Maria Morgan & Precious and Joe

Who is in the photo at right?

Hi, I'm Maria Morgan, and these are our two retrievers, Precious Princess, and Mighty Joe. I'm an inspirational/devotional writer who also loves writing children's stories. Currently, I'm working on a devotional series and am a regular contributor to a local publication, Around About Cumming. I must say, these two furry friends have provided the inspiration for numerous blog posts! You can check out my website.

Enough about me, let's get back to the dogs! Precious is a Golden Retriever and Mighty Joe is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and I appreciate the opportunity to feature them at Coffee with a Canine.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I may be a bit different than you other dog owners out there. Our canines are outdoor dogs with their own separate houses (designed by a friend to match our house!)and bark parks, so sharing my coffee time with them is a bit of a challenge! But I can say that I routinely drink my steaming mug of Suisse Mocha (Maxwell House International Cafe) right before I lace up my gym shoes to spend some carefree time with my pooches. And they don't even seem to mind my coffee breath! My husband is the true coffee aficionado and enjoys ordering various coffees to use in his daily espresso. But that's a story for another time!

Any treats for your dogs on this occasion?

We give our dogs a variety of different treats, although not regularly. True to her feminine nature, Precious has to watch her 'girlish' figure, so we try to be careful that she doesn't over-indulge. And of course we can't just give treats to Joe and leave Precious out!

Their favorite treats are meat scraps from barbecue pork shoulder and homemade peanut butter treats, baked with extra love by a sweet neighbor. Hmmm, even though we're talking dog treats, I'm getting a little hungry!

How were you and Precious and Joe united?

I hate to admit that I wasn't much of a dog person before we got our two puppies. Years ago, when we lived in an apartment, we had promised our daughter a puppy as soon as we bought a house. That promise was a bit overdue. After we determined the type of dog that would best suit our lifestyle, my husband began researching breeders.

Four years ago, we adopted our dogs from Gold Eagle Kennels in Alabama. When we made the trip to the kennel, we had planned on just picking up our Golden Retriever. While there, my husband also wanted to look at the Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. After spending some time with Mighty Joe, we agreed to adopt both dogs, making for an interesting car ride home!

Precious was just six weeks old when we welcomed her into our family, and Joe was an energetic yearling. I can't say enough about how these two have wormed their way into my heart and opened my eyes to the wonderful world of canines!

How did Precious and Joe get their names? Any nicknames?

Our daughter had mulled over dozens of names and carefully picked out, Lady. All that changed when she laid eyes on the six-week old, ball of fluff and exclaimed, "How precious!" And she's been Precious Princess ever since; Precious for short. When we registered her with the AKC, there were 17 other dogs with the same name(!), so she became Precious Princess the 18th. Our family is totally into nicknames, so we often refer to her by one of these terms of endearment: PP18, Eloise, GG, Golden Girl, PupPup, The Rug, and Pupper.

Since he was 15 months old when we got him, Mighty Joe had already been named. We usually just call him Joe, although nicknames abound for him, too: JoBe, Big Red, Big Buddy, Mighty Chesterpeake, Mocha Joe, Nature Boy, and Big Red Horse, to name just a few!

Tennis ball, squeaky-toy, stick?

On this one, we live in a house divided! Precious and Joe are as different as night and day. When Precious was a puppy, Joe thought toys were only for big dogs. He claimed every toy and as a result, Precious was left with what we began referring to as 'natural' toys, sticks, sticks, and more sticks! To this day, Joe loves anything he can run and fetch: a frisbee (his personal favorite), tennis ball, or rubber animal. Precious on the other hand, couldn't care less about toys. She prefers a good stick any day!

Who are Precious and Joe's best pet-pals?

True to the nature of her breed, Precious greets every dog with her tail wagging, and that, can-I-be-your-friend look, in her gorgeous brown eyes! Of late, she seems to be getting along quite well with the turtles who slowly make their way across her bark park. Yes, I've had to deliver a surprised turtle or two from the clutches of her mouth! Not to worry though, as I gently release them well outside of her fenced area, not much worse for the wear.

