Sue & Frankie and Beryl

Who is in the photo at right?

That's me, Sue, and Beryl. I don't have any photos of me with my other dog, Frankie. Beryl is an ex-racing Greyhound who I've had since Easter Monday, 2010 (where does the time go?) and she's 4 1/2 years old.

The flash title for my job is Wool Technician, every day term is 'rousie' or 'woolhandler'. I work in a local shearing gang where the guys shear the wool off the sheep and the rousies work with the wool once it's off the sheep. It's hard work and well paid but weather dependent and seasonal and when we're not working we don't get paid! But I love my days off cos I get to be with the kids.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Relaxing with the kids on a day off.

What's brewing?

Lipton's Vanilla Chai Latte. I don't drink coffee but I do drink way too much of this.

Any treat for you and your dogs on this occasion?

Hot Cross Buns are in the shops already so I would have one of them, warmed in the microwave with too much margarine on it and I'd be sharing it with Beryl. Frankie doesn't eat that sort of fancy stuff. He's a meat and potatoes kind of guy.

How were you and your dogs united?

I got Frankie on December 22nd, 2009 from the New Zealand equivalent of Ebay. I'm not sure of his birthdate so I made it Valentines Day and he's just turned 3. He had been rescued from the pound in a smallish country town on the day he was to be PTS! His photos on the auction site weren't very pretty but the sadness in eyes got to me finally and on the last day of his posting I emailed the rescue society to see if he was still available.

Obviously nobody had bought him and after I'd been home checked and he'd been neutered he was driven to my town where I collected him. Boy, did he look better after a couple of weeks in foster care!

And he's a very happy chappy now.

I'd been thinking about getting Frankie a mate for company while I'm at work and he got on really well with his Greyhound friends at the park. In fact the love of his life is a little Greyhound called Lucy. When I saw Beryl's photo on the Greyhounds As Pets site I fell in love with her freckles and the mischief in her eyes!

And her write up said she was showing signs of quirkiness which intrigued me. They weren't wrong either, lol! So I had to very quickly get my application in as there weren't many Greyhounds available at the time due to a bout of kennel cough at the tracks so none could be brought in to the kennels. I was very lucky to get her as she was cat friendly and I haven't got a cat! Beryl soon got the message across to Frankie that she was going to be in charge of things and he took it very well although it was probably a couple of months before he stopped occasionally asking me if she could go away for a while. Now they are best buddies.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Beryl was already Beryl. I was going to change her name as she didn't know it but it suits her and I don't know any other dogs called Beryl. It's quite a conversation starter too. She also gets called The Beryl, The Princess and Ratbag.

Frankie just looked like a Frankie in his photos and I asked for his foster parents to start calling him that before I got him. And he is a Frankie. He is The Armourguard Man at the park as he has to patrol the area and make sure it's safe for us. And Bud and Frankie Panky. Also the Greyhound Magnet. Greyhounds love him.

We have a lot to do with foster Greyhounds and most of them are obsessed with him. Frankie, Beryl, Lucy (Frankie and Beryl's BFF) and Cilla, who has now found her forever home, like to run around the park [photo above left].

Cat, rabbit, postman...?

How about cat, rabbit and possum? I have no real idea what breeds are in Frankie. I'm thinking perhaps Kelpie/Whippet and ...? He is quite a hunter and has caught 7 possums which are a noxious pest in New Zealand. He's what we call here a 'pig hunting' type dog and considering where he came from it's most likely that's what he was bred to be. He certainly likes to hunt. He won't let any cats onto my property and he and Beryl have chased them at the river and they've chased rabbits too but never caught any. But for all his hunting tendencies he's an extremely loving, clever dog and I wouldn't be without him for a second. He has no issues from his previous life. Considering he was found extremely emaciated it's a wonder he doesn't guard his food. Someone missed out on a wonderful dog when they turfed him out on the streets. Hmm, I've digressed a bit from the original question, lol!

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

Oh boy, all of the above, bring 'em on! Frankie will fetch sticks from the river for a long time. Beryl is getting confident in the river with the help of her friend, Jake and his tennis balls. His Mum throws the balls into the river and Beryl helps Jake fetch them. The river isn't deep enough for her to learn to swim in yet but hopefully that will happen before it gets too cool. Frankie tends to run off with tennis balls, he's not good at fetching. I have to have 2 sticks on the go at the river for him.

