Nancy Jensen & Gordy

Who is in the photo at right?

This is a photo I had taken of me, Nancy Jensen, with my dog Gordy when my editor told me I needed some new press photos in preparation for the publication of my novel The Sisters. I hate to be photographed, so I took Gordy with me to help keep me relaxed during the shoot. I also took the chance to ask the photographer to take a photograph of me and Gordy together, as I’ve found it very difficult to get my wiggly dog to sit still for any photo at all. Whenever I try to snap a shot of him, he dances around, obviously waiting for me to toss the camera across the yard for him.

Gordy is five years old, a Heinz 57 stray. When he first turned up, everyone assumed he was Black Labrador mix, but I had a DNA analysis done, and it turns out he’s about 40% Beagle, followed by lesser percentages of Afghan hound, Rottweiler, Weimaraner, and several other breeds.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Here [photo left], Gordy is enjoying a break with his beloved surrogate grandma, Mia Culling, who is also the brilliant trainer who had, luckily for me, just moved to the rural area where I was living when 6-week old Gordy turned up at my house frozen and starving in February 2007. This is Mia’s kitchen, one Gordy’s happiest places on earth.

What's brewing?

Today, we’re actually having tea—nothing fancy. I have some, too. But I’m taking the picture.

Any treats for you or Gordy on this occasion?

Indeed, yes! Grandma Mia had prepared some delicious sweet corn muffins, so Gordy could share in the snack!

How were you and Gordy united?

It was a frigid mid-February day, five inches of snow on the ground with more expected. The sun was just going down when I heard a piteous cry coming from the hill sloping down from my deck. I saw a tiny black smudge racing across the yard, so I ran out to my front porch and saw the smudge about to disappear over another hill beyond my neighbor’s house. Very quietly, so quietly I could barely hear it myself, I whispered, “Puppy?” The little smudge flipped around, came racing toward me, leapt into my arms, snuffled with relief and fell asleep. Suddenly I, confirmed cat lady, had a dog.

How did Gordy get his name? Any aliases?

Gordy’s real name is Gordian, as testament to the Gordian Knot—the classical knot so complex it can never be untied—around my heart. He became Gordy right away, because he was too cute for such a formal name.

What role has Gordy played in your writing?

Mostly Gordy flips at my arm with his nose when I’m trying to type. In the spring of 2010, when I was working to meet a deadline for revisions, he also helped by barking madly every time he heard the tiniest movement coming from the five men who were putting a new roof on my house. In The Sisters, my character Grace takes in all kinds of stray animals, and while I think she would have been this sort of person anyway, perhaps if it had not been for Gordy, Grace’s dog Charlemagne would not have found his way into the story.

Please tell us about Gordy's work as a therapy dog.

The amazing Mia, who trained Gordy (and trained me to train him) invited us to join her pet therapy group as soon as Gordy graduated from obedience training, when he was about 12 weeks old, so he has worked as a therapy dog nearly all his life. Our group visits nursing homes and adult day care centers, and the latter are the places Gordy likes most to visit. Many of these centers cater to adults with severe disabilities, providing the care they need during the day while their families work. Gordy has a particular gift for locating and befriending people who are agitated or uncommunicative. As soon as he nudges them, the nervous people start to calm and uncommunicative people—some who haven’t spoken in months or years—will begin to stroke Gordy and murmur to him. Pretty amazing.

Does Gordy have a favorite place to go for an outing?

Aside from visiting his grandma Mia, Gordy loves best to go to Historic Rugby in Rugby, Tennessee, where he likes to walk the trails and visit his many friends in the village. While in Rugby, he also expects to spend a couple hours as the shop dog for our friends who sell antiques and original artwork there.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

When we moved recently from the country to a side-walked neighborhood in a small city, Gordy discovered squirrels, and of course also discovered that he loves to chase them. He lives in the house with 8 cats, whom he is not permitted to chase, so chasing the squirrels gives him a lot of joy and makes him feel important. He has completely fallen in love with our mailman, who is equally besotted with Gordy, so they get to enjoy a five-minute play date several times a week.

What is Gordy's best quality?

He’s very loving and is always eager to make friends with new people—so long as he’s absolutely sure they mean me know harm, since he’s also an exceptional watchdog.

If Gordy could change one thing about Kentuckians, what would it be?

The absurd number of very loud pickup trucks and the supply of badly behaved dogs that so often ride around in the back of them.

What is Gordy's proudest moment?

Once when we were out walking, a strange dog came flying at us out of nowhere, barking and growling and threatening to attack. Gordy stayed calm, body blocked me to protect me, stood his ground and first gave a warning growl, then calming signals to the other dog. The other dog stopped, looked very puzzled, grunted in irritation and slunk away.

If your dog could speak in the movie about your life, who should do his voice?

Oh, that’s a hard one—but I guess I’d have to say it would be the young actor, Rico Rodriguez, who plays Manny on Modern Family because, like Manny, Gordy is enormously sweet, cheerful, and thrilled to be silly, but he’s also very serious about his dignity, and he’s smarter than any other dog in town.

Visit Nancy Jensen's website.

My Book, The Movie: The Sisters.

Writers Read: Nancy Jensen.

The Page 69 Test: The Sisters.

--Marshal Zeringue

Barbara Barth & Bray, Chloe, Annabelle, Rascal, and Miss April In Paris

Who is in the photo at right?

