Meghan Hemenway & Watson

Who is in the photo at right?

That’s me and Watson. I’m Meghan Hemenway, a municipal financial consultant by day and blogger by night. Oh, and a very soon-to-be mom. Watson’s new playmate is due August 20th. Watson is a three-year-old, male Labradoodle.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I have been refraining from coffee intake while pregnant which for me has meant dealing with a weekly craving for a big, chocolaty iced coffee ever since the heat of summer set in. Watson and I took the opportunity to head over to Einstein Brothers for a little Sunday afternoon snack.

What's brewing?

A massive – decaf – iced mocha from Einstein Brothers which hit the spot on a hot day.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Absolutely. To go along with my coffee craving I am having a bagel sandwich.

Any treat for Watson on this occasion?

Watson is treating himself to a dog bagel.

How were you and Watson united?

My husband and I found Watson from a newspaper ad. More than being a “designer dog” he is the consequence of a 70-pound yellow Labrador and her apricot-colored Standard Poodle neighbor. Watson is like the result of one of those old “What if they mated?” segments from Late Night with Conan O’Brien. The answer to that question is a 79-pound Labrador with the spindly legs of a Standard Poodle and the hairdo of a Muppet. When we went to see the litter, Watson, then Buddy, followed us all around, sitting on my husband’s feet, and staring lovingly up at us. We were hooked.

How did Watson get his name? Any aliases?

Watson is named for Kansas City’s own, PGA and Champions Tour golfer Tom Watson. My husband is a bit of a golf fan. Watson also responds to Wats or Watsie.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Yes. He lays by the front door and guards our home from all three, and rabbits. He hates – or loves – rabbits the most. But judging by the abundance of rabbits, squirrels, and neighborhood cats in our yard I would say that none of them is scared too badly by him.

Who is Watson's best pet-pal?

Watson knows no stranger, but his best friend is our neighbor’s Great Dane named Jell-O. Jell-O often comes over to our yard for play dates and the two wrestle, chase each other, play tug, and end each play event by collapsing on opposite sides of the yard.

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

Watson is a fan of playing games in general so will chase after anything you throw. He likes to keep the same tennis ball as long as he can and pull all the fuzz off of it. I once took his favorite ball to the dog park, not realizing his connection to it, and when another dog fetched it he followed forlornly along behind the dog until he dropped it. My husband is now working with Watson to become better at catching Frisbees in the air. His long poodle legs are good for towering over small dogs, not for gracefully jumping in the air.

What is Watson's best quality?

Watson has these black, button eyes which make him look even more like a Muppet. He will follow me around the house and gaze up at me with his sweet eyes watching for any clue of what is coming next.

Where is Watson's favorite place for an outing?

Watson’s favorite place is a dog park in our city with a lake. He loves swimming and retrieving things from the water. It is a great place for an outing during the hot summer days, but he will also accept any body of water as a substitute.

What's your favorite Watson story?

Our first year with Watson was filled with all kinds of hilarious mishaps. He was an exuberant puppy who got bigger and taller by the day. He was soon able to put his front paws up on every counter and snag anything he found, especially his favorites – bunches of bananas and loaves of bread. We watched him vigilantly throughout his puppy phase making sure we didn’t lose too many shoes or pieces of furniture to our active dog. One day we both were working outside in the front yard with him watching us from his spot at the front door. After a few minutes I had a bad feeling and looked up to see he wasn’t at the door. I ran inside to find him in the kitchen foaming at the mouth. He had found a tube of Bengay on a counter and punctured it while investigating it. Other than a lingering minty smell and a lot of confusion he was fine.

Visit Meghan Hemenway's blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Chevy Stevens & Annie

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Chevy Stevens, the author of Still Missing. The gorgeous girl I’m kissing is Annie, who is nine and a half now, and I found her at the SPCA when she was five months old. They thought she was probably lab crossed with pit bull, but only her momma really knows and she’s not talking!

