’s happiest places on earth.

What's brewing?

Today, we’re actually having tea—nothing fancy. I have some, too. But I’m taking the picture.

Any treats for you or Gordy on this occasion?

Indeed, yes! Grandma Mia had prepared some delicious sweet corn muffins, so Gordy could share in the snack!

How were you and Gordy united?

It was a frigid mid-February day, five inches of snow on the ground with more expected. The sun was just going down when I heard a piteous cry coming from the hill sloping down from my deck. I saw a tiny black smudge racing across the yard, so I ran out to my front porch and saw the smudge about to disappear over another hill beyond my neighbor’s house. Very quietly, so quietly I could barely hear it myself, I whispered, “Puppy?” The little smudge flipped around, came racing toward me, leapt into my arms, snuffled with relief and fell asleep. Suddenly I, confirmed cat lady, had a dog.

How did Gordy get his name? Any aliases?

Gordy’s real name is Gordian, as testament to the Gordian Knot—the classical knot so complex it can never be untied—around my heart. He became Gordy right away, because he was too cute for such a formal name.

What role has Gordy played in your writing?

Mostly Gordy flips at my arm with his nose when I’m trying to type. In the spring of 2010, when I was working to meet a deadline for revisions, he also helped by barking madly every time he heard the tiniest movement coming from the five men who were putting a new roof on my house. In The Sisters, my character Grace takes in all kinds of stray animals, and while I think she would have been this sort of person anyway, perhaps if it had not been for Gordy, Grace’s dog Charlemagne would not have found his way into the story.

Please tell us about Gordy's work as a therapy dog.

The amazing Mia, who trained Gordy (and trained me to train him) invited us to join her pet therapy group as soon as Gordy graduated from obedience training, when he was about 12 weeks old, so he has worked as a therapy dog nearly all his life. Our group visits nursing homes and adult day care centers, and the latter are the places Gordy likes most to visit. Many of these centers cater to adults with severe disabilities, providing the care they need during the day while their families work. Gordy has a particular gift for locating and befriending people who are agitated or uncommunicative. As soon as he nudges them, the nervous people start to calm and uncommunicative people—some who haven’t spoken in months or years—will begin to stroke Gordy and murmur to him. Pretty amazing.

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

Aside from visiting his grandma Mia, Gordy loves best to go to Historic Rugby in Rugby, Tennessee, where he likes to walk the trails and visit his many friends in the village. While in Rugby, he also expects to spend a couple hours as the shop dog for our friends who sell antiques and original artwork there.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

When we moved recently from the country to a side-walked neighborhood in a small city, Gordy discovered squirrels, and of course also discovered that he loves to chase them. He lives in the house with 8 cats, whom he is not permitted to chase, so chasing the squirrels gives him a lot of joy and makes him feel important. He has completely fallen in love with our mailman, who is equally besotted with Gordy, so they get to enjoy a five-minute play date several times a week.

What is Gordy's best quality?

He’s very loving and is always eager to make friends with new people—so long as he’s absolutely sure they mean me know harm, since he’s also an exceptional watchdog.

If Gordy could change one thing about Kentuckians, what would it be?

The absurd number of very loud pickup trucks and the supply of badly behaved dogs that so often ride around in the back of them.

What is Gordy's proudest moment?

Once when we were out walking, a strange dog came flying at us out of nowhere, barking and growling and threatening to attack. Gordy stayed calm, body blocked me to protect me, stood his ground and first gave a warning growl, then calming signals to the other dog. The other dog stopped, looked very puzzled, grunted in irritation and slunk away.

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

Oh, that’s a hard one—but I guess I’d have to say it would be the young actor, Rico Rodriguez, who plays Manny on Modern Family because, like Manny, Gordy is enormously sweet, cheerful, and thrilled to be silly, but he’s also very serious about his dignity, and he’s smarter than any other dog in town.

Visit Nancy Jensen's website.

My Book, The Movie: The Sisters.

Writers Read: Nancy Jensen.

The Page 69 Test: The Sisters.

--Marshal Zeringue

Dorris Heffron & Yukitu and Ike's Hope

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Dorris Heffron. I'm a novelist, sitting with my Alaskan Malamutes, Yukitu and the pup, Ike's Hope.

Yukitu, female, is 5 years. Ike is 3 months in the photo with totem pole -- now he is 6 months.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Every morning I hike the trails on our 50 acre country property with my dogs then brew a mug of fresh coffee before sitting down to my desk.

