Lisa R. Petty & Sophie and Lola

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Lisa R. Petty. I use the R. because there is another Lisa Petty who writes beauty books -- so not me. I'm a blogger who also writes realistic YA Fiction. I am also an online English professor.

I'm with Sophie, my Black Lab Great Dane, and Lola, my Maltese who fears thunder and needed to be held for the picture.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Sophie loves car rides and I don't spend enough alone time with her.

We have two dogs and three cats total, and I'm a self-described crazy cat lady.

What's brewing?

We went to a little local shop called Mean Bean. We had planned to sit on the patio but it was pouring when we got there. So, we went through the drive through. There's a picture of Sophie and me in the car [below left]. I got a white mocha. They didn't have any dog treats.

Any treats for you or Sophie on this occasion?

When we got home, I gave Sophie and Lola "cookies." They both know the word, so I have to spell it unless I'm going to give them one right then.

How did Sophie get her name? Any nicknames?

Sophie was her name at the animal shelter. My son calls her Sopety McSope Sope, and I call her Big Moose.

How were you and Sophie united?

My husband decided that four pets was just not enough. Seriously, he had a Black Lab Pit Bull who died a couple of years ago. He missed having a "real" dog; he considers Lola the Maltese as "another cat."

Are there any Sophie-inspired dogs in your fiction?

Sophie "writes" blogs on my site. I have a Petty Pets category set up for when she or her brothers and sisters "write."

I have one published YA novel, Misfit Academy, but it was written before we adopted Sophie.

Does Sophie do more to help or hinder your writing?

A little of both. She inspires me to ghost write "her" blogs, but she is also very needy and likes to be let in and out throughout the day.

Who is Sophie's best pet-pal?

Lola, for sure. Lola plays with her even though she is ten years-old and Sophie is not even two.

Where is Sophie's favorite outdoor destination?

Her back yard. She loves running behind the evergreen trees.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

All of the above. She will chew on anything.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Sophie loves to chase our three cats. They do not enjoy this. Our one cat boxes her in the nose. She thinks he's playing.

What is Sophie's best quality?

She is a sweet dog who has never met a stranger. I have had to reach into her mouth to remove many foreign objects. She just lets me do it. She is also super easy to give pills to.

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

She probably wishes I would spend less time holding cats and typing on the computer and more time playing with her.

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

Sophie's voice would be kind of like the "Which way did he go George?" dog that Mel Blanc used to do. So, it would have to be someone with a very dopey voice.

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

Why on earth do you eat poop?

Visit the Petty Thoughts blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Molly Caro May & Bru

Who is in the photo at right?

Here we are doing what we do best together—leaping off hay bales on our land in Montana, having fun. I’m Molly Caro May and I teach place-based writing workshop around the country. My debut memoir The Map of Enough: One Woman's Search for Place also hit bookstores in March 2014. This is Bru. He’s a boy, or “big man” as I call him; he’s almost six; he’s a mutt: Great Dane, Mastiff, Hound, we think.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

There is a hot beverage brewing in the background here. It’s about 100 yards away in our yurt. No need for a formal occasion because we are together most of the time.

What's brewing?

I don’t do coffee. Never have liked the taste. So we are drinking a ginger tea here. Raw ginger sliced. Hot water poured over it. Bru isn’t on board with ginger yet. It makes him peel his lips back.

Any treats for you or Bru on this occasion?

He does appreciate the whites of a soft-boiled egg.

How were you and Bru united?

I found Bru at the Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter. Didn’t intend to come home with a dog. But he was there, stretching in this small cage. All the other dogs were hyper. He gave me one loud deep bark and then eye-d me. I felt like we were having a conversation and I knew he needed a place to run. We lived on 107 acres. He seemed to deserve that sort of vastness. It took me one night to convince my husband that this was our dog. We had wanted to wait another six months or so, but sometimes timing isn’t a choice.

[photo left: May and Bru inside the yurt]

How did Bru get his name? Any aliases?

He was 1 ½ when we got him. He came with the name Bruno and we felt it would be strange to change his location and name all at once. I couldn’t deal with Bruno—reminded me of an Italian Mafioso. So, we shortened it to Bru. My husband jokes that his name is Brutus. But my secret name for him is Brujo, Spanish for wizard.

Does Bru do more to help or hinder your writing?

He is critical. He sits by me and gives the eye. The eye means: What exactly are you doing sitting down in front of that computer? Let’s go play. So I go play and when I’m out playing I have 5,468 ideas for whatever I was writing and I come back energized and more aware of everything.

Does Bru--or any other dog--appear in your new book?

Bru is one of the main characters. People at book signings ask me about him.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Try deer. If he sees a group of deer and they bolt, especially if it’s spring and the smells are rising up from melting snow, he’s gone. He’ll be gone for hours. Once two women with a horse trailer picked him up; then a man found him crossing a busy road near Kmart in town a month later. We’ve found him hanging around in the ditch, so thrilled by his adventure he ignores our calls. He comes back with snags from barbed wire fences. We tried a shock collar once, but I could never bring myself to do it. Now that we have a daughter, he’s slowed down somehow. He won’t run as long or as far. We think he wants to stick around more, or feels some level of responsibility for her.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

None of the above. He has no retriever in him. He likes watching a stick fly in the air but once he runs to it, he doesn’t know what to do with it. Here again, deer antler. He’ll chew on one of those all day long. He also loves to hunt bugs.

Who is Bru's best pet-pal?

Watson (male) and Dolce (male) and Chui (female). Separate families. They have all stayed with us and Bru gets cozy, though he seems to prefer male dogs to female dogs. Loves it.

What is Bru's best quality?

His combo of exuberance and mellowness.

If Bru could change one thing about Montanans, what would it be?

He would probably say, “Please don’t be so territorial. Please let me run all over your land, even if you have sheep or cattle.” We do worry that he’ll end up on the wrong person’s land and get shot for trespassing. That seems to happen.

