Lois Lowry & Alfie

Who’s this?

Here I (writer, Lois Lowry) am with my Tibetan Terrier, Alfie. When our previous dog, also a Tibetan, died at thirteen and a half, it was briefly sort of a relief to be dogless. We travel a lot. And it was a constant take-the-dog-to-the-kennel, pick-the-dog-up-from-the-kennel life.

But we lasted about three months. Then, almost simultaneously, Martin and I said to each other, “Let’s get another dog.” And we knew we wanted another Tibetan; they are affectionate, playful, lovable dogs. So we found a breeder—Tibetan Terrier is not a very common breed—and Alfie had just been born. Ta da! The timing was great. We brought him home when he was three months old.

Coffee and Canine?

Mostly in the car. I go back and forth a lot between Maine and Massachusetts: a three hour drive between my two homes. There is a Dunkin Donuts conveniently located at either end of the trip. I give my order: One medium regular coffee, milk, one Splenda. Alfie is awake and alert in the back seat. He watches while I collect my coffee, raise the window, and pull away. Then he curls up, settles down, and goes to sleep. He’s a great traveler. I sip, he snoozes. Last Wednesday there was a terrible accident on the Maine turnpike and the trip took two and a half hours longer than usual. Most of it was at a dead standstill. Alfie slept through it all. But always, as we approach our house on arrival, he wakes up, sits up, and is all ready to jump out when the door opens and to check out his yard and see his pals.

Treats?

Nope. None for me, none for him. The UPS guy always gives him a biscuit, but we’re pretty strict about no treats. Alfie weighs 26 pounds, just right for a 3-year-old Tibetan, and we’d like to keep it that way.

Did you say "pals?"

Yes, Alfie is a very gregarious dog. He loves all people, including the mailman and the UPS guy, and all dogs. Here he is [above, left] with a Newfoundland friend, appropriately named Bear; and with his golden retriever cousins, Dash and Tillie [at right]. And here he is, too, with a pygmy goat name Minnie [below, left]. Alfie was quite intrigued with Minnie. Not so in the reverse, however. She gave him a good head-butt.

How about the grandchildren?

Well, take a look [bottom right]. They adore him. And he reciprocates.

How did Alfie get his name?

We went around and around about names. But then we looked at his papers more carefully and discovered that his mother was named Georgy Girl. Martin and I are old enough to remember those two British movies—"Georgy Girl" and "Alfie"—and the distinctive songs from them. The name fell right into place. And it’s a good name; it suits him, I think. He’s wry and clever and vulnerable, as Michael Caine was, playing Alfie in the film. And a bit of a ham.

Sometimes, though, we say that we should have named him Elmer. He does stick to me like glue. If I’m in the shower, he’s on the floor beside the shower. If I’m asleep, he’s asleep at my feet. When I’m at my desk writing—he’s on the floor beside my desk, snoozing.

Has he found his way into any books?

Not specifically. But I did write a book some years ago called "Stay!" which is in the first-person, but actually it is not a person, but a dog.

Is Alfie a country dog or a city dog?

We have these two homes, and one is in the city of Cambridge, MA, but luckily we have a large yard. He spends a lot of time in the yard, watching people go by, or in the house, looking out the window at people going by.

In Maine, in the country, it’s quite different. He has several acres to roam, and very few people to look at. But there are critters! Deer in the meadow, chipmunks everywhere, and lots of small things that intrigue. Once he was too curious with a porcupine and it was a disaster. We took 40 quills out of him with pliers.

What’s the most embarrassing thing Alfie ever did?

Well, of course dog embarrassments almost always involve bodily functions, and Alfie is no exception. But this particular moment involved a visiting corgi named Charlotte. The two dogs had been playing together in the yard, and then we brought them inside--they were puppies, still--and I served lunch to Charlotte’s mom. Suddenly, mid-lunch, we heard a distinctive waterfall-like sound under the dining room table. Charlotte had let loose and was peeing on the rug. Her mom was terribly apologetic and embarrassed; I was trying to reassure her that it was okay, when suddenly Alfie went to the spot sniffed it, and lifted his leg to pee on top of it. I thought it was rather a Japanese gesture--not wanting the visiting dignitary to lose face (so when he stumbles on the way to the podium, the next Japanese guy to speak stumbles as well). Alfie just wanted Charlotte not to be mortified at her accident.