Then there are the soft toys! Some of which Frankie [photo, right] tends to disembowel!

Where is your dogs' favorite place for an outing?

They love going to the park and river which is where I take them most days.

But the beach is their absolute favourite place.

It's total doggy heaven. We had great excitement there the other day when we came across a seal basking on the sand [photo below right].

Frankie thought it was a weird looking dog and Beryl verbally abused it and told it to get off the beach.

What are your dogs most endearing qualities?

Beryl's would be what is probably a Greyhound characteristic, her teeth chattering when she's anticipating a treat or something else good. Not all Greyhounds do it ... I don't know if other breeds of dogs do it? And she 'foofs' which is what I call it when she blows her cheeks out and makes a 'foofing' noise. And her excitement and joy at new experiences. Frankie's is his all over 'Frankiness'. It's just him, the way he just seems to 'know'. Although he's not always endearing especially when he's rolled in something gross....

They both make me laugh many times a day and that's very endearing.

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

Only one thing, that's difficult. They would say I spend way too much time sitting at the computer when I'm home ... and can we go live at the beach.

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

Frankie's proudest moment is every time he catches a possum. His most embarrassing was probably the first night I had him. I'd gone to the shops to try and get him a raw bone as I had a half-day of work the next day. When I got home (without a bone!) I didn't have a dog any more!! My dog proof section wasn't Frankie proof! Talk about panic. I'd taken him for a walk around a big block that afternoon so I retraced my steps and finally found him not far from home at 9pm when it was almost dark. He was going up driveways and coming out again obviously looking for my place. I called him and he came racing up to me, total relief and embarrassment on his face.

Beryl's proudest moment was a few weeks ago when she got 4th place in a Rally O competition much to my surprise! Her most embarrassing was probably the time she was tearing around at the river with her BFF friend, Lucy and she missed her footing and did a huge face plant in the rocky ground. I even got it on video! Luckily only her pride was hurt. This would be Beryl's only embarrassing moment as she is always right and doesn't get embarrassed!

Visit Sue's Greyhounds CAN Sit blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Tawna Fenske & Bindi

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Tawna Fenske, and I’m an author with three quirky romantic comedies scheduled for release from Sourcebooks, Inc. starting August 2, 2011. My trusty writing companion is Bindi, a two-year-old female Australian Kelpie.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

This is our morning ritual anytime I’m writing (which, admittedly, is most of the time). I cozy up at my computer with a steamy mug of tea while Bindi supervises from her bed under my desk. Her proofreading skills are excellent, though she does tend to get carried away with the love scenes.

What's brewing?

Most Oregonians are coffee fanatics, but I’ve never developed a taste for it. I love tea, particularly English style with lots of milk and sugar. Right now I’m sipping Earl Grey while Bindi snoozes and I brainstorm my next book.

Any goodies to go with the tea?

Not at the moment, but I usually nibble almonds or frozen peas or anything else that’s easy to snack on without removing both hands from the keyboard. Bindi is diligent about hoovering up anything that hits the floor.

Any treat for Bindi on this occasion?

She just cleaned the cat’s ears with her tongue. You probably didn’t want to know that, did you?

How were you and Bindi united?

Our twelve-year-old Akita/Shepherd cross died suddenly of an undetected bleeding tumor, leaving us completely devastated and our elderly Aussie mix confused and lonely.

Our vet recommended a companion for the elderly dog, so we found Bindi through a local rescue group. Like most Kelpies, she instantly knew what her “job” was. We’d go for hikes with the elderly dog (who was deaf and mostly blind) and Bindi instinctively knew to keep track of him and herd him back when he wandered off.

She’s also one of the most loving dogs I’ve ever known, and takes snuggling duty very seriously. When the elderly dog died last fall, Bindi and I spent a lot of time comforting each other.

How did Bindi get her name? Any aliases?

I had the opportunity to watch real working Kelpies herding sheep in Australia, which is an amazing thing to see. We knew we wanted a name with ties to Australia, but spent a few days mulling ideas. In the meantime, we kept calling her “little girl,” and according to some sources, Bindi is the aboriginal word for that. Most people just assume we named her after Steve Irwin’s daughter though.

You've got three novels coming out August 2011, January 2012, and August 2012. Does your dog have any influence on your writing?