Joe is a classic alpha dog all the way. If a dog even looks at him the wrong way, he takes it as a challenge. He gets along well with his sister, Precious (as long as she stays in her own bark park!), but doesn't make a point of being too friendly with other canines. Comically, squirrels, are a different story. He often allows them to waltz right onto the porch of his house and get a piece of dog food out of his bowl. How funny is that?! We joke that they're his pets! Go figure!

What is each dog's proudest moment?

Precious' proudest moment comes right before we take our evening walk. Her excitement builds as she hears me get her leash. She flies down the hill of her bark park and bounces up and down, tail wagging madly. Once she's released from her area, she continues on a beeline straight for our pond. As she plunges into the cool water, and begins wading around, you'd think she just won a prize, judging from the thoroughly satisfied look on her pretty face!

Joe is proudest when he's involved in an intense game of fetch. Let me help you understand. When we got Joe, he had never played before. We literally had to teach our 15-month old dog how to play! It was pretty humorous listening to my husband coaxing Joe to play by repeating over and over, "You're a retriever." These days, his proudest moment is definitely when he makes a seemingly impossible catch that leaves our mouths hanging open. I must say, he's one athletic dog! You go, Joe!

What is each dog's best quality?

If I had to sum it up, Precious' best quality is being loving. She loves giving kisses and she is the ultimate cuddler! When I'm in her bark park, she leans up against me and just oozes love from those big, brown eyes of hers. No matter where she is in her space, she comes running when we're around. She loves coming into the house and snuggling while we watch TV. She rolls over for a tummy rub, and if we stop petting her, she's quick to let us know that we're slacking on the job! We love our Golden Girl!

Joe's best quality is loyalty. He loves to position himself where he can see into the house and catch glimpses of us throughout the day. When we talk to him, he cocks his head from side to side as if he's doing his very best to understand us. He's very cautious when it comes to outsiders. He doesn't let just anyone approach him. He is totally devoted to us. Joe has come a long way since we got him (learning how to play, overcoming his fears, etc)and is a wonderfully, faithful friend! We love our Mighty Chesterpeake!

Visit Maria Morgan's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Diane Bruder & Blues Traveler and Ginger Snaps

Who is in the photo at right?

That's me, Diane Bruder, with my dog, Blues Traveler. I am a high school Speech, English and Drama teacher at Bay City Central High School and have coached academic teams like Debate, Student Congress, Forensics and Mock Trial. This fall I hope to work with Junior Student Council and an afterschool enrichment program for at risk youth.

What are your dogs' names and vital statistics?

I have two American Hairless Terriers. My Male is the darker of the two dogs, named Blues Traveler and he is 11 years old. The pink dog is my female, Ginger Snap, and she is two-and-a-half years old. American Hairless Terriers are rare and have only been in existence since 1972. They were first bred by Edwin Scott of Trout Creek Kennels.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I have coffee each morning at 5:00 a.m. with my husband and I pack his lunch before he leaves for work. Blue and Ginger go outside to play and do their doggie duties. If I am not working, like in the summer, they bolt up the stairs afterwards and we snuggle under the covers until about 7:30 am.

What's brewing?

Fresh Ground 8 o’clock coffee, with Sugar Free Coffee Mate Vanilla Caramel Creamer, compliments of James Bruder, the Java Master of our house.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Just cereal or yogurt and fruit slices.

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

The dogs enjoy Pupperoni Dog treats or Beggin’ Strips and VitaK Peanut Flavored Vitamin Drops along with a little lick of yogurt or milk left over from my cereal to wash it all down.

Some mornings I will hand feed them dog food from a “people bowl” while watching TV on the couch. It is the same food in their bowl, but for some reason it just tastes better when mom hand feeds it to them on the couch.

How were you and your dogs united?

Blue came from the breeder, Wade’s Kennels in Arizona. He flew via plane in January, 11 years ago and was just 8 weeks old when we got him.

