Shannon Gusy & Bella

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Shannon Gusy, a San Diego-based writer, animal advocate and eating disorder survivor. This is Bella, a three-year-old Miniature Poodle mix who I adopted at a local humane society. She is just six pounds, so she comes with me just about everywhere!

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We’re at the Goldfish Point Cafe in La Jolla, California, right on the ocean. I’m working on my memoir and Bella is tilting her head at the seals barking in the distance. She is chewing on a tasty milk-bone, but praying that I will drop some of my breakfast burrito (which she undoubtedly prefers over the milk-bone).

What's brewing?

I’m having a vanilla latte, steaming hot and delicious, as they always are here.

Any treats for you or Bella on this occasion?

Whenever I write, Bella is in my lap, sometimes resting her chin on my wrist as I’m typing. She’s the most affectionate dog I’ve ever met (and I’ve met a lot of dogs), and provides me with an indescribable amount of love, emotional support and comfort. For this reason, I can’t help but spoil her. I will admit that I have a fresh cookie in my bag right now from a doggie bakery down the street.

How were you and Bella united?

When I was working at the humane society, a litter of puppies came in that I fell in love with. For the first two years I worked at the humane society, I was perhaps the only employee without a pet. People would say, “Oh my God! What will-power you have! How do you not adopt them all!?” Well, the truth was that I wanted to. I desperately wanted to. But I had also made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t adopt until I had one solid year of recovery from bulimia. Adopting a dog is to become a parent, and I could barely take care of myself. When I adopted Bella [as a puppy, photo left], I felt like I’d been waiting for her all my life.

How did Bella get her name? Any nicknames?

Bella was a random choice. Her middle name is Boo because we adopted her around Halloween. This has lead to the nicknames Bella Boo and Boo Boo. When she gets out of the bath and her hair is all wet, we call her Pierra—it just feels right. We also call her Linguini because she’s built like a noodle.

You recently published a terrific essay in Salon titled "How dogs rescued me from an eating disorder." I take it that the essay is from your memoir-in-progress. Can you tell us more about the book?

Shelter dogs are my heroes, my vital inspiration, my truth. I’ve suffered for years from the disease of addiction. I’m not like the girl who has a bad breakup, eats a few pints of ice-cream, feels bad about it the next day, and goes back to eating normally. I use ice-cream like a knife to tear myself apart. There are people who eat too much or too little, feel the negative consequences of that, get some help, and move on. But then there are the hopeless ones: the ones who relapse the day they get out of rehab; the ones who Jenny Craig, Bob Green, Weight Watchers, and even Oprah can’t fix; the ones who get lap-bands only to burst them. There are hopeless addicts all over the world, and I’m one of them. Nothing worked for me—not therapy, not religion, not medication, not countless hours in the self-help section, not rehab. What I needed to heal me was something that moved beyond the physical and mental aspects of my disease. I needed a source of healing that touched me emotionally and spiritually, and for me, that was shelter dogs. My book is about those remarkable dogs and how they helped me.

Who are Bella's best pet-pals?

Oh boy, where to begin. After I adopted Bella and she was clear of all her puppy shots, I brought her to work with me every day at the humane society. She had a boyfriend named Skippy, and was a huge fan of a three-legged Pit Bull named Finely a few cubicles away. She loves big dogs, and adores a Rhodesian Ridgeback names Simba, a Weimaraner named Diesel, and a Shepherd named Pua.

Where is Bella's favorite outdoor destination?

Bella has three favorite dog beaches: Ocean Beach Dog Beach, Coronado Dog Beach, and Del Mar Dog Beach. She loves them all. She loves to dig in the sand and roll around in gross things and pick up seaweed and sticks and play chase with other dogs. I often go to these beaches to write, but I usually get distracted because there is just so much canine happiness all around me--I just sit there and soak it all up like the rays!

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

This is actually a tough question. Squeaky toy if she is at home with me. Ball if she has an audience (she only plays fetch with an audience). And stick or seaweed or anything she can pick up in her mouth at dog beach.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Cat. The accounting office at the humane society kept some of the adoptable cats who had trouble on the adoption floor. Daily, Bella visited them. She thought they were just amazing (I’m not sure the feeling was mutual).

What is Bella's best quality?

Her heart. She’s the most loving dog I’ve ever known.

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

More than once at dog beach, guys with giant surfboards balanced on their heads have come to say hello to her. Bella is scared of those surfboards, and wishes the surfer dudes would put them down before they come say hi.

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

Julia Roberts. Because she’s incredible, and so is my little Bella.

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

Do you know, my dearest friend, how much you mean to me?

