Teresita Dovalpage & La Niña

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Teresita Dovalpage, college professor and author of three theater plays and twelve novels. The last four belong to the Havana Mystery series published by Soho Crime. Death under the Perseids is the most recent one, set on a cruise ship headed for Cuba. And then there is La Niña, a five-year-old English foxhound mix with some heeler and husky. A girl with an attitude!

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

The beginning of a new day. My husband and I love to have our morning coffee with La Niña in the sitting room. She plops down on a chair and watches us. When she considers that we should be done with the cafecito, she rolls over on the rug and demands a tummy rub. Naturally, she gets it.

What's brewing?

Café Bustelo. Espresso. Muy Cubano, unsweetened and super strong for me so I can start the day energized. With half-and-half and tons of sugar for my husband.

Any treats for you or La Niña on this occasion?

She adores fruit peels—mango, pear and apricot peels are her favorites. In the summer, our orchard provides fresh pears and apricots, but at this time of the year, store-bought fruit has to do.

How were you and La Niña united?

When we adopted her, she was a bit skittish at first. But one day she came over and put what we now call her “possessive paw” on my hand. She left it there for what felt like ten minutes, and I didn’t move. Perhaps it was some kind of a test. Afterwards, she became more comfortable and began to offer kisses on a daily basis.

How did your dog get her name? Any aliases?

I have always called her Niña, Spanish for “girl.” Sometimes we also call her Miss Fluff—tongue-in-cheek, because she has no fluff at all.

Does La Niña do more to help or hinder your writing?

To help, definitely. She sits on an armchair and takes long naps while I write. It’s a comforting, quiet presence, until she sees a squirrel outside. Then tranquility goes out the window! But usually she is just there, snoring softly. When I get tired, I take ten minutes off to snuggle with her—very relaxing. Inspirational, too. That’s how she made a cameo in Death under the Perseids. I was on “her” chair, proofreading a printed copy of the manuscript (it’s too easy to miss errors on screen) and La Niña placed her aforementioned possessive paw on a page. It was a scene where the protagonist’s grandmother, Mamina, complains about being lonely. So I gave Mamina a puppy and named her Nena—an affectionate Spanish term for “girl.”

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Squirrel! She has never caught one, though not for lack of trying. We have plenty in the backyard, but she has gotten a little Rubenesque lately, which makes chasing squirrels (and anything else for that matter) somewhat difficult.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Pillows. Of course, she has her own, but if she can get hold of some else’s, much better. Early on, she’d chew on books. La Niña mala! I am happy to report that she has outgrown that stage.

Who is La Niña's best pet-pal?

It used to be Maxx, our Rhodesian Ridgeback [photo, left] who is now in puppy heaven. Maybe it’s time to get her a new friend!

What is La Niña's best quality?

She is a people’s dog. She rarely meets a human she doesn’t want to play kissy face with.

If La Niña could change one thing about New Mexico, what would it be?

I think she would say something like: “The wind wouldn’t blow so hard here. It gets awfully windy in this corner of the world and it scares me!”

If La Niña could answer only one question in English or Spanish, what would you ask her?

Why do you always take bones to a rug and not, let’s say, the backyard, chica?

What advice would La Niña give if asked?

When offered treats or compliments, accept them graciously.

Visit Teresa Dovalpage's website,

Learn more about Death under the Perseids.

Writers Read: Teresa Dovalpage (April 2018).

The Page 69 Test: Death Comes in through the Kitchen.

My Book, The Movie: Death Comes in through the Kitchen.

--Marshal Zeringue

Kris Calvin & Lily

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Kris Calvin, a former local elected official and now a political mystery writer—my debut novel, One Murder More, is now out from Inkshares.

With me is the lovely Lily, a two-year-old mixed breed rescue (mostly cattle dog/blue heeler).

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Lily and I like to end our morning walk with a little peaceful time in my front garden.

What's brewing?

Light roast coffee, with a splash of almond milk. Today it's Peet's Columbia Luminosa.

Any treats for you or Lily on this occasion?

Cheddar jalapeno scone for me (from Lester Farms Bakery in Winters, California, unbelievably good) and peanut butter dog treats for Lily.

How were you and Lily united?

For more than a month, Lilly was reported by nearby residents as running loose in a field outside Sacramento. She was extremely skittish, and each time Animal Control showed up she would take off at breakneck speed—no one could catch her. They finally succeeded by using a self-closing trap left overnight, with bacon as bait.

My son and I met Lily a few weeks later at an adoption fair. At under 20 pounds and timid she wouldn't have been my first choice—I've always thought of myself as a "big dog", "happy-to-see-you dog" person. But within minutes of their meeting my son was certain Lily was the dog for us. He's not prone to snap judgments, so I had to believe there was something special happening.

How did your dog get her name? Any aliases?

Lily was so frightened of everything when she first came home with us that we figured her true personality had yet to show itself, and we were hesitant to select a name when we didn't really know her. So for a week we referred to her only as "Dog". In the end, a friend suggested "Violet" or "Lily", and Lily was the name that stuck. Now I couldn't imagine calling her anything else, it's always " Lily", never "Lil'".