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Annie and I are enjoying our morning tea before we head out for our first walk of the day. We have a few favorite spots but we usually go to a big open field near our house. Annie loves searching for sticks, checking out the new sniffs, and completely misses the bunnies and cats fleeing through the long grass.

What's brewing?

I’m a Tetley tea girl, with plenty of sugar and milk. Back in my smoking days I liked coffee, but it didn’t like me much. I was usually pretty wired up and I don’t need help with that!

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

After Annie and I come back from our walk, I have my daily dose of peanut butter slathered on a Wasa cracker and my second cup of tea. This is also when I catch up on my emails and check out my favorite blogs. I’m a creature of habit! But my keyboard hates me. Peanut butter and crumbs are not a good combination.

Any treat for your dog on this occasion?

While I’m having my breakfast, Annie is having hers. She developed allergies in the last couple of years, so she’s on a strict diet. She only eats hypoallergenic canned food with fish and potato. She decided recently that she wouldn’t take any of her medications, or eat her food, unless it has sweet potatoes in it, so I’ve been peeling A LOT of potatoes! Her favorite snack now is little carrot sticks, which is odd because for most of her life she didn’t want anything to do with carrots.

How were you and Annie united?

Almost ten years ago two of my friends, a married couple, were involved in a very bad car accident. One of them was in the hospital for over a month and I looked after their golden retriever. When I gave him back, my house was unbearably empty, so I started looking around for a dog. I was travelling on the road at the time, so I didn’t want a puppy, but I wanted a dog young enough that we would have many years together. I found Annie at the SPCA. As soon as I looked into her eyes, I knew. She was living at a foster home and was only brought into the SPCA on the weekends. Her foster mom had final approval over who adopted her. So I visited Annie there, which happened to be a tattoo parlor, and she crawled onto my lap, shoved her head under my arm and sighed. Her foster mom said Annie had ignored everyone else. She was mine!

Does your dog have any influence on your writing?

I named my first character after Annie and there’s a dog in my second book as well, so I’d have to say yes! Because I’m home alone so much during the day, she helps keep me company. She’s also a welcome break and we have play sessions and cuddle time throughout the day. A lot of my brainstorming happens when we are out on our walks. We go for at least two a day, sometimes more.

How did your dog get her name? Does she have any aliases?

I tried on a few, but Annie just fit. Her full Russian name is Princess Anastasia Puppaluv. For our wedding last year, which she attended wearing her special collar, my husband made wine labels with her photo and her Russian name. She has a few nicknames. Annie evolved to Annie McGee, then McGoose, and now it’s pretty much just Goose, Gooseberry, Booseberry, and Boose.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

None of the above. If we are out on a walk and come across a cat, a bunny, or a deer she just pauses for a moment, then carries on. She has issues with other dogs, though. She loves little ones, but if they are her size and up she turns into a raving lunatic. Before I got her she’d been abandoned in an apartment with an older German Shepherd for a few days with no food or water (they’d drank the toilets dry) and he was beating her up. So now she has fear aggression. She’s pretty much of the fight-first-and-ask-questions-later mentality. It’s gotten better as she’s aged, but I’m still very careful with her. She was also jumped a couple of times by dogs out on our walks, so that didn’t help. The thing is, as soon as she gets her initial spazz out of the way she wants to be friends, but sometimes the other dog isn’t so keen!

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

Outdoors it’s sticks all the way. Nothing else will do! But inside she has a few favorite toys and they all squeak. She’s especially fond of her hedgehog and her bunny. Her favorite thing is to whip them back and forth, while making them squeak repeatedly, then trying to bury it in her dog bed, which she drags across the floor as she pretends to dig it up.

Where is your dog's favorite outdoor destination?

She loves the field we walk in and going to my Mom’s ranch, but her favorite place is the beach.

Who is Annie's best pet-pal?

Her best friend is Eddie, a little brindle-colored French bulldog who was also at our wedding, sporting a bowtie!

