Gail Pyne & Bella Blue and Seamus O'Malley

Who is pictured in these photos?

That's me, Gail Pyne, Bella Blue and Seamus O'Malley. I'm a certified Fitness Professional and a Running and Wellness coach. I blog at Capablefitness.com. It's not all about fitness. I'm quite opinionated on many issues, as it turns out. Bella Blue is a Blue Tick Coonhound mix. She turned 11 this year. Seamus O'Malley is an Irish Setter who just turned 5.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine? What's brewing? Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

In Canada, it is your civic duty to stop at Tim Hortons every morning for a cup of Joe. I'm not kidding. There is a Tim Hortons on every corner in most urban areas. I have one that I walk to. Tim Horton was a Canadian hockey legend, and we take hockey pretty seriously here in Canada. The shop that I go to has a convenient area that the dogs can be tied to and be admired by patrons as I purchase my medium coffee, double cream, single sugar. I rarely have anything other than my coffee, as I eat a pretty healthy breakfast every day at my home, but both dogs get a plain Tim Bit. They are given free to dogs, if you ask. If either of my dogs ever get lost, this Tim Hortons is where I would look first. They'd likely be sitting by the doors....

How were you and your dogs united?

Bella Blue was found wandering the streets as a puppy in 2005. She was promptly turned over to a local shelter which is where my husband and I found her. No one at the shelter had any background on her. We just call her awesome. It fits pretty nicely. Seamus O'Malley hails from North Carolina. We got him as a two month old puppy in 2011 when we were living in Raleigh. He turned 5 a few months ago. As a puppy he loathed being cuddled and would try and nibble my ears and then squirm out of my arms. Now that he is 80 pounds he absolutely insists on being cuddled and disregards his size as an obstacle to that. On the bright side, he has discontinued his ear chomping. He's our third Irish, so clearly we are obsessed.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Bella Blue was named by a neighbor. Seems rather "hands off" of me, I know. In my defense, I wanted Blue to be a part of her name. I could not just call her Blue because it was too male sounding. A neighbor suggested Bella Blue, and as it rolled off the tongue nicely, I jumped on it. I did not realize at the time that the Twilight series of novels were extremely popular and that Bella was about to become the most fashionable dog name ever. Thank goodness I had the Blue part.... Her alias is Basement Bella. She is terrified of storms and when one is brewing she bolts for her crate, which is in the basement. Lately she has been forgoing the basement and heading to a spare bathroom off our offices. We may have to change her alias to Bathroom Bella.

Seamus (pronounced Shay-mus) O'Malley was named by my husband and I, after we had a hotly debated back and forth Facebook post to my friends and family. I had thrown out the names Clancy, Seamus and Finnegan. Seamus won by a landslide. It was my favorite as well. I chose the O'Malley part. We've had second names for all our dogs and I didn't want to stop with Seamus. His alias is Shameless O'Malley because he's pretty much shameless. He's embarrassed by nothing and assumes he is always the center of attention.

You're a fitness professional and a runner; do your dogs run with you?

Sadly, Bella Blue's running days are far behind her now. She gets a daily walk, but that is all her arthritic hind legs can tolerate. Seamus O'Malley is my eager running partner. He's always game for a run, though in our hot summer months he can't come with me. His running alias is Sir Poops-a-Lot. I just look at our frequent poop stops as interval training. Heart rate up...heart rate down...heart rate up....the kids in the neighborhood call him The Big Red Dog. My favorite running loop takes us through the village of Bronte where the children love to watch him drag me along!!

Where is the dogs' favorite outdoor destination?

Lake Ontario. We are lucky to live within a couple of blocks of it. They love the water, the geese and the ducks.

What is each dog's best quality?

Bella Blue's watchdog skills and Seamus O'Malley's kindness. When I was diagnosed with cancer, and while recovering, Seamus seemed to know how sacred I was and would just be there for me. When I was at my lowest, he was there to remind me that wallowing in self pity was not going to help. Plus, even though I had cancer, Seamus still needed to go outside to pee....

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

For Bella Blue it is the tennis ball. Seamus? All three. He's never met a ball, stick or squeaky toy he didn't like.

Postman, cat, squirrel...?

For both dogs it's all three, but while Bella Blue wants all three dead, Seamus just wants to be friends.

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

Bella would erase from my mind all knowledge of nutrition and my belief in food portion control. There are days where I'm sure she thinks I'm starving her. Seamus O'Malley would change my attitude towards training and tell me that some runs don't need a Garmin GPS watch and proper pace....some runs can just be for fun.

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

I would ask Bella Blue why she loves to eat Kleenex and toilet paper. I would ask Seamus O'Malley why he is terrified to step on wet stones.

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

Dame Maggie Smith for Bella Blue. She has the right amount of imperiousness. Rupert Grint for Seamus O'Malley. I feel only a red head can get another red head.

What advice would your dogs give if asked?

To appreciate the now, rather than fret about the future. Also, always scrape the poop off the bottom of your paws, and then move on.

Visit the Capable Fitness website and Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue

Pressley Baird & Darby

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Pressley Baird, and this is Darby, my coonhound mix. I'm a reporter turned grad student at UNC-Chapel Hill, where I study and teach journalism. Darby sleeps in sunny patches, howls at sirens and eats lots of peanut butter.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Darby and I just moved to a new house with a beautiful back porch where I can drink my coffee every morning. Darby's just here for the sun.

