Melissa Scholes Young & Huckleberry Nacho Finn

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Melissa Scholes Young. I'm a writer and a teacher. This is the dog who picked me, Huckleberry Nacho Finn Scholes Young. He sits on my feet while I write books. We think he's about four years old. He's a chocolate lab/Pit Bull/Boxer/Love of my life mutt.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We're on our way to the dog park. He let's me take him as a reward if I make his morning chicken just right.

What's brewing?

Nespresso. Dry cappuccino with skim milk. Huck prefers his with whipped cream.

Any treats for you or Huck on this occasion?

I'm enjoying a salad and Huck is enjoying the salmon that used to be on top of my salad.

How were you and Huck united?

He chose me at a Lucky Dog adoption event. He leaned in. If you've ever had a dog lean in and claim you, you know the rest.

How did your dog get his name? Any aliases?

I grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, Mark Twain's boyhood home, so I'm a big literary fan of Twain's. Huck just seemed to be a Huck, but the first time he ate an entire stick of butter off of our table Huckleberry Finn came out of my mouth in a certain tone that Widow Douglass would have used. My youngest daughter added the Nacho part to his name. He mostly goes by Huckanoodles and Good Boy.

Does Huck do more to help or hinder your writing?

He sits on my feet and makes me sit and stay. He reminds me to take breaks and walk him. He lets me throw his ball while I'm working out plot points in my mind. He snores a lot and there seem to be a lot of snoring dogs in my scenes.

Has Huck inspired the creation of any fictional dogs?

Yes. The novel I'm working on now has a Nacho in it. Nacho prefers sticks to balls but whatever.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Bunnies.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Ball. Ball. Ball.

Where is Huck's favorite outdoor destination?

Our woods. Anywhere there is water.

Who is Huck's best pet-pal?

Cinder. She's also from Lucky Dog Rescue and she is Huck's everything. She likes to play rough.

What is Huck's best quality?

He is absolutely the best listener ever.

If Huck could change one thing about Marylanders, what would it be?

They think their dogs have behavior problems. They're really only owner problems.

If Huck could answer only one question in English, what would you ask him?

Do you know how much I adore you?

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Huck could speak, who should voice him?

Matthew McConaughey with a southern accent.

What advice would Huck give if asked?

Don't work so hard. Take more naps.

Visit Melissa Scholes Young's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Trish Doller & Cobi

Who is in the photo at right?

I attempted to get a good picture of my dog and me, but it was kind of a perfect storm of weird lighting, new location, and Other Dogs. But I am Trish Doller, author of In a Perfect World, and this is my dog Cobi, a 10-year-old male Border Collie.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

My typical morning caffeine is usually a bottle of Coke (I don’t care for coffee), but since this was a special occasion, I took Cobi to Bennett’s Fresh Roast, which is simply the best place in Fort Myers for coffee and doughnuts.

What's brewing?

I opted for a red tea with cranberry and orange, and it was delicious, but left me kind of sweaty because the weather is so hot today!

Any treats for you or Cobi on this occasion?

Bennett’s has amazing homemade apple fritters and doughnuts in flavors like maple bacon, s’mores, and orange coconut. My favorite is the key lime-filled with a dusting of graham cracker pie crust. So delicious. (I gave Cobi a little nibble.)

How were you and Cobi united?

One of my favorite internet activities is browsing petfinder—even when I’m not actively looking for a pet—and about eight years ago, I came across a ridiculously cute Border Collie named Kobe. His profile said he was already in the adoption process, so I continued browsing. About a month later, Kobe was still there. I emailed the rescue agency and they told me the adoption had fallen through. I submitted an application and three days later he was mine!

How did your dog get his name? Any aliases?

His original name was Korbin, given to him by the people who eventually surrendered him to animal services, but he was renamed Kobe by the rescue agency. I was not huge fan of the name, but his rescue “mom” loved him so much that I felt a little disrespectful changing it. So we changed the spelling instead.

My whole family loves soccer, so Kobe became Cobi Jones (after the former US player) and his aliases are Mr. Jones, Jones, Bones, Kobayashi Maru, Cobi Wan Kenobi, and sometimes Jermaine. (Bonus points for anyone who figures out that last one.)

Does Cobi do more to help or hinder your writing?

Now you know who really writes my books. [photo right]

Has Cobi inspired the creation of any fictional dogs?