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

She gets bored when I spend too much time at my keyboard. She’ll come into my office and sit behind me, grunting. Or sometimes she just sits out in the hallway staring at the back of my head, while sighing heavily. She would love it if we went for more walks!

What is your dog's best quality?

Annie is so sweet—the most affectionate dog I know. She loves to cuddle and will give me a kiss when I ask for one.

What is the most amusing thing Annie does? The most frustrating?

She goes crazy anywhere near water. She starts vibrating and her eyes glaze over. We can’t throw sticks her for her as much now that she’s older because she has a bad hip, but she loves digging for rocks in the shallow water and makes this high-pitched yelp, even with her head under water, which is pretty hysterical. But taking her swimming can also be frustrating. She drags you down to the shore, loses any shred of common sense, hurls herself over rocks and logs, and basically forgets all her manners.

Annie was very sick this fall and winter. I spent a small fortune trying to find out why and went through a few vets. I was just about ready to air-lift her to the States in desperation when we discovered she had a mast cell tumor on her hind leg. We operated, but then discovered she had another one in her armpit. Because of its location, and because she’d already been through so much, we decided to leave that one alone and just give her palliative care. Since then she’s gained all her weight back and has been doing great! I’m just so happy to see her feeling well again that I don’t mind a little frustration at the beach!

Chevy Stevens grew up on a ranch on Vancouver Island and still calls the island home. For most of her adult life she worked in sales, first as a rep for a giftware company and then as a Realtor. At open houses, waiting between potential buyers, she spent hours scaring herself with thoughts of horrible things that could happen to her. Her most terrifying scenario, which began with being abducted, was the inspiration for Still Missing. After six months Stevens sold her house and left real estate so she could finish the book.

Stevens enjoys writing thrillers that allow her to blend her interest in family dynamics with her love of the west coast lifestyle. When she’s not working on her next book, she’s hiking with her husband and dog in the local mountains.

Visit the official Chevy Stevens website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Nakisha VanderHoeven & Theo, Turtle, Meimei, and Laika

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Nakisha VanderHoeven. I am a full time artist (illustration and sculpture) and stay at home dog mom. I have four mutts. An old black lab boy mix named Theo, a mostly beagle boy named Turtle, a Shih tzu - Amstaff mix girl named Meimei and a little girl mutt that looks like a mini German Shepherd named Laika.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Just a typical morning stroll out in the rare Seattle sunshine! Then home for coffee on the front porch.

What's brewing?

A pot of strong organic Honduran roast, black and hot.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Some of my favorite Dutch cookies, stroopwafels.

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

No people food while people are eating. Unfortunately, some of us (Meimei) have food issues. They do get treats with their dinner though, pizza crusts are their favorite!

How were you and your dogs united?

Theo was abandoned in the woods with his siblings as a puppy. Malnourished, mangy and with swollen back legs we adopted him from a friend of a friend who rescued them. We fixed him up and he has been the best dog ever, for 13 years.

Turtlebean we got as a puppy through beagle rescue. He’s been with us over 11 years.

Meimei was an “oops” mix, found through craigslist as a puppy. I really don’t recommend combining such different and difficult breeds, but since she has been with us the last 5 years, we think it was a pretty happy accident.

Laika was a rehome, also found through craigslist. Her owner could not keep her for various reasons, and we opened our hearts to one more. She’s been with us a couple years now. She's the only one we didn't adopt as a puppy, and she was originally adopted from the pound, so we don't know much of her history.

Do your dogs have any influence on your painting and writing?

Absolutely. Not only do their very different personalities and antics show up in what I paint (albeit in the new form of rabbits or other animals) but they keep me from working too hard by demanding I PLAY at least 3 or 4 times a day. Otherwise I would probably never leave my studio.

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

Theo (Theodore, Theolonious, Thee) was named after the Roosevelt Hotel in Seattle.

Turtle (Smeagol, Beast, Beagle, Bean) was named after turtle cookies.