Lois Lowry has published over 30 books for children, including the Newbery Award-winning Number the Stars (1990) and The Giver (1994). Her new book, Crow Call, is due out in October.

Of The Giver, she writes:

The Giver - and Gathering Blue, and the newest in the trilogy: Messenger - take place against the background of very different cultures and times. Though all three are broader in scope than my earlier books, they nonetheless speak to the same concern: the vital need of people to be aware of their interdependence, not only with each other, but with the world and its environment.

Visit Lois Lowry's website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Mary Jane Maffini & Daisy and Lily

Who is in the photo at right?

I am Mary Jane Maffini, author of three mystery series (all with beloved resident dogs and plenty of coffee-drinking scenes) and a number of short stories. The pooches in the party collars are Daisy and Lily, both miniature dachshunds of a princessy disposition. Daisy (velvety brown) is six years old and Lily (silky black) is still a lively three-year old. They look a lot like Sweet Marie and Truffle in the Charlotte Adams mysteries, but that's a coincidence.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Every morning is an occasion for coffee. We have a nice reading and coffee corner in our kitchen. I am in charge of drinking coffee and reading newspapers and Daisy and Lily are in charge of sleeping under their blankie curled up next to me. It's not easy being a dog and a lot of R & R is essential. However, this is everyday.

A special coffee occasion is a trip to The Doggin' It Café, a very unusual coffee shop in Ottawa South [below, left]. The Café is located in the Wag Pet Shop. Daisy and Lily know the way from the parking lot. Get out of their way!

We love it there. It's full of dog food, toys, clothing, gear and anything else you could think of and many things you couldn't dream up if you tried. The staff at the Café are all dog nuts. Daisy and Lily spend quite a lot of time conspiring to get behind the counter. There are extra treats there. Barista Lindsay [below, right] hasn't spotted Lily yet.

What's brewing?

Kicking Horse coffee is served at The Doggin' It Café and sold by the kilo too. However, my poison is a medium latte with a discreet dusting of chocolate.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

The Doggin' It Café doesn't serve food for humans, but dogs get their choice of yummies. Daisy might have their eyes on a chewy or a pig's ear, but they'll wolf down a homemade organic dog treat. If they're at home, they are fond of homemade dog cookies, cut in heart shapes. They like this recipe so much that I included it for Tolstoy, the pooch in "Too Hot to Handle," one of my mysteries. These cookies are easy to make:

Tolstoy’s Temptations

2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 cup, less 1 tbsp chunky peanut-butter
1 tbsp liquid honey
1 cup milk

Preheat oven 350

Mix flour and baking powder

In a separate bowl mix peanut butter, honey and milk.

Add to dry ingredients. Mix well. Roll out to ¼ inch thickness. Cut into heart or bone shapes.

Bake 18 minutes (or even less – they can overcook quickly) on a greased cookie sheet.

Cook and store in airtight container, if they last that long.

Any treat for Daisy and Lily on this occasion?

Daisy and Lily managed to score at least five treats from Lindsay who was quite taken with them.

How did Daisy and Lily come to be united with you?

I fell in love with a pair of doxies who lived on our street. So did my daughter, Victoria. I had dogs at the time, but she quickly acquired two. Her in-laws were instantly smitten and found one of their own, Kami. Our beloved neurotic old Corgi Smudge had a terrible crush on this little dog. In time, Kami had a beautiful pup, Daisy, no thanks to Smudge. Daisy came to live with us and she and Smudge adored each other. When we lost Smudge, some years later, Daisy was devastated. She needed someone new to cuddle with and to boss around. We knew she'd like another gal with no legs and a lot of attitude. It was a hunt to find Lily, but we hit the jackpot.

How did Daisy and Lily get their names?

I love flower names for dogs and would have a Rosie, Pansy, Jasmine and Petunia if I could. Unfortunately, this has been vetoed by 'others'.

Where is the usual place you take Daisy and Lily out for fresh air?