Does Lily do more to help or hinder your writing?

Lily has a need for structure and a set schedule. If I don't feed her first thing in the morning and then take her for a long walk, she paces nervously and her anxiety makes it difficult for me to even think about writing. So there are definitely days when I get out of bed with an idea and a desire to go right to my desk, but Lily has to come first. That can be frustrating. But I almost always find that once I'm outside and walking with her, my good idea gets better.

Have any actual dogs inspired fictional dogs in your writing?

Camper [photo right], our family's beloved lab-pit bull, was alive when I started writing One Murder More. Two years ago, at age 16 she passed peacefully in her sleep, while the novel was in process. I had initially given her a bit part in the book, but I think because it was so difficult to lose her and she was on my mind so much, Camper ultimately became a star member of the cast.

The one thing I had to do, though, was change Camper's gender for her expanded role. The lead human character, Maren Kane, a lobbyist who becomes an amateur sleuth, is a woman. I found it difficult to write scenes for the two of them, using the pronoun "she" and then having to do something with the phrasing to make it clear whether I was talking about Camper or Maren. In the end, it was easier to change Camper's gender in the book. (Changing Maren's gender would've been far more challenging at the point that I was at in the story.) Camper always struck me as practical and in touch with both her masculine and feminine sides, so I think she would have understood.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Lily doesn't chase anything.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Plastic yellow squeaky toy shaped like a bone.

Who is Lily's best pet-pal?

Lily was terrified of our cat, Nigel [with Lily, left], for the first month, during which time I renamed Nigel "Dr. Doom" because just Nigel's "menacing" appearance in a room would send Lily under the bed or into a corner. But as my more animal-savvy friends predicted, the two are now best buddies, and are rarely more than a few feet apart from one another, awake or asleep.

What is Lily's best quality?

Courage. Whatever it was that she endured that made her so frightened, Lily had the strength to survive it. And she continues to overcome her fears a little more each day. That speaks to me of an extraordinary reservoir of bravery.

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

I am moderately allergic to both cats and dogs, but canine and feline companions are so important to my children that I've found myself always part of a pet household. So long as I don't pet them (which I gather releases their dander) I do pretty well. Lily would love to change that about me so that I could pet her. But my kids and friends see that she gets tactile love, and I talk to her a lot, walk with her and try to show her in every other way how important she is to me.

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

"What happened to make you so frightened?" I guess it doesn't matter, she's here with us now and safe, but it's hard not knowing.

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

Lucy Loken, age 16, is a wonderfully talented young actress. Lily should be voiced by someone with depth, who can present her quiet courage. Ms. Loken could do that.

What advice would Lily give if asked?

"Take nothing for granted, a good life is a gift."

Visit Kris Calvin's website and follow her on Twitter.

Photo credits: Eileen Rendahl.

--Marshal Zeringue

Nick Jans & Chase, Brisa, Loki and Sal

Who is in the photo at right?

That's me, Nick Jans, with Isis, a captive born but very wild in her heart purebred Alaska wolf, three years old. I've known her since she was four weeks. She lives at the Kroschel Wildlife Park north of Haines, a few miles from my place. No mistake about it, a wolf, even tame to the max as she is, is far more than a big, ultra-smart, ultra-strong dog. It's a wild thing that thinks for itself, no matter what you do. So it's not a dog most folks would expect to see here. But you did say coffee with a canine--and a wolf, canis lupus, surely is that. I've had coffee before and after walking or playing with Isis, but you can't just carry a bunch of loose items, like my favorite steel spillproof cup, around a wolf, captive or not. They want to investigate everything with their mouths, which have an uber-canid bite pressure to match their will and intelligence. Hard to keep my camera gear away from her with both hands. And she gets snippy once she thinks she owns something and you try to take it back. Not good with a wolf.

So, I'm a full-time Alaska nature writer, photographer, and wildlife advocate; lived here 35 years, 20 in ultra-wild country in the upper left-hand corner of the state. I'm a contributing editor to Alaska Magazine and a member of USA Today's Board of Editorial Contributors. First thing I ever published for pay was a short poem in Rolling Stone, in 1986, I think. They paid 20 bucks. Paul McCartney was on the cover, and I still know that poem by heart.

I've published 11 books, ranging from collections of personal essays to a kids' photo book to texts for others' photo books to full-length nonfiction. A Wolf Called Romeo, out with Houghton Mifflin July 1, is the most recent. It may be the reason I was born, to witness this story and tell it as best I could. It was one of those transformative experiences you don't get over.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Well, it's the publication of A Wolf Called Romeo. The quick version of the book goes like this: a 120-pound, totally wild black wolf shows up one day on the edge of wilderness and Alaska semi-suburbia, and wants to play with our dogs And everyone else's. He's oddly tolerant of humans, gentle with our pooches, and still a wild wolf who hunts for his own food and comes and goes as he pleases. He even seems to bond, to a surprising extent, with a few humans. This went on for six years, his life hanging by a thread the whole time, and this is the story of the wolf the people of Juneau, Alaska, came to call Romeo. This book explores, among other things, the boundaries between us and the wild. That includes thoughtful comparison between wolves and the domestic, genetically engineered canines we call man's best friend, all of whom carry 99.98 percent of a wild wolf's genetic package. But that .02 percent difference looms huge.

