Ruth Carter & Rosie

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Ruth Carter – lawyer and writer in Phoenix, AZ and the loving dog parent to Rosie, the 8 year-old basset hound. She was diagnosed with glaucoma and lost an eye in 2015. This was our last picture together before her diagnosis. She will eventually go blind. I want to give her the best life possible, including letting her see as much as she can while she still can.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Rosie and I spent a long weekend in Flagstaff, AZ. We rented an Airbnb at a house owned by two artists. It was a great place to get away to relax and recharge. We loved the pellet stove. We started and ended each day in front of the fire.

What's brewing?

Our Airbnb had a kitchenette with a coffeemaker and mini-fridge that was stocked with coffee and cream. I don’t know what brand it was, but it was delightful.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

I made myself oatmeal with brown sugar, chopped almonds, raisins, and almond milk.

How were you and Rosie united?

I adopted Rosie from the Arizona Basset Hound Rescue when she was 4. We just celebrated 4 years together. I knew the moment I saw her at our meet-and-greet that she was my dog.

Any treats for Rosie on this occasion?

She just finished her breakfast kibble and chopped baked chicken. She slept on the couch next to me while I finished my breakfast.

How did Rosie get her name? Does she have any nicknames?

Rosie’s original name was “Roxy.” When I saw her sweet face and her big brown eyes, I knew she was really “Rosie.” It took her less than a week to adjust to her new name. Her full name is Rose Louise Carter. Louise was my grandmother’s middle name.

Rosie has a few nicknames – “Baby Girl” and “Waddles” are the main ones, but her godfather also calls her the “Potato Sack,” which shortens to “Tater Sack” and “Sack.”

Tennis ball, stick, squeaky-toy...?

No toys today, though she’s a fan of sticks. Sticks are the only chew toys that stand a chance with her. No “long-lasting” chew toy has last more than 10 minutes with her, but actual sticks stand a chance. She loves to break them into pieces. When she finds a stick during one our walks, she proudly trots home with it in her mouth, her wagging tail waving triumphantly upright.

Postman, cat, squirrel...?

Anything that moves is interesting and everyone is her friend. When we went to the dog beach in southern California last year, she would walk up to strangers and plop down on their blankets as if to say, “You may pet me now.”

Who is Rosie's best pet-pal?

We live in a great neighborhood with lots of dogs. Her best pal is a 12 year-old German shepherd named Zavvy. They enjoy the mellow life of sniffing the ground, relaxing in the grass, and occasionally playing with the whipper snapper dogs.

What is Rosie's most endearing quality?

She is so pure. Her eyes tell an entire story. You never have to question how she feels because it’s emanating from her. Even though she had a rough start before she was rescued, all she wants is to love and be loved.

If Rosie could change one thing about Arizonans, what would it be?

Make more dog-friendly places. She’s too stubborn to be trained to be a therapy dog and she likes to go with me when she can. I negotiated her into my work contract so she can come to the office where my co-workers love on her.

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

Shirley MacLaine! She's so much like Weezer (Ouiser Boudreaux) from Steel Magnolias.

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

I love you and I want you to be happy. Is there anything more I can do to make sure you know you’re loved every day?

What advice would Rosie give if asked?

Do what you love and enjoy the simple pleasures. And don’t be afraid to use your devastatingly charismatic eyes to get what you want. If you believe they can’t resist you, they’ll believe it too.

Visit Ruth Carter's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Cheryl Isola & Emma Jean and Buddy James

Who is in the photo at right?

Hello, I am Cheryl Isola and I am the proud founder of Team Healthy and Happy. Our mission is to help busy, working moms find more balance in their lives through healthy habits (which helps themselves and their families). Our motto is "You must take care of yourself before you can care for others."

I invite you to visit my blog and read more about my story.

Since I was a little girl I have always been a huge dog lover, and treat my pups as members of the family. On the left is my beautiful Basset Hound, Emma Jean, age 13, and on the right is my handsome Labrador, Buddy James, age 12. They live with me, my husband, Jim, son, Erik (17), and daughter, Kelly (13).

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We just finished a short walk in our neighborhood on this cool, brisk Spring Day. The dogs love to "chillax" with me out on the front porch. Buddy and Emma love to be outside.

What's brewing?

I am a drinking an ice cold Cafe Latte Shakeology shake, delicious to drink and loaded with nutrients.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Buddy and Emma love to have their special "cookies", all natural, yummy treats from the Blue Dog Bakery.

How were you and Buddy and Emma united?

We adopted Emma on Valentine's Day in 2004, when she was around 1 year old from Tri-State Basset Rescue. She was found as a stray eating out of a trash can. We adopted Buddy at age 7 from Centre County Paws- his former owner had filed bankruptcy, was forced to move in with family, and would not allow dogs in their house. Buddy was not always good with other dogs so the workers at Paws were not sure how he would do around Emma. It was amazing- Buddy loved her right away. It was like he knew this was his ticket to have his "forever home". Emma and Buddy are quite an odd looking couple but they are happily bonded. Last Spring we had a scare with Buddy when his stomach turned. He was rushed to the emergency vet for surgery, and did not come home for 2 days. Emma was lost without Buddy, and spent the whole 2 days sleeping in his bed....soooo sweet!

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

We actually just kept their rescue names, but they each have a couple of nicknames. We call Buddy, "Good Boy", "Budrick", "Buddy James" and we call Emma, "Joan" which was derived from her middle name, Jean. When she is in trouble, we call her by her 1st and middle name, "Emma Jean" (and if you know anything about Bassets, she gets in trouble more than her mellow, yellow, brother, Buddy. Bassets can be stubborn, and Emma is no exception- she is quite the Diva.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Emma and Buddy both do not care for cats, and will bark at the postman and the UPS man. Buddy's bark is way worse than his bite. Emma is beginning to lose her hearing so she sleeps through some of the normal outside sounds these days. The hound in her still has an incredible sense of smell. Beware of leaving any small snacks in tote bags around the house- she will find them.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Buddy and Emma are not too much into toys any more, but back in the day, Emma loved to play tug-of-war with her rope, and Buddy loved to chase after a tennis ball in the yard. Buddy does have a brown pillow (used to be the one on our couch- ha!) that he holds in his mouth, like his security blanket. He also "retrieves" it for us when we return home, or before he goes out in the morning.

What is each dog's best quality?