Our house is on the edge of an off-leash dog park by the river. We can have short or long walks there and always run into dog friends. If lucky we run into our small dog buddies. We call our gang Hell's Lapdogs. Naturally this is the best dog park in the vicinity.

Are Daisy and Lily's barks worse than their bites?

I sure hope so. Daisy and Lily sound like deranged Rottweilers. This is not an exaggeration. Doxies are bred to have big chests and they have a lot of voice. Daisy once frightened off a burglar with her bark. He never did see how small she was (twelve pounds), but fled in terror. She was a bit of a hero on our street after that. They do bark. They don't bite, except treats.

Many retrievers have encountered Daisy and Lily's barks. Quite intimidating for them! It is not unamusing to see an eighty pound dog fleeing from a pair of assertive wiener dogs. (Hey! This is our park! It's the best one! Scram!)

Tennis ball, Frisbee, stick, other?

Squeaky toys are the drug of choice. They are everywhere. Watch where you walk. Daisy has her favourites. Lily is only interested in taking these from her.

Would Daisy and Lily rather chase a squirrel, a cat, a car, their tails, the mailman...?

Daisy and Lily live for chasing squirrels. There's usually a fine crop around and chasing opportunities abound. We cannot say the word squirrel without creating pandemonium. We tried using the French word écureuil, but they have caught on to that too.

Would they rather catch a squirrel, a cat, a car, his tail, the mailman, or a few zzzz's?

Although the zzzz's are appealing, they are easy to catch. A squirrel on the other hand…

Which TV dog is Daisy and Lily most similar to: Lassie, Underdog, Scooby Doo, another?

Is there a television dog that likes to wear fashionable clothing, sleep on freshly ironed pillow cases and scare retrievers? They would be like that dog.

What's the most embarrassing thing Daisy and Lily ever did?

Aside from being puppy school dropouts (issues with retrievers), there was the matter of our having to slink out in disgrace from the Therapy Dog Evaluation Program, due to similar 'issues' with retrievers and other large and lumpy participants. On a bright note, Lily did manage to get her Therapy Dog Certificate without a bark and has redeemed the family name by volunteering. We have high hopes for Daisy dealing with her retriever issues in our lifetime.

Groucho Marx said, "Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside a dog, it's too dark to read." Was he right?

Dachshunds are pretty small, so I'm thinking there's not much room for reading inside them. But I must admit, these two are my best friends. They don't mind sharing me with the stacks of books around this place!

Mary Jane Maffini is the author of three mystery series and nearly two dozen short stories.

"Law and Disorder," the latest installment in The Camilla MacPhee series, is due out in late August 2009.

Maffini is a former President of Crime Writers of Canada, and a former member of the board of directors of the Canadian Booksellers Association.

She's a frequent speaker on writing mysteries and on the importance of Canadian crime fiction. In real life, although she is a member of the Ladies' Killing Circle, she claims she has never killed anyone.

Learn more about the author and her work at Mary Jane Maffini's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Cheryl Norman & Ginger

Who is in the photo at right?

That's Ginger, who is almost six years old, a twelve-pound, red poodle; however, she’s lightened so much we call her an apricot. In this photo, she is perched on the back of the sofa in our motor home, camped at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Born in an RV, she’s a wonderful traveler and perfectly at home on the road.

I'm Cheryl Norman, romantic mystery novelist and author of a couple of cookbooks.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Ginger and I enjoy quiet time early in the mornings, right after her walk and before I begin my day, usually in the sun room (which I have decorated retro-style with all things Route 66—it’s no wonder I wrote stories for the "Romance on Route 66" anthology.). Or if we’re camping, we’ll sit outside in the early morning before it gets too hot or too busy.

What's brewing?

Please don’t think I’m an imposter, but I drink tea instead of coffee. I prefer Red Rose with a splash of half-and-half. I’ve tried to learn to drink coffee, and I love coffee-flavored ice cream, but I never developed a taste for the drink.

Any goodies to go with the tea?

I usually wait to eat anything until later, when I join my hubby for breakfast, either in the kitchen or out in the sun room.

Any treat for the dog on this occasion?

Ginger has a Science Diet dog biscuit as soon as she comes in from her morning walk.

How did the dog come to be united with you?