That is me, Barbara Barth, with Miss April In Paris, in our professional portrait for my website, Writer With Dogs. I am a writer, a shopkeeper and an events planner. I wrote a book on my first year as a widow, The Unfaithful Widow, doing all those things I never thought I’d do again. It has been called “naughty and cheeky” by an Australian reviewer. Rescue dogs rescued me I like to say. My dogs are a large part of my story and healing process.

In January this year, I opened a small antique/gift shop in Old Town, Lilburn, Georgia, about twenty minutes from my house. It is a shop with a twist. Every weekend I hold book signings and art openings. It is a writers’ guild and an art center. Writing and art classes start this month. The shop is a non-traditional venue for artists to share their work with the community. The historic hub is trying to rebuild. In six months I have expanded from one vintage building to three since my events are growing larger every month. I am president of the Merchants Association and work with the other shops to breathe life into the small hub. Many of the events are fundraisers for my favorite animal shelters.

I am usually on the computer until all hours of the early morning, either writing promotional material for my shop or my own personal writing. Little Chloe [photo left, with Rascal] likes to crawl behind my back and wedge herself between me and back of the chair. It works wonders for my posture.

I write a weekly post for Lifetime Television’s online site for their morning TV show, The Balancing Act. I promote my artists with my blog on the Lilburn Patch.com and like to talk girl talk on Skirt.com. In addition I seem to have as many personal blogs as I have dogs, but who is counting?

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I’ve been keeping longer hours at the shop and decided the pack and I needed some quality time together. My dogs prefer the indoors to the 98 degree weather we’ve been having in the metro Atlanta area, so our date was in the air conditioned sun room!

What's brewing?

I am an old fashioned girl and drink plain, caffeinated, black coffee. Folgers breakfast blend is my favorite. I add a few extra scoops to make it strong. Most people refuse to drink my coffee!

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

A nice cucumber or tomato sandwich with mayo on white bread makes me feel like I am at high tea, although I never drink tea.

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

Milk bones minis. They are small and not as fattening. Last year, when I had rotator cuff surgery, and was in a sling for four months, the dogs and I ate comfort food, and we all put on the pounds.

How were you and your dogs united?

When my husband died three years ago I had two German Shepherds. When the male died a year later, my old gal Foxy seemed bored. Her job as caregiver was over. I adopted Bray [photo left], my Afghan mix and the rest is history. In nine months I added five dogs to the pack. In addition to Bray, there is Annabelle [photo above right], a portly hound dog mix, my seven pound Chi named Chloe, Rascal, a roly poly bull dog, pit mix, and lastly, Miss April In Paris, a spotted hunting dog. Two months ago Foxy left me as age and health caught up with her. It seems quiet with only five! I am used to counting when they come in after a romp in the yard…1,2,3,4,5…and then I remember there is no number 6. I am working on that now. I like a six-pack at home.

Have your dogs had any influence on your writing?

I write under the name Writer With Dogs and have a web under that name. I launched a one-time online dog magazine with the same name, in December 2010, dedicated to rescue dogs and vintage dog art. I write about dogs, my rescue groups, living with a house full of fur. I have a dog book in the works. When friends say I am crazy being single with five dogs, I say I’d be crazy without them. They are my writing muses. They make every day a riot of fun!

How did your dogs get their names?

Each dog kept the name it came with. Only April had hers extended. She was the sixth dog when she came in the house, and like the last child, she was somewhat taken for granted. One day she came up to me while I was on the computer, nudged my arm, and took out part of Outlook. I held her face and realized she needed to feel special. “I shall call you Miss April In Paris!” I started a small blog for her, where she is dreaming of visiting the city of lights. She is in my PR photos and, while she has not made it to Paris, she has been on a blog in England.

Where are your dogs' favorite places for outings?

They love to run my fenced yard, which is very private for being close in the city. The occasional trip to the vet, one at a time, is exciting as they enjoy car rides. Mostly they like to stay indoors. My dogs are couch potatoes. Their idea of exercise is to move from the bed, to the couch, to the food bowl. They don’t really care if they go out, but they do like for me to stay in.

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

The dogs are all BFFs. They love to lick each other and play well together. They are a united front.

What is each dog's best quality?

Chloe, the Chi, tries to run the household. She sees that as her job since Foxy is gone. Bray is still skittish and when he comes up to bestow a tiny kiss on your hand, you feel like you’ve won the lottery. If Annabelle could talk, her favorite word would be “whatever”. Nothing bothers her, unless you disturb her sleep. She is the oldest at ten. My other dogs are between three and four years old. Rascal is that chubby girl that sits in the curl of your arm with her head on your chest and stares at you with one blue eye and one brown one. Miss April in Paris looks serious with her dark eyes and dark face, but she is a kisser, which differs from a dog who licks your face. She actually plants a big kiss on your mouth. If only there were a man as good with his kisses.

What is each dog's proudest moment? Most embarrassing?

My dogs don’t embarrass, however they have been known to embarrass me! They are happy, well-adjusted, rescue dogs that have found confidence and security at my home. Their proudest moment is when we all run to the bed to sleep at night! They have me sleeping with dogs and I sleep better snuggling with them.

Visit the websites for Barbara Barth, the Writer With Dogs, and The Little Shop Of Arts And Antiques.

--Marshal Zeringue