Ginger came to be with us 2 years ago when we lost our female Rat Terrier, Gidget. Blue needed a buddy to play with as he was depressed when Gidget died. Ginger came via airplane from Trout Creek Kennels in Louisiana. She was already six months old.

How did the dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Blue’s full registered name is Wade’s Blues Traveler. His sire’s name was Blueberry and his Dame’s name was Moody Blues. We wanted to keep the name Blue and since he came to us via plane he was Blues Traveler, named after a musical group, starring John Popper.

Ginger got her full name of Trout Creek’s Ginger Snap, because she is very sweet like the cookie, but Snaps around the yard chasing things or just having a good run.

Blue’s alias is “Mama’s Fat-Rat” because he has gained some chunk over the ears…probably due to my hand fed morning treats.

Ginger’s nickname is “Ginny the Belly-Warmer” because she likes to cuddle in close to my belly when sitting on my lap under a blanket or snuggled under the bed covers at night.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Ginger does the chasing and Blue just follows along barking because she does. They will bark off anyone that comes to the door including the postman but are more likely to chase after animals. Their favorites are squirrels and bunnies or any rodent with fur. Maybe it is hair envy?

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

Most definitely any form of ball be it small tennis ball or football-- Preferably one that squeaks or has fur on it or stuffing in it. They like to chase it and beat it up by swinging it violently side to side before laying it at my feet to throw it again. If left unattended with a tennis ball, they will chew all the fur off it.

Ginger does all the running, and Blue, now that he is older, waits for her to bring it close to me and then steals it from her to lay it at my feet.

Where are your dogs' favorite places for outings?

Favorite places are: the back yard, going for a bye-bye in the car, taking a walk along the river or around the block, on a lap or by a lap, on the couch snuggled under a blanket, or curled up under the blankets next to me in bed. Blue likes to lay his head on the bed pillow next to mine, and Ginger likes to curl up in my belly. They like to be anywhere their family is; they are very social, loving and loyal.

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

Each other, our family, and any visitor who comes to the house that pets or feeds them treats.

What is each dog's best quality?

Both are very loving and loyal. Blue likes to lick noses, and Ginger likes to playfully nibble fingers. It is more of a lick and taste than a bite. Both dogs mind well, and don’t run off even when we take them camping in the woods. I love their tenacity when playing. They will play until they drop if I let them.

Because they are hairless, they have no dander either and are very hypoallergenic dogs. I do not sneeze or get hair on my couch or clothes. They are very hearty and healthy dogs, and can be bathed once a week in a laundry deep sink or right in the shower with the same body shampoo the rest of the family uses. We moisturize their skin just the same way we do our own.

They are not outdoor dogs but are easy to care for dogs. They need SPF 50 protection in the summer so they do not burn, and long legged pajamas and wool coats in the winter so they can go outside and still stay warm.

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

Blue’s proudest moment was when he learned to jump up on the couch by himself and walk on a leash. For some odd reason he has to spin in circles about 8 times before he goes down stairs, exits a door or jumps on furniture. Yesterday, he was out in the yard by himself and spotted a squirrel. He had his first chase ever and treed the squirrel! He is a well-mannered dog and has never peed or soiled any carpets in the house. He is very intelligent and easy to train. He was crate trained and had an older dog to emulate.

Blues' most embarrassing moment was that because he was around an older female dog, he squatted to pee, instead of lifting his leg the first 6 months of his life.

Ginger’s proudest moment was getting her doggy certificate from Pet Smart Training School. She didn’t totally understand the tricks until about 3 weeks after the class and then they just stuck with her. She hasn’t forgotten her basic commands.

Her most embarrassing moment was when I found a doggie doo-doo under my dining room table. When I showed it to her and asked her what it was, she cowered down and gave me the big brown eyes and then rolled on her back in submission for me to pet her belly.

--Marshal Zeringue

Kathy & Milou

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Kathy and I am a former stay at home mom. I say former, because our son is grown now, but I still don't work outside of the home. I love to read and blog about the books I've read on my blog - Bermudaonion's Weblog. Milou (pronounced Me - lou) is a female (spayed) Jack Russell Terrier who will be 15 at the end of the year.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Relaxing and/or reading on the front porch.