Definitely! Bindi is parked under my desk pretty much anytime I’m writing, and I find myself distracted on the rare occasions she’s not there. Bindi requires a lot of exercise, which pretty much forces me to pry myself away from the computer take her for long hikes. It’s during those excursions that I often end up solving plot problems or coming up with my best ideas for how a story should unfold.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Bindi lives with three cats, and she’s rather fond of all of them.

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

Bindi will fetch anything, and the fact that she’s ridiculously fast makes her a challenge at the dog park. We’ve never come across a dog who can sprint faster when fetching, so Bindi ends up being the obnoxious ball-hog no matter who’s throwing or what’s being thrown.

Where is Bindi's favorite place for an outing?

Central Oregon is a recreation lover’s paradise, and Bindi is a great hiking companion. In the summertime we explore the trails near the Cascade Lakes Highway and she swims in the lakes and rivers. She also loves frolicking in the snow during the winter months.

Who is Bindi's best pet-pal?

There are three cats to choose from, but Bindi’s favorite is a big beast known as Blue Cat [photo, left]. The neighbors dubbed him “Battle Cat” for his fearless nature and habit of moving like a tank. It’s not uncommon to have both Blue Cat and Bindi curled up together on the dog bed while I write, and he grudgingly lets her clean his ears every day.

What is your dog's best quality?

Bindi lives to please, so she’s super obedient with very little training required. She comes when called, stays close when off-leash, and will run through her entire arsenal of tricks with minimal prompting.

What is Bindi's proudest moment? And her most embarrassing?

Every now and then I let Bindi sleep on the human bed instead of in her kennel. She always seems proud of that.

As for embarrassing…two days after we got Bindi, she was still trying to learn the rules of the house. I was standing in the kitchen when Blue Cat jumped up on the counter. Before I could grab and remove him, Bindi leapt effortlessly onto the kitchen counter to join him. I was almost too stunned to scold, and when I did, she slunk off into the closet and wouldn’t come out. She was mortified.

Visit Tawna Fenske's website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Bobbie Pyron & Teddy

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Bobbie Pyron and that's my 12-year-old Shetland sheepdog, Teddy. He was my inspiration and muse for my new book, A Dog's Way Home! He's one of three dogs I share my life with. I also have Boo, a coyote mix, and another adopted Shetland sheepdog named Sherlock. But in honor of my new book, I'm letting Teddy soak up the spotlight this time.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

It's a snowy day here at 7,000 feet in Park City and we're celebrating the release of A Dog's Way Home.

Last time you and Teddy and Boo were here on the blog you were drinking tea: is that still your preferred brew?

Oh yes, I'm a tea girl all the way. Right now, I'm drinking a bottled jasmine tea I've become quite addicted to.

Any treat for you or the dogs on this occasion?

Teddy is having his addiction: a Greenie.

Please tell us about your new book.

A Dog's Way Home (for grades 4 and up) is about the bond between 11-year-old Abby and her beloved Shetland sheepdog, Tam. After Abby and Tam compete in a junior agility championship in northern Virginia, they are separated in a terrible car crash on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Over the next 6 months, Tam risks his life as he makes his way south, over four hundred miles, through the winter mountains to get back home to “his girl.”

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

Teddy would be very happy if I never ever left his sight. As a matter of fact, if we were Siamese twins, he'd think that was perfectly fine!

What is Teddy's proudest moment?

Teddy's proudest moment was probably several years ago when he caught his first (and only) mouse. His sister, Boo, catches them all the time, but Teddy—not so much.

And his most embarrassing?

Most embarrassing was the other night when my husband caught him sneaking his hamburger off the coffee table. Normally, Teddy is quite the gentleman but even he has his weak moments!

Learn more about Bobbie Pyron & Boo, Teddy, and Sherlock.

Visit Bobbie Pyron's website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

G. M. Atwater & Nick, Gael, Jesse, and Ash

Who is in the photo at right?

That’s me, G. M. Atwater, and Nick. He’s a 2–1/2 year old smooth-coated border collie, and here we had just placed 2nd in Novice-Novice at the Lacamas Valley (USBCHA) sheepdog trial.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We’ve stopped by the Blind Dog Café in Gardnerville, NV, after a good day of sheepdog training. Nick and his little sister Gael, (age 1-1/2) and the old man, Jesse, (age 12) love what we do.

What's brewing?

Since I’m off caffeine these days, I’m having a delicious cup of Blind Dog’s own Decaf Komodo Dark Roast. (They roast their own beans just one block from the café.)