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

This one is emotional for me. I was sick for almost all 10 months of my pregnancy. Bru watched me and spent a lot of time with me then. I think it scared him. We no longer went on long walks together. I was grouchy. I threw up a lot. Right before I gave birth, he had a weird autoimmune flare up and we thought we might lose him—this from a dog who had never been ill. Six months after giving birth, I was diagnosed with postpartum hypothyroidism. The exact same day, he was diagnosed with hypothyroidism too. We are both on thyroid meds for now. I hold his snout near my nose all the time and whisper, “You don’t have to take this on.” So it’s not so much a question but more of a releasing. I want him to know that he doesn’t have to mimic me. I’ve heard of how many dogs take on their owner’s illness. This is the thing about dogs. They are such feelers, such empathizers. I really believe that. I’d like Bru to be free of that.

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

Ahhh, this will take me 5 hours to figure out. I’m not good with movie star knowledge. But I could say someone with a deep voice who is playful and wise as hell.

Visit Molly Caro May's website.

The Page 99 Test: The Map of Enough.

--Marshal Zeringue

Christy Bassett & Jagger, Dozer, and Ruger

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Christy Bassett. My husband Harley and I have a small backyard farm, Barefoot All Natural Farm, where we raise chickens, turkeys, goats and a couple of crazy kids. We have a new blog that focuses on the perspective that farming can give you and techniques that we employ. I am also a full-time assistance dog trainer and Harley is an airplane mechanic for the United States Air Force. We have 3 dogs, all males. Jagger is a Pit Bull/Husky mix who will be 11 this year. Violet and Windy are our 2 Saanen dairy goats and Shine, our cow, is peeking through the barn door. Our other dogs are pictured below. Dozer is a 4-year-old Catahoula Leopard dog mix and Ruger is a 1-year-old Great Dane mix.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Morning chores require coffee. And some good animal company is always welcome when making the rounds.

What's brewing?

We brew Dean’s Beans at home, our locally based, organic fair trade coffee company. Moka Sumatra is a favorite. I could lie and say that I squirt some goat’s milk right out of the goat and into my coffee cup during the morning milking for a “farm fresh latte”, but that’s even a little strange for me.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

We make our own dog treats from our pastured chicken and vegetables, so I always have a pocket full of those to reward good doggie behavior. And of course the ladies are enjoying their morning hay and grain breakfast.

How did your dogs get their names? Any nicknames?

Jagger was my first dog. I got him as a puppy 2 months after I moved into my first apartment and started working as a dog trainer. I like to tell people that he is named after the famous “Mick Jagger” since he howls like a rock star. But the embarrassing truth is that he’s named after my adolescent crush on a soap opera character- Jagger Cates from General Hospital. I do like to sing “he’s got the WOO like Jagger” to him on occasion though. When no one is looking. Or listening. Or within miles. We also call him “Jaggaboo” and “Jags” when we’re in the midst of oogey boogey sweet talk.

Dozer [photo left] came with his name, although it was a nickname at the time. The rescue that had him named him “Pete”, but he was so friendly that he would bulldoze the other dogs in the home to get to people for attention. My son was obsessed with bulldozers at the time when he entered our family, so it was a no brainer to stick with it. Jake, our 4 year old son, calls him “my dog, Dozey Doze”. And Harley likes to call him by some other endearing pet names, like “nut-job” and “freak show”. Isn’t that sweet?

Ruger is named after a gun company, as you may imagine. He is our first dog since entering into our new farming lifestyle, so we wanted a name that felt powerful and embodied a country feel. We also seem to have an “er” theme in the ending for our dogs’ names, as it happens. No nicknames yet- but I’m sure they’re coming.

How were you and your dogs united?

I found all of them on Petfinder.com, actually. Do not go on that website unless you plan to come home with a dog. Like, tomorrow. Or you have amazing willpower. Harley has banned me from that site since I spent almost our entire vacation last summer scanning dog profiles and pictures, and at the end of the week we came home with Ruger. Turns out 3 dogs is enough.

I’ve always had a weakness for blue eyed animals, so when I saw Jagger’s profile with those sweet little blue puppy eyes staring back at me there was no question that he would be mine. I visited the Fitchburg Animal Shelter, where he and his siblings were just put up for adoption and spent a good long hour trying to be objective and pick the puppy with the best temperament. In the end, Jagger (or “Tubbo” as he was so aptly named because of his tendency to crawl over to people on his big round belly) was not the puppy with the best temperament, but I knew that I would be back for him the next day if I didn’t bring him home right then and there. Those eyes would just haunt me forever. We’ve gone through so much together- we met Harley only 5 days after I brought Jagger home (he even accompanied me on our first date, as a “bad guy detector” and easy out if it turned out badly), and we’ve watched our family grow and our scenery change side by side for over a decade. He’s definitely my heart dog. Good thing he’s going to live forever to finally live up to his “grumpy old man” image that he’s always had.

We lost our second dog, Ninja, a Great Dane mix, to cancer at only 7 years old shortly after my daughter was born. Jagger had become accustomed to living with another dog and didn’t do well by himself. So the search for a new buddy started while I was still home with a newborn. I had always been drawn to blue merle or blue colored dogs (see a blue theme here?) so I narrowed my search for one of that description. Dozer (or “Pete” at the time) came up on the screen and had been in a rescue for over 6 months in his southern foster home. He had escaped a high-kill shelter in Kansas, despite being heartworm positive, being a large breed and also being dark colored. All 4 of those things are strikes against a dog’s chances in a shelter, and he had beaten the odds and beaten the parasite that threatened to kill him, all due to his wonderful temperament. But he still didn’t have a home. After questioning his foster mom intensely about his personality (there were some high demands put on a dog entering our home with cats, dogs, farm animals, babies and also the fact that I take my dogs to work), I was confident that this was the dog for us. When we went to pick Dozer up from the transport, I opened the back door to my SUV to put his paperwork in and he jumped right in onto my son’s lap and made himself comfortable in his car seat. They hugged and kissed and laughed a lot. And he was home.

Although Dozer was a great addition to our family, we really missed our Great Dane mix, Ninja. That big, dopey personality that a Dane brings into a home is really powerful and it’s absence was felt in ours. It took some time before we decided that we could break our “no more dogs than adults” rule, but we went for it. Again, I searched on Petfinder and came up with a blue colored Dane mix from the Fitchburg Animal Shelter, the same place that I had gotten Jagger 10 years earlier. I took it as a sign and made an appointment to meet the big guy on our way home from our family vacation in New Hampshire. The day before our appointment, I emailed the coordinator to confirm and found out that the dog had been adopted. But…there just so happened to be another Dane mix that just arrived who had an even better temperament. We watched a video of the dog playing with those long puppy-like limbs, and felt that familiar joy in watching him romp about, making people laugh. And he just so happened to look almost exactly like our last Dane mix, Ninja. Sold.