What's brewing?

I don't drink a lot of hot drinks, so my drink of choice would be Buffalo Rock Ginger Ale. They don't sell it in our part of the country, so I have to stock up when I visit Alabama.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

I had trouble coming up with something so I asked my family and they said, "Olives!" I do love olives and cheese.

How did Milou come to join your household?

Our son begged for a dog when we lived in France, but we felt the time wasn't right since we lived in a small, second story apartment. After we returned to the US, we put him off as long as we could, but finally gave in to his begging. We bought Milou from an old man out in the country, outside of Charlotte, NC.

Any treat for Milou on this occasion?

Of course! She's in charge and gets whatever she wants!

How did your dog get her name? Does she have any nicknames?

Milou is named after Tintin's dog, but gets called all kinds of things - her majesty, princess, spoiled, etc.

Does she make any contribution to your blog?

I've featured her on my blog a few times, but not recently.

Before she preferred napping, would she have been more likely to get after a squirrel, cat, or postman?

Since Milou loves all people and gets along with cats, I'd say a squirrel.

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

Tennis ball and squeaky toy in her younger days. Now the only toys she plays with are two small, round, soft squeaky toys.

Where is Milou's favorite place for an outing?

These days I'd say the front porch or the backyard.

Who are your dog's best pet-pals?

We have friends who own a border collie, and Milou likes to go in her yard with her. Maggie will run up and down the yard about fifty times in the time it takes Milou to make two laps. She also likes to walk with a schnauzer named Bowser in our neighborhood and gets along great with my in-laws' schnauzer Polly.

What is her most endearing quality?

Milou is so sweet and loves everyone and makes us feel so good when she gets excited to see us.

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

She would like to have all of our attention all of the time and would love it if we'd give her more to eat.

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

When we lived in Auburn, one of our neighbor's sons was terrified of dogs. Milou finally won him over and they became great buddies. They actually gave Milou a going away party when we moved. Her most embarrassing moment would probably be when she chewed through her bed and got it stuck on her head.

Visit Kathy's Bermudaonion's Weblog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Cherish D'Angelo & Chai

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Cherish D'Angelo, author of the romantic suspense Lancelot's Lady, and beside me is my pet muse Chai. She's a two and a half year old Pomeranian princess.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I have coffee with Chai every day, but today we decided to venture out and pick up her namesake.

What's brewing?

I'm having my usual―a Chai tea latte with two shots of cinnamon dulce. Steaming hot or iced, I like to alternate. Today we're going hot.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Sometimes I splurge and go for the lemon poppyseed loaf, but most times I just enjoy my Chais.

Any treat for Chai on this occasion?

Besides whatever I slop down my shirt that she gets to lick off, I may take her to PetSmart afterward for a "T". Shhh...we can't say that word out loud or she'll get all excited. Can't even spell it anymore; Chai knows how to spell the "T" word. Oh, and she did get a small cup of milk in a Starbucks cup.

How were you and Chai united?

Sadly, we were brought together by tragedy. After the death of our beloved Royale, a beautiful miniature American Eskimo who was 13 years old, I couldn't stand the silence of the house. With everyone working or in school, the house seemed so empty. I also couldn't stand how depressed everyone was, including me. So I went out one day and bought Chai from a breeder. When my husband and daughter came home that day they were so surprised and fell in love with Chai immediately. She slept draped across my neck for most of that day and I became her Mom.

Does Chai have any influence on your writing?

Somewhat. She reminds me to be gentle sometimes and to have my characters show affection. She also tells me when it's time to take a break and play. She can be very demanding at times and makes sure I don't sit too long.

How did Chai get her name? Does she have any aliases?