Good question. Just two weeks before I bought Ginger, I swore to friends I’d never have a dog in my house. Those same friends have never let me live down that declaration! My husband and I were volunteers at a camping rally, a Good Sam Samboree, and this couple from Niceville brought their poodles and babies, five puppies who were barely six weeks old. I was admiring the puppies, and one of the females latched on to me. I picked her up, she looked at me, and that was that. She picked me. Later, when I took her home, she slept all night the first night and never cried for her mother. She behaved as if she was home ... and she was!

How did Ginger get her name?

By the time I could take Ginger home, it was nearly Christmas. Because of the season and her color, I named her Christmas Gingerbread—and that’s her registered name. But we call her Ginger. Here’s a photo taken the day I brought her home. See how red she was? She’s my baby.

What are Ginger’s hobbies?

Ginger is a veteran walker, and even hikes with us on the trails (those we think are safe for her) in the state and national parks. She also loves to play fetch, chase the laser light, and hunt squirrels. We usually keep her on a leash for safety reasons, as there are many wild animals (including rattlesnakes) where we live. Ginger also performs a variety of tricks and will do anything for a Teeny Greenie®.

Where is Ginger’s favorite park?

We live on nine acres in the country, so she has her own park, complete with a full population of squirrels. She also is visited by deer, fox, turtles, even an occasional coyote. Chasing squirrels is her favorite way to get exercise. We do it with her leashed so she’s unable to catch any. Squirrels can hurt a dog, and we’ve had some cases of rabid squirrels in north Florida. Shoo-y!

What is Ginger’s favorite movie or TV program?

She loves "Snow Dogs" and barks at every dog on screen. She also loves the Advantix® advertisements. She hardly noticed the television until we replaced ours with a flat screen high-resolution model. Now it’s like a window to her, and she acts as if everything on screen is also outside. Don’t believe folks who claim dogs can’t reason. She fully understands that the remote controls the TV. I don’t know how, but she does. She also responds to complex commands, such as “Go get your cookie and come sit.” She does. Truly!

Ginger is a good traveler?

Ginger is an RV dog, as I mentioned. She has been all over the U.S. and parts of Canada, including Alaska and British Columbia. She found Las Vegas sadly lacking in grass and Minnesota with too much snow (at least in March) but mostly loves every place. We’ve taken her along parts of the old Route 66, including Santa Rosa, New Mexico, and St. Louis, Missouri, two places featured in my two novellas in "Romance on Route 66." Next we plan a return to Arizona via Amarillo, two places I need to research for next year’s "Romance on Route 66" Christmas anthology. Ginger is always ready to go bye-bye.

For more about Cheryl Norman, visit her web site. For information about her latest Route 66 stories, visit http://romanceonroute66.com.

--Marshal Zeringue

Steven D. Hales & Sophie

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Steven Hales, a professor of philosophy at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. My official interests are metaphysics and epistemology—I enjoy tricky questions about the nature of time, how objects persist despite changing, whether our most basic moral feelings and intuitions really tell us anything about reality, and the like. Friedrich Nietzsche used to be a hobby of mine. My unofficial interests are in popularizing philosophy, as in my books "What Philosophy Can Tell You About Your Dog," "What Philosophy Can Tell You About Your Cat," and "Beer and Philosophy." My really unofficial interests are in tennis, jazz, rare books, and travel. I'm with my dog Sophie. She's a 2.5 year old mixed-breed bitch. We don't know what she's mixed with, but with her white coloring, shape, and fur, we strongly suspect that she's largely an English golden retriever.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We live in rural Pennsylvania, and every morning Sophie and I walk down our long (1000') driveway to get the local paper. I have to restrain her to keep her from chasing the groundhogs, rabbits, squirrels, deer, and occasional black bear. When we get back to the house the coffee is brewed and we have breakfast together.

What's brewing?

I grind my beans fresh every morning and use a French press. I like dark roasts, and my current favorite is Starbucks' Gold Coast. I usually drink it black. But really, anything coffee is good. Coffee ice cream, chocolate-covered espresso beans, iced frappuccinos with whipped cream... I recently made a Turkish coffee pudding that was pretty tasty.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

If I have a cup during the day (like, say, to wake me up before an afternoon class), I'll sometimes have a biscotti to go with it. I keep a stash in my desk.