What's brewing?

Milk and sugar with a little coffee.

Any treats for you or Darby on this occasion?

No treats today, though Darby gets plenty. Peanut butter is her favorite.

How were you and Darby united?

Darby is the first dog I've had that's all mine. I adopted her from the American Black and Tan Coonhound Rescue in 2013, a few years after I graduated from college. After I'd proven I could keep myself alive, I decided to add another living thing to the mix.

How did your dog get her name? Any aliases?

When I adopted her, Darby's name was Brownie. I wanted to change it but needed to keep the "ie" sound.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Postman. Darby loves all people.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Fluffy stuffed animals that she can rip to shreds.

Who is Darby's best pet-pal?

Avett, my parents' blind Labradoodle puppy. (Yes, he is as cute as he sounds.)

What is Darby's best quality?

She has never met a person she didn't instantly adore.

You're a Roy H. Park Fellow in UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Media and Journalism. Is UNC a dog-friendly campus?

It is! Most of Chapel Hill, with its wide sidewalks surrounded by trees, is very dog-friendly.

If Darby could change one thing about Tarheels, what would it be?

She'd have this year's basketball team work on their offensive prowess and talk Harry Giles into signing on for the 2016-17 season. (Darby really likes basketball.)

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

"What was your life like before we met?" Since Darby is a rescue, I don't know much about her life before I got her -- including exactly when she was born. (She's probably 8 but maybe 10.)

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

Elizabeth Taylor. Darby lives a very luxurious life.

What advice would Darby give if asked?

Give everybody a chance. Cute ears will get you far in life. And always eat the peanut butter.

Learn more about Pressley Baird, journalist (and baking and basketball enthusiast).

--Marshal Zeringue

Kristie Serra & Quigley Adams

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Kristie Serra. I'm a children and family photographer based in Seattle, WA, but I travel throughout the U.S. for photography assignments. My dog Quigley Adams is a six year old male Bloodhound/Treeing Walker Coonhound mix.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Not that we need an excuse to stop by Top Pot Doughnuts, but my hubby just returned home from a trip to Florida.

What's brewing?

Top Pot's Northwest Breakfast tea. It's delicious.

Any treats for you or Quigley on this occasion?

I'm a self-proclaimed donut queen, so I couldn't just get a cup of tea. This visit, a pershing donut was calling my name. Quigley helped himself to the crumbs and then to his favorite doggie treats once we were home.

How did Quigley get his name? Any nicknames?

He came with the name, "Quigley Adams." It was too fitting to change. He's also known around our house as Quigs, Wiggly, Wiggles, Wigs and Sir Wigglesworth.

How were you and Quigley united?

We found Quigley on Petfind.com. We were living in Florida at the time and he was being fostered in Phoenix, Arizona through the American Black and Tan Coonhound Rescue. Quigley arrived in Florida on Christmas Eve, 2008, which my husband arranged to surprise our family.

You've got some great photos of children and families on your website. Who are more difficult to photograph: kids or dogs?

I think it depends on the kiddo or dog. Quigley is the worst! He has zero interest in my camera and ignores me like it's his job. It truly takes a village just to get a good photo of him.

Who are Quigley's best pet-pals?

He loves walking with his cousin-dog, Lucky (a Lab mix). He looks forward to seeing his buddies, Shamus (a Teddy Bear Goldendoodle) and Gus (a German Shepherd) around town and he'll never forget his best-dog friend, Oscar (a Boxer), in Florida.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

He loves his stuffed animal raccoon.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

He would befriend a cat, howl at a postman and chase a squirrel.

What is Quigley's best quality?

Hands down, his ears!

If Quigley could change one thing about Seattleites, what would it be?

He would ban bicycles and motorcycles and insist that everyone carry a cheeseburger in their pocket.

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

Jeremy Irons. We're certain that Quigley is British.

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

I'd ask him about his life before we adopted him. I've always wondered about his life as a puppy.

Visit the Kristie Serra Photography website, blog, and Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue

Lindsey Jeremiah & Harley

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Lindsey Jeremiah, a Freelance writer with Cottage Life Magazine and an Educational Program Coordinator with a Boating Safety Company. My dog Harley is a 6-year old cross between a redbound coon hound and a yellow lab. I rescued him from Toronto when he was a puppy without a home and we moved to B.C., Canada together shortly after to run along the ocean!

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Harley is often featured in my articles about living the cottage life, getting outside with your dog, dogs and boating, etc. He is a great friend and source of creative inspiration for this writer!

What's brewing?

I usually stop by Starbucks for an Earl Grey Tea Latte. Grande. Soy.

Any treats for you or Harley on this occasion?

A rice crispy square for us both.

How were you and Harley united?

I saw a rescue ad online and drove down right away to bring him home.

How did Harley get his name? Any aliases?

He's just a Harley. Big, goofy, loveable, red. A real boy’s boy. A real Harley.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Squirrel!!! The hound instinct never fades!

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Stick!!!! Harley loves to wrestle sticks away from his doggy friends in the neighbourhood.

Does Harley have a favorite place to go for outings?

He loves to meander down to the lake where he can swim or roll all over a dead fish. It’s just the best thing in the world to old Harl’s.