What's brewing?

I make cafe au lait from freshly roasted beans bought from Ashanti Coffee Brewery in nearby Thornbury, Ontario. Ashanti imports the beans from their plantation in Kenya.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

My dogs get Ashanti dog cookies.

How were you and your dogs united?

We got Yukitu as a pup from Wolfrunner Kennels and Ike from Shelaskan Kennels.

How did they get their names? Any aliases?

Yukitu is named after my first malamute, Yukon Sally [photo left]. Ike's Hope, aka Ikey, relates to a character, Ike, in my recent novel, City Wolves. At the heart of the novel is the ancient story of how a Malamute speaking Inuit couple, Ike and Piji, steal wolf pups and eventually produce working sled dogs of the breed now known as Alaskan Malamutes.

What role have your dogs played in your writing?

I was so intrigued by the wolf-like traits of my first malamute, Yukon Sally, that I researched the history of the breed, which led to researching wolves. Then I took Yukon Sally to the Yukon, where we got interested in the Klondike gold rush. Upon return we sold our Toronto house and bought the country property (which I named Little Creek Wolf Range) and got Jake [photo right, with Yukitu], a companion malamute for Yukon Sally.

The dogs kept taking me to the local woman veterinarian, ostensively to get porcupine quills removed so they could go back and teach the porcies a lesson...until I clued in and got the real message from Yukon Sally. She wanted my novel to be about how wolves became sled dogs, their glory days in the Klondike gold rush and have the main character a woman vet, the first woman vet. So I researched veterinary history and eventually wrote my fifth novel, City Wolves. It was a ten year project. Yukon Sally had become old and ill. After I got news that the novel would be published, a few days later, on the darkest day, December 21st, Yukon Sally was laid to rest in my arms.

Do your dogs have a favorite place to go for an outing...and do they get there very often during winter?

Thanks to an invisible fence system, our dogs run free on 30 acres of Little Creek Wolf Range. In winter they can pull a sled or lead me round on my snowshoes.

Squeaky-toy, ball, stick...?

Malamutes prefer live toys, like chasing rabbits or running raccoons up a tree.

What is each dog's best quality?

I love the sensitivity and independent thinking of malamutes. They are not obedient but highly co-operative if respectfully treated, like very intelligent teenagers.

Though a strong male, Ikey is also a cuddle monster. Though regal and dominant, Yukitu is also very playful.

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

Nothing. Malamutes are super friendly and tolerant of most any human trait, except cruelty.

What is each dog's proudest moment?

I'm not sure. It would have to do with winning the race, cutting off at the pass, or, I'm loathe to say...actually catching a rabbit.

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

Paul Gross for Ike, please. And Margaret Atwood could do Yukitu.

Visit Dorris Heffron's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Christine & Bogart and Brando

Who is in the photo at right?

This is a photo of me, Christine, and Humphrey Bogart. I'm a homeschool parent of four children. Our four year old has epilepsy and autism so my family helps with the blog, too. I'm a pet parent to 4 dogs (three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and one Border Collie.) Marlon Brando is a year old, Humphrey Bogart and Ziggy Stardust are 8 months and 7 months old. Cleopatra is at best guess 2 years old. We've just adopted her from the shelter, and she's only been with us three weeks.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

First agility drill after the holidays.

What's brewing?

Maxwell House Breakfast Blend.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Cadbury Roasted Almond bar.

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

Dick Van Patton's Natural Balance Dog Food Roll. (All of our dogs will do any trick for it! High value treat!!)

How were you and your dogs united?

Well, it was love at first sight. I had to wait 20 years to get a Cavalier, and the passing of my mother who wanted nothing to do with dogs. Our Marlon Brando came from a breeder in Missouri. He had a very long 12 hour flight to New Mexico. We adopted Humphrey a few months after Brando, and Ziggy a few months after Humphrey.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

We love old movies. Aliases are My Dinkin' for Brando, and Humfee Dumfee for Humphrey.

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

Marlon Brando has a collection of 40+ stuffed animals that he brings outside, and buries. Our yard is full of holes! Humphrey loves all toys!

Where is Bogart and Brando's favorite place for an outing?

Sonic's Drive In where they always get treats from the carhops, and a grilled chicken sandwich from my husband.

Who are Bogart and Brando's best pet-pals?

Ziggy, Cleopatra, my son's cat, Elvis Purrssley, my daughter's dog, James Cagney.