Buddy is the protector and the guardian of our family. Emma is dependent and loyal. She includes herself as a "human" in all of our family activities. Emma would never want anyone to feel left out.

If Buddy and Emma could change one thing about you, what would it be?

They wish I would stay home with them everyday, all day!

If Buddy and Emma could answer only one question in English, what would you ask them?

You are both getting older now, what is on your "bucket list"?

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

I would definitely choose Jennifer Lopez to play the voice of Emma (since she could really nail her diva personality).

I think Will Ferrell, could play the voice of our Buddy. When he was Buddy the Elf he was kind and loving, just like our Buddy.

What advice would Buddy and Emma give if asked?

Family is everything- always stay with the pack!

Visit Cheryl Isola's Team Healthy and Happy blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Donna M. Maguire & Winston

Who is in the photo at right?

On the left, Donna M Maguire, author of the Silly Willy Winston Children’s Book Series. I began writing children’s books without ever thinking of publishing them! After more than 35 years in the marketing profession, I left my consulting business and moved to Nevada to help care for my grandbabies. The change was driven by the loss of my nephew, whom I had raised as a son after providing hospice for his mother. Little did I realize that caring for my grandbabies would provide such an effective form of therapy and delight. Reading early and often to children not only makes for good times, it promotes bonding and nurtures the joy of reading, so I read to them often. Something amazing happened; my creativity and imagination were re-ignited. It seemed only natural to funnel this new-found energy into a long-term desire to write children’s books.

On the right, Winston, AKA Silly Willy Winston. My Basset Hound Winston, Silly Willy Winston as I call him, was the perfect muse and unlikely hero for my books. He has the biggest ears ever, a stout frame, huge paws and a super large snout. He trips over his ears and paws which often makes him a bit of a clown. People laugh but he embraces their laughter as an invitation to make friends. If you ask me, he is the perfect role model for self-acceptance and empowerment. Winston’s traits – the way he uses them to his advantage – also make him an ideal character to help children recognize, understand and protect themselves and others against bullying.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Winston and I attended a Halloween event in 2015. Winston loves meeting new people, especially children. He loves to share his exploits with them and to let them know we are all unique. Winston believes the traits, interests and preferences that make us different are what also give us our super powers. Through love, friendship and acceptance these super powers can help us have amazing adventures.

What's brewing?

My favorite drink is a sugar-free French vanilla iced coffee. Winston likes his water on the rocks. He likes to play with the ice and the sound it makes when he chews on it.

Any treats for you or Winston on this occasion?

Basset Hounds have a tendency to overeat and to put on a few extra pounds. This can cause him back problems so we keep treats to a minimum and natural, something like carrots. However, his favorite treat has no calories…he loves making new friends with other animals and children. He especially like when then play with his ears. He really enjoys when people tie them in a bow.

How were you and Winston united?

My daughter felt I needed a pick me up after my nephew passed away. She invited me to see a puppy she found…it wasn’t Winston. When I saw Winston I fell in love but thought I was not emotionally prepared to care for a puppy. I went back two weeks later and Winston was still available. He took the long trip from Pennsylvania to Nevada with me. He sat in the front seat with his snout over my arm the entire trip.

How did your dog get his name? Any aliases?

Winston already had his name and one of my favorite historical figures is Winston Churchill so I kept it. When I grew up and I did something funny my mother would say, you’re such a silly willy. That went so nicely with Winston that when I wrote the books I started calling him Silly Willy Winston. Believe me, he is silly.

How did the inspiration strike to model your fictional dog on the real Winston?

Bullying is a growing issue so Winston was the perfect muse because of his imperfections. Basset Hound ears are large when they are born and they kind of grow into them. I noticed him tripping over them is one of the things that endeared him to people of every age. His reaction to the laughter was to run over and make friends. Research shows that reacting to bullying with calm and confidence is the best defense. All of this led to the fact that he could be a perfect conversation started regarding bullying between parents and their children.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Winston is an equal-opportunity lover.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Winston will wrestle with toys a bit, chase a ball once or twice but his favorite is taking walks.

Who is Winston's best pet-pal?

Winston just met a rambunctious beagle named Molly. They walk together, play together and we even went camping at Lake Meade Nevada together. If I visit without Winston, Molly goes crazy and if Dan visits without Molly, Winston goes haywire. I am thinking of including Molly in the next set of books. That could be a little while as the focus is on promoting and marketing the existing five books.

What is Winston's best quality?

Love and friendship. He even wants to play with other dogs that would rather fight.

Where is Winston's favorite outdoor destination?

I’d have to say Lake Meade was a big hit.

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

I don’t know. I take him for walks every day, he goes where I go and sleeps with me. I think he wishes he could come with me when I care for the grandbabies but my niece is allergic to dogs.

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

What does he like best about his secret identities?

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

This is a very important question. Winston would want a voice that is warm, friendly and engaging. Most important he would want the voice to support the main messages of the books, which include: (1) Solving natural mysteries is fun and (2) Solving natural mysteries does not require a high IQ, rather a natural curiosity and love of learning. With this in mind, Winston feels that Owen Wilson would be a great talent for the voice over.

What advice would Winston give if asked?

Every person you meet is a potential friend, you just don’t know why yet.

Visit the Silly Willy Winston website, Facebook page, and Twitter perch.

--Marshal Zeringue

Theresa Kaminski & Hugo

Who is in the photo at right?

Sitting at the dining table is me, Theresa Kaminski, a history professor and author of the newly-published book Angels of the Underground. The canine with the rawhide chewy in his mouth is Hugo, a 5-year old basset hound.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I have my coffee and Cheerios every morning while Hugo settles in for his second nap. (He gets up very early with my husband, who gives him his breakfast and takes him for his first walk of the day.) Sometimes we’re in the dining area that’s just off the kitchen. If I’m anxious to start work right away, we’re in my study, also known as the Eeyore room because of the small stuffed Eeyore I keep on my desk as a writing mascot.

What's brewing?

Right now we’re finishing up a couple of bags of regional coffee that came to us as gifts: Tony’s from the Pacific Northwest and Tall Bean Coffee from Manitowoc, Wisconsin. A more typical coffee morning involves the Beaumont brand from the Aldi grocery store chain. I drink one cup a day, which I make with a single-serve pour-over Melitta coffee cone. I add enough 2% milk to turn the dark brown to beige.

