Bea Smith & Findley

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Bea Smith and I'm a school librarian. My dog, Findley, is a 15-year-old male Shih-tzu. We've been together for 13 of those years.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

One Saturday morning a month, Findley and I go for a little ride to Starbucks. Findley likes riding in the car and he loves the coffee smells when we reach the drive through window. Since I had him for so long when I got his little buddy, Brendan, who does NOT like to ride in the car, it's a nice way for some one-on-one time with just the two of us.

What's brewing?

I usually get a vanilla chai latte, full size,using regular milk.When I splurge, I splurge. At home, I drink Central Market's Bavarian hazelnut coffee with milk and sugar. Findley prefers water, as caffeine keeps him up at night.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Not usually. Sometimes on our monthly trek to Starbucks, I'll get some coffee cake.

Any treat for Findley on this occasion?

For a while the Starbucks baristas would give Findley a dog treat, which he very much enjoyed. Now, I just keep one in the car for him so he doesn't feel left out.

How were you and Findley united?

It was Thanksgiving night, and I was on my way home from visiting my parents. I was on a rural highway just a few miles from town, when I saw this cute, cute, little dog running down the highway on the other side, and I just knew he would get hit. (I'd seen him a month before at a nearby convenience store as my mother and I drove past, and she said he'd been there for a few weeks. I was very worried about him then, but we didn't stop.)

That night, I thought, "I just have to help that little dog." I turned around at the next crossover. I was going very slow, but it was dark and my headlights picked up the little guy sitting in the middle of my lane just as I was about to hit him. I swerved, went into a shallow ditch, and took inventory. When I realized I wasn't dead, I got out of my car. All the warnings about stray dogs, wounded dogs, etc. went through my head as I said tentatively, "Little dog? Are you out here?" I was afraid to even look at the road, but to my astonishment, he walked up and sat at my feet, looking shaken and very puzzled. I swear, my car must have gone right over him! I put him in my car and took him to my parents' house. My mother answered the door and immediately looked very wary. I said, "I'm not going to keep him; I just need to see if he's okay and find a rescue organization."

My mother said later that as I drove away, my dad wandered in to see what the commotion had been. She brought him up to speed and ended by saying, "Bea says she's going to find him a home." My father laughed and said, "She already has!"

I named him Findley on the 45 minute ride home, and I've never been sorry I stopped.

How did Findley get his name? Any aliases?

Findley's name just popped into my head. I guess that's just who he is! I also call him Fin or The Sheriff, because he likes to patrol the perimeter of the house periodically to make sure no bad guys are outside. He walks the same route, from window to window, about the same exact times each day.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Findley hates opossums and raccoons! We have a lot of trees in the backyard, and there is a creek nearby, so we get a lot of wildlife even though we are in town. Sometimes late at night, an opossum or a raccoon will peer into the back door window, and Findley just goes ballistic. I think they like watching his reaction, knowing he can't get to them! Can raccoons giggle? I swear one night I thought one of them waved...

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

Findley has a rope toy that he loves. He makes these cute little grrrr noises when he is playing. He also likes wrestling with Brendan. Since Findley is older now, he spends a lot of quality time in his doggy bed, pondering life's mysteries and snoring softly.

Where is Findley's favorite place for an outing?

He loves going to the post office or to Starbucks. My parents live nearby, and we go visit frequently. They fuss over him, and Fin gets to play with their dog, Webster [photo above left]. My dad always has copious dog treat at the ready and my mother loves to pet him.

Who is Findley's best pet-pal?

Brendan [photo right], my three year old Chihuahua mix, both frustrates and amuses him. I think Findley likes the companionship. He likes to curl up with my cat, Kiki, and take naps. Sometimes the three of them pile on top of each other and snooze.

What is Findley's best quality?

Findley is just the sweetest dog I've ever met. He's smart and loyal, but when I look into his eyes, I can see he's just such a kind little soul. He has the most expressive face I've ever seen on a dog.

What is Findley's proudest moment? His most embarrassing?