What is each dog's most endearing quality?

Both Brando and Humphrey give hugs. They nuzzle right around your neck.

If Bogart and Brando could change only one thing about you, what would it be?

I would wake earlier to feed them sooner!

What is each dog's proudest moment?

Brando walking through Petsmart for the first time. He's no longer afraid of shiny floors! Humphrey is an AKC STAR PUPPY. He's working towards CGC, and hopefully, will be a therapy dog soon.

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

Of course, Humphrey Bogart and Marlon Brando!

Visit Brando and Bogart's blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Terri Jacobson & her greyhounds

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Terri Jacobson and I am one of the servants at Greyhound Gardens. By day I am a graphic designer at a community college, by night I take photos and everything in between I spend with the dogs. The greyhound snagging the treat out of my hand is Minnie. She’s eight years old and is one of the spunky ladies that keeps the rest of the hounds in line.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

My partner Karen and I actually have coffee twice a day, every day with the hounds. Our back patio overlooks a fenced acre and we spend an hour every morning and an hour every evening out on the patio having coffee.

What's brewing?

Fresh ground and home brewed, strong with a splash of cream.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

During the summer months, the dogs love to eat the fresh fruits, cherries, plums and apples as they ripen on the trees. They have also discovered bully stix, they are a coveted favorite.

How were you and your dogs united?

I’ve been involved in greyhound adoption for a long time. Some of our hounds we adopted because they were seniors or shy or had other issues that made it harder for them to be adopted. Minnie was three months old when we met her at a greyhound farm. I really wanted to see what the racing side was like, so we bought her and her half-brother Flocko [photo left] as puppies to follow them through their careers. When they retired, we brought them home to be our pets.

Timber [photo right] is a fluffy greyhound, a borzoi. He was a complete surprise for us. A friend of ours knew the family that had Timber and the allergies had kicked into full swing with a borzoi. In November 2011 he called and asked if we would be interested. I thought for sure that our friend was kidding, who would give up a one-year old borzoi? Two weeks he called me back and asked if we’d thought about it. He gently reminded me that most of our pack was getting older and it might be nice for us to have a younger dog around. Enter the borzoi at Greyhound Gardens.

When Mickey was born, the kennel owner called me because she knew I had a secret obsession for white and black dogs. Mickey was two days old when we held him for the first time. I think I may have named him Mickey so that I would have “Mickey and Minnie.” He came home from the track only having raced once or twice.

How did your dogs get their names?

Any nicknames? Most of the greyhounds kept their kennel names when we adopted them. We named Talley after one of our veterinarians, we got to name Minnie and Mickey when they were pups. They all have nicknames and a song to go with their name.

You've got some beautiful photos on your website. What's the biggest challenge in shooting dogs?

My hope is to someday become a pet photographer. The more photos I take of the dogs, the more challenges I encounter. The natural light outside is rarely perfect. Most of the time I am either fighting direct harsh sunlight or because we live in Oregon, I deal with a lot of really flat, overcast skies. I’m an eye person, so if the eyes are perfectly focused with a highlight, the photo rarely makes the first cut. I’ve dumped a lot of great action shots just because of the eyes.

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

Anywhere with a leash attached is a favorite place to walk. Since photography is my second passion after the dogs, nearly every week-end we take one dog on an adventure. Sometimes we go to the beach, sometimes we hike in the mountains and sometimes we just go for a drive to see where we end up.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

Surely you jest, the squirrels drive the dogs crazy. Our property is surrounded by tall cedar trees, perfect squirrel villas.

We used to have a significantly large population of feral cats, but I think they all got the memo and no longer come around. Or, they have each other to chase around.

Squeaky-toy, stick, Frisbee..?

Squeaky toys rule for most of the dogs. Flocko lives to play with his ball and Timber is quite the tug-o’-war king.

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

Definitely, without a doubt quit the day job and get a bigger bed.

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

Actually, I think being Oregonians suits us perfectly.

The occasionally potty break out in the rain is not always welcome, but the standing water afterwards is a favorite to run through.

The temperature is almost always livable. We are only an hour from the coast and an hour from the mountains. It’s perfect.

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

You live in a multi-hound household and that isn’t going to change. We’ve given each of you your own cushions, kennels and bowls. We’re always available for ear scritches. What else do you want from us to make this the best life ever?

Visit the websites for Greyhound Gardens and Terri Jacobson Photography & Design.