Any treats for you or Hugo on this occasion?

No. I’m strict about no extra food intake in the morning. Hugo loses interest in his rawhide pretty quickly, preferring a nap.

How were you and Hugo united?

Not long after our golden retriever died, we started thinking about a new dog. We wanted a very different breed so we wouldn’t feel tempted to make comparisons between old dog and new. I started looking at various animal rescue organizations and my first choice was a greyhound, which my son and husband nixed. Then I found a small animal rescue organization that was adopting out two adult bassets and their six offspring. (In the case of bassets, “small” is a bit of a misnomer. They are short, but long and hefty.) The bassets had been removed from an abusive home.

How did your dog get his name? Any aliases?

Hugo seemed a fitting name since the breed originated in France. I sometimes call him Puppen, sometimes Stinky Boy. Because of their oily coat, bassets have a unique fragrance.

Does Hugo do more to help or hinder your writing?

Hinder, only because I have to pull myself away from my work to walk and feed him. If I forget, he reminds me with a wet nose wedged under my arm or a heavy paw on my thigh. Hugo has been inexplicably indifferent to my writing projects and deadlines.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Hugo loves cats and views them all as potential friends. He is crestfallen when they don’t see him the same way. Squirrels and rabbits are fair game, though. When they got into the yard, Hugo viewed them as interlopers and acted accordingly. He is very fit from regular exercise and can run fast. However, our new house doesn’t have a fenced yard so he won’t be out there on his own. Local wildlife is safe. Hugo ignores the postman except if we encounter him on a walk. Then Hugo wants to be petted.

[photo right: Hugo's mom, Molly]

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Right now Hugo is enamored of two toys, both Christmas presents. One is a gray plush toy in the shape of a dog that has an empty plastic bottle in its middle. He likes the crunching sound it makes when he chews on it or jumps on it. The other is a long knotted rope that he likes to drag around and show off. If I throw a ball for him, he watches to see where it went, then looks at me to see if I’ll get it for him.

Who is Hugo's best pet-pal?

Hugo was very fond of a Chihuahua named Jules who belongs to the people who pet sat him. He’s just met some new canine pals at a dog daycare near our new home. Hugo’s a sociable guy.

What is Hugo's best quality?

He’s very friendly and always happy to see us.

If Hugo could change one thing about Wisconsinites, what would it be?

I think he’s puzzled by why we have to take so long to bundle up before going outside in the winter. To him, it must seem a curious thing to do and it only causes a delay in his walks.

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

Why can’t you stop barking when I tell you to?

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

John Hillerman, who played Jonathan Quayle Higgins on Magnum, P.I. And he’d have to use the Higgins voice because Hugo would sound droll and always vaguely amused. If the movie were animated, it would take tremendous willpower not to draw Hugo wearing a deerstalker cap with a pipe in his mouth.

What advice would Hugo give if asked?

Take more naps.

Learn more about Angels of the Underground at the Oxford University Press website.

The Page 99 Test: Angels of the Underground.

Writers Read: Theresa Kaminski.

My Book, The Movie: Angels of the Underground.

--Marshal Zeringue

Ronni Ann Hall & Emma and Cobi

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Ronni Ann Hall and my biz is Designing Fairy. I’m a writer and and an artist who likes to make products and classes that teach with fun, like my fairy deck. I also write about being very sensitive and a dog mom. The pic is with my basset hound, Emma Lou Bangles, who is 9 years old and a bit of a princess. My other dog is Cobianna. She’s 4. Cobi is golden retriever/husky.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We are celebrating the launch of my new website and blog, Healingfairyalphabet.com. Emma doesn’t really care about the event unless it is food-related. (Shhhh….She’s a food stealer.)

What's brewing?

Decaf coffee for this fairy! But a little foam added on top is nice.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Both girls would love ice cream but instead get a piece of a blueberry muffin. Emma might steal the whole thing.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Emma Lou is also known as, Squooshy, Lasagna (new one resulting from food stealing) Mooshy, and Miss Thing. Cobi was recently dubbed “Kissalick” and I call her “Giant Puppy.” She has no idea she is large.

How were you and your dogs united?

Emma Lou was adopted at around 1 years old from the beautiful Sedona Animal Shelter. Cobi, who has been with me for two years, was being dropped off at the Golden Bone pet store and pet rescue and I just happened to be there with Emma Lou. Cobi was licking and kissing Emma like she knew her forever. We had just lost Sarah, my beagle, and Emma was lonely. When Cobi’s former person was filling out paperwork he mentioned her birthdate and it was the same as mine! I knew we were meant to be together. It was a bit of a rough beginning, as she thought she had to be a guard dog and in charge when she arrived, but she is a giant mush now.

Do your dogs contribute to your writing and art?

I draw them often in my illustrations. Emma has been seen in a tutu recently in one of my drawings. She doesn’t care for skirts. They both make it to my stories in one way or another, especially my little movies. I worry that Emma will have an attitude because she is famous now.

Cat, postman, squirrel....?

Definitely neighbor cat.

Squeaky-toy, ball, stick...?

Squeaky toy.

Where is your dogs' favorite outdoor destination?

Dog park of course!

Who is your dogs' best pet-pal?

Coralynn.

What is each dog's best quality?

Cobi is highly empathic and caring. She hates when anyone is upset and will kiss you until you feel better.

Emma is the best loyal companion. She is always by my side. We’ve been through a ton together.

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

Emma thinks I worry too much. Dang, I do.

Cobi thinks I should play more and get off my butt. I should.

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

Would be funny if Emma had a voice female version of James Earl Jones.

I think Cobi would definitely be voiced by Elmo. She has that constant sweet excitement thing going.

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

Why do you eat things that you shouldn’t eat off the floor? I probably should be asking something more like, “What is the purpose of life?”

What advice would your dogs give if asked?

Again, Emma would tell me I need to let things go and stop worrying. Poor dog has been trying to teach me for eight years.

Cobi would just lick me.

Visit the Designing Fairy website, and the Healing Fairy Alphabet website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Lauren Atkins & Winston and Maggie

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Lauren Atkins, instructional technologist and food blogger at haveforkwilleat.com. My canine companions are the very distinctive Winston, a five year old basset hound-shad pei mix. His "little" sister is Maggie, thinks she is a tiny kitten but is actually a 3 year old English Mastiff.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

It's stormy out and when it rains, we like to curl up with a cup of tea and watch tv together while I work on recipe ideas. Maggie in particular is a very snuggly dog. Winston just really enjoys naps and very much hates rain.