It had rained a lot recently a couple of years ago, and my front yard showed it. When I stepped into a new gully in my yard and severely broke my wrist, I almost blacked out from the pain. Findley sat next to me and waited patiently, not barking, wandering, or pulling, until I could get up and wobble inside the house, with him following patiently behind.

Our most embarrassing moment, I think, is when my mother, writer Caroline Clemmons, talked me into taking Findley to have his picture with Santa the first year I had him. Poor Findley seemed to think I was giving him to Santa, and he was terrified! The crowds, the other dogs, and the Big Guy with a Beard just almost finished him off. The picture was pitiful, with Santa holding on to a slippery dog and Fin's expression of terror. I felt so bad!

--Marshal Zeringue

Elayne Fletcher & Strummer, Lola, and Cody

Who is in the photo at right?

That's me, Elayne Fletcher, with my dogs (l to r) Strummer-a 5-year-old black and white Border Collie, Lola-a 9-year-old red and white Border Collie mix and Cody-a 12-year-old brindle and white Border Collie mix. I'm a self-employed structural engineer in Boulder, Colorado.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We're stopping on our way to a hike in the mountains and celebrating Cody's 12th birthday.

What's brewing?

Whatever's on tap at the North Boulder Amante coffee shop. I'm having a medium mocha to wake me up and give me energy for our hike.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

I'm training for a triathlon so no treats today but after my race I'll be sure to stop by for one of their fabulous chocolate croissants for a post race treat.

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

Doggie Biscuit-otti, of course.

How were you and your dogs united?

We adopted Cody from the Boulder Humane Society. Then I wanted a second dog and my husband not so much so I hornswaggled him a little by telling him I wanted to stop at the Humane Society's retail store for a special toy for Cody that I'd seen there. Well, the special 'toy' we came home with was 8 week old Lola. Strummer came to me from the local Boulder Collie Rescue. The woman who ran the rescue worked in my office building and brought her foster dog into her shop. I avoided her for about 3 years then my evil co-workers told me she had the sweetest dog down in her shop. I resisted for a bit then I had to go down and check her out. She was a very sweet dog but did not get along with Lola so we didn’t adopt her. Then the rescue lady called me a few days later and said she had a boy with a personality that would likely get along with Lola and she was right. All 3 dogs get along really well.

How did your dogs get their names?

Cody had his name already when we adopted him and we thought it suited him so we kept it. As for Lola [left], I took one look at that sassy little red-headed puppy and Lola popped right into my head. Not sure where it came from. Strummer is named after Joe Strummer, singer from the punk rock band The Clash.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Not on their watch.

Frisbee, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Yes please. 24 hours a day if possible. Strummer’s favorite toy at the moment is a big plastic purple watering can. I can’t get him to put it down. But basically the dogs will play with just about anything, even cottage cheese containers.

Where are your dogs' favorite places for outings?

All three dogs love the Boulder Reservoir. They can swim and chase after their toys in the nice soft sand and run around like the loons that they are. They also love to go hiking and running with me in the mountains. They also love to go to the agility field to practice and to agility trials.

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

Cody and Lola are loners as far as other dogs go. They’d much rather play with me. Strummer has a few doggie pals, an Australian Cattle Dog named Maggie that belongs to a friend and various dogs that he knows from agility.

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

They’d like me to play with them all day long rather than wasting my time at my desk doing work.

What's each dog's best quality?

Cody [left] is loyal to a fault. If I’m sick he won’t leave my side. I was stuck at home after foot surgery and he would refuse to leave with the daily dog walker, we had to trick him into thinking I was going with in order to get him out the door.

Lola is a sassy, happy girl. She has a lot of joy and enthusiasm for everything she does and she makes me smile.

Strummer has a big personality. He’s a walking comedy routine and always makes me laugh.

What's each dog's proudest moment? The most embarrassing?