Meimei (Maisy-boo, Boo-boo, Maybe) is named after the little girl in the animated movie My Friend Totoro, and Laika (Li-li, Laikanut, Liza) came to us as “Linka” and we changed it slightly. After awhile I call them all “Boo” as an endearment, because it’s easier.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

None of the above are allowed in the yard without strict doggie surveillance and approval. Squirrels can just forget about it, we cannot even say “squirrel” in our house!

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

Tennis balls, though a favorite, tend to disappear and come back with perfectly round holes cut out of them (Meimei…). The average squeaky toy doesn’t last more than .25 seconds in our house, so we rarely get them, and a general survey of the dogs’ opinions is that Frisbees are boring.

Where are your dogs' favorite outdoor destinations?

We have several great parks here in Seattle, but Seward park is the best, because after a long walk in the woods they can go play in the lake, except Laika, who rather not.

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

They are good friends with a couple Klee Kais (the pretty white dogs in the photo with us) and some friends' Corgis, but generally they aren’t too keen on other dogs. (Meimei again, you gotta watch it when you mix a dominant bully breed with a spoiled lap dog!). They are actually good buddies with our two ancient kitties, but any other cats better watch out!

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

More walkies, less worky.

What are your dogs' best qualities?

Goodness me, I’d be the loneliest person around if it weren’t for them. Most days the literally get me out of bed in the morning, and that is a good thing!

What is the most amusing thing your dogs do? The most frustrating?

Of all the pack, Meimei is the most entertaining and the most difficult at times. She loves to help me pull weeds in the garden, I throw them to her and she does back flips to catch them, then tears them to pieces! She does have issues with other dogs at times, and we have to always be sure she knows who is in charge (ideally, me).

Theo is the biggest sweetheart, he always knows when I don’t feel well and tries to fix it by being a 55 pound lap dog. Laika is always ready to do just about anything, she is a pure bundle of energy. Turtle, though almost completely useless, has a wonderful singing voice. We always know when a fire truck is coming down the street.

The most common thing I am asked when I walk all four (which I do almost every day) is if I am a professional dog walker. I guess in another life, I would be.

Visit Nakisha VanderHoeven's website and blog.

Her art work may be purchased at Bluedogrose.etsy.com.

--Marshal Zeringue

Susannah Charleson & Puzzle

Who is in the photo at right?

That's Puzzle, my golden retriever and search and rescue partner and I, Susannah Charleson, in the lobby of the Hotel Monaco, Denver.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I don't need many excuses to drink coffee, but this much-needed latte was consumed in the middle of the book tour for Scent of the Missing: Love and Partnership with a Search and Rescue Dog, released in April 2010. Denver was our 13th stop of 23 cities in April/May, and we needed a quiet moment - and I needed the caffeine! I believe we'd already been to one book event when this was taken and were heading out to another about an hour later.

What's brewing?

This was a skim latte from Panzano, the northern Italian restaurant attached to the hotel.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

A very nice homemade biscotti. Historically, I've never liked dunking anything in anything. In fact, I've always been a bit grossed out by the idea of soggy cookie or doughnut bits in the bottom of milk or coffee, but here ... oh here ... I learned to love a biscotti damped by the foam of milk on the top of this latte. Proves you're never too old to change your mind.

Any treat for Puzzle on this occasion?

I shared with Puzzle! She likes a bit of crunchy, not-too-sweet biscotti now and again.

How were you and Puzzle united?

She was one of a litter of ten golden retriever puppies, most of them destined for working homes -- hunt, assist, guide, etc. She was the pup of the ten who tested best at six and ten weeks old for search and rescue. She came to me at ten weeks old, began training immediately, and was my certified working partner in the field before she was two years old. She's now six.

Please tell us about your new book with Puzzle.

Scent of the Missing: Love and Partnership with a Search and Rescue Dog (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010) follows my journey with Puzzle -- from her puppyhood through certification tests and first search. It's a love-and-adventure story of how we came together as partners in the field and out of it. The book also includes individual searches that take readers into the field beside dog-and-handler teams looking for missing persons - from children thought to have run away to confused Alzheimer's patients to the astronauts of space shuttle Columbia.