What's brewing?

This occasion is technically Chai with a Canine. Iced chai tea latte in the summer; hot chai in the winter. I like to make it super frothy and add a lot of cinnamon on top. Winston and Maggie get water…preferably (for me) clean water from their bowls, preferably (for them) water from a puddle on the patio.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

They get wheat-free dog treats (Maggie has allergies) and occasionally, when they look just far too cute to turn down, cubes of cheese.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Winston just looked like a Winston, even at the tender age of 8 weeks, when he was all wrinkles and skin. His full name is actually Winston Churchill, and occasionally he goes by Sir Winston or The Prime Minister, depending on how lordly he feels that day. Maggie's full name is Margaret Thatcher [photo left], though "Maggie" fits her pretty well.

How were you and your dogs united?

We got Winston as a young puppy. We were looking to adopt a pair of lab puppies but stumbled upon him and he was too cute to pass up. He was so adorable that people would pull their cars over on the street just to ask us what kind of dog he was. Maggie came a couple years later, after we'd bought a house with a yard. We got her from a mastiff rescue at 9 months old.

What role do your dogs play at your Have Fork, Will Eat blog?

My dogs are my editors, but their grammar is atrocious, so really it's just in name only. Otherwise, they are a soundboard for ideas, keep watch over me while I'm cooking and provide companionship while I write. They're negotiating for a taste-testing role but so far that deal hasn't panned out.

Squirrel, postman, cat….?

While they are interested in both the neighborhood cats and the postman, their true nemeses are the squirrels and the walnuts they throw.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

Laser pointer. Really.

What is each dog's best quality?

Winston [photo left] is extremely smart, while Maggie is just the sweetest thing ever.

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

We'd feed them table scraps.

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

Winston: Patrick Stewart.

Maggie: Frances McDormand doing the accent from Fargo.

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

To Winston: How exactly did you know it was going to rain?
To Maggie: Why do you hoard all the toys?

Visit the Have Fork, Will Eat blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Sue Owens Wright & Peaches and Beau

Who is in the photo at right?

I think you must be referring to the photo of me with my canine muse, Bubba Gump, who inspired my dog mysteries. He is dressed as Sherlock Holmes, and the photo was taken at one of my book signings. I’m Sue Owens Wright, an award-winning author of books and articles about dogs and write the Beanie and Cruiser Mystery Series, which features a basset hound named Cruiser, and now in the fourth book I introduce his new basset sidekick, Calamity.

My current dogs are Peaches (F) and Beau (M). Like the dogs in my books, both are rescued basset hounds. Peaches, a tri-color, is around 10 years old and Beau, the white/red variety, is about 9.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

It’s Take My Dog to Work every day around here, since I work from home much of the time. I enjoy tea in the company of my dogs every day in my front garden, weather permitting. Because of her past, Peaches is a fearful dog in new situations, and I can’t really take one dog anywhere without the other. They are too attached to each other. I do go to a café every afternoon to write for a while uninterrupted, though, and hope to someday have a café dog I can take with me, but these guys aren’t good candidates.

What's brewing?

I’m fond of Peet’s Summer House blend of iced tea, but I love any black tea. My home brew faves are English brands, PG Tips, Yorkshire Gold, and Barry’s Gold (Irish).

Any treats for you or Peaches and Beau on this occasion?

Well, they always get treats, no matter what the occasion. That’s why there are contests for lowest ground clearance at Basset Waddles. Basset hounds are total foodies and masters at counter surfing.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Beau [photo left] came with his name, and it fit him so well I’d never have changed it, though I sometimes refer to him as Beauregard Longfellow because he has such a long body.

Peaches’ name was a nod to her predecessor, Daisy, who I sometimes called my “Princess Peaches.” I call her Peach Fuzz, Peach Pie, Peaches and Cream, Peach Cobbler, any name with “Peach” in it because she’s a peach of a girl.

How were you and Peaches and Beau united?

Both dogs came from a shelter in a neighboring city, though Peaches [photo right] was transferred to the local SPCA, where I adopted her. I adopted them at different times. I saw Beau on PetHarbor.com in the months after Bubba died. He looked so much like Bubba, I knew I had to go see him. It was a long drive, and I got lost and couldn’t find the shelter, but I’m glad I didn’t give up. He was so worth the trouble. He’s such a great dog! They both are.

How do your dogs help, and how do they hinder, your writing?

There’s the repeated nose nudge on my leg when they want treats or my undivided attention. Peaches is best at that. Daisy was an expert elbow nudger. I’d be typing away when all of a sudden my left arm went flying off the keyboard. Also, their barking at a passerby always startles me out of concentration while writing. Never fails to jolt me back to reality.

When we sit in the front garden together, the dogs bark at everyone who goes by, especially if they are walking a dog. Cats are fair game, too, of course. Peaches starts in barking first, and then Beau joins in. His voice is very loud, which is interesting because he didn’t utter a sound for six months after I adopted him from the pound. Then one day he found his voice again when he howled at a cat on the back fence. I think we were both surprised. He’s been vocalizing at the top of his lungs ever since. There’s a reason I have a metal plaque displayed in my garden that says, “Ask not for whom the dog barks. It barks for thee.”

What is each dog's best quality?

Beau is the best snuggler, and he is utterly devoted to me, more than any dog I’ve ever had. Peaches is a great watchdog. No one sets foot on our property without her letting us know about it. We already had a Bay Alarm System in our house, but she’s much better than the electronic one. She really bays!

If Peaches and Beau could change one thing about you, what would it be?

That I could take them for more walks than I do. They get two a day, but they’d prefer three or more.

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

Both actors would be French, of course, like the basset hound. Beau’s voice would be that of Gerard Depardieu. Peaches’ would be Marion Cotillard.

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

What happened in your previous life before I adopted you?

Visit Sue Owens Wright's website and dog blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Steph Cha & Duke

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Steph Cha, and I’m the author of Follow Her Home, a new noir out with St. Martin’s Minotaur. My son here is named Duke, and he’s a two-year-old basset hound.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Duke and I drink coffee at home when we drink coffee. My fiancé Matt is a real addict, so we have a machine here that I’ll use now and then, just for a taste. Right now I’m sitting on my couch with a blanket and Duke is on the floor, licking himself.