Cody’s [photo, right] proudest moment is probably taking fourth place in the quarterfinals of the Grand Prix at USDAA Nationals. Though he loved doing agility at the practice field he had a lot of stress issues when he starting competing and it took a lot of work for him to overcome his fears. Fourth place might not sound like much but being able to put in a nice clean run in the huge arena with the crowds and pressure of a large National event on a very hot day was huge for him.

Similarly Lola [photo, bottom left] placed second in the Grand Prix Finals at a USDAA Regionals and it was a high pressure event with a big crowd. She also had to overcome some fear issues to be able to do that.

Strummer‘s proudest moment is a little harder. I’d say maybe the time he provided solace to a homeless man in my neighborhood. Strum loves people despite being seized in an abuse case and when the homeless man saw him Strum wagged his tail at him and the man asked if he could pet him. I said of course and the man told me his son was just killed in Iraq and Strummer reminded him of the dog they had when his son was a kid. He threw his arms around Strummer and started crying and Strum just snuggled in and wagged his tail some more.

Elayne Fletcher's dogs have their own blog that follows their agility training and other adventures.

There is also video of their agility competitions here and here.

--Marshal Zeringue

Linda Morrow & Eddy

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Linda Morrow and I'm a wedding, special event, maternity and newborn photographer in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. My company is Linda Morrow Photography.

My dog, Eddy, is a 14-year-old Shih-Tzu.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I live in Wyndmoor, PA which is right outside a really cute part of Philadelphia called Chestnut Hill. My husband, Eddy and I went for a little stroll on Sunday morning to enjoy the day.

What's brewing?

I'm all about Mighty Leaf Vanilla Bean Tea and my husband loves Colombian coffee. Eddy is a water only kind of gal.

How were you and Eddy united?

I brought Eddy home when she was just 8 weeks old. She was 4 lbs. and could fit in the palm of my hand. She's still so small that sometimes people think she's a puppy ... a really cranky puppy.

Any treat for Eddy on this occasion?

Eddy always gets a treat when we get home from walks ... she's very partial to Beggin' Strips and gets Greenies on special occasions!

You've got some great photos of dogs and brides on your website and blog: which are more difficult to photograph?

Definitely dogs are more difficult. Brides don't run at you once you put them into position. Photographing my dog is especially challenging since she loves turning away from the camera on purpose. She's an evil genius you see!

I really love including pets in portrait sessions though. I've done several recent maternity sessions that have included the family dog. I love it when people see their pets as a member of their family. They bring so much to our lives every day.

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

Eddy is named after a character on a BBC show called Absolutely Fabulous. Her full name is Edina. As for nicknames, when Eddy was a puppy, a couple came over to order their wedding photos. They had a little girl who was fascinated with Eddy. She was just learning to walk but chased Eddy around the dining room table saying "Dog Dog" "Dog Dog." It kind of stuck. We still call her that today. My husband also calls her "Little Miss" (with a bit of a southern accent...and he's not southern). It's wildly cute.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

She used to really make an effort chasing after birds or squirrels for at least 10 feet, but now that she's older she'll actually stay on her bed in my office and bark when someone comes in the door. It's kind of the Lazy Dog's Guide to Security!

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

Her favorite toy is a Garfield that says "Play Nice" on the front (she enjoys the irony).

Where is Eddy's favorite place for an outing?

Eddy loves to walk in our neighborhood. About a 1/2 hour before my husband gets home from work, she'll suddenly wake up and start pacing around the house. She waits anxiously for him so we can go on "the walk" when he gets home.

Who is Eddy's best pet-pal?

I'm not sure Eddy even realizes she's not human. She doesn't know what these other fuzzy creatures are, but her owner had better not pet one of them!

What is Eddy's most endearing quality?

Love, love, love. Eddy always happily greets me at the door and snuggles with me when I was sick. She's a great friend!

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

She'd probably wish I didn't notice when she was faking having to go out just to get a treat. Sometimes she'll just stand on the patio for a while and think she's pulling one over on me. Nice try!

What is Eddy's proudest moment? Her most embarrassing?

She's quite the party animal. Here's a photo [at left] from Eddy at my bachelorette party.