Chai was named for my favourite drink at Starbucks. Really. I tell people her full name is Venti Chai Tea Latte With Two Shots Of Cinnamon Dulce. She has all the coloring of that delicious drink, the light milky cream color, the cinnamon color and the streaks of dark tea. My daughter, who loves Japan, came up with Chai's official name―Chai-Chan. Chan means child or little one to the Japanese. Chai also goes by "Poodley-Poo", "Poodley-Bum", "Poo-Head" or "Chai Poo-poo". Not sure why though.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

Squeaky devil duck. That's what she "attacks" most, though she has been known to lunge after wild rabbits and magpies in our backyard. Both are bigger than Chai.

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

Squeaky devil duck. My daughter's boyfriend gave Chai a pink squeaky duck. It had horns on its head. Chai chewed those off in the first couple of days. She's also chewed off the duck's tail. There's now a slit in the duck's neck. The head will be the next to go. Chai loves that duck, though you probably can't tell. She plays with it every day. At dinner time she persistently rolls it with her nose to my husband's feet. Then she barks at him once, ordering him to kick or throw the duck. She'll wait, then bark again. She'll do this until Marc gives in. He always does.

Where is Chai's favorite outdoor destination?

Chai loves to go for walks, especially around the neighbourhood of the house we're building. There are wide walkways and lots of grass and greenery. She's still learning to behave on a leash and she's getting used to meeting other dogs and people.

Where is Chai's favorite indoor destination?

PetSmart. Hands down. She loves sniffing at all the toys there and sometimes picks out the one she wants. She also likes barking at all the bigger dogs that view her as a chew toy or snack. She thinks she's so tough.

Who is Chai's best pet-pal?

My daughter's best friend's dogs: Jenna and Misty.

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

She would have my laptop surgically removed from my lap so that she can sleep there every day all day long. Chai is very jealous of my "metal puppy". If I'm working while sitting on the couch, she will push herself across my laptop and try to flop across the keyboard. She's very persistent.

Where is Chai's favorite place to sleep?

Other than on my lap, on my bed. Pressed up against me no matter how much empty space there is.

What is Chai's best quality?

She's very affectionate and sweet. She's like a little baby―one suffering from hypertrichosis.

What is the most amusing thing Chai does? The most frustrating?

She pushes her toys, especially the devil duck, with her nose, often rolling it several yards across the floor, and she manipulates her environment. If a cushion isn't where she wants it to be, she'll move it or pad it with her feet like a cat. She also flips her bed over and uses the bottom like a trampoline, jettisoning her toys by placing them on top and then nudging the bed hard with her head until the toy bounces off. Chai is very entertaining.

The most frustrating thing she does is bark at people at the door. We've tried so many things, from collars to whistles to throwing a jar of pennies on the floor. I mean, it's not like she's really an intimidating guard dog. She'd probably just lick a thief to death and pee on his shoes.

Now I must take both my Chais and get back to writing, not to mention all the blog stops I have while promoting Lancelot's Lady.

Cherish D'Angelo launched her debut contemporary romantic suspense Lancelot's Lady on September 27, 2010. Her novel has already won an Editor's Choice Award from Textnovel.com and placed in the semi-finals of Dorchester Publishing's "Next Best Celler" contest. Though this is Cherish's first romance novel, she's no stranger to booklovers; she's best known as bestselling Canadian suspense author Cheryl Kaye Tardif.

Learn more about Lancelot's Lady and Cherish D'Angelo at the official website and author's blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Joani Ascher & Misty

Who is in the picture at the right?

Joani Ascher, author of the Wally Morris mystery series from Avalon Books, and Misty, a fifteen-year-old female Golden/Lab cross, at a Read Across America Event celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Cat in the Hat at a local school. I am wearing a Cat in the Hat bow tie, which Misty had the sense to refuse.

What’s the occasion for coffee with a canine? Any goodies to go with the coffee? Any treat for Misty?

I love to bake and I do it well, but my husband doesn’t always feel compelled to eat my sweet treats.

Someone has to do the heavy fork lifting and it’s best done with a large cup of coffee. Misty is waiting to see if anything drops to the floor, which could happen, sometimes not so accidentally. To make sure she doesn’t miss anything, she usually has her head in my lap while I eat.

What’s brewing?