What's brewing?

I’m drinking a basic black coffee, no cream or sugar, though I object to neither. The beans are from Peet’s. They were in our refrigerator.

Any treats for you or Duke on this occasion?

Well, now that you mention it, I have some Greenies for Duke and part of a sticky bun for me. It’s a little cold because it came out of the freezer and I didn’t heat it long enough, but I am too lazy to put it back in the toaster oven. It’s still delicious. My mother got it for me as a souvenir from Flour Bakery in Boston, and it is just…I mean it’s kind of cold, but I wish you could taste it.

How were you and Duke united?

Matt had wanted a basset hound since he was a little boy, and when I made the decision to spend six months writing at home, we started looking around for a dog, with the idea that I’d be around for his adjustment period. We found a marvelous rescue called the Basset Hound Rescue of Southern California, and we put in an adoption application. It was a pretty rigorous process, with paperwork and a home visit before we could meet any dogs. Once we were cleared, we kept our eye on the site, and when Duke came up, we watched his youTube video a dozen times and asked to meet him. We drove to Fountain Valley to his fosters’ and fell in love.

How did Duke get his name? Any aliases?

Duke came with his name, and truthfully, it’s a little regal for this fifty-pound bag of poop. Still, we wanted a short, silly human name, and Duke fits that description. Aliases…oh yea. Dukie is not allowed (per his anti-scat father), but we have Mr. Basset, Dukers, Duke Poop’em (I am pro-scat), and when he limps (ugh, don’t even ask about his health – he must be a puppy mill dog), Hobble D. Duke.

Does Duke do more to help or to hinder your writing?

Oh boy, that’s a good question. Duke is a huge distraction, obviously, and I spend at least an hour or two a day walking and feeding and training him. That said, I’ve spent a few days without him, and those days have been sad and lonely and I end up just wasting a lot of time on the Internet.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

He’s fascinated by cats, but he doesn’t do well with them. There’s a black cat on our block I consider his nemesis, but she wins every one of their weird staring contests. He also has an unrequited love for Frannie, the cat at Skylight Books. She won’t give him the time of day, and he’ll just whimper after her like he’s the saddest dog in the world. He loves postmen because they are people, and squirrels make him crazy. Have you ever seen a basset hound try to climb a tree? It’s pathetic.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Tennis ball squeaky toy attached by a short stick.

Does Duke have a favorite place to go for outings?

We live in Los Feliz, which is a very walkable neighborhood, especially for L.A., and Duke gets lots of attention every time we go out. I mean he is mega good-looking, a real supermodel dog, and he might not know it, but he knows he loves the love. Sometimes I feel like I’m his agent. When I notice people staring and cooing at him I’ll say, “He’s very friendly,” and they’ll come over and shower him with attention. So he likes the streets of Los Feliz just fine.

Who are Duke's best pet-pals?

His best friend is a basset he met at school (K9 Loft Elementary) named The Stig. I saw them playing when I went to pick Duke up one day, and the guy who brought him out told me the two bassets had been playing all day. I left a message for The Stig’s parents, and now we get together for basset play dates, which are just the best.

What is Duke's best quality?

He must be the sweetest dog I’ve ever met. Friendly and playful and not a mean bone in his body. He doesn’t even lift his leg when he pees – he just dips into this cute little parallelogram stance with his tail sticking up like a flag. (I guess I answered your next question, which was definitely going to be, “What does Duke look like when he pees?”)

If Duke could change one thing about Californians, what would it be?

Every time they stopped to pet him, they would also give him treats.

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

There is no record of Duke before March of last year, when he was found wandering the desert streets of Hemet, alone, untagged, and unneutered. I’d love to ask him what his life was like before he was found by the shelter, whether it was happy or sad, if he remembers his mother and siblings.

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

I want to say Jake the Dog from Adventure Time, but Patrick Starr would probably be more accurate.

Read more about Follow Her Home, and visit Steph Cha's website and Twitter perch.

--Marshal Zeringue

Janet Gilbert & Fred and Gloria

Who is in the photo at right?

That's me Janet Gilbert; homemaker, mother of two, grandmother of three (one more on the way). Also mother to two very demanding Basset Hounds -- Fred (tri-colour), a 20-months-old male and Gloria (red & white) a five-year-old female.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Waking up and seeing the hounds are just so happy to see me every single morning!

What's brewing?

Folgers in my cup. One sugar and 1% milk. Mmmmmm!

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

More coffee.

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

They get one Milk Bone each while I have my coffee in the morning.

How were you and Fred and Gloria united?

Fred was born April 19, 2010 at Autumn Blaze Bassets. Three days after our 11-year-old Basset Barney had to be put down. We got Fred when he was 8 weeks old. Gloria was a retired breeding dog from the same place looking for her forever home. We got her to teach Freddie some manners. It didn't work!

How did your dogs get their names? Do they have any nicknames?

Fred is Fred, no reason. His registered name is "Fabulous Fred." I call him Freddie Spaghetti, Fredrico and Mr. Dramatica.

Since Gloria was older when we got her she already had her name. I call her Missy Loo.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

Definitely squirrel. They both go "squirrelly when they see one!

Tennis ball, Frisbee, squeaky-toy...?

Squeaky toy. Gloria is afraid of the squeak so Fred does it constantly to scare her.

Where is Fred and Gloria's favorite place for an outing?

Our backyard. It's fenced in and large enough for them to run and chase each other around.

Who are Fred and Gloria's best pet-pals?

Fred's best pal is me, but slowly becoming Gloria. Gloria's best pal is Fred. She gets upset if he's having a time out...and believe me he gets a lot of them!

What is each dog's most endearing quality?

They both give Basset Hound hugs where I kneel down and they squish their heads into my legs and wag their tails. It makes my heart melt!

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

That I'm boss!

What is each dog's proudest moment?

Fred's proudest moment was when he first climbed the stairs all by himself. Gloria's was when she learned how to jump up into the big brown comfy chair. She just sat there looking all proud of herself.

If Fred and Gloria could speak in a movie about your life, which actors would you have doing the dogs' voices?

I would have Jennifer Garner doing Gloria's voice. Sweet, but can be stern if need be and definitely Ashton Kutcher for Fred's voice. Whiney, goofy, dramatic who can "think" they're tough!