You've got a wide variety of animals running around Barefoot All Natural Farm. Do your dogs get along with all of them?

It is somewhat unnatural for so many different species to have to coexist, as we’ve asked our animals to do. But they seem to do just fine. Jagger started out pretty intense with other animals. Since he’s a Husky mix, he has a very high prey drive and likes to chase small animals. But I’ve worked with him a lot, and with each new addition to our home, he’s learned that chasing is just not allowed and that you can actually be friends with chickens and bunnies. Actually, when he was younger he found a nest of newborn baby bunnies in the yard when I wasn’t looking. When I finally noticed him visiting several spots around the rock wall, I went to investigate. Sadly, there were 3 little bodies in the grass, covered in dog slobber from Jagger licking them and nudging them so much. I was sorry that I wasn’t able to stop him from bothering them while they were in their hiding spot, and ultimately killing them, but I was proud that he didn’t even place a puncture wound in any of them. Since then he’s gotten even better about not bothering baby animals on the farm, but we of course don’t leave them unsupervised.

Dozer is great with all of the animals. From the day he stepped foot at our house, he hasn’t cared one bit about sharing his space with so many different animals. As long as he has his ball, his focus is completely on fetching.

Ruger is the newest of course, and he still has quite a bit of puppy in him. He does pay too much attention to the goats and the cow at times, so we’re working on that. He gets so confused when they don’t want to play back when he barks and play bows at them, that he gets very conflicted. The goats have done a pretty good job of teaching him to mind his own space, but it’s a work in progress. He’ll get there.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

Nope. No chasing allowed here. But given the opportunity I’m sure they’d enjoy a good squirrely-snack.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

Dozer’s a ball-a-holic. He must have some Border Collie or other obsessive breed in him because he can’t think straight when there is a ball present. Must. Get. Ball.

Jagger and Ruger join in the play as well, so we always make sure there are at least 3 balls available at all times. But of course the one that Dozer is currently obsessed with is the one that everyone wants. Luckily Ruger isn’t picky (or isn’t all that bright, I’m not sure) and will play with just about anything he can find. He can often times be seen romping around the yard with an empty milk jug or pail from the kids sand box. Maybe we should introduce him to sticks…

What is each dog's best quality?

Jagger is my boy. He is incredibly intelligent and we are very strongly bonded. We know each other so well that we often times don’t have to communicate with much more than a look. That can be good and bad though, because he knows when I’m not 100% attentive and he can be sneaky. But as much as that frustrates me, I do respect that quality in him.

Dozer is a real kids’ dog. He is so gentle and submissive that my 4 year old can completely control him verbally. I never knew that there were real, actual, dogs out there that respected kids as much as they do adults until I met Dozer. It’s amazing to watch.

Ruger is very well rounded. I take him to work with me and use him as a demo dog with my assistance dog handlers and I never have to worry about him being afraid or aggressive toward anything or anyone. That and his goofy nature. With him around, a laugh is never too far away.

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

Jagger is actually a pretty good New Englander. He loves the snow and cold weather and has the New-England-Cold-Shoulder mastered. But Dozer and Ruger would love to have some more friendly neighbors. Not that people around here aren’t friendly, but they’re very private. I can appreciate that, as we are fairly private people as well. But those 2 social butterflies might have it differently. Dozer is from the South, after all.

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

Well, automatically when you ask me to pick an actor to represent Jagger, I think of his namesake- Antonio Sabato Jr. Great. Now I’m going to picture Jagger speaking in a husky Italian voice whenever I look at him. I don’t think Harley’s going to appreciate that one.

Dozer would probably be played by the guy that did the Micro Machines commercials, John Moschitta Jr. His mind is always going 100 mph when playing with his ball.

And Ruger might have the same voice as Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. A little slow on the uptake, but always up for a good time.

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

I’m actually okay with dogs not speaking English. They have too many secrets to tell. And I feel like I know them well enough to know what they want and need. But if I had to ask them one question, it might be “what’s the appeal of rolling in poop?” I just don’t get it.

Visit the Barefoot All Natural Farm website and Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue

John Burley & Sterling

Who is in the photo to the right?

That’s me, John Burley. I’m an emergency department physician and an author of psychological suspense thrillers. I’m pictured here with my eight-year-old male Great Dane, Sterling.

What’s the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Coffee is essential on Monday mornings. Sterling and I like to frequent our local establishment, The Ugly Mug. This picture was taken on a Monday, which means it was a Double-Down Monday at The Ugly Mug. With every cup of coffee purchased, customers get to roll the store’s dice. If you roll doubles, you receive a free cup of coffee on your next visit. I did not roll doubles, unfortunately, but the excitement really got my heart racing. (Or maybe it was the caffeine.)

Sterling never pays for the coffee, so he doesn’t care if we roll doubles or not.

What’s brewing?

Sterling and I are drinking a Peruvian blend. He takes his with a shot of espresso. It gives him extra speed when he’s chasing deer through the woods of our property. One of these days, he hopes, he might actually catch one.

Any treats for you or Sterling on this occasion?

A peanut butter bone for both of us. It keeps our teeth strong and shiny.

How were you and your dog united?

Sterling was about six months old when we adopted him from a rescue organization. I don’t know what happened to him during the first few months of his life, but I do know that it wasn’t good. When I first met him, he cringed when I tried to pet him. He refused to get into our truck. Even to this day, he’s leery of strangers—particularly, men in hats. We’re working on that, but if you decide to join us for a cup of coffee it’s best to leave your hat at home.

How did your dog get his name? Any aliases?

Sterling already had his name when we adopted him. He was confused and freaked out enough, we thought, and so we left the name as it was. He had a small dusting of silver on his muzzle at the time, so the name suited him. In his old age, that silver has turned gray and has become much more pronounced. He’s self-conscious about it, but I tell him it makes him look wise and distinguished.

As for aliases, my wife and I sometimes call him ‘Big Ster.’ When my daughter was a toddler and first learning to talk, she called him ‘Steesels,’ and that’s also stuck.

So much for not confusing him.