I use a combination of Chock Full O’Nuts decaf and Green Mountain Mocha Nut Fudge in a 4:3 ratio. 3:4 results in too much excitement on my part, although Misty doesn’t seem to mind. She is perfectly willing to dance around with me. It makes her laugh.

How were you and Misty united?

Misty was delivered to my door as a seven-week-old Seeing Eye® puppy.

She was our second puppy and our son was raising her.

When she went back to The Seeing Eye at 17 months, my son and I stood on the front lawn and cried because she was the sweetest, most loving dog and we were going to miss her terribly. She tried her best to master her formal training, but the Seeing Eye instructors felt she lacked the confidence to intelligently disobey her handler which could lead to a dangerous situation. When they offered me right of first refusal, I couldn’t get to Morristown to pick her up fast enough. She has been following me everywhere ever since.

She still had a career, though. She became a therapy dog, and we went to nursing homes and schools, where children who were reluctant readers would read to her without worrying that she might judge them.

People tend to relax around dogs, which is why my main character, Wally Morris, took along her
Labrador retriever when she had difficult questions to ask a dog lover.

Have your dogs had any influence on you writing?

The eleven Seeing Eye puppies my family has raised have all helped me stay on task with my writing by taking naps on my feet. That has always kept me in my chair, working away, since getting up to go do something else would result in awakening the sleeping puppy, with the expected results and time requirements. And seeing their little puppy antics and what’s left behind after they walk through a room helped me understand what the characters with dogs in my books were facing. My fictional sleuth, Wally, has a black Lab, which I should have taken into consideration when I carpeted her living room in white, but at the time we were still strictly cat people and I had no idea what a challenge I was giving her.

She also has a grandpuppy, a little yellow Lab with a chewing-the-wrong-thing habit. Wally has had visits from other dogs in the neighborhood, as well as occasions to deal with various cats. In my latest book, Vengeance Runs Cold, a dog leads Wally to her friend at a most critical time.

In addition, exercising the puppies has always been a good time for me to think about the plots in my books and discuss possible twists in the mysteries. Puppies are not great critique partners, however, since they tend to be very agreeable, and they don’t take dictation.

None of the other puppies we’ve raised, however, ever learned as many words and phrases as Misty. With her beautiful brown eyes and intelligent look of comprehension, I can talk all day long and not feel as if I am talking to myself. I take her silence as encouragement for my ideas, which is sometimes all I can get.

How did Misty get her name? Any nicknames?

The Seeing Eye names their puppies by the litter. Two of Misty’s litter mates who were raised by members of our county Seeing Eye club were Mabel and Marigold, whose name I used in my third book. I get many of the names for my characters from a database I keep of the puppies in our club and their canine parents. It makes it easier than you’d think, since many of the names sound more like people’s than dogs’.

We sometimes call Misty Miss Teenyweeny, or Mistery, or Mistywisty, or Mist, if we’re being very casual. It’s not usually necessary to call her though, since she is always by my side.

Where is Misty’s favorite place for an outing?

In the past, Misty loved going up to the reservation for a nice long walk but has to settle for much shorter ones now. Any trip in the car is still fine with her, however, and she never criticizes my driving.

She never met a stream she didn't want to wallow in, and we often had to drive home with a very muddy dog.

Cat, squirrel, postman? Tennis ball, squeaky-toy, stick?

As I said, Misty was raised to be a dog guide. Seeing Eye puppies cannot chase squirrels or birds, and it is the job of the puppy raiser to discourage any tendencies the puppies have to go after other animals. Sticks are discouraged, as they can splinter. Nylabones are recommended instead. No squeaky toy around here, no matter how thick and plush, has ever taken more than a few minutes to be de-squeakered. The puppies can play with balls, and even catch them, but care must be taken during walks to ensure they don’t think all balls are their toys, or all cats are their buddies. Their jobs, when they start working, require focus.