Visit the Basset Momma blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Alex & Nigel, Natalie, and Nash

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Alex. By profession I am a marketer/advertiser, but in this economy I am now professionally a care giver to my 3 beasts and my military spouse, and a blogger over at Laundry and Vodka. That's Natalie with me in the photo.

I have 3 lovelies:

Nigel - 5 1/2 year old Dachshund
Natalie - 4 year old Basset Hound
Nash - 2 1/2 year old Australian Blue Heeler

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I have coffee with Nigel every day. He sits in my lap on the sofa while I drink my joe. But today, he is not feeling well and spent the night with the vet to get him into better shape. So instead, I have the two big dogs lounging on the floor by my feet. Nash likes when I use him as a foot rest.

What's brewing?

I am a caffeine addict, but with pregnancy has come limitation on my obsession with coffee. I am 5 months along with my first child (a girl!), so I am drinking half caf black drip. Gag! It's the only way I can justify more than 1 cup in the morning, but I miss my bold, jet fueled coffee!

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

I have the same goody every day - Nuts Over Chocolate Luna Bar.

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

Nash already gobbled his up, but Natalie is still munching on a dental chewy this morning.

How were you and your dogs united?

Nigel the weenie dog became my best friend in 2005. I had an old, ailing cat, and needed a dog that would do well with him. I also worked a good bit and needed a breed that slept a lot. Perfect solution? A weiner! He was the right fit for my family immediately!

Nash was a welcome home gift for my husband upon his return from Iraq. He just loved the breed and had always wanted a heeler, so it was the perfect gift.

Natalie is our most recent addition. We moved to a home in the mountains, one day a beautiful white basset hound showed up at my door. She was hungry and dirty, so we fixed her up. I drove around and did manage to find the owners, but they said they didn't want her anymore. I took her straight to the vet, everything that could be wrong with a dog was wrong with her... worms, bad teeth, bad skin, never been fixed, etc... A few weeks and lots of money later she was a vision of health!

How did your dogs get their names? Do they have any nicknames?

All of my animals have always had names that start with "N". It's a quirky fun thing I've done since I was a kid.

Nigel just suits him, he's a funny little devil.

Nash, we lived in Nashville at the time, so it was a great fit for our rambunctious puppy.

Natalie, her name was previously Ally, so Natalie sounded really close to that. She doesn't respond to either name (Ally or Natalie), she prefers to be called Girlfriend.

FedEx man, cat, squirrels?

Nigel loves to bark at the UPS man! Nigel is blind, so he barks his head off until the man says hello, then he runs to his feet for the pet that he knows he's due.

Tennis ball, Frisbee, squeaky-toy...?

Nigel loves his babies. I've included a photo of him with his beloved skunk. He sleeps with him every night, tucked under his arms like it's his baby.

Nash is a tennis ball fanatic. As many times as we'll throw it, he'll fetch it!

Natalie just likes chewies, any kind of chewy. Unfortunately, she doesn't know the difference between a chewy and sunglasses, or a chewy and a flip flop...

Where are the dogs' favorite places for outings?

Nigel should have a sign that reads, "Have food? Will travel." He'll go anywhere, any time.

Nash loved dock diving! He doesn't quite get the hang of it yet, but he loves all of the other dogs and the special attention he receives.

Natalie is a home body, she just wants people to come love on her.

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

Nigel loves his babies.

Nash and Natalie love each other.

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

The big dogs would want me to spend more time in the backyard with them. Nash would want me to have an automatic throwing arm to keep that tennis ball flying. And Nigel doesn't like my growing baby bump because it is taking up his lap space!

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

Nigel went with me to the airport to pick up his daddy when he returned home from a 15 month deployment to Iraq. We had never gone so long without seeing him, and I feared that Nigel would forget his daddy. I had left Nigel in the car while I ran in to find my husband, as we entered the parking garage I ran a few steps ahead to get Nigel on his leash so he could greet his dad. Nigel had not yet gone blind, so as I hooked his leash, I turned him around and sat him on the ground. My husband didn't make a sound, he just looked at his little wiener dog. All of the sudden, Nigel let out the loudest scream I had ever heard from a dog. He started dancing in place, and peeing everywhere, and screaming and crying. My big strong military husband started crying, he tried to pick up Nigel but he was still peeing from the excitement of it all... like a sprinkler all over his boots. Finally, he calmed down enough to be held, and in that moment I am absolutely certain that Nigel was the proudest I'd ever seen him. He had kept me safe, our home safe, and he was ready for his daddy's return.

Natalie had an embarrassing moment in my car - we didn't know each other very well yet. She was crying, but I assumed she was just a little nervous in the car. Then she cried a little louder, I assured her we were almost to our destination. Then she cried louder! I was turning in to the vet... then I smelled it. She had dookied in my car. Sigh!!! I got her out, she ran as fast as she could to the grass to finish her business. I could tell she was mortified, poor little thing.

Nash is all boy, and on level ten all the time. I don't think he knows what embarrassing means. But he's awful proud of his pretty girlfriend Natalie, he grooms her all day long.

Visit the Laundry and Vodka blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Anne Love & Luna

Who is in the photo at right?

I am Anne Love, a dean at a small college in NYC. Luna joined me and my two sons two months ago; we adopted her from the local shelter. They said she is about a year old, and a "bassett mix". I think she's a combination of bassett (her front legs), dachsund (rear end), and folks in the know say some pit bull terrier (head). I call her a hybrid!

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Every morning Luna and I have some bonding time - lots of petting, chasing a ball, tug-of-war. I have my coffee, she gets a wake-up work-out.

What's brewing?

In the morning I have my version of cafe au lait - a mug of hot milk with coffee. I'm pretty much a coffee wimp - I prefer it not too strong, and with milk and sugar.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

For breakfast, usually cold cereal or oatmeal. On the weekend my favorite is waffles.

Any treat for Luna on this occasion?

Luna gets dog food - lamb and rice kibble, and dog treats.

How did Luna come to be united with you?

Last June our dog of 14 years, Lacey, died. We were heartbroken. We missed her sweet welcomes at the door, her company, her soft fur. We talked about getting another dog, and what kind, and finally started looking at the local shelters. Luna had just arrived the day we visited the shelter in our town, and as they say, she picked us out. The staff member let Luna out of her crate, and she trotted right over to us, stuck her head under my arm, and that was that!