Who is Harley's best pet-pal?

His brother Gus the pug! BFFs for life! They make an odd pair but they are perfect together!

What is Harley's best quality?

He’s a gentle giant. 80 pounds of love.

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

He would like me to get more exercise with him.

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

I would ask him if his epilepsy medication makes him feel better.

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

Eeyore, from Winnie the Pooh.

--Marshal Zeringue

Gigi Amateau & Biscuit and Cola

Who is in the photo at right?

That’s me, Gigi Amateau, and my three-year old redbone coonhound, Biscuit, when she was a puppy! I write middle grade and young adult fiction. Biscuit takes me for long walks by the river, hunts in her own private game preserve [known also as the backyard], and sleeps. Not pictured, my daughter’s pit bull, Cola. She’s sacked out on the sofa.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Every day I have coffee or tea with Biscuit and Cola, and this morning we’re celebrating the release of my new young adult novel, Come August, Come Freedom from Candlewick Press!

What's brewing?

My daughter brought my favorite coffee treat to me this morning: Starbucks’ grande no foam latte!

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Why, yes, because the general rule of the house is: a treat for me, a treat for the dogs. Of course, the world is one gigantic treat for Biscuit and Cola! I just let Biscuit outside. Such a gorgeous morning here in Richmond, Virginia. Sunny, pale blue sky, low humidity, and a hint of fall. I expect Biscuit will stay out most of the morning, but she’ll get a tasty breakfast of Organix crunchy food with a splash of chicken broth when she comes back in the house.

How were you and your dogs united?

We fell in love with the redbone breed years ago when we met a dog named Gus at our favorite mountain retreat in Rockbridge County, Virginia. We keep horses about half an hour outside of town. At the horse farm they also raise redbones and black and tans. Four summers ago, my daughter had a job of socializing the hound puppies and that’s when we met Biscuit, on the day she was born!

Cola is a rescue-girl. My daughter found her at Animal Control and pretty much fell in love on site. Both dogs are sweet and good and loyal.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

You know, the redbone breed is such a southern breed, so we wanted our redbone to have a name reflective of our region. We thought of naming her Grits, Shug, Sookie, but settled on Biscuit because of the many nickname possibilities: Butter Biscuit, Ham Biscuit, Chicken Biscuit, Baby Biscuit.

Honestly, I have no idea why my daughter selected the name Cola but it suits that little gal perfectly!

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

They both love to walk at Pony Pasture Park on the James River not too far from our house. We live in a small forested enclave in the city on a tributary of the James called Rattlesnake Creek. So, even just walking around on our home turf we’re likely to encounter deer, foxes, raccoons, opossums, rabbits, owls, and all sorts of forest-creatures.

Rabbit, postman, cat...?

Let’s just say I’ve moved all the bird feeders to the front yard.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

We try to keep things pretty even-steven with Biscuit and Cola. They each like bully sticks. Biscuit enjoys hers upstairs; Cola goes downstairs with hers.

What is each dog's best quality?

Both dogs have a deep desire to make our family happy. Biscuit’s best quality is that she’s as loyal and devoted as the day is long. And also, Biscuit is just so pretty and soft. Oh those ears! She will walk with me anywhere for as far as I want to walk.

And Cola is a smiler. I have never met a dog who smiles as much as Cola. There is such a sweetness about her spirit that even when she’s in trouble [like jumping in the frog pond again, Cola, really?] she’s not in trouble.

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

Well, because our dogs are so loyal, I’m certain that they would both say, “Change what Mama wants to change.” I would change our Virginia legislature.

What is each dog's proudest moment?

They both seem to think everything they do is worthy of a bone or a biscuit or a chewy.

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

Andie McDowell should do Biscuit’s voice and Drew Barrymore Cola’s.

Visit Gigi Amateau's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Michelle Taute & Zoey and Henry

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Michelle Taute. That’s me with my dog, Zoey. She’s a 9-month-old Bluetick Coonhound who still chews everything. (That stops at some point, right?) I also have a 3-year-old Treeing Walker Coonhound named Henry. He only chews food and treats, thankfully. When I’m not coonhound wrangling, I’m a writer who is obsessed with cootie catchers.

What’s the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

This is a standard Saturday morning at our house. Roll out of bed (yes, I even wear snowflake pajama pants in the summer), make some hot tea and hang out in the backyard. Yep, I drink tea—not coffee. Though my husband, Tom, snapped these pics, and he probably was drinking coffee. Henry had to be coaxed out here for the photo shoot, because he prefers to hang out on the sofa. Zoey will follow you anywhere.

What’s brewing?

I had English breakfast tea with a teaspoon of sugar. My husband had some sort of Starbucks blend he makes in a one-cup coffee maker.

Any treats for you or the dogs on this occasion?

Not really. The dogs did get some extra scratches on the ear, since they were being such good sports about the pictures.

How were you and your dogs united?

I fell in love with Henry when we went to the pet store to buy cat food. He was in cage out front with a rescue group and those brown eyes and long ears looked so sad! We weren’t even planning on adopting a dog, but once I took him out of that kennel, it was all over.