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

I love a fresh-baked scone or cinnamon roll.

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

They get some Waggin’ Tails Liver Cookies from Scraps Dog Company in Reno.

How were you and your dogs united?

I got Jesse [photo left] as a rescue when he was 2 years old. His previous owner had no clue what to do with a border collie, and hadn’t treated him fairly. At the time, we honestly didn’t need another dog! But I tested Jesse on sheep, and he was so nice that I couldn’t let him go. He’s been with us for the past 10 years. Jesse is a great working dog and a true pal, and I still find work for him, despite age slowing him down.

Nick came from a breeder in northern California. He was actually a gift from my sheepdog training friends, after I lost another pup to an accident. Nick has proven to be a gift in so many ways!

I got his little sister, Gael, when the breeder repeated the mating a year or so later. Gael is such a funny, busy little scamp! And like her brother, she lives to work sheep.

Our 9-month-old Australian Shepherd, Ash, [photo right] was bred by a good friend of mine. I’ve known Ash’s mama and papa all their lives, and I was right there to help when the litter was born. I was the first human being to touch Ash at her birth.

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

Jesse came with his name, but it morphed into Jesse James. I had a whole list of “baby” names picked out for Nick, and narrowed it down to Nick or Joe. He just wasn’t a Joe. His nickname, for no reason at all, is “Nickety-Shoo.” I chose Gael as a classic border collie name for a pretty little girl. We call her Gael “LaRoo,” because she loves to voice a very emphatic roooo! We named Ash for her smoky blue merle coat, and nicknamed her Ashley Ann. We don’t know why.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

Sheep!

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

Sheep! And ball. Gael is meanwhile Ash’s squeaky toy.

Where is your dogs' favorite place for an outing?

Anywhere that has sheep. Or wide-open spaces. They love to run!

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

They have a couple sets of pet-pals. They love to go visit Ash’s family and romp with all that bob-tailed Aussie crew. (And work sheep there, too.) Their other dog-pals live with my friend Paula. She has several border collies and when we get our packs together, it looks like a blizzard of dogs careening around the yard!

What is each dog's most endearing quality?

Jesse is honest as the day is long, and he’s also kind of a dork with his toys. It’s very cute. Nick [photo right] is a workaholic around sheep, but at home, he’s my shadow. He loves to lay near or on my feet and just be close. Gael is my snuggle-bug. First thing in the morning, she gets on the bed to cuddle close and lie perfectly still. Ash the Aussie is silly and playful and makes us laugh a billion times a day.

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

They would really prefer we kept sheep here year-around. And went on more hikes in the hills behind the house.

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

Jesse’s proudest moment was winning an AHBA sheepdog trial with a near-perfect run. It was so close to flawless that the judge later raved about it as an example of what a good dog could do.

Nick’s proudest moment was recently placing in his second-ever USBCHA Pro-Novice trial. He took 3rd place with a 76, out of 11 dogs. My boy really tried his heart out. (At our first P/N trial last fall, we came in dead last out of like 25 dogs. Heh.)

Gael’s proudest moment is pretty much every day she works sheep. She’ll show her winning style when we start trialing later this year.

Ash is proudest when she can sneak a scrap of food off the counter. We’re working to discourage that.

Visit G. M. Atwater's website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Danny and Lucy McAuley & Jessie

Who are the individuals in the photos in this post?

The photo with the boy in the blue jacket is Jessie as a puppy and our middle son Adam.

The photo with the boy in the red t-shirt is Jessie and our oldest son Angus at our local Canada Day dog show.

The photo with Jessie with a weird growth coming out of her head is actually me (Danny).

Jessie is a nine-year-old female Golden Retriever.

My name is Danny McAuley. My wife Lucy and I own Brome Lake Books, an independent bookstore in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. We have three boys Angus (14), Adam (11) and Benjamin (5).

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Everyday is a perfect day for coffee with a canine. I start the pot brewing as soon as I arrive at work each morning and yes Jessie comes to work too. We have a twenty minute walk from home to our store everyday and Jessie loves it no matter what the weather. Jessie is our official greeter and has many friends that stop by regularly to see her. Jessie is so good she can tell right away if the person coming into the store is a dog person or someone to leave alone. She never barks and brings lots of smiles.

What's brewing?

I always use Virgin Hill Coffee from right here in the Eastern Townships and I prefer the Ripple Cove blend.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Goodies are always welcome. Something with a nice crunch. Like a biscotti but for today I have a granola bar with dark chocolate bits.