Has Sterling inspired any dogs in your published work?

Oh, yes. The dog from my debut novel, The Absence of Mercy, is a 180-pound harlequin Great Dane named Alexander the Great. His character was inspired not only by Sterling, but also by a female harlequin Great Dane that was part of my family when I was growing up. I think anyone who brings a Great Dane into their family has a good chance of getting hooked.

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

Sterling has a real talent for character development—particular when writing chapters about bad guys. He incorporates his own fears into the writing. You’ll notice, for example, that many of the bad guys in my books are wearing hats.

Cat, postman, squirrel . . . ?

Deer. We live back in the woods, and there’s a family of deer who’ve chosen to basically reside on the property. They consider the garden in front of our house to be their own private salad bowl. Sterling stands out on the front porch and barks at them while they munch. If we forget to close the porch’s gate, he tears off into the garden, and then deer and dog embark on a frantic chase through the woods. Sterling comes back twenty minutes later, breathless and covered with poison ivy.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick . . . ?

Again, deer. They run faster and farther than you can ever throw a stick.

Does Sterling have a favorite place to go for outings?

There’s a state park not too far from where we live. Dirt trails twist through a forest of towering redwoods. It’s a great place to go walking—one of Sterling’s favorites, and one of mine, as well. If I’m having trouble figuring out where the plot of a story I’m working on needs to go next, the answer usually lies somewhere in those woods.

Who are your dog’s best pet-pals?

In addition to Sterling, we have an English Bulldog named Zoe. She has a pretty sedentary lifestyle. Sometimes she doesn’t move for days. She bosses Sterling around, though, which is odd because she’s only a quarter of his size. I don’t know if they’re exactly pals—more like an old married couple who’ve grown so accustomed to each other that they can’t live apart—but Zoe is the only other animal Sterling can tolerate.

What is your dog’s best quality?

Sterling is extremely loyal and affectionate with my family. He’s ferociously protective of us, as well—something that can be embarrassing when we encounter other people or animals in public. Strangers often approach us, wanting to pet him.

“It’s better if you don’t,” I warn them. “He can be aggressive.”

“Oh, I’m really good with animals,” they say, thinking they can win him over.

It goes the same way every time: Sterling lunges. I have to restrain him with the leash. The person appears shocked and more than a little rattled by the experience. And I always feel the need to apologize.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “We rescued him from a bad situation when he was six months old. Whatever happened to him left its mark. The breed isn’t usually like this.”

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

As the companion of an ER physician, Sterling is worried about infant deaths related to accidental smothering that can occur when babies sleep in the same bed as their parents. Such cases present to the ER on almost a monthly basis. Infants either die or sustain severe anoxic brain injury when one of their parents rolls on top of them during sleep. It’s incredibly tragic, but 100% preventable. Children less than two should never sleep in the same bed as their parents. It’s just too risky.

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

If you get to heaven before I do, will you save me a spot?

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

Steve Buscemi. He’s edgy and nervous—a guy you don’t want to turn your back on. If he doesn’t like you, he’ll let you know. I think that suits Sterling’s personality pretty well.

John Burley worked as a paramedic and firefighter before attending medical school in Chicago and completing an emergency medicine residency at University of Maryland Medical Center and Shock Trauma in Baltimore. His debut novel, The Absence of Mercy, received the National Black Ribbon Award, which recognizes a novelist who brings a fresh voice to suspense writing.

Visit John Burley's website, Facebook page, and Twitter perch.

--Marshal Zeringue

Marianne McKiernan & Mina, Meryl, and Jeb

Who are in the photos below?

I'm Marianne McKiernan and I work at KMGH-TV in Denver as a producer and consumer advocate. I'm also a volunteer puppy raiser with my husband John, an author and an animal communicator.

[photo right: Marianne and Hydra, recently graduated as a Skilled Companion]

The photos are of our dogs, Mina, Meryl and Jeb, and the cats, Dewey and Diddums. The photo of me is with a "grandpuppy" from Ross, the sixth Canine Companions puppy we raised who was selected to be a CCI breeder dog.

Jeb is our current Canine Companions puppy in training. He's a Labrador/Golden Retriever cross, almost nine months old. Mina is eleven years old and she is a Saluki/Terrier mix. Meryl is a five-year old female Great Dane. Dewey is an Oriental Shorthair and Diddums is a British Shorthair. Both are males, rescues, around six years old, and extremely friendly and dog-tolerant.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We're celebrating my book, Let the Dogs Speak! Puppies in Training Tell the Story of Canine Companions for Independence.

What's brewing?

It's a cold snowy night in Denver so I'm having freshly brewed New Mexico Piñon coffee with half-and-half. [photo left: Mina]

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

I made myself a 70-second chocolate cake (let me know if you want the recipe!) and each of the dogs got a small cookie. The cats don't particularly care about treats.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Jeb II came named by Canine Companions. All the puppies in a litter are named with the same initial so all his siblings are also "J" puppies. Jeb is named in honor of Jeb the First, a Canine Companions Facility Dog. Jeb the First has gone to the Rainbow Bridge, and we're honored to raise his namesake. We also call him Jebbity, Jebby, Jebenezer, and Jebidiah. I will admit to having moments of confusion when I lose track of who the current puppy is and revert to a previous puppy's name, so he's sometimes called Rocket, Ross, Mars or even a puppy for whom we recently sat! For instance, he got called Charlie this morning. Puppy raisers trade pups and puppy sit for each other, so it's often a rotating cast of puppies at our house. This week Otter is staying with us for a few days while his family is out of town. So far today he's been called Otter, Jeb and Charlie. I've been known to resort to "You there, puppy! Whatever your name is, stop that!" when all else fails.

Meryl, our Great Dane, [photo right, with Diddums] was originally named Madeleine, but we'd recently lost our elderly Greyhound who was also called Madeleine. Since there could only be one Madeleine, Meryl graciously agreed to be renamed. Aliases include Tall Girl, Tall Dog and Tall Doggie. Notice a theme?

Mina, our small Saluki/Terrier mix, was originally called Willamina which seemed way too long for her dainty self, so we shortened it to Mina, then lengthened it to Mina Mouse. She also goes by Mouse, Miss Mouse and Mousie.

How were you and your dogs united?