I'd tell you stories but I'm sworn to secrecy!

Visit the official Linda Morrow Photography website and see Morrow's photo-post "Having a baby? Worried about your pet’s feelings?" at her blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Laurie Mascia & Sadie

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Laurie Mascia. Currently, I work as a proofreader/editor, but I also consider myself a writer. I have a blog, but I also write poetry and one day hope to pen a novel (what writer doesn't have this dream?!). For now, I'm content with my day job and spending time with Sadie, my 4 (almost 5) year old Corgi mix (although I don't know what she is mixed with!). She is the love of my life, and the sweetest little furkid!

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I spend most weekends with Sadie, since I work during the week. This day in particular, we were enjoying the sun on my Aunt's deck.

What's brewing?

Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee with cream and sugar (my favorite).

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Just coffee for me.

Any treat for Sadie on this occasion?

Because it's so hot out, I brought some Frosty Paws for Sadie. She furiously enjoyed one as we sat in the sun.

How were you and Sadie united?

I found Sadie when I was living in Boston, MA, through Petfinder.com. She was located in a shelter in Tennessee. I saw her smiling face, and fell in love! A few days after I applied to adopt her, I spoke with her foster mom, who didn't understand why anyone would abandon such a sweet, loving dog. I eagerly agreed to adopt her, and a few days after that, they drove her up from Tennessee right to me! She was nervous after the long trip, but once they handed her over to me, she calmed down and licked my face. We have been together ever since.

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

When I adopted her, they were calling her Cory. But she just didn't look like a Cory to me. She didn't even answer to Cory when I called her! So, I thought of a few other names, and Sadie just stuck. I think it suits her though. She has several nicknames but Sader Taters and Sadie Kins are used most frequently.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Well, we currently live with two cats, and she tolerates them for the most part. Squirrels are certainly her prey of choice! I tend to think she has some kind of Terrier in her, because she goes into stealth/ninja mode when she sees a squirrel, and slowly inches forward in an attempt to capture it! (To this day, I haven't let her catch one though.)

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

Squeaky tennis ball! Sadie used to be afraid of any toy that squeaked, but now she squeaks them incessantly, especially when I am on the phone (i.e., ignoring her).

Where is Sadie's favorite place for an outing?

Sadie loves going in the car, so she'll go pretty much anywhere. She really has fun at the dog park (which has a lake) or the dog beach though. Even with those short little Corgi legs, she's a great swimmer!

Who are Sadie's best pet-pals?

As mentioned, we live with two cats. I'm not sure I'd call them her pet-pals, but she sees them more than any other animals! Then there are a few dogs in the neighborhood she likes to play with. Her dog park friends are Cowboy (Greyhound), Bandit (Jack Russell Terrier), and Maggie (Westie mix). But clearly I am her best pal.

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

She'd want me to be home with her 24/7. I wish I could work from home!

What is Sadie's best quality?

No matter how badly I am feeling, Sadie can put a smile on my face in a second. It's the best feeling in the world knowing she loves me unconditionally.

What is her proudest moment? Her most embarrassing?

I think her proudest moment was "finding her voice." For the first nine months she was in my life, she didn't make a noise. She didn't bark or growl or anything. I feel like she was almost scared to do so. She was on her best behavior, because she didn't know what might make me abandon her like her last family did. That might sound crazy, but I really believe that's what she was doing. After awhile, she knew she was in her forever home, with her forever Momma, and that's when she finally started talking! And boy does she talk now. She always tells me when I am ignoring her, or if she can't get onto my lap because my legs are crossed. It makes me smile to see her true personality!

Her most embarrassing moment would have to be last Halloween, most likely. She was a banana. And we were in a dog Halloween parade. She didn't seem to mind the costume after a little while though (as long as I kept the head piece off)! She's not a stranger to costumes and dog clothing. (But don't worry, I rarely make her wear them!)

Visit the Sadie the Rescued Corgi blog and become a Facebook fan.

--Marshal Zeringue

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