Visit Shannon Gusy's Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue

Carol Lynch Williams & Olive and Loki

Who is in the photo at right?

I am Carol Lynch Williams. I write books for middle grade and young adult readers. My beagle is Olive. We got her 18 months ago, when she was a pup. And Loki is a visiting border collie that we may end up keeping as our own. He's about two.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

It's been cold and rainy and I know we're going ot be getting snow again. I always need something sweet on a bitter day. Not only that, my novel The Haven is coming out any moment. Gotta celebrate!

What's brewing?

Hot chocolate. Creamy, sweet, dollop of sweet whipped cream. Yum. I'll have a large, please.

Any treats for you or Olive and Loki on this occasion?

By now Olive has begged anything she get from anyone who will listen. She's pretty friendly. Loki is sitting next to me, patiently waiting. I'll share some of my bagel with cream cheese. Yup, you're seeing a fattening trend going on here. Cream. Cream cheese. Better throw some butter on there. Sweet. Yum.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

When Olive came to live with us, she was so tiny. We went through several names for her, and finally decided Olive because it just seemed right. Her nickname is Salty Dog. We got her from rescue. They thought she was a full-blown beagle, but nope. I think she has some chihauhau in her as she loves to burrow and she hasn't grown very large.

Loki is on loan from a friend who is out of town. He's a rescue dog as well. He started out one name, got the name Sirius (from Harry Potter) and then, when he was adopted a third time, he was named Loki after Thor's half brother. He's a fabulous dog. But he barks too much.

How were you and your dogs united?

The best dog in the world, Violet, was killed when she was hit by a car. We missed her terribly. Still do. Violet nipped at any of the boys she didn't like when they came to visit my daughters. One day my oldest daughter went to PetSmart and there she ran into the dog rescue people. She bought Olive, as a tiny puppy a day later.

Please tell us about your new novel, The Haven.

Shiloh lives at Haven Hospital and Halls, a school for the terminally ill. No one ever gets well. As memories of surgery, a stranger and odd events tap at her brain, Shiloh is approached by Gideon. He talks of rebellion. Gideon wants freedom for the Terminals. But Shiloh isn't sure she can do what needs to be done to help save herself and her schoolmates.

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

Loki knocks my hands out of the way when I try to type on the computer. He's pretty strong. He'll also lay his head on the keyboard. Things can get pretty spitty. I have to send him out. Olive sits in the chair behind me so she is warm and so am I.

Have any actual dogs inspired fictional dogs in your books?

There are animals in many of my novels. But Violet (the nipper) actually inspired the dog Thelma in Signed, Skye Harper, a book that comes out in June.

Squirrel, postman, cat....?

All three. Please. And children.

Who are Olive and Loki's best pet-pals?

Abbey, another rescue dog. Abbey is Olive's cousin. The three love each other and wrestle till I want to pull my hair out. Then they fall in odd places to rest until they have energy to wrestle and bark and nip and fight again.

What is each dog's best quality?

Olive loves to talk, loves people, loves to be petted, loves to be held. She also loves to eat.
Loki is a good guard dog, gives hugs when you come in after a long day and always looks likes he's smiling.

If Olive and Loki could change one thing about you, what would it be?

They would have me give them free access to whatever we are eating. And fridge privileges.

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

Sandra Bullock for Olive. But she'd have to do some whining. And Loki. Paul Rudd.

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

Vets are saying you guys really don't have emotion. Do you? And can you tell me how to finish this novel?

Visit Carol Lynch Williams's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Susan Abel Sullivan & Moxie and Goober

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Susan Abel Sullivan, author of The Weredog Whisperer, The Haunted Housewives of Allister, Alabama, and Cursed: Wickedly Fun Stories. My older dog is a female American pit bull terrier named Moxie. She’s a shelter adoptee so we don’t know her actual age—anywhere from ten to fourteen years old. The younger is some kind of hound/pit mix named Goober. He’s close to three-years old.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I have a confession to make; I don’t drink coffee. However, I love taking Diet Coke breaks in the afternoon to sit outside on the back deck with the dogs.

What's brewing?

I do love the smell of coffee brewing. When I worked for a Godiva Chocolate boutique, the aroma of Godiva coffee was heavenly.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

The dogs are on a diet as per our veterinarian, but I’m having Bavarian pretzels and cashews.

Do your dogs help or hinder your writing? Have they inspired any dogs in your fiction?

Both! When they’re quiet, they’re a delight to have in my office. But when they decide that it’s playtime, they get so loud and boisterous that I can’t concentrate worth a flying flip. Moxie inspired the character of Luna—a family pit bull terrier that gets bitten by a weredog and turns into a teenaged girl during the full moon—in my novel, The Weredog Whisperer.