How did Luna get her name?

Since she is small we thought about long names - I was suggesting "Nasturtium," "Chrysanthemum," "Delphinium." One of my sons said that if it had to be a flower, he liked "Lilly." It didn't have to be flower, and we liked Lilly, but then I thought of Luna Lovegood, the character in the Harry Potter books. Since our last name is Love, it sort of fit. So she's Luna. Also turns out it's short for Lunatic, which she is now and then when she gets wound up and races around the house or the back yard.

Does she have any influence on what your write?

Yes! She filled the hole in my heart left by Lacey, and I wrote about that in my blog. See my blog entries for November and December. She also keeps my company when I write - she likes to be curled up nearby.

Where is Luna's favorite place for a walk?

All around our neighborhood. There are lots of friendly people, some friendly dogs, and plenty of squirrels to chase. We haven't ventured out beyond our town yet.

Stick, Frisbee, tennis ball...?

Tennis balls are great! One inside, one outside. She's also fierce at tug-of-war with the rope toy.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Squirrels are the favorite, but cats are very interesting too. She loves people, and doesn't bark at the postman (at least not yet).
What's an ordinary day like for Luna?

Play, eat, walk, nap while the family is at work and school, get walked by my sons or her dog-walker, nap, eat, play, walk, sleep, repeat until the weekend, then play lots more!

Who is Luna's best pet-pal?

Gracie-lou, a hound-mix, not quite a year old, also a shelter dog. They've played together only once so far, but it was very funny to watch short-legged Luna take on long-legged Gracie, and vice versa. Luna would run circles around Gracie, and then Gracie would sit on Luna.

What's Luna's best quality?

Her friendliness - she is happy to see everyone, and her whole body moves when she wags her tail!

What's Luna's proudest moment? Her most embarrassing?

Proudest moment - finding her first toy, among the cast-offs of my son's toys in the basement. It was a stretchy green frog. When she grabbed it in her mouth, shook it, and threw it to the floor, it bounced (much like a real frog might, without any interference on Luna's part!). She pounced on it, and repeated the process. She derived much joy from the frog until its demise.

Most embarrassing - none yet!

Care to share a Luna story?

The photo of Luna under the Christmas tree is funny, we think. She likes to curl up in something or near something, and as soon as we put the tree skirt under the tree, she went for it. She scratched at it, trying to get it just right, then she flopped down. It's been her favorite place since then. We bought a dog bed for her as a Christmas present, so now she likes to be in that, under the tree. She may be very confused when we take the tree down!

Visit Anne Love's blog, "Inspired by Love."

--Marshal Zeringue

Jennifer Brown & Ursula and Aragorn

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Jennifer Brown, and I'm a humor writer for The Kansas City Star, as well as the author of the young adult novel, Hate List. In this photo, I'm sitting with my two best fur friends, Ursula the Basset Hound, and Aragorn the Boxer. When I'm feeling lazy, I just call them The Baxters (Basset + Boxer = Baxter!). Ursula is a whopping 10 days older than Aragorn, and both of them are 2 years old. We got them both as brand new puppies, so our house was mass chaos for quite some time!

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Ursula and I don't need any special occasion to have a little couch, coffee, and reading time! And wherever Ursula is, Aragorn is sure to be nearby (but he's too big to share my lap, poor guy).

What's brewing?

The Roasterie's Breakfast Blend, freshly ground, with a smidge of skim milk and two packets of Splenda.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Just a book -- Sarah Ockler's Twenty Boy Summer, if you're wondering.

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

Ursula certainly considers lap time a treat!

How did your dogs come to be united with you?

Our beloved basset hound, Fiona, died unexpectedly two years ago and I was heartbroken. I wanted a new basset right away, but the family was unsure about that -- they were afraid having a basset in the house would make them too sad. But I sweetened the pot a little by offering to get two dogs to replace the one (I'd often thought about getting a fur friend for Fiona over the years), and they went for it!

I saw an ad in the newspaper about bassets for sale, and traveled waaay out to the country to a little farm, where a pair of family bassets had had pups. There were six to choose from. When I picked up Ursula, she licked my nose and I instantly new she was the one!

As for Aragorn... I let my husband take the lead on finding the boxer he wanted. He found one -- a brindle that is almost entirely black. He didn't lick anyone's nose when we met him, but tinkled on our daughter's shoe instead. It was love at first sight!

Do your dogs influence your writing?

My dogs make me calmer while I'm writing. If they're outside, I tend to feel more like I'm working than I do if they're inside and lying on my feet.

How did they get their names?

Ursula is named after the Disney sea witch (I'm sort of a Disney freak), and Aragorn is named after the Lord of the Rings character.

Tennis ball, stick, frisbee...?

Ursula: None of the above. Rawhide and sunshine, please.

Aragorn: All of the above, please, and I can catch them all!!!

What's an ordinary day like for your dogs?

They spend the mornings outside, running and chasing and barking at passersby. Then they come inside, eat their breakfast, and it's time to get to work. I keep a drawer full of rawhides for them in my desk, and when I tell them it's time to "go to work," they race down to my office, grab their chewies, and "work" on those while I write. When the kids come home from school, it's play time again!

Who is each dog's best pet-pal?

Each other, for sure. They'd be lost without one another. Second best would definitely be George, our elderly and very patient cat. George is by far the dominant animal in the house. Both dogs are afraid of him, but curious about him and would love nothing more than for him to play with them! And Ursula just lives to clean George's face after he's been eating.

What's each dog's best quality?

Ursula is a lover. The friendliest dog on earth. There's not an aggressive bone in that dog's body, and she never met anyone -- human or animal alike -- that she didn't want to be best friends with.

Aragorn just wants to please us, and is incredibly smart. He's like having a fourth child in the house. He loves children and is always on-guard to protect them.

What's each dog's proudest moment so far? His/her most embarrassing?

Aragorn's proudest moment might be when he figured out how to work the doorknobs at doggy daycare. He's sort of famous over there for orchestrating grand jail breaks.

Probably Aragorn's most embarrassing moment was when he ran screaming like a girl through the house, with an angry George the Cat in hot pursuit. Aragorn was so scared, he hid under my desk for the rest of the day.

Ursula doesn't do pride or embarrassment. She mostly just lounges around waiting for someone to scratch her belly and tell her she's beautiful.