I've written three novels with dogs as characters, but none of them are Cobi-inspired. Odd.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Cobi isn’t bothered much by cats or squirrels, but he barks at other dogs going past the house and at delivery people. I’m trying to teach him that we don’t bark at people who bring us food, but so far the lessons haven’t stuck.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Ball. And there is nothing that can’t become a ball. Plush toy? Ball. Sock? Ball. Plastic soda bottle? Ball. I once bought him one of those toys in which you put treats so the dog must figure out how to get the treats out. It’s a ball.

Where is Cobi's favorite outdoor destination?

He loves Dog Beach on Lovers Key. It’s kind of far, so we don’t go very often, but when we cross the bridge, he knows where we’re going and he gets so excited.

Who is Cobi's best pet-pal?

He doesn’t have a BFF, but Cobi likes just about every dog he meets.

What is Cobi's best quality?

He is the sweetest and most well-mannered dog I’ve ever owned, but his best quality is his charm. It’s impossible not to like him.

If Cobi could answer only one question in English, what would you ask him?

Cobi is a wanderer. When he was young, he used to dig under the fence to escape the yard. Once, he squeezed out a window. Fortunately, we’ve always gotten him back, but I would love to know where he goes and what he does when he’s wandering.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Cobi could speak, who should voice him?

Alan Tudyk (Firefly, Dodgeball) is one of the best voice actors ever and if anyone could get Cobi’s voice, it would be him.

What advice would Cobi give if asked?

Stop what you’re doing and play ball with your dog. (Which is never a bad idea.)

Visit Trish Doller's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Robyn Harding & Ozzie

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Robyn Harding and I’m the author of the novel The Party. My dog, Ozzie, is a twelve-year-old, male papillon. He weighs 7.5 pounds and has no teeth.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Every morning, Ozzie and I have coffee together at home. Ozzie doesn’t like to go out for coffee. He is very nervous so he prefers to avoid people, traffic, and other dogs. In the mornings, I like to grab my coffee and start writing. Ozzie keeps me company.

What's brewing?

During the week, I drink Ethical Bean drip coffee with honey and milk. On the weekends, I’ll have a latte.

Any treats for you or Ozzie on this occasion?

Ozzie is very picky and doesn’t like treats, which is probably good because they’d be a challenge without teeth. But every morning, he gets a home-cooked breakfast with just a sprinkling of tiny kibble on top. He’s spoiled.

How were you and Ozzie united?

My kids had begged for a dog. I knew the care and maintenance would ultimately fall on me, so I said the smaller the better. Ozzie came from a family of show dogs but he isn’t “breed standard”, so they were getting rid of him. Apparently, he’s not cute enough to compete on the dog show circuit, but I beg to differ.

How did your dog get his name? Any aliases?

The breeder had already named him Ozzie. My husband is an Aussie. When he heard the name he said, “That’s the dog for us!”.

Does Ozzie do more to help or hinder your writing?

He helps me by forcing me to take breaks. When we go for walks, it lets me plot out my story, and gives my neck and shoulders a break from typing.

Has Ozzie inspired the creation of any fictional dogs?

No, but he’d be a great character in a children’s story – a sweet, fluffy little guy who is afraid of everything.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Squirrels. They’re the only thing Ozzie isn’t afraid of… although, if he ever actually caught one, I’m sure he would be.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

We have tiny tennis balls that he’s able to pick up in his small, toothless mouth. But in the last few years, he’s gotten pretty lazy. I’ll throw the ball or a small stick for him, and he just looks at me.

Where is Ozzie's favorite outdoor destination?

He loves to go to the beach – but not the dog beach. That’s terrifying! We take him to the human beach in the off-season (when there are no lifeguards around). He likes to run figure eights in the sand.

Who is Ozzie's best pet-pal?

Me. Or my husband or my kids. He doesn’t like any other dogs. And only a couple of other humans.

What is Ozzie's best quality?

His very sweet and compliant nature. He always wants to be a good boy, even when he’s getting a bath or a trim or I’m putting drops in his eyes.

If Ozzie could change one thing about Vancouverites, what would it be?

They wouldn’t have so many dogs! Everyone in Vancouver seems to have a dog or two. Ozzie would like to be the only dog in the whole city.

If Ozzie could answer only one question in English, what would you ask him?

Do you remember your dog mom?

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Ozzie could speak, who should voice him?

Steve Buscemi.

What advice would Ozzie give if asked?

Be careful! Everything could kill you!

Visit Robyn Harding's website.

--Marshal Zeringue