What's brewing?

I like my coffee strong, with big flavor and not anything in it besides coffee. On the side of my coffee machine's carafe, it says eight cups, but I knock it down in two big mugfuls, in the same steel spillproof cup I've had for over a decade. Sometimes another big cup follows in the afternoon. Coffee and writing are pretty much fused into my daily life. I don't do one without the other. And naturally, since I work at home all our dogs hang with me while I write, and keep me company. Currently, we have four--two blue heelers, Chase and Brisa, and two mixed breeds, both rescues from north central Florida, where my wife and I (and critters) spend the winter these days. Loki, a straw-colored, big-eared, short-haired terrier mix, was raised in a Tampa area crack house as pit bull bait, and eventually tied to a tree and left for dead in a homeless camp. Sal, our little black and tan hound thing, we found starving by the side of a country road a few miles from our Florida winter home. They're all great dogs--very smart, physically talented, and well-trained.

Chase, age 13 and nearly blind and deaf now, holds an AKC Master Agility Championship, called a MACH.

Loki [photo right] just qualified for the 2014 CPE National Championships in dog agility competition.

Sal is an up-and-coming beginner in the sport.

Brisa, arguably the most talented of the bunch, told us she doesn't want to compete, so she just watches and keeps the others in line.

Down in Florida, they all take morning walks with me around our five wooded acres while I drink my first cup of the day and slip them slivers of granola bar. It's a ritual. Since I'm a professional photographer, I seem to end up on the other side of the camera most of the time.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

They love me, I have no doubt, but they're always on the wait for what I might divvy their way--those bits of granola bar, bites of apple or carrot, dried Alaska salmon treats. Robert Frost put it this way: "better to go down dignified, with boughten friendship at your side, than none at all. Provide, provide!" Treats for me amount to making a horse's arse of myself on such celebratory occasions.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Can't say exactly, other than we always give each name long thought and mull over the possibles before deciding, just like naming your kids.

[photo left: the pack, before Sal came along]

All dog owners have aliases for their pooches, don't they? Chase also goes by Ticey (a derivative of her name) or Old Lady. Brisa (which means 'breeze' in Spanish) most commonly goes by Poke Chop--that on account of her thick muscled thighs. Loki (the Norse god of mischief and fire) is also the Loke-a-Lope, and my wife Sherrie calls him Buddy, because they're such good friends, enough to make me jealous sometimes, how many times he gets snuggled and smooched. Sal (a name we picked almost instantly after we found her, because we just liked the feel of it) most often goes by Hound...which she undeniably is. Especially in her voice. She yodels.

How were you and your dogs united?

Well, I already told you the story on Loki and Sal. Chase, we found as a puppy in an Anchorage, Alaska pet store. Our old Lab was dying and I wanted to get Sherrie something to distract her; and I'd long been interested in Heelers, AKA Australian cattle dogs, ever since I traveled to Australia years ago and watched them working livestock, jumping on and off of motorcycles or right under horses' hooves. They're 2/3 dingo, and not a dog for beginners, especially the girls. You might as well have a coyote living in your house. Smart, stubborn, and an odd mix of fearlessness and neurosis. Plus incredibly bonded. Once one likes you, you're stuck for life.

Brisa we got as a semi-rescue from a top breeder who wanted to get rid of her because she was too shy.

One more thing about Sal--not only did we find her starving by the side of the road, when we stopped and opened the door to check her out and see if we could help her, she basically came running over and hopped right into the car like she'd been waiting for us. Hard to say who chose who.

How do your dogs help--or hinder--your writing?

Absolutely, they help. Writing is by nature a solitary business; and with the dogs curled up around my desk, the two cattle dogs generally right under my feet, it's impossible to be lonely. They also give me excuses to take breaks--oh, I gotta go throw some frisbees for the dogs, or go for a run with them--any excuse will do.

Did your dogs ever meet the wolf who is the focus of your new book, A Wolf Called Romeo?

Nose to nose, more than once. Chase, at the time 18 months old and almost psychotically dog-reactive, once charged Romeo, 15 pounds against 120, and got gently pinned and play-mouthed for her troubles. But also, when Romeo started getting a bit too interested in Brisa, brand-new at the time, Chase jumped right in the wolf's face, curled back her lips, and told the wolf to back off...which he did. As for Loki and Sal, they came along after Romeo was long gone. We did have two other dogs then who both met and played with the wolf--Dakotah, the yellow-white Lab on the book cover, and Gus, a retired Seeing Eye black Lab [photo left: with Romeo and Chase]. Matter of fact, my wife Sherrie gave Romeo his name because he seemed so enamored of Dakotah. She murmured one day, 'well, there's that Romeo wolf again,' and the name stuck.

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

Brisa and Loki adore each other. Sal adores every dog she ever met, and can disarm the most aggressive dog with her nonreactive, submissive cheerfulness. Chase, being a cattle dog to the core, doesn't think much of other dogs. She's bonded to me, though she loves Sherrie of course. Even now, mostly blind and deaf and 13 plus years old, she follows me around everywhere I go and is seldom farther away than at my feet--which she is, right now. Brisa is the same way with Sherrie.

What is each dog's best quality?

Chase has always been incredibly courageous--which doesn't mean she's not afraid, but that she overcomes fear. A couple of autumns ago, she charged two black bears that were chasing Loki, right on his tail and incoming toward us, 20 feet away, and they turned tail and ran after she rushed them, jaws popping.

Brisa is the same way, especially with Sherrie. She guards her and if anyone tried to hurt her, The Poke Chop would be in their grill straight off.

Brisa is also an incredible athlete--even at age nine, she does these gravity-defying leaps to snag frisbees that seem impossibly out of reach. In another life, she'd have been an NFL wide receiver. Sal, well, she's just a sweetheart, an incredible optimist, cheerful in all weather.

Loki has this unbelievable drive and acceleration. Dog agility is a very competitive sport, full of wonderful, hard-driving border collies and so on. And Loki still stands out. Once he gets a bit more experienced, the sky's the limit. And at the same time, he's such a soft, sensitive dog.

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

Well, Alaskans tend to love dogs. Everyone seems to have a few. I think they like Alaskans just fine the way they are. Maybe they'd change the leash laws in Juneau, where we lived 15 years.

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

That's easy. What's it like to be you?

Visit Nick Jans's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Janet Kellough & Joe and Smidgen

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Janet Kellough and I write The Thaddeus Lewis Mysteries, a series based on mid-19th century Canadian history, the latest of which, The Burying Ground, will be released next year. With me are Joe, the more-or-less Boxer and Smidgen, the Blue Heeler –Something Else Australian cross. They’re both shelter dogs, so we don’t know for sure how old they are, but we figure seven or eight.

What’s the occasion for Coffee With a Canine?

Joe and Smidgey patrol the area around the house while I’m writing, but we all spend a lot of time outside. I have 50 acres in Prince Edward County, an island community on the north shore of Lake Ontario. We’re very rural, so there’s always lots to do, and when we’ve finished our work for the day we have a coffee on the veranda if the weather permits. Nothing fancy – just plain old coffee and water from the more-or-less bottomless pot.

How were you and your dogs united?

I had, sadly, reached the end of a dog cycle – the last old guy of the previous contingent died at the ripe old age of 14. But for me, home isn’t home unless it smells like wet dog, so after a few months I was ready for someone new. I like shepherding dogs so I went to a shelter that specializes in finding homes for Australian breeds – they’re super-intelligent and need lots to do, so sometimes it’s hard to place them. I knew I wanted Smidgen right away, but while there I realized that she was best buds with a woebegone boxer who had ended up at the shelter too. I didn’t know anything about boxers, but couldn’t bear to part them, so they both came home with me.

How did your dogs get their names?

Smidgen’s shelter name was “Midgey”, which I morphed into “Smidgey” because she’s such a little smidgen of a shepherd. Joe was already Joe and it just seemed to fit him. They have many other names, depending on the circumstances. Smidgey particularly loves being called “Sweetie Pie”.

Who are your dogs best pet-pals?

They sometimes play with their Golden Retriever friend Lola, but Joe and Smidgey really are each other’s best friend. They are always together. They spend a lot of time grooming each other. And on cold winter nights, they sleep curled up together in front of the woodstove.

How do your dogs help your writing?

While I’m lost in a world of my own making I count on them to let me know what’s happening in the real one – if the coyotes are too close, or the wild turkeys are ambling down the laneway again, and especially if a courier truck has arrived. (Some of the drivers have dog biscuits!!!!) One of the lovely things we do nearly every morning is walk down our country road. When it’s not tourist season only local traffic goes by, and people wave or honk, or sometimes pull their cars over for a chat. It’s one of those things that helps make our country township a real neighbourhood, and it puts me in a good mood before I start work.

What is each dog’s best quality?

Smidgey takes her job very seriously and supervises everything. I sometimes think she would like a clipboard and a whistle to help her organize everybody. Joe is a lot more impulsive, but he can be counted on to back her up. Unless it’s something really scary. But he’s the original King of Smoosh. He loves being hugged.

Have any actual dogs inspired fictional dogs in your writing?

I don’t like to put dogs in my stories, in case I end up in a plot corner and have to make something bad happen. I’ll bump (fictional) people off at the drop of a hat, but having something terrible happen to a dog is just way too upsetting! Even if it’s make-believe.

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

You remember why we don’t go near skunks, right?

Visit Janet Kellough's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Janie Chodosh & Bryn and Darwin

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Janie Chodosh. I am an author of young adult fiction, a teacher, mom, outdoor enthusiast, beginner violinist, bird watcher, and animal lover. My faithful canine friends are Bryn a “beeler” (beagle-heeler mix) and Darwin, a blue heeler and something or other mix.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I am celebrating the release of my debut novel, Death Spiral, A Faith Flores Science Mystery which was published on April 1st by The Poisoned Pencil, the new young adult mystery imprint of The Poisoned Pen Press.

What's brewing?

I am all about the almond milk latte.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Chicken soup. It’s not just good for humans!

How were you and your dogs united?

I adopted Darwin from the Santa Fe Humane Society. I fell in love the second I set eyes on him and knew he was my dog, but oh, poor guy. He was terrified. He’d try to disappear through the wall every time someone came by. By the third time I visited him, he wagged his tail and his ears perked up when he saw me. I adopted Bryn from an organization in Denver that rescues heelers. It was love at first site.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

As you can see from the picture of Darwin [photo left] in the golden leaves, he is the pinnacle of dog evolution (!), so why not name him after the famous Charles Darwin? Bryn was called Bren when we adopted her. I didn’t care for that name, but I couldn’t stand to change her name too much since she’d already gone through so much change, so I tweaked the name a little to something I liked better.

How do your dogs help--or hinder--your writing?

Bryn is my shadow and love sponge. If I am stuck, depressed, making myself crazy, having a hard day (etc.) Bryn cheers me up and helps me get back on task. However, that dog loves to bark! Did something move? (bark bark bark). Did I hear something? (bark, bark, bark). The barking is very distracting and sometimes I have to close the dog door and lock both dogs inside the house. Darwin, at age 14, is more aloof. He spends most of the day lounging in the sun and being in his own special dog zone.

Have any actual dogs inspired fictional dogs in your writing?

No dogs in particular have inspired my writing, but dogs in general show up in most everything I write. I write for teens and I believe every child should have a pet, and to me, that pet should be a dog! Faith Flores, my protagonist, has had a lot of trauma in her life, so having canine companions in her life feels very humane.

Squirrel, postman, cat....?

We live next to an arroyo (a dry river bed) and a lot of open space, so many animals wander by. The dogs bark at each and every one of them. Yep. Each and every one. Squirrels. Rabbits. Other dogs. Birds. Gophers. Coyotes. They don’t bark much at people though. They just want to have their bellies rubbed.

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

After an initial dominance squabble that resulted in a $500.00 vet bill they get on well with each other. As far as other canine pals, the answer, sadly, is none. They don’t really “do” other dogs.

What is each dog's best quality?

Bryn is a love sponge. If you stop petting her she makes herself known with her paw or her nose. When she is excited, she walks in this strange U-shape configuration where she tries to see over her shoulder as she moves forward. I’ve never had a more affectionate dog.

Darwin is sweet and independent, and a supremely good-looking guy. He enjoys lounging in the sun and wagging his tail whenever you walk by. He is more reserved, but always up for a few good pets.

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

I think they would ask all New Mexicans to spay and neuter their pets. There are so many stray and unwanted animals in this state.

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

Well, my daughter says Darwin would be Elvis Presley, though I think George Clooney. Bryn would Anna Faris, who was one of the chipettes in Alvin and the Chipmunks.

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

Since they are both rescue dogs, I would love to know what happened to them before they came into my life. Kind of like a doggie memoir.

Visit Janie Chodosh's website.

Writers Read: Janie Chodosh.

The Page 69 Test: Death Spiral.

My Book, The Movie: Death Spiral.

--Marshal Zeringue

Margarita Engle & Maggi and Chance

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Margarita Engle. As the Cuban-American author of young adult novels in verse about the island's history, I never imagined that I would spend a great deal of my time hiding for dogs. Yes, that's right, hiding in Sierra Nevada forests, to help wilderness search and rescue dogs practice finding lost hikers. My husband is a volunteer trainer and handler, and I am a "volunteer victim." Our SAR dogs, Maggi and Chance, live with us as our own personal pets, but they are also working dogs. Chance is a four year old Yellow Labrador Retriever, fully certified as an active SAR dog for local and statewide search and rescue canine organizations in California. Maggi is a thirteen year old Australian Shepherd/Queensland Heeler mix, recently retired from SAR work.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

After a good hide and seek game (also known as search and rescue training), we love to share caffeinated candy bars in a cup. Maggi and I have notorious sweet teeth, so we like caramel macchiatos, but we also have to watch our weight, so we make sure we order the guilt-free (not calorie-free) "skinny" versions, without whipped cream. Chance is fit and slim, so he never worries about sugar or fat grams, but as usual, athletic dogs don't have sweet teeth. He drinks his Cuban rocket fuel full strength, in a tiny espresso cup, because he's really too busy chasing tennis balls to slow down and enjoy nature's outdoor cafe.

What's brewing?

Maggi's cattle dog instincts are strong, so she loves any drink that contains dairy products. Chance cares more about the container. He likes round things, so cups small enough to fit in the mouth are favored, especially if they're chewable.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Maggi is observant and pays attention to detail. A single peanut, or a motionless grasshopper, can fascinate her for hours. Chance sees the big picture. He gulps his food, so it really doesn't matter what he eats, since he never tastes it anyway. While waiting to be found in the wilderness, I always pick the candy out of trail mix.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

My husband chose Maggi's name because he was convinced she was born to be a Maggi, and he felt certain that it should be spelled without a final e. It was really very awkward at the time, because our daughter's best friend was named Maggie, so we were constantly embarrassing everyone by barking orders to "Come here, Maggi!" or "Drop it, Maggi," and of course, our daughter's well-behaved friend thought we were yelling at her. Chance was much harder to name. He started as Chase, and changed to Chance as a way of remembering that lost people do have a chance of being found, thanks to search and rescue volunteers, both human and canine. On ordinary days, he often gets called Booger Brains instead.

How were you and your dogs united?

Maggi was a starving stray who moved onto a farm my husband was managing, and announced her intention to stay. She did this on my husband's birthday, so he really couldn't argue, and it didn't matter that we already had 3 dogs at home. She introduced herself to the others, and they accepted her immediately, after she explained (in canine and English---she's quite fluent in many languages, both spoken and body) that she would be the boss from now on.

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

At various times, dogs have moved into my stories, and stayed, so I have no choice. I have to include them. My newest novel in verse for young adults is The Lightning Dreamer, Cuba's Greatest Abolitionist, but while I was writing it, Chance inspired me to write a middle grade novel in verse called Mountain Dog. Around the same time, Maggi helped me write an extremely cute, sweet poetry picture book for young children, called When You Wander, a Search and Rescue Dog Story. Amazingly, all three books will be released within a few months of each other, starting with The Lightning Dreamer.

Squirrel, postman, cat....?

Our dogs are friendly, except for the time at a Sheriff's auxiliary training, when Chance ran away from a bomb squad officer who was wearing an outfit that made him look like a robot. As far as chasing animals, they wait all day, every day, for something interesting to chase, but when two wild peacocks finally landed in our backyard, they chickened out and sat perfectly motionless, birdwatching without binoculars.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

When Maggi was a stray, she had to hunt for her dinner, so she still loves anything that sounds like a squeaking ground squirrel. Chance is passionate about round objects of any sort. If you don't have a ball to throw, he'll pick an orange off a tree, and give it to you. He has tried, on occasion, to chase the moon, but he never quite catches it.

What is each dog's best quality?

Maggi is sweet, sensitive, and more intelligent than most humans. She actually cares about the lost hiker, and wants to make sure he is found. Chance is athletic and enthusiastic. He cares about winning the hide and seek game so he can get back to playing fetch.

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

They would like me to spend more time without a book in my hands. They wish I understood that from a dog's point of view, opposable thumbs evolved to open refrigerators, not volumes of poetry.

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

Maggi would be Angela Lansbury. No mystery would ever go unsolved, and all the proper herding dog etiquette would be followed in every delicate situation. Chance is definitely Ashton Kutcher, because he's tall, lanky, handsome, goofy, and unlikely to ever grow up.

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

I would ask Maggi to tell me the story of her first year, before she found us. Did she ever have a chance to herd cattle? Was she abused, and if so, how did she manage to be so forgiving? She loves people, and tolerates our failures, patiently training us to serve as reasonably acceptable companions. I would also love to ask Chance what it feels like to have such a smart nose, instead of a smart brain. Is it the scent that makes him swallow inanimate objects, or does he just enjoy watching us panic and rush him to the veterinary emergency room?

Visit Margarita Engle's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Marianne & Nick, Gil, and Wally

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Marianne.  Our family runs a small dairy farm in upstate NY. I help with just about everything, as well as writing a farm column for our local paper and a blog, Northview Diary. First among our dogs is Nick, a retired working border collie. Nick is 13, but when he was younger he herded cows and sheep for us with great enthusiasm.

Gil, a year-old English shepherd, and Wally, a 12-year-old blue heeler round out the pack. Gil's passion in life is barking and playing with his toys. Wally guards the cow barn. He tried herding once, but the whole chasing the cows away from the barn at milking time thing got him retired from that job in just one night.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Having coffee in the kitchen with Gil sitting on my foot. No special occasion.

Routine is big on a dairy farm... we do pretty much the same thing each day. The boys like to lie beside my chair while I write or work on the books, and I write daily and do books way too often. [photo left -- Gil, the puppy]

What's brewing?

Plain old Taster's Choice, brewed in the microwave. Always in a hurry, no time for much else.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Nick loves his bread, he gets a slice every day. Gil will do almost anything for a biscuit including trade the things he steals. In fact I think "trade" is his favorite word.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Nick's name is short, as befits a working BC, who needs to hear and understand commands over a long distance. Originally, when he was one of a litter of eight born to our late dog, Gael, he was called" Hour Glass" for a white marking on the back of his neck. However, when training began he needed a short work name. Nick doesn't sound like any working commands, such as come bye, away to me, lie down etc.....which is important when you are asking a dog to do one of those things far across a field.

Gil is named after a character in a book, The Ranger's Apprentice, by John Flanagan. Wally is just Wally.

How were you and your dogs united?

I bred Nick myself. His mother was one of my working dogs and his father was the sire of my best ever working dog, the late, great Mike, who even rounded up bulls. I wanted another dog as like Mike as possible and an illness rendered him sterile. Thus I bought a female with the same mother as he and mated her to his father. Nick never did quite the things as his big, 3/4 brother, but he is a real nice guy in his own right.

Gil belongs to our daughter [photo right -- Gil & Rebecca], and lives here on the farm, as does Wally who was born in Vermont.

Are there any non-domestic critters around the farm that get the dogs especially worked up?

Gil hates the coyotes and lets us know when they are in the backyard after cats or calves.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

Tennis balls for both Nick and Gil and Milking machine liners too, the perfect, indestructible ...or almost...rubber dog toy. We have lots of those!

[photo left -- the original Northview Dairy border collies, including Nick]

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

Nick loves his cat friend, Chainsaw, a big, black barn cat. Gil is friends with another barn cat, Miss Catty Fach.

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

I think they would like me to stop closing the refrigerator door so faithfully.

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

Sam Elliot would do Nick. Gil -- Tim Curry. Wally, Larry the Cable Guy.

If your dogs could answer only one question in English, what would you ask them?Wow, when did you learn ton talk?

Visit the Northview Dairy blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Stefanie & Blueberry

Who is in the photo at right?

That is me - Stefanie aka Blueberry's human. I am an administrative assistant at a university. But I'd always, always rather be hiking! Blueberry is a 4 1/2 year old spayed female blue heeler mix.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Actually - I am not a coffee drinker, I prefer water (I know, crazy, right?).

What's brewing?

Water straight from the tap!

Any treats for you or Blueberry on this occasion?

Blueberry is snacking on Wet Nose treats - apple cinnamon bones.

How did Blueberry get her name?

The rescue named her - since she sort of resembles a blueberry muffin. Her name was too cute to change!

Does she have any nicknames?

Blueberry Fooberry, Blue Bell, Blue Bonnet, I Found My Thrill on Blue Blue Blueberry Hill.

How were you and Blueberry united?

I saw her picture on petfinders and contacted the rescue. I had lost my cattle dog mix to cancer the year before and when I saw Blueberry's pic and read her profile - I knew she was the one for me.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

Squirrel!

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

Stick!

Who is Blueberry's best pet-pal?

That would be just about any male dog she encounters! She's a bit of a flirt!

What is Blueberry's best quality?

Her willingness to try new things!

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

They would all carry treats just for her.

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

Mary Stuart Masterson - with a southern accent of course.

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

How can I make you happier?

Visit the Spotty, Spotty, Polkadotty blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Marika S. Bell & Cooper and Ripley

Who is in the photo at right?

I am Marika S. Bell, a CPDT dog trainer and dog behaviour blogger.

Cooper is a 7 year old Lancashire Heeler male. Lancashire Heeler are a rare dog breed from the NW UK used (like corgis) for herding cattle.

Ripley is a 3 years old SPCA-special. We would love to get him genetically tested to see what his closest breed is, my guess is English Mastiff/GSD.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

After breakfast we head to the local dog park where we get to sniff the pee-mail and stretch our legs. Then I lead the way to our favourite coffee shop. Next stop is home to read email and write. I love this part of the day where we can relax in the office with the heater on, drinking my coffee while the boys lounge on their beds around the office.

What's brewing?

A half strength flat white from my much-appreciated baristas at GroundUp cafe in Pauahatanui.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

The best treat for all of us is the toastie-warm office when the heat is on. It isn't a big office so two dogs, two cats and me, fill it up pretty well.

How were you and your dogs united?

My husband grew up with Lancashire Heelers so when we decided to get a dog, 7 years ago, he wanted another heeler. Cooper was chosen for us by my husband's mother in the UK and he flew with her (first class) to Seattle where we lived. He has since travelled with us to Singapore for two years then here to New Zealand.

Ripley was a pup at the local SPCA at 8 weeks old, I met him at 4 months old and decided he was the one! He is my big New Zealand Frankenstein dog (he doesn't seem to fit together very well).

You may be the only dog trainer I've come across who also has a background in big cat training. How similar are those two areas of expertise?

I was first introduced to clicker training when I worked with a Puma named Tum-Tum. That experience has greatly affected my methods of dog training through positive reinforcement. If you wouldn't smack a tiger on the nose, why would you need to do that to a dog? All training with the cats was behind a safety fence so you had to be able to communicate well and you couldn't use force even if you wanted to. The animals has to trust you and that only happens through positive training.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Cooper was named on the impulsively, when I saw his little head poking out of his soft-sided carrier at the airport.

Ripley was named after one of my favourite movie characters "Ripley" from Alien. Also he was very wrinkly as a puppy so it seemed to fit.

Do your dogs have a favorite place to go for an outing?

They love the local dog park, but their unequalled favourite is the beach!

Rabbit, postman, cat...?

Due to Ripley's lack of early socialization just about anything out of the ordinary needs at least one good bark. They have a very tolerant relationship with their own two cats, even sleeping on the bed together if given the chance in the morning.

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

Molly and Max, a Labra-doodle and a Mini Snauchzer are their good friends from the dog park. They are also one big and one small dog so they are a good match for my mis-sized boys.

What is each dog's best quality?

Ripley is a snuggler, he stares up at me lovingly and the Oxytocin hit is instantaneous.

Cooper is a courageous soul, and a proper gentlemen at heart. All the airs of stateliness go out the window, however, when a guest comes to visit and he can't stop his butt wiggling faster than his front.

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

All the beaches in NZ would be dog friendly and off-leash!

If your dogs could speak in the movie about your life, who should do their voices?

Cooper would be voiced by Pierce Brosnan, and Ripley would be Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords.

Visit Marika S. Bell's Dancing Dogs website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Paty Jager & Tink, Boots, and T-Bone

Who is in the photo at right?

Hi, I'm Paty Jager. I'm the author of nine historical and contemporary western romance novels. My side kick, Tink, believes she's my muse. Being a Miniature pinscher and Chihuahua mix she is the right size to squeeze onto my lap when I'm writing, and therefore, she believes she is the ghost writer of all my books. She's been on all of my research trips. Gold mining in Sumpter, OR, checking out the historical center in The Dalles, taking a trek up the gravel roads of Silver City, ID and she's even been to several book signings, wearing a tiny cowboy hat. Tink believes she's a person and ignores the two cow dogs. Boots, a Border collie, and T-Bone, a Red heeler/Australian shepherd mix who help us move our thirty head of cattle. And the two Mini-aussies we're keeping for our daughter.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We heard about Coffee with a Canine from another dog lover and had to stop in and check it out and see if you have tasty treats. Tink's cute face always gets her a treat.

What's brewing?

I'm a green tea drinker- especially green tea with honey, lemon, ginseng.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

T-Bone and Tink have sweet tooths and will consider just about anything a treat, but Boots is a picky eater. While T-Bone might take half your hand when you give her a treat, the other two are very polite. So feed them first.

How were you and your dogs united?

Shortly after we bought our 70 acre ranch, a friend showed up at our door with T-Bone as a puppy. He picked the dog up for his daughter, and she didn't want her. Since she was a cow dog and my husband can never turn down a puppy face, she stayed. She hasn't been much of a cow dog, but she has such a happy go lucky personality you can't help but smile when you look at her. That was 14 years ago.

A year later a man was selling Border collie puppies out of the trunk of his car at the local feed store. My husband was there and the man told him this last pup and fallen out of the trunk and hurt herself, and if he didn't find someone to take her he was going to kill her. So my husband brought her home, and she has been his shadow ever since. She has the best cow instincts I've ever witnessed in a cow dog.

We'd lost a house dog and moved into a new house. I told my husband I didn't want another house dog, but an elderly couple who are good friends had a small dog that I made over every time I saw him. And low and behold, one day the couple showed up at my house saying, "Come on, you get pick of the litter." Their little male had sired a litter of pups and they were giving me the pick of the litter. I went along and sitting in the middle of eight puppies, I picked out Tink. She had a little crook in her tail but she had the same coloring as three other females. The owner of the mother said she couldn't tell which one I wanted and I might as well take her with me that day. She was 4 weeks old and fit in the palm of my hand. My husband and I wouldn't know what to do if something happened to her. She's been our enjoyment the last five years now that the kids are all raising their own families.

How did the dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Tink is short for Tinkerbelle. Because she was so small when we first got her, I wanted a name that fit something small and dainty. Our friends and kids call her Stinker.

Boots… I'm not sure why my husband picked that name. He just did and it stuck, but I like to call her Tootsie.

T-Bone- The person who gave her to us said that was her name because the white on her face looked like a T-bone. And she's just T-bone.

What role have your dogs played in your writing?

As I said above, Tink thinks she's my muse. She sits on my lap when I write, travels on road trips, and attends book signings. But the outside dogs have influenced cow dogs in my contemporary novels. I've used some of their personalities in fictitious dogs in Perfectly Good Nanny and Bridled Heart. One is a cow dog mix like T-Bone and the other a Border collie.

Do your dogs have a favorite place to go for an outing?

Tink likes riding in the car, but she especially likes to ride on tractors. My husband fixed up boxes on every tractor so she can ride along. If she's at the house and hears a tractor start at the barn she heads down there and the next time I see my husband and the tractor Tink is riding in her box. Boots and T-Bone like to ride on the hay trailer in the winter when we feed the cows.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

T-Bone and Boots- Cat, Sage Rat, Rock Chuck.

Tink – mice and voles.

What is each dog's best quality?

Tink- Peppy character and doesn't bark.

T-Bone- happy face and attitude.

Boots- Sweet and cattle savvy.

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

They'd have me handing out treats every hour.

What is each dog's proudest moment? Her most embarrassing?

Proudest for Tink would be when she chased a rabbit out of my flowers. It took her some time to get up the gumption to chase it. It was bigger than her. Her embarrassing moment: when our daughter's mini aussie rolled Tink. She got up looking so befuddled.

T-Bone's proudest moment would be when she finally caught a rock chuck she'd had cornered in a rock pile for several hours. Embarrassing: chasing a cow out of a pasture we'd just put her in.

Boots' proudest moment would be when she herded five heifers out of one pen and into the next just with my husband giving her hand commands. Most embarrassing would be when she fell from the hay trailer and caught her leg in the stake pocket and dislocated it.

Visit Paty Jager's website and 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