About a year later, I decided Henry needed a friend. Zoey came from Petfinder. She was my 36th birthday present. (Best gift ever when she’s not chewing my shoes … or, err, the sofa.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

When the rescue found Henry, he had pneumonia, so he spent a lot of time at a no-kill shelter getting well. They were already calling him Henry, so we stuck with the name. It fits him. He’s an old man in a young dog’s body.

My husband named Zoey. It’s a happy, sunny name that matches her personality. She’s also known as the Zoe-bot, because like a robot, she’s always on the move, and her batteries rarely rundown.

We also refer to them both as, “country dogs trying to make it in the city.” Technically, they’re both hunting dogs, but they’ve adapted to Cincinnati life pretty well. The soft couches, tasty treats, long walks and dog-park trips help a lot.

You recently wrote about having a robot mow your lawn. What did your dogs make of the mechanical beast?

Henry was too busy napping on the couch to care much about it. Zoey loves all lawn-mowing tools—the weed whacker, our old-school push mower and the lawn bott. She barks at them and chases them around the yard, bowing into play pose often. We have to shoo her away, so she doesn’t get hurt. If only we could get her to actually mow the lawn.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

We have a very fluffy white cat name Austin, who bosses Henry around but runs away from Zoey. Both dogs perk up at the site of a squirrel, unless there’s an abandoned chicken bone nearby. But, you know, coonhounds really live for raccoons. We used to have two raccoons trying to live on our roof but they were scared off by the dogs.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

Zoey loves all of the above. She drops her ball down the steps in our backyard and plays fetch with herself. As for sticks, the bigger the better. A storm dropped a fairly big tree branch in our backyard, and we left it there because she loves it so much. Henry loves his Nylabones best.

Who are your dogs’ best pet-pals?

My dogs are BFFs. Zoe cuddles up with Henry for naps and cleans out his ears. They also love to wrestle, play tug-of-war and generally run around looking for food like the Bumpus hounds from Christmas Story.

What is each dog’s best quality?

Zoey is happy all the time. She’s ready to go anywhere with you, and if you take her for a walk, she looks up at you every three steps to make sure you’re still there. Henry is super chill and loves to sleep in (like me). They’re both champion snugglers.

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

There’s a guy on our regular walking route who howls at them, because he wants to hear the classic coonhound howl. They don’t think much of this and refuse to perform. Howling is for raccoons (sometimes squirrels) and strangers at the front door. But since we’re not hunters, it’s mostly for random people walking by the house.

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

That’s a tough one. Zoey would be voiced by some high-energy tween star from Disney or Nickelodeon for sure. Henry is super stubborn and a (slightly) grumpy old man at heart, so I’m thinking Walter Matthau.

Visit the websites for Michelle Taute, writer and Michelle Taute, cootie catcher enthusiast.

--Marshal Zeringue

Mary Beth Hall & Blaze, Cooper, Halle, and Benelli

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Mary Beth Hall and I am a Chief County Dog Warden in Ohio. I have authored several blog spots at Coonhound Companions and quite a few professional articles, but I have no books to my credit…never enough time in the day.

With me is Blaze the coonhound.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Blaze came to work with me today in Marysville, Ohio. I love a cup of coffee to warm me up on cold days. There’s nothing quite like the feel of that warm cup in your hand to bolster your soul.

What's brewing?

My favorite! Carmel Latte Light! I am a sucker for that treat. Blaze gets the whipped cream.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Not today. Blaze is very focused on the tennis balls resting in the door of my truck that I use to capture strays. Perhaps a game of fetch is at hand for lunch time.

What is Blaze’s best quality?

Blaze is a clown. He can always bring a smile to my face and make me life. He’s also incredibly affectionate without any personal boundaries at all. He loves to be picked up and held on his back like a baby…all 59 lbs of him! My dogs work hard to take care of me and make sure I’m happy.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

My sister named Blaze for me. Everyone was encouraging me to give him a Harry Potter type name, but I kept focusing on the lightning blaze marking down his back. My sister said, “well, Harry Potter got his blaze thanks to Voldemort.” I instantly grabbed his papers and wrote Blazn’ Thanks to Voldemort. Blaze has many nicknames like Bob, Blazn’ Bobby G, Blaze-O, and more.

Cooper, aka, Grauschattens Ghostly Encore, or Super Duper Pooper Scooper, or Soup, picked his name. I had other ones picked out that didn’t suit him. Someone was reading the paper and saw the name “Cooper,” said it out loud, and the sleeping 9 week old puppy jumped up and came right to them. I gave up. He got the name he wanted.

Halle [photo right] was named for Halley’s comet. She recently succumbed at age 15 to laryngeal paralysis.

Benelli was named for a favorite shotgun. His nickname is Ben Jammin’, Bennihanna, Hanna, etc.

How were you and your dogs united?

I captured Blaze, a Treeing Walker Coonhound, at 4 months of age on a frigid day in February. He laid his head on my shoulder and snuggled up, and I’m sure you can figure out why I became a “foster failure” for the first time, even though I’ve fostered hundreds of other shelter dogs and never kept one. Perhaps that day out on patrol in the freezing cold was my best day on the job ever!

Ben is Cooper’s son.

Halle was a boyfriend’s dog who totally and completely stole my heart.

Cooper [photo left] was the “chosen one.” I had a Weimaraner that was my search and rescue dog that I lost to cancer at 8 years of age. I was so crushed that I made a search to find the healthiest, smartest, best Weimaraner in the world. That was Cooper!