Any treat for Sophie on this occasion?

Sophie tends to get her treats in the morning, like finishing off my daughter's cereal bowl. She's also partial to Pupperonis, and whatever she can snatch off the kitchen table when we're out of the room.

How did Sophie come to be united with you?

Sophie's a rescue dog, saved from West Virginia hillbillies who used her for BB gun target practice. We adopted her for our daughter Holly's 4th birthday. We thought it would be great to have both 4-year-old kid and a 6-month-old puppy. Clearly we had not thought that plan all the way through.

How did Sophie get her name?

I wanted to name our daughter "Sophie" but got outvoted in favor of "Holly." However, I got to name the dog. "Sophia" is Greek for wisdom, and is one of the root words for "philosophy." A much better name for the dog would have been "Houdini." Sophie could escape from a supermax prison. It practically takes landmines and concertina wire to keep her in the yard; our 11 acres just isn't big enough for a dog with the wanderlust of Columbus. And she always heads straight for the muddy creek with her buddy Wiley, the big black dog next door.

What was your inspiration behind "What Philosophy Can Tell You About Your Dog?"

There’s a recent trend in philosophy to write books that try to bring our ideas out of the ivory tower, and aim to show the philosophical issues that underlie the most prosaic activities and interests. For example, Princeton philosopher Harry Frankfurt’s essay "On Bullshit" was a #1 New York Times bestseller, and Stanford philosophers Ken Taylor and John Perry host a philosophical radio show. And respected presses like Open Court and Blackwell have launched whole series of books devoted to popular philosophy. I’ve tried to make some modest contributions to this endeavor, and "What Philosophy Can Tell You About Your Dog" is one. So my inspiration was to show pet lovers a way into philosophy, how the life of the mind is intimately connected with one’s life with dogs.

So what does philosophy have to say about dogs?

The classic dogs vs. cats joke is that dogs think, “my people keep me warm and dry, feed me good food, pet me, brush me, and play with me. They must be gods!” Cats, on the other hand, think, “my people keep me warm and dry, feed me good food, pet me, brush me, and play with me. I must be a god!” But what really goes on in our dogs' heads? Here's where philosophy of mind comes in, looking at questions like these: Are guide dogs for the blind literally an extension of their owner’s mind? Was French philosopher René Descartes right in maintaining that dogs are mere automata, mindless, soulless, clock-like mechanisms without language or love? If our dogs think, then do insects think as well? If bees are just biological robots, then why aren’t dogs? There's ethical questions too: Do even dogs have a dignity that we must respect? Do our dogs really have moral rights, or is it just anthropomorphizing to think so? Why does Aristotle think that our dogs cannot be good dogs unless we are good masters? Is it wrong to shower our dogs with too many luxuries? Even logicians can get in on the act. In 1615 King James of Scotland and England (of King James Bible fame) hosted a debate on the use of logic by dogs. I'm not going to tell you who won.

What's your dog doing right now?

Lying under the rolltop desk at my feet as I type this.

Learn more about Steven D. Hales teaching and scholarship at his faculty webpage.

Among the praise for "What Philosophy Can Tell You About Your Dog:"

“This wonderful book is a thought-provoking and deeply compelling exploration of one of our most important relationships—that with animals.”
—Diane Leigh and Marilee Geyer, authors of "One at a Time: A Week in an American Animal Shelter"

“This book gives you some provocative, unusual, dog-friendly ideas, disguised as philosophy. One or two stories will break your heart and others will make you ponder matters you might have missed in college.”
—Jeffrey Masson, best-selling author of "Dogs Never Lie about Love" and "Dogs Have the Strangest Friends"

Read more about the book at the publisher's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Nicholas Griffin & Otto

Who is in the photo at right?

That’s me, Nicholas Griffin with my Border Terrier, Otto. I write fiction and non-fiction and a bit of journalism in between. Border Terriers, like me, come from England – but he was from a litter born in northern New Jersey, which explains our different accents. He’s suffered from the weight swings of a college freshman ever since he had pneumonia twice when he was a puppy. He has scarred lungs, so when he wakes up he sounds like a forty-a-day smoker, but right now he’s doing well. He’s a solid 22 pounds and looking great.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We take our morning walk together and either buy a cup walking around our New York block, or if I’m lucky, my wife hands me a cup on the way out the door. If I haven’t finished it by the time I get home and it's not raining, we sit together on a stoop.

What's brewing?

If it’s from the store, I never ask. Otherwise it’s organic Venezuelan, like my wife.

How did Otto get his name?

Otto’s full name is the Baron Otto von Griffin. Luckily, Otto preceded my two kids so we managed to ruin his life rather than seeing our kids suffer in kindergarten.

Otto’s favorite thing to chase:

That would be a tennis ball. I was warned by his breeder that Border Terriers are prone to sudden mad dashes at seeing anything small and furry. Since we live in the middle of New York City, maybe the urban experience has switched off his killer gene. Squirrels tap dance on his back, cats sharpen their claws on his dog bowl and nothing perturbs him. His only revenge is that he seems to love watching ‘Tom and Jerry’ cartoons with my son [photo, right]. Every time Tom explodes or falls off a cliff, the two of them start to laugh.

If Otto wasn’t a dog, he’d be a …

He could work as a professional foot warmer, great in New York winters. He also feels no pain whatsoever. You can stand on him by accident and he’ll roll over to make sure he’s getting all your weight. I think that would make him great under harsh circumstances, perhaps a behind-the-lines spy who could withstand interrogation.

Any worries about having a dog in a big city?

He loves the dog parks, I’m not so keen. A French bulldog took a bite out of his ear last week so he came home, shook his head and redecorated the kitchen in blood. Every now and then, when I take him to the country, he tries to make friends with anyone who walks past hoping to be adopted and spared a return to a life of concrete and peeing against piles of trash. Last week, out of the city, he surreptitiously crept into someone’s golf cart while I was talking to them and almost made it to a life of grass and trees. I like to think of him as a canine Steve McQueen and we’re serving our time in the city together.

Nicholas Griffin's books include the historical novels "The Requiem Shark" and "House of Sight and Shadow" and the nonfiction work, "Caucasus." His latest novel is "Dizzy City."

Among the praise for "Dizzy City:"

Nicholas Griffin has made historical fiction his literary playground ... [and] 1916 Manhattan proves especially fertile ground... Griffin writes with authority on his chosen subjects, and even though he employs enough point-of-view shifts to give an unintended meaning to his book’s title, the effect works, raising the question: Who is conning, and who is being conned?
—Sarah Weinman, "Time Out New York"

Visit Nicholas Griffin's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Alison Goodman & Xander

Who is in the photo at right?

That’s me, Alison Goodman, author of novels including "Eon: Dragoneye Reborn." The slightly fluffier one is Xander Matthias Goodman aka the Furry Lord Of Darkness.

I am a pure-bred Australian (as far as that goes), and Xander is a cross between a Jack Russell Terrier and a lower level demon. We are both 40 something (although, alas, my age really is in human years).

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

As Xander is a menace to polite society, this occasion was specifically for the Coffee with a Canine photo shoot. As you can see from photo 1 [above right], it all started well. It then rapidly deteriorated into photo 2 [below left].

What's brewing?

Trouble.

Oh, you mean the drinks…

Mine is a skim milk latte. Ron, my husband and the photographer, goes for a long Macchiato (that’s Melbourne speak for a normal Macchiato with extra hot water). Both made with Monte coffee, a medium roast with a delicious chocolatey aftertaste, from the very tolerant Laurent French Patisserie in Brighton, Melbourne, Australia.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Plain brioche for me (and it seems, Xander). Pain au Chocolat for Ron.

Any treat for Xander on this occasion?

I did take along some of his beloved Schmacko’s (a bit like dried jerky), but he obviously felt like brioche instead.

How did Xander come to be united with you?

As a guess, I’d say I did something heinous in a previous life and Xander is my punishment. Either that, or seven years ago I turned up at an animal shelter in answer to a “this dog needs a home” advertorial in the paper and left with a small and suspiciously quiet Jack Russell. A few hours later the drugs wore off and his true personality emerged. The Universe is still laughing its arse off.

How did Xander get his name?

He is named after the character in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." His middle name is my father’s middle name (although I’m not sure I’ve ever told my Dad about that honour). However, he is also called Xanderpup, The Furry Lord of Darkness, Goatboy, Piglet, Bongface, Fatboy Slim or Bad Dog, according to whichever of his various personalities is currently tormenting us.

What’s a typical walk for Xander?

Xander gets at least a 30-40 minute walk every day, otherwise his desire for world domination gets completely out of hand. A basic walk involves reading the weemail on every tree and adding his own message, stalking cats, barking at other dogs (especially Golden Retrievers who annoy him with their blonde good looks and cheery personalities), and eating anything he comes across that looks vaguely like food.

A great walk will involve a run-in with a mailman, a few feints at a hissing, clawing cat, and twirling around on the end of the leash whilst barking madly at a motorbike being gunned at an intersection. If he can also find a paper bag with a half-eaten dim-sim, or a discarded hamburger, then life is very fine, indeed.

Which would Xander rather catch: a squirrel, a cat, a car, his tail, or the mailman?

First, a cat – Xander reserves a special kind of hate for them as they only have one expression and stupidly long tails. Plus they all wag their tails at him then don’t want to make friends. Talk about mixed signals.

Secondly, the mailman – our mailman has deliberately not oiled his squeaky brakes in order to drive all the dogs in the street berserk. Xander is one of the more enthusiastic berserkers.

Thirdly, a squirrel. Actually, we don’t have squirrels in Australia, so Xander has suggested we change that to possum. Again, one expression and stupidly long tails.

Xander does not chase cars (waste of time as they don’t hiss or claw). Nor does he chase his tail as there is not much of it left. It was a casualty of docking (now illegal) before he came to our house and he’d rather not talk about it...

What is the most embarrassing thing Xander has ever done?

There are way too many to choose from. The most recent was at a Mother’s Day afternoon tea that I organised for my Mum and other family members. Xander worked his way around the circle of relatives, systematically trying to shag each person’s shin.

If Xander was a human, what would he be like?

Xander would be wearing a black leather jacket, smoking roll-ups, and contemplating his next smash and grab. His catch-phrase would be “Who you lookin’ at?” [see photo 3, right].

Alison Goodman’s latest book is "Eon: Dragoneye Reborn" (aka "The Two Pearls of Wisdom"), which has sold into 13 countries and recently won the Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel. It is also a James Tiptree Jr. Honour Book and a CBCA Notable Book. "The Times" wrote, “This intelligent, vividly written tale grips from the first page,” and SFX called it “addictive reading…the climax is gloriously tantalising.”

Goodman is currently working on the concluding sequel.

Visit Alison Goodman’s website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Jonathan XIII & Christie Jackman and Kristy Bassilakis

Who is in the photo at right?

In the first picture [at right] you see me, Christie Jackman, with Jonathan XIII. And in the second picture [just below at left] you see Kristy Bassilakis with Jonathan XIII.

Kristy and I are Co-Chairs of the Alpha Phi Omega Husky Committee from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut (UConn). Our job is to look after the UConn mascot, Jonathan XIII. Jonathan is a pure-bred male Siberian Husky and is about 2 years old. He is all white with beautiful, bright blue eyes. Jonathan is a very loving dog and enjoys all of the attention he receives daily!

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

There’s no need for a special occasion to hang out with Jonathan! Jonathan loves to spend time with all of the people who love him and care for him, because there are many! I always wonder how he feels about being a well-known dog; he must think it’s normal to get so much attention from everyone at UConn. But then again who wouldn’t want to love him, he’s an adorable and energetic canine!


What's brewing?

I gotta say I’m in love with Dunkin Donuts hazelnut iced coffee, no matter what time of the year. A nice regular coffee with some cream and sugar every once in a while doesn’t hurt either!

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

A chocolate chip scone is my favorite snack to go along with my coffee! Although I really love any kind of breakfast-type snack.

Any treat for Jonathan XIII on this occasion?

Jonathan loves any sort of treat they sell at the pet stores, especially the ones that are meat flavored! He stays on an all organic diet. He also enjoys spending his time chewing on empty milk jugs.

What's the story of the vest that Jonathan is wearing in most of his pictures?

That is his official event vest which he must wear to all of his events. It has the name of our fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, embroidered on it and it also has his sponsors advertised on it as well. Jonathan XIII is sponsored by his breeder Northern Manor in Pennsylvania, Pets Plus in North Windham, CT, All Creatures Vet in Coventry, CT, and Paws Pet Resort and Spa in Cheshire, CT. You can probably tell he’s always loved and well taken care of!

Please tell us about Alpha Phi Omega Delta Sigma.

Alpha Phi Omega Delta Sigma is a co-ed service fraternity at the University of Connecticut Storrs campus. Members of Alpha Phi Omega are required to do 20+ hours of community service every semester. We are a fairly large and growing organization and consider ourselves one loving family! We take part in service programs that benefit the campus, the community, and the nation.

How did Jonathan XIII get his name?

Jonathan XIII is named after Jonathan Trumble, a Revolutionary War general. The student body voted on the name when they first decided to get a mascot.

Have Jonathans I-XIII always been male?

Yes, the Jonathan dogs have always been male. Most of the Jonathans have been virtually similar, except for Jonathan I who was black and white.

When I hear "UConn husky" I think "Yukon husky." Have you ever introduced Jonathan XIII as the UConn husky and gotten a response like, "He doesn't look Canadian, eh?"

Haha, so far I haven’t gotten any questions like that! Although it’s funny that sometimes people don’t put two and two together and they wonder why we have a dog at the sporting events. But sometimes when people aren’t familiar with UConn I have gotten questions about Yukon, Canada and why I would want to go all the way there to attend school.

How often does Jonathan make public appearances? Does he go to all the basketball games? Poetry readings on campus?

Jonathan makes public appearances at least once a week, if not more. The members of Alpha Phi Omega walk him daily and also escort him to home sporting events and special events on campus, such as parades. He loves to attend the men’s and women’s basketball games at Gampel Pavilion (on campus) and the football games at Rentschler Field in Hartford, Connecticut and he always brings a sense of school spirit along with him.

Does he ever travel with UConn groups?

Jonathan has never had the chance to travel with anyone except for Husky Committee members, but never far from campus. Maybe once he gets a bit older he will be able to!

What's a normal day like for Jonathan?

Well, Jonathan lives with a loving host family that is not affiliated with UConn, so he spends most his days there. When school is in session, Jonathan is taken out by members of the Husky Committee for about an hour every weekday to be walked around and trained. Sometimes he gets to walk around campus and say hello to fellow students and other times he just walks around the surrounding neighborhoods. And on days that he has events, he usually stays out longer to greet all of his friends! He loves all of the attention and he will do anything for a treat!

Does Jonathan have other canine friends? Do you ever do socials with the Yale bulldog? Has Jonathan ever met the Washington husky?

Jonathan doesn’t have many other canine friends, although he always has friendly encounters with other canines on campus. He’s never met the Washington husky or the Yale bulldog, but that’s a great idea for events in the future!

What’s Jonathan's most embarrassing moment?

The most embarrassing moment I have experienced with Jonathan was during a women’s basketball game at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, CT. As you might imagine, being in a stadium with thousands of people can get overwhelming for a dog. Jonathan got a little too excited and started barking very loudly. The other handler and I quickly took him outside to calm down. Upon reentering Gampel, we were swarmed with security personal asking what had happened and making sure everything was taken care of. It was quite a scene.

About Christie Jackman:

I’m from Ridgefield, Connecticut and am entering my junior year at the University of Connecticut. I am in the School of Engineering and the School of Business and my major is Management and Engineering for Manufacturing. I pledged Alpha Phi Omega Delta Sigma in the spring of 2008 and am one of the chairs of the Husky Committee. I love having this position because I love Jonathan and it’s nice to feel like I have a pet at school!

About Kristy Bassilakis:

I’m a junior at the University of Connecticut majoring in Human Development and Family Studies. I am from Glastonbury, Connecticut. I also pledged Alpha Phi Omega in the spring of 2008 and have been Husky Co-Chair since the fall of 2008. I have loved every moment I’ve served as this position and will miss it since unfortunately this upcoming semester will be my last.

--Marshal Zeringue