How did Puzzle get her name? Does she have any aliases?

Since we search for missing children, I wanted a name a frightened child might know and associate with fun. Puzzle is easy to say (and easy for Puzzle to hear, when called), and kids always smile when they find out what her name is. I call her Poozle-woozle-woodle-doodle-streudel-noodle "for short."

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

She'll flush a squirrel now and then, but would never hurt one. Puzzle loves cats and has one of her own that she adopted as a kitten.

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

Puz loves soft fuzzy toys and her favorites rotate. These days she particularly enjoys "sneaky snake," a two-headed stuffed snake that she likes to drag through the house.

Where is Puzzle's favorite outdoor destination?

Search-and-rescue training. Preferably near water.

Who is Puzzle's best pet-pal?

Thistle, her kitty, and there's a dog on the search team named Gypsy that is her BFF.

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

I wouldn't get up so early when we don't have to. Puz likes to sleep in when she can.

What is Puzzle's best quality?

She loves her job and is very good at it.

What is the most amusing thing Puzzle does? The most frustrating?

The silliest thing Puz does is "brag" after she makes a find at weekly search training with the team. When we come out of a sector and I clip her lead back on to walk to the resting area, she likes to take the lead in her mouth and walk herself back, crooning woo-woo-woo to everyone she passes and petitioning for pets, as though she's pretty sure she's hot stuff.

Puz isn't a very frustrating dog, but she is a bed hog and likes to sleep on the diagonal. And when she's asleep, she's dead weight and very hard to move. I've awakened all bent crooked on a third of a corner of the bed because she's pushed me there overnight.

Watch the Scent of the Missing book trailer, narrated by Susannah Charleson and featuring Team Puzzle and the Mark-9 search and rescue team of Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas.

Visit the official Scent of the Missing website and read reviews of the book.

--Marshal Zeringue

Lisa M. Miller & Kirby

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Lisa M. Miller, mystery author of the newly released book, The Running Path, from Whiskey Creek Press. With me is my 13 year old Jack Russell Terrier, Kirby. Our picture was taken at our brewery. My husband and his business partner launched Breaker Brewing Company last year. It is connected to our home!

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

A few times a week when I go to my 6am cycling class, Kirby has a routine. He will sit diligently by the door, waiting for my return. As soon as I arrive home, we grind the beans for the french press, and then I have to take him for a walk will the coffee is brewing. He will bark if I don't pick up the leash within a few minutes. After a quick jaunt around the block, I have a few sacred minutes to enjoy my coffee and scan the newspaper, until everyone wakes up. Then, my 2- and 5-year-old boys take the stage.

What's brewing?

Starbucks Guatemala Antigua in the kitchen, Olde King Coal Stout in the brewery.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Hearty grains English muffin with strawberry preserves.

Any treat for Kirby on this occasion?

We try to keep him away from people food, although he steals the occasional pancake from the kids.

How were you and Kirby united?

We fell in love with the JR breed, and started the search for our crazy terrier. He was 12-weeks-old when he joined the family.

Does Kirby have any influence on your writing?

While most of my writing is mysterious, Kirby and my boys help keep things balanced and lighthearted. Both require us to have a sense of humor!

How did Kirby get his name? Does he have any aliases?

We originally wanted to name him Herby, but he looked more like a Kirby. He has many nicknames, including pig. His love for food earned him that.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

Despises the postman and most small animals. What do you expect, he's a terrier!

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

Stuffed animal with a squeaker....destroyed within five minutes.

Where is Kirby's favorite outdoor destination?

He likes to patrol our fenced in backyard, but loves to be taken for a walk anywhere.

Who is Kirby's best pet-pal?

He has a new cousin, Regal the lemon beagle.

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

More walks!

What is Kirby's best quality?