Jennifer Brown is a two-time winner of the Erma Bombeck Global Humor Award (2005 & 2006), humor columnist for The Kansas City Star (winning the Missouri Writer's Guild 2008 Conference Award for Best Newspaper Column), and Saturday Featured Blogger for Mom2Mom KC.

Watch the Hate List video trailer, and learn more about the book and author at Jennifer Brown's website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Holly Goddard Jones & Bishop and Martha

Who is in the photo at right?

That’s me, Holly Goddard Jones, college professor and author of the short story collection Girl Trouble (Harper Perennial). I’m with my two children, Bishop (6-year-old cocker spaniel, male) and Martha (1-year old Bassett/beagle/mystery dog mix).

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Coffee is the bridge between our two morning walks. The first walk happens when I’m still grouchy, bleary-eyed, and pajama-clad, and I step out with the dogs long enough to get them to do their business. The second walk, after coffee, is for exercise and quality time. In-between, we usually pile up on the couch together, or they hang out under my desk while I’m on the computer checking email.

What's brewing?

Lately, it’s Earth Fare (an organic grocer in Greensboro, NC, where we just moved) Whole Bean House Blend. On weekends, my husband and I like to pick up iced lattes at Tate Street Coffee, a great local shop near the university.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

When I’m enterprising enough, I have homemade granola on hand, which I serve up with Greek yogurt and fruit. Peaches are my favorite. Lately, because I haven’t had time to make a mess of granola, I’ve been eating boxed cereal. This is disappointing, because I really do depend on the quality of my morning rituals to get me out of bed.

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

Bishop and Martha always get treats when I leave for work shortly after walk #2. They like anything chicken- or peanut-butter flavored.

How did your dogs come to be united with you?

My husband and I adopted Bishop in Columbus, Ohio, from the Capital Area Humane Society, a wonderful, privately owned no-kill shelter. He was already a year old. I’d never had a pet before, so falling for him—I often say this—was like a religious conversion, complete with me suddenly allowing behaviors (such as face licking) that I formerly detested. We brought Martha home last summer. She was being given away at a farmer’s market in Murray, KY, and I couldn’t resist her. At the time, she was 10 weeks old and about 10 pounds, with a bright pink, spotted belly and soft fur sticking out straight all over her body [photo, above left]. Now she and Bishop, at about 30 pounds each, are very nearly a matched set.

How did they get their names?

Believe it or not, Bishop’s namesake was the android in the movie Aliens. I was watching it with my husband back in our undergraduate days, and I told him that Bishop would make a nice dog’s name. We knew we had the right dog when he matched the name; he’s solid black with a clerical collar. Martha is named for the Beatles song, “Martha, My Dear,” which was about Paul McCartney’s sheepdog.

Do any of your stories include dogs? Do your dogs have any influence on your writing?

Well, they do—and in Girl Trouble, things usually don’t end well for the dog. It’s become, embarrassingly, something I get teased about (or accused of?). The only thing I can say in my defense is that I wouldn’t write about a dog’s death if the idea of my own dogs dying wasn’t so horrifying to me. Interestingly, the book deals several times with female victimhood—there’s rape, murder, a coach who takes advantage of a student, a grown man who tempts a 13-year-old into drinking wine coolers with him—but most readers fixate on the dogs instead of the people. “Why did you have to kill the dog?” they ask me, but never, “Why did you have to kill the girl?”

Stick, frisbee, tennis ball...?

Bishop goes psycho for a tennis ball. He would go after them until collapsing if we let him. Martha, who’s quirkier, doesn’t go nuts for anything, but she has been picking up sticks about twice her length lately and dragging them through the park. She also has two rubber ducks that she carries around and brings to bed at night the way a child would a favorite blanket.

What's an ordinary day like for Bishop and Martha?

An ordinary day includes at least two good walks around our neighborhood—we’re renting this year in Greensboro’s Lindley Park, and there’s a terrific green space just around the corner from our house—two meals (Science Diet, plus some overpriced mix-in: they like Merrick products, canned pumpkin, cottage cheese), treats, and lots of chasing and wrestling. Martha tends to torment Bishop. She’ll push her duck into his face until he finally takes the bait and tries to grab it, then she’ll run away from him.

Who is your dogs' best pet-pals?

I guess they’re each other’s best pals, though Bishop prefers me to Martha, and Martha prefers my husband to me and Bishop to all of us.

What are their best qualities?

Bishop is loyal and earnest; he has a serious, sometimes mournful face, and he wants to be wherever I am. Martha is sassier, more demanding, but she’s also much less high-strung than Bishop. She likes other dogs—Bishop is more of a loner—and she adapts well to everyone. She’s the family’s court jester. The dogs are miniatures of my husband and me. I’m earnest, high-strung, inclined to worry; my husband, Brandon, is laidback, very funny.

What are their proudest moments? Their most embarrassing?

Bishop was so spoiled, and so uncertain around other dogs, that we had serious doubts about bringing home another animal. And he was depressed when Martha first joined our household—stopped sleeping in the bed with us, went off to hide and mope, went off his regular eating pattern. But he’s always been gentle with her, has yielded to her physically, and now they’re a great little pair. I think he’s glad she’s around. We boarded them together last month at place that offers doggy daycare, and we were able to check in on them by webcam whenever we wanted. It was so funny how often they were together on screen; I was proud to see that.

Martha’s most embarrassing moment was also on that webcam. I tuned in one day on our vacation just in time to see her pause in the middle of the frame, “saddle up,” as my good friend puts it, and do her business right in the floor, many months after she’d learned not to “go” indoors. There it was, broadcasted on the World Wide Web for all to see.

Holly Goddard Jones was born and raised in western Kentucky, the setting for her fiction. Her short stories have appeared in The Kenyon Review, The Southern Review, The Gettysburg Review, The Hudson Review, Epoch, and elsewhere, and they’ve been anthologized in two volumes of New Stories from the South (2007 and 2008) and in Best American Mystery Stories 2008. She was honored with a Peter Taylor Scholarship at the Sewanee Writers' Conference in 2006 and was the winner in 2007 of a Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Award, a prize of $25,000 given to only six emerging women fiction writers each year.

A graduate of the MFA program in creative writing at Ohio State University, she has taught at Denison University, the Sewanee Young Writers' Conference, Murray State University, and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Her new book is the highly acclaimed short story collection, Girl Trouble.

--Marshal Zeringue