How did your dogs get their names? Any nicknames?

Moxie was chock full of moxie, especially for a dog that wound up on death row at the animal shelter. We originally named Goober “Bo,” but we changed his name two weeks ago when he ate one of his toys, became obstructed, and had to have two surgeries. The vet tech who cared for him affectionately called him Goober. He actually prefers the name Goober to Bo.

How were you and your dogs united?

My sister found Moxie for me online. Don’t ask me why she was surfing animal shelters on the internet. I didn’t even want a dog at the time. I wrote an article about the circumstances on how Moxie and I found each other for my publisher’s blog. Goober just showed up in our yard when he was six-months old. No collar, skin and bones. I put an ad in Craigslist, but the only person who responded was looking for a lost Basset hound.

Where do your dogs most like to visit on an outing?

The veterinarian. Seriously. Our yard is so big, that we play in the yard and swimming pool rather than go for walks in the neighborhood.

Do the dogs have any non-canine pet pals?

Yes, we have five cats. They all adore the dogs and vice versa. One cat, a Maine coon named Ernie, used to nurse on Moxie when he was a kitten.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

Moxie is fixated on tennis balls; she was like that when we adopted her. It’s an anxiety thing. Our vet has restricted Goober to only Kong and Nylabone toys.

What is each dog's best quality?

Moxie wants nothing more than to please me. She is definitely a mama’s girl. Goober is seventy-five pounds of cuddle bunny and loves to be loved.

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

They’d change the notion of “ban or restrict pit bulls” to “ban the deed, not the breed.” The American pit bull terrier used to be the most popular dog in America. A few bad apples came along in the 1970s and started fighting dogs again (dog fighting and bear baiting were big sports in the 1800s) and the breed lost its reputation as a great family dog, which is unfortunate, because they are great family dogs: smart, loving, and loyal.

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

Randy Quaid (Cousin Eddie in the Vacation movies) for Goober. I’m going to tweak this question for Moxie. Rather than picking a voice, I’d select Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson to play Moxie/Luna when she turns into a teenaged girl during the full moon in a film adaptation of The Weredog Whisperer.

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

Tell me about your life before you came to live with us.

Visit Susan Abel Sullivan's website and Twitter perch, and learn more about The Weredog Whisperer.

--Marshal Zeringue

Allison Gutknecht & Gypsy

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Allison Gutknecht, author of Don’t Wear Polka-Dot Underwear with White Pants (and Other Lessons I’ve Learned), the first in the Mandy Berr series, and I am attempting to wrangle my nine-year-old toy poodle, Gypsy, and my two-year-old cat, Folly.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Gypsy, Folly, and I are celebrating the release of my new book, A Cast Is the Perfect Accessory (and Other Lessons I’ve Learned), the second in the series following the adventures of Mandy Berr. They are impressed with it only because their names are both featured in print within my biography.

What's brewing?

Pumpkin spice Keurig coffee, black.

Any treats for you or Gypsy on this occasion?

Gypsy has a penchant for kielbasi, the Polish sausage, though she gets gifted with it very, very rarely.

How did Gypsy get her name? Any nicknames?

My favorite actress is Bernadette Peters, and both Gypsy and Folly were named after musicals in which she has starred.

How were you and Gypsy united?

Gypsy was my college graduation present. I moved to New York from South Jersey/Philadelphia two weeks after graduating, and Gypsy has been my nearly inseparable companion in the city ever since.

Does Gypsy do more to help or hinder your writing?

Gypsy is a definite hindrance to my writing. In fact, when I visit schools, I tell the students all about where I end up drafting my books. You see, I would prefer to do so at the desk in my apartment, where my computer is usually stationed. But if I sit there, Gypsy barks at me. So I move to my dining room table and spread out all of my things, which means my cat begins systematically knocking my papers to the floor and stealing my pens and sitting on my post-it notes (oh, and also, Gypsy barks). This means that I usually have to write from my couch, which is not ideal, but Gypsy tends to make sure that her wishes always come first.

Are there any Gypsy-inspired dogs in your books?

I haven’t written any books including a dog yet, but the main character in my two current books, Mandy Berr, has some definite character traits which were inspired by Gypsy. Specifically, both Gypsy and Mandy have a tendency to lean toward self-centeredness (Gypsy’s life philosophy is essentially, “And what about Gypsy?”), and they each react very extremely to any given situation (nearly everything is either the “best thing ever” or “worst thing ever” – there is very little gray area). Gypsy is also mistaken for a puppy at least weekly, and there is something in her excitable nature that has translated itself to Mandy’s view of the world.