He is an amusing, adorable and brilliant little friend. He surprised everyone when he got along with both of my boys famously from when they were infants. I knew he would!

What is the most amusing thing Kirby does? The most frustrating?

He once broke loose and returned with scorched fur on his front leg, the smell of charcoal on his breath and grease in his beard. Frustrating that he got loose, but the thought of him ransacking someone's late night cookout and stealing what I assume was a burger or steak still makes me laugh.

Learn more about The Running Path and its author at Lisa M. Miller's website and at Whiskey Creek Press.

--Marshal Zeringue

Day Cretsinger-Stephens & George, Cosmo, Juan Carlos and Sophie

Who is in the photo at right?

That's me, Day Cretsinger-Stephens, and my little chihuahua, Juan Carlos, lying on my lap while I am working on the computer. Juan Carlos is about 3 years old and is the only one of my dogs that is a convenient travel companion. As a singer/songwriter he used to go with me everyday to the studio and he travels with me when I fly too. He is super sweet and very spoiled.

Who are you and what do you do?

I am a singer/songwriter residing in Texas. When I'm not making music I'm reading books and reviewing them for Paperback Dolls.

Who are your dogs?

George and Cosmo are my male, white labradoodles. They are from the same litter and are 4-years-old. Juan Carlos is a 3-year-old male Chihuahua. Sophie is a 2-year-old female Great Dane.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I have coffee with my four legged crew everyday when I'm home.

What's brewing?

Today I drove through the drive through at Starbucks on the way home from running errands this AM. I picked up my favorite Dirty, double, sugar free-vanilla, chai tea latte. The barista calls it "Day's complicated Chai" since I order it so much.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Well, I grabbed a blueberry crumb bar while at Starbucks but Sophie stole it when I got up to get my sunglasses! (She is naughty.)

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

Absolutely! They are each chewing on a rawhide chewy except for Sophie who is licking up the crumbs from my blueberry crumb bar from Starbucks.

How were you and your dogs united?

All of my pooches were rescued or came in as strays. George and Cosmo were two of a litter of 17 (no kidding). I was playing with the idea of taking one home when I overheard the lady saying that she was going to take the remaining pups to a shelter. So, I took three and found a wonderful home for one with my friends in Oregon. But, I was too attached to George & Cosmo to let them go so I kept them.

Juan Carlos I found on the campus of the University of Oklahoma. He wouldn't walk or stand so I took him to the vet down the street and $424 later I had paid for a chihuahua (in vet bills). Sophie came to me because a friend had gotten their daughter a puppy for Christmas (bad idea BTW) and were not prepared to take care of a Great Dane puppy. They knew that I was a dog person and had a beloved Great Dane as a young adult. They gave her to me so that she would be better taken care of.

How did your dogs get their names?

George and Cosmo were named after Seinfeld characters (had I kept their litter mate he might have been named Jerry). Juan Carlos was a name that the students at my performing arts studio picked, and we kept it. Sophie came to me with that name...I think she looks more like a Gertrude but Sophie stuck! Though my husband tends to call her "Sookeh" said like Charlaine Harris' character on HBO's True Blood, Bill Compton. It's funny and she answers to it regardless.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Lizards, frogs, and birds! It's so gross.

Frisbee, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Rawhide chews, kong and tennis balls! But George has this "baby", which is a cocker spaniel webkinz toy that he takes care of and sleeps with like a kid with a stuff animal.

Where are your dogs' favorite places for an outing?

Our backyard! We have a big pool and playground that they love to play in and Juan Carlos is quite the little swimmer though Sophie is scared of the water!

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

Each other, but poor Juan is too tiny to play with the big kids. At 3 lbs he is the size of a snack for Sophie!

What is each dog's best quality?

They just love me so much and want to be near me. They make me feel special! George is my protector, Cosmo is my Teddy bear, Sophie is faithful, and Juan Carlos is...well he is just so darn cute!

What is each dog's proudest moment?