Jeb [photo left] arrived in Denver from Santa Rosa, California (where Canine Companions breeding program is headquartered) via United Airlines October 3, 2013. He's the ninth puppy we've raised for Canine Companions.

Meryl came from Great Dane Rescue at a year of age. Her previous family had a change in circumstances so they couldn't keep her, but we are very glad she came to live with us! There's a chapter in the book with one of Penny Blankenship's hilarious illustrations, showing how Santa brought her to our house.

Mina was at the Colorado Humane Association with her two sisters. We were looking for a medium or big dog as a playmate for Madeleine the Greyhound, but Mina was just too cute to pass up. Mina chose us, as so often happens. When we sat down with the three sisters in a visiting room, Mina came over to me, put her paws on my lap, looked into my eyes and I knew she was coming home with us. She is all of 23 pounds but she's the boss of the house.

Please tell us about your new book and Canine Companions for Independence.

Let the Dogs Speak! tells what it's like to be a puppy in training, from the dog's point of view. It's written by four of our previous Canine Companions pups: Hudson, Parker, Ross and Mars. It is humorous, heartwarming and informative, and the illustrations are delightful. Canine Companions for Independence provides highly-trained assistance dogs for children and adults with disabilities other than blindness, free of charge. Their motto is "Help is a four-legged word." Canine Companions trains four types of Assistance Dogs: Service Dogs, Skilled Companions, Hearing Dogs and Facility Dogs.

Squirrel, postman, cat....?

Mina is our ferocious hunter, despite my best efforts to convince her to live and let live. She occasionally kills snakes, squirrels and birds in our back yard, and would like to take on the foxes and raccoons that wander through the neighborhood, She cannot understand why the postman persists in coming to our house, since she hurls curses at him Every. Single. Day.

Jeb [with Diddums, photo left] loves all beings, including our two kitties. Everyone and everything is his friend, especially if there's a cookie involved.

Meryl loves our kitties and barks hello! at everything else. Meryl would only kill something accidentally, either by stepping on it or with her whip-like tail. She has given me a black eye with that tail! Meryl wants to greet and/or play with everyone. I'm not sure our postman is convinced of that, however. He flinches when she grins and barks at him.

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

Jeb's best friend is whoever wants to play with him. We have frequent play dates with other CCI puppies and grad dogs, so he has lots of friends, including Chisum, Lionel, Kindle, Pilar, Pella, Hughy, Charlie, Waffle, and Palima. Don't you love those CCI names?

Meryl's best pet-pals are Mina, whoever our current puppy in training is, and Diddums, who loves to snuggle with (and often on) her.

[photo right: Dewey]

Mina's best pet-pal is Meryl. She mostly tolerates the foolish puppies in training, teaching them manners and boundaries. She generally ignores the cats.

What is each dog's best quality?

Jeb is cheerful, playful and adores little kids. Meryl is happy and silly - she makes us laugh a lot. Mina is bossy, focused and endearing.

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

Hmmmm, I'm guessing Mina and Meryl want me to stop reprimanding them for barking at the people passing by the house. "Just let us bark - it's our job!" they say. "Yeah, but Meryl's bark rattles the windows and Mina's is ear-piercing," I grumble. It's an on-going discussion at our house.

Jeb wants me to stop making him wear his detested Gentle Leader head collar, to which I say, "Sorry, Jebbity. You need to learn to walk on a loose leash and learn impulse control." This is another on-going topic of discussion. *sigh*

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

Meryl - Ellen DeGeneris
Mina - Holly Hunter
Jeb - Jordan Nagai (the kid in Up)
Dewey - Rhys Ifans
Diddums - Colin Firth

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

Ah well, you see, in my spare time I provide services as a professional animal communicator, so animals (mine and others) actually do talk to me. No, really. I know it sounds wacky, but it's true. That's probably a whole different interview.

Visit the Telling Tails website and read more about Let the Dogs Speak! Puppies in Training Tell the Story of Canine Companions for Independence.

--Marshal Zeringue

Weston Ochse & Goblin, Ghost, and Ghoulie

Who are in the photos accompanying this Q & A?

I’m Weston Ochse, owned by three Great Danes. They’re all rescues. Goblin, the big old merle, came from San Bernardino. Ghost, who is deaf and was set on fire, came from Phoenix, and Ghoulie, who is blind as three bats, came from Charlotte, N.C.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We live in the desert. We are always thirsty.

What's brewing?

Goblin and me, we like ice coffee with very little cream or sugar. Ghost likes hot coffee with enough cream it’s the color of tan. And Ghoulie prefers Green Tea, although I seriously doubt she needs the caffeine.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

No. We’re all watching our weight during the holidays.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Both my wife and I are dark fiction authors. Once we had Goblin, the other names just fell into place. Their full names, for the record, are Goblin Monster Dog, Pester Ghost Palm Eater and Mad Dog Ghoulie Sonar Brain.

How were you and your dogs united?

Through Petfinder, which is an online search engine, much like eBay, but with animals who need to be rescued. Note that rescuing an animal is a lifetime commitment, and not at all buy and forget. We were vetted each time, interviewed, and our homes checked for suitability. We almost didn’t get Ghoulie. The adoption agency wouldn’t adopt out of state. But we impressed them with our bonafides. The breaking point came when they realized that a youtube video of Goblin and me, which has had several hundred thousand views, was one they’d recently watched. We drove from southern Arizona to Charlotte in two days, then drove back in two. Long, fast trip.

Do your Great Danes have anything in common with the Belgian Malinois in your new novel, SEAL Team 666?

They do in that both the Danes and the Malinois are excellent althletes.

Great Danes were raised for a singular purpose, to hunt down wild boar in a pack. They spent most of their lives laying on the castle floor, soaking in the heat from the fire, and eating scraps off the table. Then during one ferocious weekend they’d hunt and run and howl.

Malinois are very much like this except they do it every waking hour. Where a Great Dane is like a middle distance runner, a Malinois is a decathlete.

Squirrel, postman, cat....?

Chupacabra.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

Cactus.

What is each dog's best quality?

Goblin is scent sensitive.

Ghost is forever curious.

Ghoulie is fearless.

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

They would like me to be rich so they could live the life they want to be accustomed to living.

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

What a question! I have no idea.

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

What can I do to make your life better?

