Christy & Gracie

Who is in the photo at right?

That is my husband with our dog Gracie. She is a nine year old cairn terrier; a blonde version of Toto from the Wizard of Oz! I am Christy, the creator and maker of pet beds at sassmuffins.com, and I also sell my colorful pet products on Etsy, which is a super venue for hand-crafted items.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

My husband and Gracie are having a quite morning. They rise early while I sleep in. He's reading a good book and working on a second cup of coffee.

What's brewing?

A new blend from Starbucks!

Any treats for you or Gracie on this occasion?

Gracie shared a few bites of some breakfast sausage earlier in the morning. She loves bacon too!

How did Gracie get her name? Any nicknames?

Gracie was born on Easter morning in 2004. We did not know it then, but we would soon loose the first cairn terrier to bless our household, named Tessa. In early July we received this new little pup into our home. Grace is defined as the bestowal of blessings, and as this tiny pup was certainly a new blessing to us, so we appropriately named her Gracie.

How were you and Gracie united?

We received her from the breeder, after long communication, and it's been love ever since!

Who are Gracie's best pet-pals?

Gracie's best pet pals are her four kitty companions. Two of the four were already in our household when we got Gracie. She is very good with the kitties, although I would not exactly say she loves on them! In fact if they lay too near her she gets just a wee bit nervous. She is always a perfect lady though, and would never ever growl or snap at one of her kitties.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

If it looks like a toy, squeaks like a toy, or smell likes a toy, it belongs to her! She is a good girl and never tears up any of her "babies."

And then there is the Kong toy...the precious...the red thing [photo right]. That is her obsession. We have playtime with the Kong toy every night for two hours. Cats scamper for hideouts and it's game on. Seriously. I am waiting for the Kong folks to show up at my front door with a contract.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Any and all of the above. Hey, she's all terror....uh terrier, when it comes to warning us of impending danger or chasing other small critters. Her cats are her cats, but neighborhood cats beware!

Of course if a stray cat stands its ground, the chase stops and she immediately loses interest. She would never hurt anything. I once saw her get so close to a squirrel, though, that I swear the squirrel's back feet grazed her nose as it flew across her path.

What is Gracie's best quality?

You name them, she's got them all. She is sweet, scruffy, spunky, and downright adorable! She plays hard and she sleeps hard, and truly enjoys life.

And she has this one amazing quality that I have never had in a dog. She talks. Really. She has this amazing vocal repertoire. Barks, rrr...rrr...rrr's, howls, loud yawns, and this absolutely glass shattering, piercing cry when her toy is - horror of horrors - stuck behind some piece of furniture!

If Gracie could change one thing about Texans, what would it be?

Nothing! Hey she was born in the Big D herself, so she's at least a second generation Texican dog!

And as any Texas dog knows, Texas is a whole 'nother country, and something to be proud of.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Gracie could speak, which actor should do her voice?

She can't be imitated!

If Gracie could answer only one question in English, what would you ask her?

Really, what is it with your Kong toy obsession?

Visit the sassmuffins.com website.

--Marshal Zeringue