Kelly Nelson & Sophie

Who is in the photo at right?

Hi! I am Kelly Nelson and the little cutie next to me is Sophie. At my job I crunch numbers, hunt down missing receipts, and tell scientists to stop spending money but during my free time I can be found training for my first half marathon, blogging about my training at The Hangry Waffle, and binge watching Netflix with Sophie. She is particularly fond of romance comedies. Sophie is a 6 year old maltipoo who has yet to find a lap that she did not like to be in.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

During the work week drinking coffee is a necessity but during the weekend drinking coffee becomes a treat. My schedule slows down and I am able to enjoy sitting at one of my favorite coffee shops with family and friends enjoying a latte. Today Sophie and I joined my brother Kevin for a coffee date.

What's brewing?

Sophie is enjoying a puppuccino (straight up whip cream) while I am having a greentea latte made with almond milk.

How were you and Sophie united?

I got Sophie when I lived in a small town in Oklahoma. The breeder had 2 puppies left and I choose Sophie because she was independent and had a sense of adventure. She was 13 weeks old and a 4 pound ball of fluff yet she was not afraid of anything.

How did your dog get her name? Any aliases?

When it came to naming my pup I was torn between naming her Sophia, after the leading female character in the movie Letters to Juliette. Or, naming her Bear, because she looked like a mini polar bear from behind as a puppy. I ended up combining these two names and naming her Sophia Bear but only call her by her full name when she is in trouble.

Does Sophie do more to help or hinder your running goals?

She helped me recover from rupturing my Achilles tendon by steadily increasing the distance of our evening walks until we were walking 3+ miles without my ankle swelling. While she does not run with me these days she does help me loosen up my leg muscles up by walking with me then giving me kisses as I foam roll.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

She is a little squirrel hunter but has yet to actual catch one.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Squeaky-toys all the way. The squeakier the better… well, for Sophie, not so much me.

Who is Sophie's best pet-pal?

Sophie’s best pet-pal these days is Bandit, my parents’ 1-year-old springer spaniel puppy.

What is Sophie's best quality?

I would have to say Sophie’s best quality is her confidence. She has yet to meet a stranger and will happily sit in anyone’s lap whether or not she was invited. At the dog park she will go say hi to everyone there. She loves attention and she is not afraid to get it.

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

She would change my inability to sit still for long periods at a time so that I would stop moving her in between episodes during our evenings filled with Netflix marathoning.

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

Sophie, do you think I am crazy?

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

It would have to be Kristen Bell.

What advice would Sophie give if asked?

Great things await right outside your comfort zone.

Visit The Hangry Waffle website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Nolwen Cifuentes & Parsley

Who is in the photo at right?

Hello! My name is Nolwen and I’m a photographer in Los Angeles. My dog’s name is Parsley, she’s a little lady about 5 &1/2 years old. Not exactly sure what her breed is as she was a rescue but I believe she’s a Maltipoo.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Every day is take your dog to work day so it’s a daily ritual.

What's brewing?

Always a fresh hot cup of Colombian/French roast with almond milk and honey.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Madeline cookies.

Any treat for Parsley on this occasion?

Parsley doesn’t like just any dog treat. Actually she doesn’t really like dog treats at all, she’s very picky. Her favorite treats are veggie sticks from Trader Joe’s.

How were you and Parsley united?

Tailwaggers in Hollywood was hosting a rescue fair. I went thinking “I want a short haired dog with pointy ears.” Parsley looked straight at me, like she knew I was the one. Of course she was very shaggy with long dangly ears. I saw her staring right at me, she didn’t seem to care for one single other person around so I went over to her. I picked her up and she melted in my arms. Immediately I knew she was my dog. I brought her home and she’s been my best buddy ever since.

You've got some great photos of Parsley on your site: is she a happy model?

She is quite the fantastic model. We’ve been in a few shoots together, a commercial and she even has her own Instagram @parsleyboo.

I'm told you'll soon publish a photo book of a trip you and Parsley took across the country; what's the status of that project?

Parsley and I went on a solo road trip from Los Angeles to New Orleans, camping along the way. She loved it! The book is called Lone Star and documents my journey through photographs and a few of my diary entries. There are 12 limited edition copies being released in about two weeks, they are currently getting printed & bound.

Does she have any nicknames?

Parsley has a ton of nicknames! Parsley Boo, Parcel, Parse, Lil P, Little miss… my family somehow started calling her La Paly which quickly became Palita. She answers to them all.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

She loves to chase cats… anything else she will probably run away from or scream at. She’s kind of sassy.

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

Parsley’s favorite sport is definitely soccer. She also pretends to be really tough with her toy squirrel.

Where is Parsley's favorite place for an outing?

Parsley loves the beach! She loves to run in the water and jump in the waves. We like to sneak into Malibu beaches together. On our road trip we went to the Galveston pier in Texas and spent a few hours running through the waves.

Who is Parsley's best pet-pal?

Parsley’s best friend in the world is no doubt her mom, me. I feel like the second she saw me, she knew, that’s my best friend right there.

What is Parsley's most endearing quality?

That’s a hard one to answer, she has so many! She gives high fives and often when you stop petting her she will lift her paw and ask for more.

If Parsley could change one thing about Angelinos, what would it be?

Parsley really dislikes most other dogs… I think she would want dogs to be banned from the city. She would like to be the only dog in the city. Well in the world probably if she had her way. She’s not a big fan of other dogs. Or humans. Or anyone that’s not her mom. Really she’s a cat in disguise.

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

I think Lucille Bluth of Arrested Development is Parsley as a human. Well, with more cuddles.

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

I would ask Parsley where she came from and what her life was before she met me.