Any treat for Jessie on this occasion?

Jessie is a vacuum cleaner and is always on the lookout for the next treat. We keep a special stash of nibbly kibbles in the store for the occasional treat.

I learned about Jessie and your bookstore from the charming Louise Penny's blog. She and her golden Trudy were guests of Coffee with a Canine some time ago. What's Jessie's connection to them?

Jessie is Trudy’s mother! Louise, Trudy and her husband Michael live just over the mountain from us. There has been a book launch for each of Louise’s six books here at Brome Lake Books and Louise has been the stores top selling author since her fist book Still Life hit the shelves. Louise’s books have become hugely popular across North America and abroad so much so that many of her fans have made pilgrimages to our area. We have had many of Louise’s fans visit our store and when they discover that Jessie is Trudy’s mother there is lots of fawning and photo’s taken. Sometimes Trudy makes a visit and Jessie is very happy to see her but Louise is one of Jessie's favourite people. She greets Louise with tail madly wagging as she comes in and Jessie whines and talks to her, rubbing her head against Louise’s legs and there are kisses and hugs and eventually we get to say hello to Louise as well.

How were you and your dog united?

A local breeder of Golden Retrievers was expecting a litter from her Canadian Grand champion and wanted to place one of the puppies with a family with young children. We were overjoyed to welcome Jessie into the family. The breeder retained breeding rights and Jessie had two litters for a total of 14 puppies! Jessie was an excellent mother very attentive, gentle and easy going... and she had beautiful puppies.

How did Jessie get her name? Any aliases?

My mother-in-law told us that we had to have a name with an ‘s’ in it as apparently dogs hear the ‘s’ sound better than other sounds. And we all must listen to our mothers-in-law mustn't we? Jessie’s professional name is Broadway Star and so we were looking at names of artists and we had a CD of opera singer Jessie Norman so ... Jessie it was. Perhaps this is why Jessie often makes a high pitched singing tone when she is very excited. We often call her Jessie James as she is frequently the bandit who has taken our shoes and boots. She doesn’t chew them but when she’s excited she picks them up and carries them around the house abandoning them in the oddest of places! Inevitably the school bus is at the end of the driveway and the whole family is turning the house upside down searching for the one missing boot!

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

If a cat or squirrel runs Jessie will run with them but she gets very disappointed when they climb a tree or hide from her. If a cat or any animal big or small stands their ground Jessie becomes completely submissive and flops on her back to say take me I’m yours. Unless our children are there and then she becomes very protective and pushes herself in-between the children and the other animal.

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

Shoes and the smellier the better. Jessie likes to carry just about anything and she does like the occasional squeaky toy but fetching -- what’s that? Jessie might deign to go and fetch a ball once but if you’re stupid enough to throw it again you will have to go and get it yourself.

Where is Jessie's favorite place for an outing?

Somewhere wet and muddy. Grandma’s house fits the bill as there are lots of trails through the fields and forests with brooks and swamps.

Who are your dog's best pet-pals?

Grandma has two dogs that Jessie likes to bound around with but her best friends are our three boys. They are pretty much inseparable.

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

Jessie would definitely want me to feed her more and with greater frequency.

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

Jessie has won ribbons but I think her proudest moment is when she finds a nice pile of deer pooh (preferably in the fall) to grind into her fur and all around her neck, face and rump. Apparently there is nothing better!

Most embarrassing. The first time we gave Jessie a summer buzz cut she was so traumatized that she hid in the bedroom for a day. But since then she has enjoyed the experience especially being able to go in the water without getting hot spots!

Visit the Brome Lake Books website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Gareth Crocker & Jill, Hannah, Rusty and Jack

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Gareth Crocker, author of the novel, Finding Jack.

That's my dog Jack with me in the photo at right; my dog Jill and I are in the photo below left.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I have coffee most days with my dogs. So, I guess, the occasion was ... another sunrise!

What's brewing?

Ricoffy (instant). It's so cheap, it's basically for free. I'm not much of a coffee snob and absolutely despise filter coffee. Preparation is fresh out the tin, two sugars and milk.

Any treat for you and your dogs on this occasion?

Afraid not. We're all watching our weight at the moment.

How were you and your dogs united?

By our love for chasing frisbees and barking at the mailman. Kindred spirits, we are.