Who are your dogs' best pet pals?

Cooper’s best friends have all passed away. He had lots of girlfriends including a Weimaraner, a Rottweiler, and a German Shepherd. Blaze adores me, but equally loves to play with anyone anytime. Ben is pretty happy go lucky and doesn’t play favorites. Blaze and Ben often sleep on one dog bed together. Halle and Cooper had a very special relationship.

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

Aunt Lynnie’s house or to go for a flat out run across the farm fields and through the woods behind my property.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

Blaze unfortunately has an affinity for deer that I have to be very watchful about. Cooper has declared war on all groundhogs. The cat runs the house! And with all of them being therapy dogs, even the postman is welcome.

Squeaky-toy, ball, Frisbee...?

For Blaze it's squeaky balls. He is ball crazy! Ben and Cooper like soft fuzzy toys.

What role have your dogs played in your job?

They go to nursing homes, youth jail programs, schools, and libraries when I have a free moment from my law enforcement duties. They also helps me catch stray dogs with his winning personality. I once chased a dog through a pen with a bull and his lady friends. I was very concerned about the stray harming these very expensive and loved cattle. I basically tagged along behind this dog forever without making any progress at convincing the dog to come to me until I got Blaze out. I grabbed Blaze and a tennis ball and some treats. Blaze play bowed and wiggled and within less than a minute I had the stray on a leash and safely in my truck.

In your capacity as the County Dog Warden, what are three things about which people need reminding?

Everyone needs to license their dogs! It doesn’t matter if “my dog always stays in the house.” Bad things happen to good people and good dogs, and that dog license is great protection for those situations. Not only that, it’s a small price to pay to support local shelters and their work.

Second would be that being a Dog Warden doesn’t mean that you don’t love dogs. Au contraire, 99.9% of Dog Wardens adore dogs! We do this difficult job because it’s a way we can help the critters we love and a way to give back to the community every day.

Third, I would recommend people have patience with their neighbors. We always believe that Fluffy can do no wrong. Rarely do neighbors allow their dogs to bark, run loose, fight, get in trash, etc with the intent to drive their neighbors crazy. They believe in their heart that their dog is perfect and have a difficult time seeing their own dog’s shortcomings. These situations are often fixed by some education.

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

Cooper, my Weimaraner would definitely be David Hasselhoff. He’s 100% Baywatch lifeguard in his personality (and he is both a show champion and very athletic with performance titles). Halle the Lab that I recently lost would of course been the beautiful & talented Halle Berry. Benelli, my Weimaraner puppy is a total goofball. He’s always happy and I swear he rarely has a thought in his head. Pick your favorite dog cartoon character and that would probably be him! Blaze, the Treeing Walker Coonhound would have to be portrayed by someone who is a clown yet has a booming voice. Blaze’s songs can be heard over a mile away!

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

Legislatively, it’s been difficult to make improvements in Ohio’s animal cruelty and dangerous dog legislation. The legislators and interested parties work hard at it, but national organizations seem to stop up the good works with their lobbying. My dogs would love to see better laws to protect them and their friends!

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

My dogs like to be happy all the time. They absolutely melts under stress. I stress at competitions and sometimes bring the stress of the job home with me. They would like me to always “Seize the Day” and be happy go lucky.

--Marshal Zeringue

Laurie Hertzel & Riley

Who is in the photo at right?

The dog is Riley, a 10-year-old male springer-lab-beagle-coonhound. Today (Jan. 22) is the 10th anniversary of our bringing him home from the pound in Forest Lake, Minn. We got him in order to keep our Border collie, Boscoe, company after our other dog, Toby, died--we always said that Riley was Boscoe's puppy. The other creature in the picture is me, Laurie Hertzel, the books editor at the Minneapolis Star Tribune and a writer. My memoir, News to Me: Adventures of an Accidental Journalist, was published in 2010 by the University of Minnesota Press. Riley, sadly, is not in the book, although Toby is.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

My husband, Doug, and I take Riley on long walks through our St. Paul, Minn., neighborhood every Saturday and Sunday morning. At about the halfway point, we stop at the Coffee Grounds on Hamline Avenue. This winter has been so mild that we have been able to drink our coffee outside at their patio table all through November, December and into January.

What's brewing?

Doug always gets dark roast, with lots of cream, and I go for the hazelnut blend, with cream. Always lots of cream.

Any treats for you or Riley on this occasion?

They have a little jar of miniature milk bones by the cash register, and Riley always gets two.

On your blog you've shared the sad news that your dog Boscoe very recently died at age 17. How is the household adjusting?

Oh, it has been hard. We got Boscoe the summer we bought our house, so all of our memories here are tied up with him. He was a gregarious, friendly dog with tons of personality--he could work a room like Bill Clinton, greeting everyone, remembering their names, and their children's names, and winning over the dubious. He developed diabetes when he was 14 and lived two and a half years with the disease, but he did great with it--went hiking with us, and stayed cheerful and friendly to the end. He adapted, you know? And he never complained. Our house seems very quiet without him.

Riley has never been a solo dog, so we're interested in watching how he adapts. We might have to get him a puppy in the spring.

How did Riley and Boscoe get their names? Any aliases?