Visit Weston Ochse's blog and Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue

Emily McClelland & Dante, Daisy Boo and Sampson

Who is in the photo at right?

Hello, I’m Emily McClelland. I recently graduated in Aerospace Technology but somehow fell into working for my local newspaper. To the right is Sampson, my 17-month-old Great Dane; the handsome jet black man is Dante, the 4-year-old Labradoodle; and the gorgeous blonde is Miss Daisy Boo who is 2.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I try to take at least one member of the pack out each weekend for coffee, or a meal. We are quite lucky to live in a fairly dog friendly part of the UK; I even took Sampson to a dog friendly car museum last month!

What's brewing?

I’m partial to a nice milky latte; the dogs, however, if they are lucky and after cold wet walks, might have a nice bowl of hot sugarless tea.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Unfortunately not this time. Dante is on a diet, much to his disgust- so we don’t treat the others when he is around. When they get a treat it's normally in the form of a big fat juicy raw marrow bone from the butchers or some homemade ‘pup cakes’.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Dante was named by my younger brother after one of his favourite video game characters at the time, it was either Dante…or Leon. I preferred the former! Dante is called ‘Dants’ or ‘Allamants’.

Miss Daisy Boos name came out of the blue on my 7 hour journey back home with her. I was trying to think of floral names to suit her and Daisy seemed the best for her personality--the Boo was added shortly afterwards! We called her ‘Lil’ Boos’ or ‘Boo Boos’ the most often.

Sampson’s name came after a few days with him; I originally was going to call him Dufresne but after I picked him up his name didn’t fit him. Sampson spent the first few days with me down at my Uni in London before I moved out, so me and my house mates just called him ‘Pupster’. I eventually decided on Sampson after my late rabbit who had gone to the bridge a year early. Sampson actually wears the rabbit Sampson’s British rabbit council foot ring on his dog tags. His nicknames are ‘Sana’, ‘The Sana-Man’, ‘Sampy Sana squashed Banana’and ‘Butt-butt’…don’t ask.

How were you and your dogs united?

Dante was my first dog and I was suffering terrible allergies at the time so we opted for a ‘ hypo-allergenic dog’ but we were adamant we wanted a large sized one, so I travelled 2 hours to the border of Scotland to pick him up. After 2 years I wanted to get Dante a brother or sister and after a few months of deliberation and when I was working in Southampton at the time, there was a local advert for large labradoodles--I went to have a ‘look’ and as they say the rest was history!

Sampson was actually a gift from my Mum; I had wanted a Great Dane for some time and was planning to get one after I had finished my degree. Whilst I was studying for my final exams I had a phone call from a Great Dane breeder saying she had been given my number by my Mum, a very nice surprise. The mother pups were born a few days later and I was given pick of the litter, so I chose the only harlequin boy, my Sampson!

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

Definitely each other, but they do have a lot of other doggy friends we meet for walks too.

Squirrel, postman, cat....?

Cat, cat cat!

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

All of them, preferably at once!

What is each dog's best quality?

Dante is the most caring, well-mannered relaxed dog I have ever met, nothing ever phases him--I often joke he is everyone’s dog because he loves every stranger he meets.

Daisy Boo is insanely sweet with a tail that never stops wriggling; along with that she has a everlasting smile plastered to her face.

Sampson is a perpetual pup; I honestly don’t think he will ever grow up. His daft antics always brighten up my day.

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

I think they would change the fact that I work full time; I think they would love it if I was at home constantly. I also think Dante would love it if I took him off the diet he was on and fed him a bit more!

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

Dante would be voice by Christopher Lee: there is something old and wise about it that would seem to suit him.

Daisy Boo would be voiced by Mellissa Rauch-- but her in voice in the role of Bernadette in The Big Bang Theory: it definitely suits Daisy Boo’s sweet yet shy nature.

Sampson would be Adam Sandler every time.

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

I would ask them if I was doing right by them and if I could make them happier.

Visit Emily McClelland's Smile With Your Tail blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Lacey & Peatree and Abigail

Who is in the photo at right?

Hi! My name is Lacey; I own a dog walking business in Seattle, Washington.

Woof! My name is Peatree or Princess Peatree if you like. I am a 2 year old Great Dane. My Mom has had me since I was 7 weeks old.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

It's Saturday morning, Abigail (our other amazing dog) is on her way to work with her Dad. She greets customers at a hair salon. Meanwhile Peatree and I take a morning stroll and then head back to the house to snuggle, read, and have some coffee.

What's brewing?

I am enjoying the best coffee out there from Kaladi Brothers Coffee. I make it at home in a little old coffee maker.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Peatree and I are just enjoying the company of one another. I love spending time with both of my beloved dogs but it is always nice to have some one on one time.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

I adopted Abigail over 10 years ago. The shelter had given her an awful name so I spent a few days trying different names and Abigail is what fit her. Abigail is my baby! She is the inspiration behind me starting my own dog walking business and also the tattoo on my right shoulder. I wish I could clone her!

Peatree is named after the little pterodactyl dinosaur on Land Before Time. My husband and I grew up watching it as kids. Since we knew she would grow up to be very large dog we wanted a wimpy and small name to contrast her size. She is also known as Peach, Peachy Pea and just good old Pea.

How were you and your dogs united?

I adopted Abigail in College at a shelter in Idaho. Someone had dumped her in a field and she was covered in ticks. I took one look at her and knew she was mine!

I have wanted a Dane since as far back as I can remember. I begged my husband for one and so we found a local breeder and picked her out.

I know that you are among that small percentage of dog walkers who are actually C.D.W (Certified Dog Walkers). What are some of things that you learned while training toward becoming certified?

You learn a lot in the program! The most beneficial part for me was to learn all about dog body language as well as how to appropriately touch and approach a dog. I thought I was already knowledgeable. Man was I wrong! I have been able to apply my knowledge and the methods I learned to each one of my amazing clients.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

Squirrels and birds for both my girls!

Squeaky-toy, stick, tennis ball...?

Abigail is obsessed with tennis balls and Peatree likes any stuffed animal she can get her paws on.

What is each dog's best quality?

To pick one is so hard! Ummm….

Abigail’s best quality is her devotion. She loves to be my shadow and keep her eyes on me at all times. It is important that she sits right next to me on the couch.