Who are Gypsy's best pet-pals?

Gypsy’s best and only friend is Folly, who (don’t tell Gypsy) is much, much smarter than her. In fact, I’m pretty sure Folly knows how to read. She spent the first nine weeks of her life living in Ann M. Martin’s house, so it would make sense.

Where is Gypsy's favorite outdoor destination?

Anywhere that she gets carried in her bag. As long as she’s included, Gypsy doesn’t care where she ends up.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

Her squeaky yellow ball, which is her whole reason for waking up each morning (although the cat often has to help her find the thing).

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Gypsy is convinced every single person is her best friend, yet she’s afraid of all other animals, except cats. A postman/cat combo would be ideal for her, though in truth, she’d probably take or leave the cat in favor of the person.

What is Gypsy's best quality?

Gypsy is excessively loving and lovable. This tends to make her quite needy, but in the most endearing of ways.

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

She would prefer that I never, ever leave the apartment, unless, of course, she is accompanying me.

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

I became convinced very early on that Gypsy speaks exactly like Elmo from Sesame Street, and yes, she too would talk in third person.

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

What do I have to do to convince you once and for all that when I walk out the door, I will always come back to you?

Visit Allison Gutknecht's website, Facebook page, and Twitter perch.

The Page 69 Test: Don't Wear Polka-Dot Underwear with White Pants.

--Marshal Zeringue

Druce Tan & Kimono

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Druce, and during the day I am an IT systems manager working for Procter and Gamble (P&G); when I'm at home I am the parent of a very spoiled dog. His name is Kimono and he turns 5 this November 28. He's a purebred, tri-colored beagle.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I just like spending time with my best bud each chance I get. He always wonders why he cannot have any of this caffeine goodness though.

What's brewing?

Brewed coffee from Nescafe with cream. No sugar.

Any treats for you or Kimono on this occasion?

He got a few carrot cubes. I also bring some of his Pedigree dental treats.

How were you and Kimono united?

I encouraged my good friend to purchase a Beagle years back. Then when that Beagle eventually gave birth, I got one of the pups. Kimono was the eldest among a brood of 3 and he was about 4 months old when I adopted him.

How did Kimono get his name? Any aliases?

The name had to start with a letter K since the litter has to have the same initial as the mom when we want to register them with official papers. It was a toss up between Kimono and Kuma. But i thought Kimono sounded cuter. His nickname is "Little Dood", although he ain't so little any more.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

The little dood only has encounters with cats. we dont have squirrels, he also stays at the back yard so he doesn't get to see postmen. He enjoys stalking and scaring cats so that they jump up high, but doesn't give chase when they run away. He just does it for the heck of it.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

All of the above. As long as it's playtime, anything is free game. I used to get him toys like these but their lifespan is only a matter of hours. Now, we play with rawhide.

Does Kimono have a favorite place to go for outings?

The village park where we go for walks every day. Like clockwork, he knows if it's time to go out. He just loves these walks.

Who is Kimono's best pet-pal?

His best friend is also his worst enemy. There is a black and white stray cat that hangs out near our place. They have a love/hate relationship where they keep each other company but also fight occasionally.

What is Kimono's best quality?

His innate empathy. He knows how to cheer me up when I'm down by doing silly things or give me a really happy welcome when I'm back and tired from work. He just reminds me to enjoy life like how he does.

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

My hesitations of letting him come and stay inside the house. We have a lot of breakable stuff like vases and ceramic displays and some areas are also carpeted. He stays at the back yard which has more than enough room for him to run around.

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

I would ask him, "You know I love you so much right buddy?"

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

Oh, definitely the voice actor for the video-game character, Prinny who is Grant George. That's where I got the nickname "little dood". I always imagined him to have a voice like that. (It's the voice in this clip.)

Visit Druce Tan's website and Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue

Christy Bassett & Jagger, Dozer, and Ruger

Who is in the photo at right?

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

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

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

What's brewing?

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

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

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

How did your dogs get their names? Any nicknames?