Naming Boscoe was tough. He was a tiny puppy when we got him from a farm outside of Pine City, Minn.--black and white, with beige eyebrows. He was just eight weeks old. We went through a lot of names before we settled on Boscoe--we tried "Smudge," and we tried "Archie" (as in Archie Manning--the beige looked sort of gold), and we tried "Stout" (as in Guinness Stout) but none of those seemed quite right. Boscoe was the name we just kept coming back to.

Riley was easier to name. At the pound, they called him Miller, and he was advertised on their website by the perky slogan, "It's Miller time!" But I didn't want a dog named after a mediocre beer, and besides, we were getting him to rile things up after Toby died. And rile things up he did.

He does have many aliases--when he's being sweet and cuddly, which is hardly ever, we call him Chester. I don't remember why. His other names are Pinecone, Porkchop, and Riley T. Coyote.

How were you and Riley united?

It's funny--we went to the pound that January day to look at Border collie puppies. The website had mentioned six eight-week-old Borders, and we thought one of them would be a great friend for Boscoe. When we pulled into the parking lot, I saw a small black and white dog sitting there next to one of the pound workers. He had short, speckled, slightly bowed legs, a white chest, a red collar, and an absolutely impassive face. When I slammed the door of our Jeep, the little dog looked at me, and that was it; I was a goner. He held my gaze as I walked across the lot and into the building.

We brought the Border puppies out, one at a time, and tried to get to know them. But in the cage next to them was that standoffish puppy with the red collar, staring solemnly, watching my every move. Even as I brought him into the playroom, I was thinking, "This dog is going to be a lot of trouble," but we adopted him anyway. And he was a lot of trouble, at first. He had been rejected by his first family, and he was a very serious, shy, mistrustful puppy--the exact opposite of Boscoe. He didn't play. He didn't wag his tail. It took a long time for him to trust us.

What role have your dogs played in your writing?

They have long been characters in many of the things I write. Toby, as I mentioned, is in my memoir, and his picture is on the back of the book. I have written many essays about all three of them for magazines and newspapers. And I started a blog about five years ago called Three Dog Blog where I write about them quite often. When Boscoe died, people were weeping all over the world.

Does Riley have a favorite place to go for an outing?

Riley has all kinds of favorite places. The first day he came into our house, he claimed under the kitchen table as his, as well as the burgundy wing-back chair in our living room. I don't think anyone has sat in that burgundy chair in 10 years, except him. In the yard, he likes to hide under the bridal veil bush, which has big drooping branches that come down almost to the ground. He gets way back there, and all you can see is the whites of his eyes. He likes to spy on people from there.

But most of all, he loves being out in the woods. He's never happier than when we take him up north and he can run free along the trails up the North Shore of Lake Superior. He's a great trail dog. We all love it up there, but there's something really wonderful about seeing Riley running flat-out down the trail, ears straight back, legs a blur. He is the epitome of happiness.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

Oh, man, all of the above. And: vacuum cleaners, rabbits, roller bladers, bicycles, small squealing children. Riley is extremely prey-driven, and he'll chase anything that is small, loud, fast and close to the ground.

What is Riley's best quality?

He's hard to get to know. He's suspicious and shy. But once you get through to him, once he trusts you, there's no sweeter dog. He wants so much to please us he practically trembles. Boscoe loved everyone he ever met, and there's great charm in that. But Riley--you have to work for his affection. And that makes it so worth it.

He also has the amazing ability to run straight up the side of trees after squirrels. When he was a little younger, he could run up the side of a tree higher than my husband's head--and my husband is 6'4". Now that he's 10 he doesn't run quite so high, but it's still very impressive.

If Riley could change one thing about Minnesotans, what would it be?

They would be much quieter. They wouldn't roller-blade. They would always whisper. They would only play cello music, never acid rock.

What is Riley's proudest moment?

He's killed a couple of squirrels in his day. I remember the first time, he chased the squirrel around the yard, caught it, and started swinging it around by the neck. After he dropped it, he seemed absolutely astounded that it would no longer move.

If Hollywood had made a movie last year about your life in which the dogs could speak, which actors would you have suggested for Boscoe and Riley's voice?

That's such a great question. But the voices would have to be done by Doug--he's been channeling those dogs for years. Boscoe's voice is kind of warm and gravelly and friendly, and Riley's is high-pitched and timid. I think anyone who doesn't talk for their dogs isn't a real dog-owner.

Read more about Laurie Hertzel and her memoir, News to Me: Adventures of an Accidental Journalist, and visit the Three Dog Blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Lisa Peet & Dorrie

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Lisa Peet, writer, editor, artist, specialty baker, proprietor of the literary blog Like Fire. Dorrie is a female Beagle/Treeing Walker Coonhound mix, almost 5 years old. And Mr. Bonkers is our #1 cat and boss of the household. We live in the North Bronx, at the end of the #1 line.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

The photo looks like more of a leisurely weekend affair. Weekdays we’re up and dressed and ready to go by 6. I have a cup of coffee with Dorrie and check my email, then if it’s over 25˚ and not raining we take a 2-mile walk around the Jerome Park Reservoir. Sometimes it’s just the two of us, sometimes we go with other dog friends, but either way it’s one of the nicest parts of my day. When we get back I have another cup or two and then head off to work, and Dorrie commences her all-day beauty sleep.

What's brewing?