One of our puppies was rejected for lack of focus. I had always worried about her, because although she could catch any ball on a fly no matter which way we threw it, she would stand around outside doing nothing but watching the wind. It turned out that she wasn’t watching it so much as sniffing it, and she was career changed to K9 Explosives Detection Officer. Another puppy had a habit of talking to me when I was on the phone or trying to work, making it hard to hear who was on the other end of the phone and hard to concentrate. She sounded like Astro on the Jetsons and it really appeared that she was trying to form words. I was afraid she wouldn’t be acceptable as a dog guide because they are supposed to be silent, but she passed with flying colors.

One of Misty’s favorite people is our postman, who loves her just as much. She’d pull me up the street if she caught sight of him making his rounds. He recently asked us for a picture of her for his collection and confessed that she is his favorite dog ever. Please don’t tell Comet what his daddy said.

What is Misty’s most embarrassing moment? Proudest?

Misty’s most embarrassing moment was probably when she was a tiny puppy and sat down in her food bowl, getting stuck.

She has a good sense of humor, though, and doesn’t let things like that bother her.

Her proudest moment was when we were at a Seeing Eye club picnic and all the dogs were chasing Misty, who was incredibly fast. They ran around and around trying to catch her, until Misty decided to jump into the baby wading pool that had been put out so the dogs could get water. She lay down in the pool and watched as all the dogs kept running past, and I’m quite sure she thought no one could see her.

Who are Misty’s best pet pals?

Sadly, Misty lost her two pet pals this year. Our cat, Smudge, who was her twin in my mind, since he was born within a month of Misty, was closer to her than any dog.

Bambi, our other dog, who was a black Lab and was another Seeing Eye career change, (puppy #4) also passed away this year. Of all the dogs we have raised here over the years, there has never been one who didn’t want to cuddle up with Misty and she always let us know when one of them needed to go out. The puppies all chewed on Misty’s ears as if they were gum, which she patiently endured no matter how hard we tried to get her to stick up for herself. Some tried to nibble on her back legs. For that reason, we are not raising a puppy now. Misty does not need that anymore.

What is Misty’s best quality?

Utter devotion. She aims to please. And she pees and poops on command.

View photos of all eleven of the puppies Joani Ascher's family raised, as well as a few of her cat, on Joani Ascher's website.

Excerpts of her five Wally Morris mysteries are available on the site as well.

--Marshal Zeringue

Rebecca Katz & Bella

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Rebecca Katz. I’m a cookbook author, chef and culinary translator. My dog name is Bella. She’s a 6-1/2-year-old Portuguese Water Dog.

My books include The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen: Nourishing, Big-Flavor Recipes for Cancer Treatment and Recovery and One Bite at Time.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I have my coffee with Bella while she eats her breakfast.

What's brewing?

We have a fancy little coffee machine. My husband makes lattes in the morning, I just drink one shot of espresso.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

No goodies with the coffee. Just a kick start before Bella and I go for our walk. Then I’ll come back and eat breakfast.

Any treat for Bella on this occasion?

Well, her breakfast is a pretty amazing treat. She eats better most of us!

I've read that Bella prefers carrots to bacon. Can that possibly be true?

It’s true. She prefers carrots to bacon. But, she prefers beef and salmon to carrots.

How were you and Bella united?

Bella and I were united by a trainer who thought Bella had the right temperament to become a good canine cancer scent dog, and would be a great dog for me.

However, the breeder was going to ship her off to live with a family living in a small apartment in NYC. She changed her mind and that decision changed my life.

How did Bella get her name? Does she have any aliases?

Because she’s molto bella! She goes by Miss B, and too many silly names to mention in print.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

She stares out the window watching the squirrels, but she gets totally riled up by the any delivery man. She becomes the attack dog when the UPS truck rolls down the street. She’s a smart dog. The more she barks, the more treats she gets.

Frisbee, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Bella loves her squeaky-toy. However, she loves nothing more than to chew on a stick or branch.

Who are Bella's best pet-pals?

Bella hangs with a floppy eared, loose lipped, slacked jaw, boy toy named Clyde who is a 3-year-old Blood Hound. They are quite the pair!

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

There are no children in the house. She’s the dog child and the center of the universe. That’s the way she likes it.