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

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

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

How were you and your dogs united?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

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

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

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

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

What is each dog's best quality?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Visit the Barefoot All Natural Farm website and Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue

Cindy Chupack & Tinkerbell

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Cindy Chupack, a TV writer/producer, author, new mother (that’s my daughter Olivia in the stroller), wife, storyteller and officially a dog person thanks to our St. Bernard, Tinkerbell (aka Tink), who is 9 years old, but she still acts like a puppy.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

This was the first trip my husband, Ian, and I took with our baby, and we wanted to bring Tinkerbell, too, so she wouldn’t feel left out (since we had Tink before we had the baby). We drove from LA to a dog-friendly hotel in the heart of Santa Barbara (our car was packed with everything you could possibly need for a baby and a dog, and, of course, also held the baby and the St. Bernard. When we went for walks in downtown Santa Barbara, it was clear from the public’s reaction that Tink was still the star, something Tink enjoyed feeling, I think.

What's brewing?

I became a coffee lover when I became a mother (no coincidence!) and my favorite coffee was an Austrian whole bean coffee that Julius Meinl, a bakery/cafe near me, used to sell; just recently the bakery/cafe started selling something else and I am having withdrawals! It was the most delicious coffee (I drink mine hot with two percent milk and Splenda) and every other coffee pales in comparison, so I’m open to suggestions!

In Santa Barbara, I think we just got a big pot of coffee through room service because we still weren’t capable of juggling a stroller, a dog and coffee.

Any treats for you or Tink on this occasion?

The treat was that Tink got to sleep on top of the big four-poster bed with us and the baby. It was our first “family trip" and Tink was very much a part of it.

How did Tink get her name? Any nicknames?

Ian named her Tinkerbell ironically, since she was so not tiny...

How were you and Tink united?

I have a chapter in my new book, The Longest Date: Life as a Wife, about how we got her, and the chapter was excerpted in Ladies' Home Journal this month, so you can read the whole story online; but basically Robin of Batman and Robin (the TV show) brought her into our life. She was a rescue, and when we got her, she was 18 months old.

Does Tink do more to help or hinder your writing?

She is usually a really comforting, calm presence when I’m writing, but if she feels ignored for too long she will lay on my laptop (since I like to write in bed). Note [photo right] she was already my screensaver, but apparently she needed more attention. If you read The Longest Date you will see that Tink is a large part of it, and she not only made me a better writer, she made me a better person.

You've written for several very successful shows. Have you ever written in a part for a dog?

On Sex and the City I got to co-write the episode “Splat!” where Charlotte’s dog has puppies, and those puppies were delivered to the doorstep of our dog trainer on the show (who works with rescue dogs) just in time for shooting the episode! I wrote an episode of Modern Family called "Little Bo Bleep" where Jay and Gloria’s dog kept jumping into the pool and Jay thought she was trying to commit suicide (he blamed Gloria’s disinterest!), but it turned out the dog's favorite squeaky toy was in the drain.

I also wrote and directed a short film about becoming a dog person, called Whose Dog Is It Anyway? starring Sarah Paulson, which basically examined the transformation I went through with Tink. More about the short at www.whosedog.com, and it can be viewed here.

Who are Tink's best pet-pals?

Tink has lots of friends in the neighborhood. She has a great dogwalker who takes her on group walks, so this picture [left] is Tink with her gang. She has a whole life I barely know about during the day. She knows many more people than I do in my neighborhood. People always introduce themselves to me when I’m with Tink by letting me know they know Tink.

Where is Tink's favorite outdoor destination?

Anywhere we are. She likes the park. She loves the beach. She was less excited about snow than we thought she would be.

photo by Allison Cane

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

She hardly ever barks, so she has some favorite squeaky toys she will use to communicate excitement. She especially loves her Platypus (Kyjen 6069 Egg Babies Platypus) -- the eggs are the squeaky part so you can remove and replace them. For a while we were playing Rock Band a lot, and Tink would join in with a squeaky toy, and once when a new song started, she got a different squeaky toy as if she needed a new instrument.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Ian. The moment he comes home she jumps up to greet him, and if she spots him outside the window or door, she barks or stands with her paws up on the balcony (like a person in a dog suit) trying to get his attention.

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

Everyone would stop checking their phones, get down on their knees, and give her the love and attention she deserves.

photo by Allison Cane

What is Tink's best quality?

She loves to be where we are, and I guess she’s a herding dog, because she’s happiest when we’re all together. She also went through training with Ian to be a Delta Dog, so she’s been in hospitals to comfort people waiting for loved ones in surgery, and in a psych ward. But her very best quality is that you can’t upset her, she’s very patient, so if Olivia is pulling her tail or ear, or sitting on her like a chair, or pretending Tink is the “beast” from Beauty and the Beast, Tink puts up with it.

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

Melissa McCarthy.

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

What would your perfect day be, Tink? Because that’s what we’re doing today.

Visit Cindy Chupack's website and Facebook page, and learn more about her new book, The Longest Date: Life as a Wife.

--Marshal Zeringue