Peatree’s best quality is her zest for life! You will not meet a happier, goofier, go with the flow dog.

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

Honestly, nothing: Seattle is the most dog loving city! It is the place to be!

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

Peatree would be played by Zooey Deschanel because she is beautiful, goofy, sweet, and a bit spacey.

I would pick Taylor Swift for Abigail because she is super talkative, hard working, and polite.

Visit the StrollRover website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Carol Colquhoun & Stella and Rory

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Carol Colquhoun. I am a Childcare worker. My dogs are Stella, a five month old English Cocker Spaniel and Rory, a three month old Great Dane.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I have been enjoying two weeks holiday and my husband and I went to our local Deli for a coffee with the pups, to help socialise them.

What's brewing?

We enjoyed a Cappuccino, not sure what brand of coffee. It tasted great whatever it was.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

I took some chicken treats for the pups to eat while we had coffee. They ate them all quickly and then settled for a nap at my feet. We had quite a few people stop and say hello (the beauty of living in a small town) so it was good for the pups to meet and greet new faces.

How were you and your dogs united?

We found both our dogs through Breeders advertising on the internet. We saw photos of them and went to 'have a look' and came home each time with a new pup. We have had the combination of Cocker Spaniels and Great Danes for the last thirteen years. Our old girl Kara passed to the rainbow bridge four months ago and we couldn't live without a dog/dogs in our lives so have started the cycle again.

How did your dogs get their names?

Stella was named after a character in a British sci-fi TV series, Outcasts. Sometimes she gets called Stellie Bellie, but usually Stella. Rory was named after a character in the new Dr Who series. He can be called snory Rory for obvious reasons.

Do your dogs have a favorite place to walk?

Not at the moment. They have had a play at the local oval but that's about it so far. We have to be careful of any undue stress on Rory's legs while they develop. My husband and I walk every day so when the pups are a little stronger they will come with us.

Rabbit, postman, cat, etc?

Definitely our poor cat Penny. She is a long suffering girl but the pups are gradually settling down and will leave her alone most of the time.

Tennis ball, Frisbee, squeaky toy?

Stella loves to chase a tennis ball but Rory just watches it roll away. He likes to conserve energy.

What is each dog's best quality?

Stella has a cheeky personality. She can be a little shy when meeting people for the first time but once she warms to them there is no stopping her. She won't leave them alone. She is wonderful with small children.

Rory just lumbers up for a pat immediately. Hopefully whoever he says hello to doesn't mind slobber.

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

I think they would make me feed them more. Being pups they are always hungry.

What is each dog's proudest moment so far?

Stella's was passing Puppy Pre School. She was a scaredy cat the first week but blossomed as the weeks went by.

Rory's is managing a very slow amble up the driveway without falling over.

Most embarrassing moment?

Stella hasn't given us any embarrassing moments, yet! Rory's was at puppy preschool not wanting to walk at all on the lead and having to be carried outside for a wee. Just hilarious.

Visit the Stella & Rory from Down Under blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Tara & Kaiser

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Tara, and I work in local government. I'm in school for a degree in Visual Communication and toying with the idea of a minor in Journalism or Creative Writing. This handsome fellow is Kaiser. He'll be one year and two months old on February 8th and he's a fawn colored Great Dane. As of earlier this week he weighed 125lbs and if you stand him up on his hind legs he's somewhere around 6'7" tall (we know this because he stands above my boyfriend who is 6'5").

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We live a short walk away from a local coffee shop called Cup 'O Joe. On Saturday or Sunday we'll take Kaiser and walk over for some coffee. One of us sits out front with him while everyone stops to pet him and ask us questions about him. He adores the attention and meeting other dogs that might be stopping for coffee.

What's brewing?

A Buckeye latte (mocha latte with peanut butter) for me, usually flavored coffee for the boyfriend.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Every so often we'll get some cupcakes or biscotti to go with the coffee, or we'll stop at the sandwich shop up the street.

Any treat for Kaiser on this occasion?

The treat is going for a walk and all the smells, sights and sounds, not to even mention all the extra loving and attention he gets from people and pups who pass us. Maybe there's a piece of jerky for him at home.

How were you and Kaiser united?

Our union was seven years in the making. Seriously. I had my heart set on a Dane when I was 18 and I had to wait until I got a place that would let me have a dog that large. I looked for breeders for months before finding a lady selling them about three hours north of us. When the litter was about three weeks old my boyfriend and I drove up to meet them. There were eight puppies, four fawn, and of those fawn only two were males. We sat down on the ground to play with them and see if either stood out. The smaller fawn male puppy crawled over to my boyfriend, got up into his lap, and promptly went to sleep while his brothers and sisters played. We figured he had chosen us, and that's how we chose him.

How did Kaiser get his name? Any aliases?

We wrote down a long list of names and then went through them one by one eliminating them as we went. The process took so long that by the time we settled on Kaiser we were both sick of discussing it. He doesn't really have aliases but sometimes we call him Midget or Baby Kaiser.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Kaiser is a lover of man and beast alike. He doesn't bat an eye at squirrels in the yard. We have pictures of him watching butterflies and sniffing flowers; he reminds me of Ferdinand the Bull. He really is a gentle giant.

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

Sticks and ropes! He can play rope forever, which is unfortunate because I don't have the strength to fight with him for very long as he weighs almost as much as I do now (and is still growing). Fortunately, he loves rawhide bones. He can demolish one of the three foot long rawhides in hours.

Where is Kaiser's favorite place for an outing?

He used to go to Doggy Daycare once a week and I'm pretty sure it was the highlight of his week. Unfortunately he was bitten on the leg one week and then three weeks later a dog bit off a piece of his ear. We decided it probably wasn't safe for him there because smaller dogs are afraid of him and therefore are more apt to bite or get angry if they feel threatened. Now he just loves to take car rides, go to the park, or visit my parent's house. Anywhere he gets to meet new people.

Who are your dog's best pet-pals?

Kaiser actually doesn't have many friends. Dogs that are normally friendly are intimidated by him. One of our friends has a bull terrier named Dozer that wasn't afraid of him and the two would play for hours. Unfortunately Dozer moved to Florida earlier this month. We'll have to find a new best friend for Kaiser.

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

He would probably give us endless energy so we could spend the whole day walking and exploring, playing with a rope or stick, or visiting dog parks. He would probably also have us feed him jerky instead of regular dog food.