Please tell us about your new novel, Finding Jack.

After losing his young family in a tragic accident, Fletcher Carson joins the flagging war effort in Vietnam. Deeply depressed, he plans to die in the war. But during one of his early missions, Fletcher rescues a critically wounded yellow Lab whom he nurses back to health and names Jack. As Fletcher and Jack patrol and survive the jungles of Vietnam, Fletcher slowly regains the will to live.

At the end of the war, the U.S. Government announces that due to the cost of withdrawal, all U.S. dogs serving in the war have been declared “surplus military equipment” and will not be transported home. For the hundreds of dog handlers throughout Vietnam, whose dogs had saved countless lives, the news is greeted with shock and disbelief. For Fletcher, he knows that if he abandons Jack, then he too will be lost. Ordered to leave Jack behind, he refuses—and so begins their journey.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Jack and Jill were based on the children's nursery rhyme (though I can't recall why). Rusty came from the shade of her coat and Hannah was named by our two young daughters who are obsessed by a certain teenage singer...

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Lions, actually (we live in South Africa).

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

Pool cleaner (the dogs love to swim).

Where is your dogs' favorite place for an outing?

The mountain behind our home. We've spent many great hours hiking through the bush ... and fending off elephants.

How is your Jack least like Jack in the novel?

My Jack is dead lazy. His idea of exertion is swallowing.

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

My opposable thumbs. If they could just rid me of them, then perhaps I would spend less time in front of the laptop and more time diving with them for the evil pool cleaner!

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

Proud: Jack, seeing himself on the cover of my novel. Jill, seeing herself in the words of my novel. Rusty, keeping our yard free of wild animals. Hannah, managing to not get stood on (she is a tiny Yorkie)

Embarrassing: Jack, seeing how fat he is on the cover of my novel. Jill, eating the pool cleaner ... again. Rusty, her fear of lightning (which in South Africa is a major issue). Hannah, being mistaken for a slipper.

Visit Gareth Crocker's website and blog.

The Page 69 Test: Finding Jack.

--Marshal Zeringue

Caren Gittleman & Dakota

Who is in the photo at right?

Dakota and I, but it is an older photo.

I am Caren Gittleman. In a previous life I worked in advertising for 21 years at Ohio's largest newspaper. I am now a freelance writer who has (perish the thought) a CAT BLOG! called Cat Chat.

Dakota is a 4-year-old male Shetland Sheepdog.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I am a caffeine freak. I drink coffee all day every day so it's pretty guaranteed you will find me with a cup!

What's brewing?

Today "Joe's Tall Dark and Handsome" (yes, that is true!). My fave is "Pleasant Morning Buzz" from Whole Foods. We use grounds and it is made in a Cuisinart coffee maker.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Quaker oats right now.

Any treat for your dog on this occasion?

Nope, he just had breakfast!

How were you and your sheltie united?

My husband wanted to fulfill my childhood wish of having a Sheltie. He searched rescues for months but there were none by our home. We were led to Dakota by my "bonus daughter" who told us about another Sheltie who was being sold but instead of that one we chose Dakota.

How did your dog get his name?

I have always loved the name "Dakota." I searched the meaning online. One of the meanings was "Trusted Friend" in American Indian. Can't do better than that!

Any aliases?

"Dakota Boda" "Boda" "Sheltie Boy" "Dakote" "Dakota Apollo" (my husband wanted the name Apollo, I didn't) "Bob Barker."

How do your dog and your cat get along?

Very well ... except when he is on a barking roll!!! Dakota is a major lover!

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

Tennis ball alllll the way!

Where is Dakota's favorite place for an outing?

Ready for this? Dakota is the only dog in the world who hates walks. He thinks he is a cat (since we also have a cat named Cody). When he goes to the park he prefers to sit on or under a park bench letting the wind blow through his fur and watching the world go by.

Who are your dog's best pet-pals?

His brother, our cat, Cody and his Daddy.

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

That I would chase him alllll day long! He loves to be chased.

What is Dakota's proudest moment?

When he is being brushed. He could be brushed for hours if anyone is willing. He is a vain little guy.

And Dakota's most embarrassing moment?

Right now he has started a new habit of barking at a portrait of he and his brother Cody on the wall (which previously never bothered him) He barks and growls at it....we think he is nuts!

Visit the blog, Cat Chat with Caren & Cody.

--Marshal Zeringue