Fairway Blend brewed in a Cuisinart automatic drip coffeemaker (set for 5:45, thank you); milk and one sugar.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Brown Cow maple yogurt or a banana, sometimes nothing if I’m running late.

Any treat for Dorrie on this occasion?

She gets her breakfast after our walk, same thing as her dinner: half a can of Merrick dog food and half a cup of Science Diet Light kibble. No treats, because she’s on a diet.

How were you and Dorrie united?

In October, 2005 I was still deep in mourning over my beloved Jack Russell Milo, who had died suddenly in July. I was in no emotional shape to adopt a new dog, but for some reason I found myself on Petfinder.com one day and I saw that face—it was like she spoke to me. She was advertised as a local dog and we were all set to go meet her, but it turned out she was in Little Rock, Arkansas. If we were willing to adopt her sight unseen they would truck her up.

What can I say? As far as I was concerned, her sweet puppy face told me everything I needed to know. And likewise, although we were supposed to have a home visit to verify our suitability as dog owners, that month it poured nonstop and the rescue organization woman kept having to cancel. Eventually I ended up meeting her in a midtown bar after work, where I showed her photos of the late Milo—everyone always called him the happiest dog they’d ever met, and it showed—and we had a few drinks, cried over him, and ended up tipsy at PetSmart, buying a dog bed. I passed my inspection.

A couple of weeks later Jeff and I drove over the Tappan Zee Bridge at the crack of dawn to meet a guy with a horse trailer full of dog crates in a Park’n’Ride parking lot. Like some kind of weird drug deal, we handed him a check for $100 and he handed us a very stunned puppy. Turns out we were right that everything was indeed there in her photo—she’s been nothing but nonstop sweetness. Bless the good folks at Last Chance Arkansas and All About Labs. They do good work.

You are a writer, artist, baker and blogger: what kind of influence, if any, does Dorrie have on those spheres of activity?

She’s good company, and she makes sure I get up and out twice a day. Between the 9-5 job and working on my own projects, that’s more than enough time with my ass in a chair. I do a lot of writing in my head on our walks—they’re very meditative. And she’s always good for a smile and a kiss and a zap of unconditional love, which never hurts either. She’s not much help when it comes to baking, but then again she’s never stolen anything, so she gets props for that. And she’s introduced me to some of my best friends in the neighborhood. We have a fabulous huge dog run, and summer evenings hanging out there are like happy hour without booze.

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

She’s named after the Charlotte Rampling character in Woody Allen’s Stardust Memories. No particular reason, other than the name seemed to fit her, but it turned out to be a kind of kinehora—the character is beautiful, high-maintenance, and crazy. Our Dorrie is beautiful, but easy to get along with and super mellow.

Aliases: Dordy, Dorky, Dorotee (in Auntie Em voice), Dorrie Snorey, Dorrie Doodle, Miss Pretty, Stinky.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

Raccoons! We have ’em, and that Coonhound blood of hers runs deep. She’ll go after cats in our yard she doesn’t know, but she’s very gentle with our three.

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

Stuffed toys, but only as long as it takes her to eviscerate them and get the squeaky out. Mostly she likes rawhide chewies and bones. Balls don’t interest her at all unless she can get another dog to chase her for one.

Who is Dorrie's best pet-pal?

Chester (beagle), Hershey (chocolate lab), Cocoa (pit/greyhound mix), Callahan (husky). She has a special bond with our big ginger tabby, Mr. Bonkers, who was here before she was—they patrol the yard together and play if he’s in the mood. And she’s on gentle, if cordial, terms with Alvy and Francis, our other two cats.

What's Dorrie's most endearing quality?

Her overall sweet nature and excellent manners. Dorrie wants to be a good dog, she wants approval, she wants love—she has just enough of a mischievous streak to keep her interesting, but mostly she’s extremely obedient, great on and off leash, a good hiker, gentle with kids, and dependable. Plus she has the most wonderfully soft speckled ears and a great smile.

What's Dorrie's proudest moment so far? Her most embarrassing?

Her most embarrassing moment was a couple of years ago when we were visiting a friend in Connecticut, who had a pond with a family of ducks living on it. We had been hiking, and when we came out of the woods Dorrie saw the ducklings paddling and just forgot everything she knew about the wet qualities of water, which she very much dislikes. She shot out after them and it was, I swear, like Wile E. Coyote going off a cliff—she made it about six feet out onto the water before sinking like a stone, with only the tip of her tail showing. At which point she POPPED up, spun around, and tore back onto dry land. She was not amused, but oh my goodness we were.

Her proudest moments are when we stop at the curb and she sits at my heel without being asked, and someone leans out of their car window in passing and says, “Now that’s a good dog!” I suppose that’s really more my proud moment than hers, but I like to think she picks up on it. Another instance she might not have fully appreciated was when she came face to face with a huge skunk in our back yard. She was fascinated, but just as it was starting to do its little skunk dance Jeff called her in his most I-mean-business voice, and she turned around and trotted back inside.

What are Dorrie's favorite things?

