Bart Rochon & Halle, Toba, and Loki

Who are in all these photos?

My name is Bart Rochon and I am an actor. I currently star as “Hans the Scantily Clad Correspondent” on the off-beat, unique, and fun cooking show called Bitchin Kitchen. The show is airing on the Cooking Channel (United States), Food Network (Canada and the United Kingdom) and Kuchina+ (Poland).

I’d like to introduce you to my pack – My sidekick Halle (12 years old, Husky Mix), Toba from the Yukon (7 years old, Husky Mix) and the littlest one, Loki (3 years old, Husky Mix).

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I just started filming a new movie called Berkshire County, where I am playing the role of ‘Swine”. I like to sit down with a green tea and review the script.

What's brewing?

Don’t get me wrong, I love a cup of coffee here and there, but I’m a tea guy all the way. Green tea is by far my favourite and it has a lot of health benefits too.

Right now, I’m drinking “Organic Silk Dragon Jasmine Green Tea” from David’s Tea.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

If you take a look at my character on Bitchin Kitchen, my character is usually in a pair of red tights – that’s it! Diet and exercise are important for me to stay in shape for the show (and in general) so I don’t stray too far from eating healthy. But if I were to have a treat, it would likely be soft serve ice cream…or maybe a blizzard…or a sundae…

The dogs are loving their current cookies, “Northern – Smoked Fish and Blueberry.”

How did your dogs get their names? Any nicknames?

Well, I’ll start with Halle. She is named after an actress I had a huge crush on...Halle Berry.

I grew up in Manitoba playing football and one of the teams I played for used to break the huddle with “Toba!” (short for Manitoba)...so Toba is named after Manitoba the province I grew-up in.

And Loki is named after the Greek God of Mischief, and he has really grown into his name!

How were you and your dogs united?

Halle [photo right] was given to me by one of closest friends. His dog had just had puppies, I went over for dinner and the rest is history. We have been inseparable ever since!

I adopted Toba from the Humane Society; he was a rescue from up north.

And then I thought, why not add to my pack, and picked up Loki.

You're "Hans" on Bitchin Kitchen--and chance of any of your dogs making a guest appearance?

That would be amazing if they could! They are the masters of shedding, so they likely would not be allowed in the kitchen on set. Do they make hairnets big enough for dogs?

Where do your dogs most like to visit on an outing?

They absolutely love going up to Deep River to visit my mom. They get spoiled, go for lots of walks and spend a lot of time in the water – I think Halle is part mermaid.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

Loki – Squirrel for sure.

Toba – Postman, because he loves everyone.

Halle – None of the above. She would like her answer to be “Food.”

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

Stick…but ask Halle, and she will say “Food.”

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

Wow, that’s a good question! I am away on set a lot, so they would probably want me to be home more. If I could pack them and take them everywhere with me, I most definitely would.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which your dogs could speak, which actors should do their voices?

I’ve often thought of what kind of voices they would have, I change my mind on it often.

For Halle, she is such a quiet dog, she barely makes a peep. I would have to say Charlie Chaplin (quiet…but definitely gets her point across without having to vocalize).

For Toba, I would have to say Woody Harrelson.

And for the little one Loki [photo right], Robert De Niro.

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

“Would you like to start a dogsled team?”

Visit Bart Rochon's Facebook page, and Twitter perch.

--Marshal Zeringue