What is Kaiser's proudest moment? Most embarrassing?

Kaiser's proudest moment was mastering the automatic sit (he sits automatically whenever we are out for a walk and stop). We worked hard on that one so he got lots of praise when he finally got it. Maybe the most embarrassed he has been occurred last week when I brought him home from the vet after cherry eye surgery with a big plastic cone of shame. We took out a chair and a sign just trying to get from the room to the lobby.

Learn more about Kaiser at The Hot Mess Chronicles.

--Marshal Zeringue

Jenn Waters & Corbin

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Jenn Waters and I work for a local college. My pooch is Corbin, he's 16 months now and we call him the American Mutt - mostly we think he's some mix of American Staffordshire, Great Dane, Lab & Boxer... but who knows! Someday we might do a DNA test for him, but for now... he's just a Corbin!

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

A friend of mine was in town and we had planned on meeting in Saratoga Springs for some coffee... since it was a beautiful fall day, I decided to bring Corbin along.

What's brewing?

Starbucks skinny Vanilla Latte... YUM!

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

The latte was enough to satisfy me! I only treat myself every once in a while.

Any treat for Corbin on this occasion?

I actually forgot to bring treats for Corbin (I usually like to have them when we're walking. People always want to give him one!), so we stopped at a local dog shoppe called Sloppy Kisses. I planned on just getting Corbin a half pound of their home made treats, but we ended up leaving with a new t-shirt for him as well!

How were you and Corbin united?

My boyfriend, Adam, and I had just moved into our house and my family dogs stayed with my parents. Adam had never had pets before so I figured fostering would be a great way to get a dog in the house and test it out to see if it would work. I contacted a local rescue group who assured me they didn't have dogs coming in until January, but told me to stop in to discuss things with them. December 19th of last year, I got ready and headed out to their adoption clinic, assuring Adam I wasn't coming home with a dog this time. As I was talking with one of the volunteers, this crazy brown goofy dog ran up to me. His foster mom over heard us talking about how I was interested in fostering and explained to me that Corbin needed a new foster home. She had two young foster dogs, both were on limited activity since they each had leg issues, and boy did they love to play together! They were a handful for her to keep calm. So, shortly after talking with Corbin's foster mom, I was making a phone call to Adam to tell him Corbin was coming to meet him. He wasn't happy, as I told him I didn't want a young dog, and I didn't want a pit bull... Corbin was both of these. When Corbin arrived in our home, he ran around like a mad man, and then curled up on the couch and he was out like a light. Although we didn't know it then, Corbin did. He knew this was his home and that he was never leaving. Two months later, we realized it too. Corbin had ran, jumped, spun and licked his way into our hearts, and we just couldn't let him go.

How did Corbin get his name?

Corbin was given the name by his first "family" who dropped him off at the humane society where he was scheduled to be euthanized due to his pit bull look. After he came into our home, we thought about changing his name, but he was just such a Corbin... so it stuck.

Any aliases?

We call him Monkey most of the time -he jumps, crawls and climbs like a monkey! My mom calls him Corbie and my dad calls him "door knob" -I guess Corbin is the name of a door knob company. Adam's dad calls him Scooby because at times he looks and acts like Scooby Doo!

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Squirrels, bunnies and birds! He thinks he's a hound dog. If he's inside and there's a squirrel outside, he'll run from our front window to the sliding glass doors to the back yard whining and yelping and throwing a huge fit to make sure we're aware there is a squirrel outside. And if we acknowledge the animal, he looks at us with the funniest face like he want to say "See it? Why are we not doing anything about it!? LET ME OUT!"

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

How about D: all of the above? Corbin loves anything that means playtime! Sometimes he gets so excited when Adam gets home and if there isn't a toy in site, he'll grab the nearest shoe, food dish or anything he can find that will fit in his mouth. Not to destroy, but just to prance around with.

Where is Corbin's favorite place for an outing?

He loves going anywhere and everywhere, even the vet! He gets excited every Sunday because he knows Adam is taking him to the "mancave" for football where he gets showered with attention. He also enjoys taking rides in the firebird up to Lake George - he loves boating and swimming!

We've just enjoyed Halloween: did Corbin do anything special to celebrate?

Corbin was dressed up as a frog prince! A week before Halloween, he came with me to a fundraiser at a harvest fest for the rescue he came from. He wore his costume and encouraged people to come see what the rescue is all about! Everyone loved him and he got lots of kisses so that he'd turn into the prince he is. He also wore his costume on Halloween and helped us hand out candy. He only got scared once when a werewolf came to the door!

Who are Corbin's best pet-pals?

Corbin's best pal is Emmett, we say Emmett is his brotha from anotha motha. Emmett was the other foster Corbin was with for a week before coming to us. They look very similar and they go absolutely crazy when they see each other. He also loves our neighbors Piper and Radar and we walk with them just about every night. He also meets his blogging friends Maggie Mae and Levi for walks at least once a month and his pal Floyd, too! We also decided to continue fostering after we adopted Corbin, so he gets a new foster sister every once in a while!

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

Without a doubt, Corbin would change the fact that Adam and I have to leave for work every weekday morning. He would much prefer to stay in bed and be lazy with us all morning and play with us all afternoon.

What is Corbin's proudest moment?

It's hard to pick just one... Corbin is proud with just about everything he does. He is one of the happiest dogs I've ever been around. He is most proud when he's wearing something, whether it's a jacket, costume or one of his cool “muscle” shirts. He doesn’t just walk, he struts!

Most embarrassing?

Quite a funny story, actually. It was the first time we took Corbin out on the boat. He had his life jacket on while the boat was in motion, but we took it off of him while we were anchored because he had started getting hot in it. Adam was goofing around and jumped in the water and out of the corner of my eye; I see this brown blob in the air. Corbin had jumped in after him. This was Corbin’s first experience in the water and his face said it all. Of course, I was having a minor heart attack because he didn't have his life jacket on, but he was paddling away, completely unaware of what happened and scared to death! His eyes were bugging out of his head. He clearly had no idea what he was in for when he took that leap! It took us a while to get him back in the water (with his life jacket!) after that. But now he loves it!

Visit Corbin's blog and befriend him on Facebook.

--Marshal Zeringue