If I had to guess George and Sophie's proudest moment would be the moments when they catch a rodent. They proudly bring it to the back door like an offering. Cosmo is quite the frisbee catcher and Juan is probably pretty proud of himself when he stands up to the big guys.

Most embarrassing?

That's a tough one to answer.... Falling into the pool by mistake is probably the funniest and embarrassing thing the bigger dogs have done.

Day Cretsinger-Stephens is a dreamer who has never met a stranger. She is fearless and will talk to anyone and read anything! She taught music and dance and owned her own music studio. She spent years performing on stages both nationally and overseas in the same circles as such artists as Blake Shelton, Toby Keith, Katrina Elam, All American Rejects, Shiny Toy Guns, Amber Hayes, and more. Now married with children, she spends less time singing on stage and more time writing songs at home. But, family life has not completely slowed her down. She still loves an adventure and learning new things. She is a founding member and senior contributor to Paperbackdolls.com which is a cyber version of The View that focuses on books. She resides in Texas with her family, Sophie, Juan Carlos, and George and Cosmo.

--Marshal Zeringue

Janel Gradowski & Cooper

Who is in the photo at right?

Me, Janel Gradowski, a beadwork designer and writer. I have had many beadwork patterns published in magazines and this past year I have been breaking into the short fiction market. You can read all about my beading, writing and many other things at my blog Janel’s Jumble. Cooper is my male, purebred Golden Retriever.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We are at our cabin in northeastern Michigan for a long weekend.

What's brewing?

Cafe Cubano, a coconut and raw sugar latte, from A Different Blend - my "local" coffee shop when we're staying at the cabin.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Homemade cinnamon rolls from the farmer's market.

Any treat for Cooper on this occasion?

A giant rawhide bone. Yum!

How were you and Cooper united?

Cooper came into the family when I saw an ad for Golden Retriever puppies in the newspaper. I got him the week before my birthday, so he was my present. He was a 5 lb., 6 week old furball. Now he is a 2 ½ year old, 90 lb. goofball.

I read on your blog about your beadwork and writing: does Cooper have any influence on your creative output?

He makes me laugh every day and keeping a positive attitude and sense of humor is important to me. He reminds me to lighten up and have some fun no matter how I feel about my writing. I have also modeled a dog or two in my short stories after him.

How did Cooper get his name? Does he have any aliases?

The kids and I had decided on Newton as a name for a puppy, before we got him. I was holding him right after we brought him home and I just felt Cooper was the name for him, sort of a women's intuition thing. He goes by many other names including Coop, Bubba, Pumpkin and Mookie.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

Actually, birds. He loves to stalk robins in the yard, but he’s never caught one.

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

Frisbee on dry land. We go through about one a month from wear and tear. If he's in the water, his bright orange retriever training dummy is the toy of choice.

Where is Cooper's favorite outdoor destination?

Definitely the lake at the cabin. He has a weird attitude about bodies of water: If it has a sandy beach he wants to go swimming and will cry and pull on his leash until he reaches the water. If it doesn't have sand, like the pond in our back yard, he won't go in without a lot of encouragement and coaxing. At least I don’t have to deal with a wet dog every time he goes into the backyard!

Who is Cooper's best pet-pal?

Cooper is an only dog, but he has recently made friends with his "aunt" (my brother-in-law’s dog) Macy and Charlie, the neighbor at the cabin, both Golden Retrievers too.

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

I worry too much and about everything. He wishes I would just lighten up!

What is Cooper's best quality?

He loves people, unconditionally, and shows the love by giving lots of kisses.

What is the most amusing thing Cooper does? The most frustrating?

Cooper likes to "talk" in his own unique language. You should hear him when he's trying to convince my husband to let him sit on his lap! Despite several rounds of training classes Cooper still likes to pull when he walks on his leash. He's gotten better with age, but still hasn't abandoned that habit.

Visit Janel Gradowski's blog to learn more about her published work and to view many more photos of Cooper.

--Marshal Zeringue