What is Bella's best quality?

Her winning personality.

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

Her proudest moment would have to be starring in a video about the soup that was named after her — Bella’s Carrot Orange Fennel Soup.

Her most embarrassing moment: When she got caught red handed with a large wedge of Parmesan cheese.

Visit the official Rebecca Katz website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Amber Carlton & Mayzie and Ranger

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Amber Carlton, an advertising copywriter by day and my dog Mayzie's blog assistant by night.

My two dogs are Mayzie, a 3-year-old female mutt (DNA tests showed 25% Boxer, 12.5% Bull Terrier, 12.5% Dachshund and 50% Heinz 57) and Ranger, a 6-year-old male rat terrier.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We recently took a vacation to the western slope of Colorado and spent some time in a quaint town called Ouray. We decided to stop by Mouse's Coffees and Chocolates for, well, coffee and chocolates!

What's brewing?

I had one of Mouse's specialty coffees, the Dirty Hippie, which is espresso and chai.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

One of their delicious Scrap Cookies. They make all their own chocolates and all the scraps that are left over are thrown into cookie dough, so you never know what you're going to get with each bite.

Any treat for Mayzie and Ranger on this occasion?

They each got a little bite of Scrap Cookie - without the chocolate, of course.

How were you and your dogs united?

After researching numerous breeds for our perfect "first dog," we settled on the rat terrier. We were fortunate to find Ranger through a wonderful rescue called Ratbone Rescues. Mayzie, on the other hand, chose us. We stumbled upon an adoption fair and, while we had no intentions of adopting a second dog, she made it clear that we really had no choice in the matter.

How did the dogs get their names?

Ranger was being fostered in Texas so we wanted to give him a name that reflected his "roots." He's a law-and-order kind of dog, so we named him for the famous Texas Rangers lawmen. Mayzie was named for the heroine in "What Maisie Knew" by Henry James. The spelling came from the "Amazing Mayzie" character in "Seussical."

Any aliases?

Ranger's most common aliases are "Doodle" or just plain "Dude." Mayzie is often "Baby Girl" or "Sweetness."

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Well, they live with two cats so cats are definitely off limits. Ranger is okay with the postman but for some reason, feels that the UPS man is definitely not to be trusted. Mayzie believes squirrels were put on this earth for her to chase.

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

Ranger didn't care much for toys before we adopted Mayzie. Now his favorite toy is whatever Mayzie has. Mayzie has a particular love of all things stuffie - although they mysteriously become unstuffed in only a matter of minutes.

Where is Mayzie and Ranger's favorite place for an outing?

Anyplace with wide open spaces.

Who are Mayzie and Ranger's best pet-pals?

Ranger really doesn't have any good pet-pals other than us and Mayzie (and that's just fine with him). But Mayzie loves our cat, Ripley, and has a good buddy in our next door neighbor dog, Hope.

What is each dog's best quality?

Ranger is more than happy to do whatever we want to do. If we want to hang on the couch, that's fine. If we want to go hiking, that's great, too! Mayzie had a rough start in life and came to us very fearful of a LOT of things. Yet she has an enormous capacity for love and trust, and has come so far in the 1 1/2 years we've had her.

What is each dog's proudest moment?

Ranger, being a rat terrier, is always very proud when he sends some small animal like a mouse or bird to meet its maker. And he's always very disappointed in us when we unceremoniously take it away from him and throw it in the trash. I'm pretty sure that he'd be thrilled if we would stuff his "trophies" and mount them on the wall. Mayzie's proudest moments are when she can go into a new situation and find out that, "Hey! This isn't so bad after all!"

Most embarrassing?

In his beginning obedience class, Ranger wiped out during a recall exercise by stumbling over a ditch that was covered by tall grass. On the next try, he made a wide berth around the ditch to ensure that didn't happen a second time. Mayzie has no embarrassing moments. She's pretty sure that life isn't worth living if you can't make yourself and others laugh.

Visit Mayzie's Dog Blog.

--Marshal Zeringue