Visit the Nolwen Cifuentes Photography website and follow Parsley on Instagram @parsleyboo.

--Marshal Zeringue

Monica Medina & Henry and Oliver Twist

Who is in the photo at right?

That's me, Monica Medina, with my boys. I'm holding Oliver Twist, a one-year-old Maltipoo street urchin I literally found on the streets of San Diego. On the bench is Henry, my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who recently was traumatized when he turned seven and heard the vet refer to him as a "senior dog." Henry, who claims he descends from royalty, insists he's not a dog, he's a noble canine.

I love to write. I work for public media in San Diego, and am also a freelance reporter for the local paper. Last month (August) I celebrated four years of blogging, too. (Monica’s Tangled Web).

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We're outside the local Starbucks, celebrating the start of the weekend and that we get to spend more time together.

What's brewing?

I am enjoying one of my favorite summer bevs, Java Chip Frappuccino, nonfat, no whip.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Not now, but later these critters will enjoy their favorite dinner feast: boiled chicken and rice. They gobble that stuff up like there's no tomorrow.

How did Henry and Oliver get their names? Any aliases?

Henry is named after a famous King of England, though this Henry has not married eight times, let alone once. Oliver Twist is an orphan from the gutters. He looked like a ragamuffin, infested with mites, fleas and worms. Calling him Oliver Twist made perfect sense, though most of the time it's just Oliver or Ollie. When I call them both for a walk, or to eat, I say, "C’mon, Buddies!" And they come running. Well, Oliver comes running. Henry being royalty, takes his own sweet time. Doesn’t want to appear too eager, if you know what I mean.

How were you and Henry and Oliver united?

Henry came into my life when he was eight weeks old. He was trembling and nervous, but I was even more fretful, as he was my first dog and the fact that he’s of noble blood didn’t make it any easier. But as long as I bow when in his presence, he makes do. Oliver, the little rascal that he is, is the total opposite. Runs amok, gets into everything, and loves to chase—and bite into—Henry’s feathery tail. Henry just sighs, and often, so do I.

Squirrel, postman, cat....?

These boys go bonkers whenever the UPS truck comes by. It’s their way of saying they think I spend too much time shopping on Amazon.

Squeaky-toy, ball, stick...?

Both of them are crazy about tennis balls. I take two with me when we go to the park, one for each. But seems like Ollie always gets both balls and hoards them. Ollie also plays with plastic water bottles, chew toys and discarded carton. He’s my personal shredder.

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

Each other, is what Ollie would say. Henry says it’s “undignified” to have pals, but he loves when my son comes to visit. They’re thick as thieves.

What is each dog's best quality?

Henry is calm at all times. Ollie can zip through the house like a road runner. Henry is very independent. Both are cuddly, sweet-natured and love hugs.

If Henry and Oliver could change one thing about San Diegans, what would it be?

Henry and Oliver would want everything in San Diego to be more open to dogs. They hate when they see a sign outside the grocery store or movie theater that says, “No Dogs Allowed.” They find it demoralizing and “Dogist.”

Henry, especially, thinks exceptions should be made for canines of royal ilk. His words, not mine.

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

Ralph Fiennes would do the voice of Henry; Chris Rock, the voice of Ollie.

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

What is the meaning of life? I think they know. I can tell by the way they look at me. They know, all right. All dogs know. It’s the one thing they keep to themselves.

Visit Monica’s Tangled Web.

--Marshal Zeringue

Ricci & Sophie

Who is in the photo at right?

Hello Coffee with a Canine readers! My name is Ricci and this is my Sophie puppy! In this pic we were about to go on our first Mommy/Puppy road trip to Ohio! Sophie is a two year old Malti-Poo and I picked her out when she was just two days old. I was able to bring her home with me when she was eight weeks old and we have been inseparable ever since!

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Today's Coffee with a Canine is brought to you from my couch where Sophie and I are having our post-dinner snuggle. I am actually drinking water and Sophie is napping. She's a little spoiled and is actually jealous of the laptop in my lap...!

What's brewing?

Just plain water for now...Boo!! But I foresee many trips to Starbucks in our future so I can get my all time favorite Pumpkin Spice Latte and then Sophie and I can go to the park and she can play with some other pups!

How did Sophie get her name? Any nicknames?

It's funny you should bring up her name, I always said I wanted a little girl puppy and I would name her Stella (after my fave beer) and when I held her the first time she was a Sophie!

How were you and Sophie united?

I actually found my Sophie online. I was looking at shelter pups in my area and her breeders site came up somehow and I found out her Mom was due the nest week. The lady sent me pics of a teeny tiny two-day-old Sophie and it was love at first sight.

Who are Sophie's best pet-pals?

Sophie's best puppy friends are my best friend's puppies, Abby and Mikey. We just spent time with them on our trip to Ohio and they hit it off immediately. I wish I had gotten a pic of all three of them together!

Where is Sophie's favorite outdoor destination?

Sophie's fave outdoor destination has to be the park. We have a park pretty close to home that we like to walk at and it seems like everyone who walks there has a dog and so Sophie has puppy friends to play with when we go.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

Sophie loves her babies I get her at Target. They are little stuffed animals with squeakies in them!

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Sophie likes to chase the rabbits that come up in our yard!

What is Sophie's best quality?

Sophie loves everyone. Seriously. This dog has no enemies and loves everyone at first sight. Everyone is her best friend and she thinks people come over just to see her. Ha!

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

Sophie would make it so pets could go everywhere with me. Not just Petco and Home Depot. Sophie believes in making the world a more pet-friendly place.

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

Hmmm...maybe Selena Gomez?

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

What do you do all day when I am at work???

Visit the Ricci Explains It All blog.

--Marshal Zeringue