Hearing the text message ring on my phone, because that invariably means we’re meeting someone for a walk or the park. The phrases “Do you want to go for a walk?” “Do you want to go to the park?” and “Do you want to see Cocoa?” Hanging out with me while I work in the yard. Sleeping outside in a patch of sunlight. Rolling in stuff. Breakfast. Dinner. When Jeff gives her a bite of what he’s eating. Big male pit bulls. Yorkies. Butt rubs. A knuckle in her ear. Bedtime (not only does she sleep in the bed, but we bought an expensive set of carpeted stairs so she can get up and down by herself). A pillow for her head. Company (as long as they don’t sit in her spot on the couch). Snuggling. Steak bones. Feet.

Visit Like Fire, Lisa Peet's literary blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Krista Davis & Han, Buttercup, and Queenie

Who is in the photo at right?

Left to right, we have Han trying to convince me that he deserves a treat. We're not sure what he is, but we know he's big. He may have some Black and Tan Coonhound, Springer Spaniel (I know, that's hard to see), and/or Bernese Mountain Dog in him. I'm next--Krista Davis. I write the Domestic Diva Mystery series. My most recent release is "The Diva Takes the Cake." The little white dog is Buttercup, a Jack Russell mix. The red one who's being deceptively well behaved is Queenie, a Golden Retriever, who isn't golden and won't retrieve.

What is their most intimate involvement with coffee?

They've all had little tastes of Häagen-Dazs coffee ice cream.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I don't need much of an occasion for coffee with the canines. They've convinced me that they require a cheese snack every afternoon, which gives me an excuse to indulge, too.

What's brewing?

I'm a hot tea with sugar and milk kind of person. My recent favorite is Newman's Own Organic Black Tea. But it's hot outside today, so iced tea with a hint of raspberry and no sugar hits the spot.

Any goodies to go with the coffee ice cream and iced tea?

Always. There's the cheese, of course. But Sophie (my protagonist) isn't the only one who bakes. I've been into cupcakes this summer. But now that blueberries and raspberries are ripe, I'm shifting into fruit tart mode.

Any treat for the dogs on this occasion?

Cheese, of course!

I also keep a cookie jar in the kitchen, and they know where it is. For some strange reason, they think they must have a dog cookie every time they enter the house, and they cluster at the counter where the cookie jar sits, just to be sure I don't forget.

Where do you usually take Queenie, Han, and Buttercup out for fresh air?

We live in the country, so they can romp around off-leash. They like to hang out with me when I'm writing, but we go for a couple of walks every day on a path through the woods.

Would they rather chase a squirrel, a cat, a car, their tails, the mailman, ...?

Buttercup thinks it's her job to chase squirrels. Queenie, true to her bird dog roots, barks at the huge vultures that fly by from their home on a nearby cliff. And last year, she surprised me by catching a groundhog that had been tormenting the dogs. Han was very proud of himself when he caught a raccoon, but he didn't know what to do with it once he had it. Fortunately, it scampered off when he released it.

Tennis ball, Frisbee, stick, ...?

I've always had dogs and have thrown many, many balls and sticks. This is the first time I have ever had dogs who aren't interested in fetching. Queenie and Han do like a good game of tug of war, though. And Han swims like a fish.

What do the dogs of a domestic diva eat?

One of my dogs is allergic to grains. That means no corn, soy, wheat, or rice. It's hard to find dog food without any of those ingredients. So the vet took us off commercial dog food, and my dogs eat pretty much what we eat. Or what we should eat. Lots of potatoes, sweet potatoes, lentils, meats, and veggies. They love watermelon! Queenie is notorious for pulling raspberries and blueberries off bushes to eat them. And if I don't watch like a hawk, Han and Queenie help themselves to cucumbers and tomatoes in the garden.

How did the dogs come to be united with you?

We intended to adopt a Golden Retriever. Queenie was selected because of her strawberry blonde fur and outgoing personality.

I'm sorry to say that someone abandoned Buttercup, Han and seven of his siblings. They were so small that Buttercup towered over them. I couldn't take those sweet puppies to the shelter, so they stayed in my laundry room until we found homes for them. Four of them went to New Hampshire, so if you live there and have a dog who looks like Han, it might be one of his siblings. Poor Buttercup was scared to death. She watched me so carefully, with a worried face. The first night, she went from one puppy to the next, like she was counting them and checking to be sure everyone was okay. But since she was an adult, I let her out to play with Queenie the next morning. I'll never forget how happy Buttercup was to discover Queenie's big dog bed and giant chew bone. Queenie adopted Buttercup immediately and never once growled at her over toys or bones. They still eat out of the same bowl if one finishes a meal sooner. BFF!

How did the dogs get their names?

Queenie's mother was named Lady Ruby so we felt a royal name was in order. I wasn't crazy about the name Queenie, but she's been so gracious toward the other dogs and is such a lovely leader of the pack, that now I think it's the perfect name for her. Naming Buttercup was hard. She was an adult when we found her, so she clearly had a name before. Even though she was sweet with the puppies, she was all rascally Jack Russell. When one of my friends suggested "Buttercup" we knew it was just right. Han had a sister who looked amazingly like him, hence Hansel and Gretel.

"The Diva Takes the Cake," Krista Davis's second Domestic Diva Mystery, is now available in bookstores everywhere.

Reviewer David Marshall James says "Davis has devised a delightful romp, with engaging characters and a nicely crafted setting in which to place them."

Watch the video for "The Diva Takes the Cake."

Learn more about Krista and her canines (and feline) at her website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue