Elizabeth & Jon Farleigh and Dewi

Who is in the photo at right?

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

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

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

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

What's brewing?

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

Daughter 1: White chocolate mocha

Daughter 2: Salted caramel hot chocolate

Any treats for you or the dogs on this occasion?

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

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

How were you and the dogs united?

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

How did the dogs get their names? Any aliases?

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

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

Dewi Vaughn (Welsh): David the younger/smaller

Jonathan and David are blood brothers in the Old Testament.

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

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

Yes, the dog mall.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

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

Squeaky-toy, ball, stick...?

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

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

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

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

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

What is each dog's best quality?

They both crack me up. Cardigans are clowns.

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

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

What is each dog’s proudest moment?

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

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

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

Visit The Chronicles of Cardigan blog.

--Marshal Zeringue