--Marshal Zeringue

Kirsten Stade & Lamar, Fozzie, and Sandy

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Kirsten Stade and I work for a nonprofit environmental group helping defend public employees who blow the whistle on agency environmental misdeeds. I also teach dog training classes, groom dogs out of my home, and volunteer at my local humane society.

In the photo I am with my old friend Lamar, a 12-year-old Anatolian shepherd mix I rescued as a young dog from the Santa Fe Animal shelter when I lived there years ago. My intention was to foster him, and that lasted about 3 days.

I currently have two foster dogs as well as Lamar. Fozzie Bear is a Mastiff mix I rescued from a nearby shelter two years ago with every intention of finding him a home quickly. Sandy is our newest foster; she is pictured with my sweetie and co-conspirator Florian Rouiller.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Lamar and I celebrated my birthday on the outer banks of North Carolina with my family last year. We are an outdoorsy lot and love to explore new places with all the dogs!

What's brewing?

Unlucky for Lamar, I'm afraid the beverages I enjoyed for my birthday were not dog-appropriate! Fozzie is rather particular with food and drink; he likes mountain spring water better than anything.

Sandy will try just about anything; she wanted to try some Leinenkugel's Berry Weiss [photo right] but don't worry, Florian stopped short of allowing her to guzzle his brew.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Lamar and I got to share some birthday carrot cake.

How were you and your dogs united?

I met Lamar when I visited the shelter with my co-worker to take his wife, who worked there, out to lunch; I saw Lamar, who was named Toby, and Toby extended his paw to me repeatedly, and I told the shelter staff that if his time ran out, they should give me a call.

I met Fozzie after I got permission from the rescue group I volunteered with to pull a dog from a high-kill shelter in Maryland. I wanted to pull an older, calm, medium-sized, female of some easy-to-find-a-home for breed. I brought Florian with me, and Florian stuck his tongue between the bars of the cage that contained Bullet, a massive, powerful, adolescent male who was on death row because he'd failed his evaluation due to an overabundance of energy and poor impulse control. Bullet exuberantly returned Florian's overtures, which is how he came to be named Fozzie Bear and living with us.

Sandy is the result of my receiving an email about a dog who was stressed out at the shelter where I volunteer, right when I was in a vulnerable mood.

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

Lamar Latrell is named after the famous nerd in Revenge of the Nerds, one of my favorite movies of my youth.

Fozzie Bear was the furthest thing I could think of from Bullet and the perception some people might have of such a large, powerful, muscular dog.

Sandy's name was given her by the shelter.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

Fozzie's prey drive is through the roof. Lamar has some interest in prey species but is nice to the postman. Sandy seems pretty good around other species, especially humans. I don't completely trust her around my parakeets yet, but she may be able to be placed with a family with a cat--I can get back to you on that one if anyone's interested!

Where is your dogs' favorite place for an outing?

Our favorite places are hiking trails all over Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia and the pups love any place they can run free and get wet.

Our favorites are all on our blog.

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

Lamar is a Frisbee star--he can catch them behind his back in midair. Sandy and Fozzie haven't figured out how to catch yet, but Sandy is an amazing jumper [photo right].

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

Lamar is not a huge fan of any other pets, though surprisingly he sometimes plays with Sandy the annoying little pup. Fozzie and Sandy usually have a lot of fun together, though Fozzie gets tired of Sandy's constant harassment.

What is each dog's most endearing quality?

Lamar likes to take his Frisbee and place it on the grass and then throw himself down on it and roll around on his back, making happy groaning grunting noises.

Fozzie is the most sensitive dog I have ever met, and if any human is ever upset Fozzie is on that human's chest or lap. Generally he can't get close enough to his people.

Sandy grunts and snorts a lot when she chews on things, but also when she kisses you and when you pet her.

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

Probably the fact that I have this compulsion to acquire other dogs! I think each of them would prefer having us humans all to themselves.

What is each dog's proudest moment?

I'm pretty proud of the progress Fozzie and I have made on his leash reactivity. We still have work to do, but we've learned a lot.

Sandy does great at adoption events--we've been proud at every one I've taken her to.

It's hard to pick one proud moment from 11 years with my main man Lamar. I'm proud of him for his incredible athleticism at the age of 12, his airborne Frisbee catches, his love of swimming, and his paws, which were the reason I rescued him and are still so expressive.

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--Marshal Zeringue