Crystal & Pinch

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Crystal, a Canadian expat in France here with my 6-year-old miniature pinscher/dachshund mix, Pinch. I'm currently a stay-at-home pet mom of 4, as well as a freelance writer for Dogster.com and its sister site, Catster.com.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I make a pot of coffee every morning after my walk with Pinch. I'm not picky, but it has to be filter coffee and not too strong! When I'm in Canada, I love stopping by Tim Horton's and Starbucks.

What's brewing?

This week it's a Peruvian blend with a bit of vanilla sugar and a dash of milk.

Any treats for you or Pinch on this occasion?

He and my cats get a bit of flaked tuna on top of their kibbles every morning, and Pinch always gets a little cookie when we come in from our morning walk.

Right now, he's working his way through a bag of peanut butter treats I picked up during my last trip home to Canada.

Since you were last guests here on the blog you've relocated from the suburbs of Paris to a tiny town in the French Alps. Has that changed your pets' lives much?

We live in a much bigger apartment now, so they have more room to run around. It's also a lot quieter outside, and I'm at home more which Pinch really loves. Unfortunately, many of our neighbours in the building have dogs, and Pinch didn't make the best first impression when we moved in because he can be a bit aggressive towards unfamiliar people & pooches. We're working on it though! He's been, and is going back to a kennel run by a woman who specializes in working with dogs who have behavioural issues.

You've added a couple of striking Sphynx cats to the household. How's that going over with Pinch?

The sphynxes love to bully Pinch because he lets them! He is completely submissive to the cats, and I'd say that everyone gets along for the most part. They aren't exactly friends, but they certainly aren't enemies, either.

Skinny Mini, the older sphynx, loves to sneak up and swat Pinch on the head so she can steal his spot!

Has Pinch made any new canine pals in your town?

There is one much bigger dog in the building that Pinch will tolerate. We've been on a few hikes with Cooper, and it's very funny to see such a big dog alongside my little dog. Usually we just try to avoid other dogs outside so nobody starts barking or fighting. Everyone here thinks Pinch is adorable, but happy he's always kept on a leash!

Where is Pinch's favorite outdoor destination?

He loves to go anywhere that I can take off his leash so he can run free. Thankfully, there are many more places to do this here in the Alps than back in Paris. We took him on a 13km hike in the mountains a few months ago, and he had a great time exploring. Pinch has always loved grass, and will roll around in it the first chance he gets!

I enjoyed your article "Dog Ownership Is Killing Me -- And I Don't Mean Softly"; will you be doing more writing for Dogster?

I hope so! I've been working with them since February, and I've got a couple of articles up on the site already, as well as one on Catster.com about my sphynx cats. It's been great being able to combine my 2 passions in life -- writing & my pets!

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

That I would never leave him alone, even for a minute, and also that I'd never put him in the bathtub again.

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

What can I do to make you more social and less anxious around other people and dogs?

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Pinch and the cats could speak, who should voice them?

Well, even though he's French, I think Pinch would speak English, so I can see maybe Tobey Maguire? Noé, my big fluffy cat, would have the same voice as Garfield; Skinny Mini, the calico tabby sphynx has the fun, goofy personality of Jennifer Lawrence or Miley Cyrus, and I see Fly -- the dainty, yet mischievious sphynx -- with the voice of Kristen Bell.

Visit the Crystal Goes to Europe blog.

Read--Coffee with a Canine: Crystal & Pinch (July 2011).

--Marshal Zeringue

Courtney Rundell & Machu Picchu and Malife

Who is in the photo at right?

The girl wearing the headband is me - Courtney Rundell. I write, advocate and speak about thriving with alcoholism, bipolar and PTSD for WebMD, International Bipolar Foundation and the North Hollywood Patch and on my personal site.

The girl in the pink sweater is Machu Picchu, my amazing Boston Terrier. Yes, she’s wearing both boots and a sweater, because that’s how she rolls when she visits her grandma in Tahoe City.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Just another lazy Saturday afternoon chillin’ at the park with the husband, baby and two doggies.

What's brewing?

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s Sugar Free Mocha Ice Blended – yummm!

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Trader Joe’s Beefy Sticks are the bomb, I mean, if you’re a dog. My treat is spending an afternoon at the park with my beasts!

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Machu Picchu was named after the ancient mystical mountaintop city in Peru. Machu Picchu is a vortex of energy and a World Wonder and if you spend 10 minutes with her, you’ll agree.

Generally, she’s referred to as Mach, but there are several variations on that theme, such as: Le Mach, Mathee, Mathu and Mathu Pithee. Then there’s always Little Dawgs and Little Person in a Fur Coat and Cow Dog (is she a cow or is she a dog? She’s a cow dog!).

Malife (mah-leaf-ay) was named after a malapropism. My husband and I were watching Scarface for the 400th time and just after Al Pacino pulled out his machine gun and delivered the quintessential line “say hello to my little friend,” the hubs asked me the most awesome question of all time.

“Say hello to Malife. What does that even mean?”

“You mean, my little friend?”

“Rewind it. He says Malife.”

“Shut up. You can’t be serious right now. How many times have you seen this film?”

“I swear he’s saying Malife. It’s never made sense to me.”

“So, let me get this straight. Scarface is a total badass, kills like zillions of people, but he nicknames his machine gun?”

(Laughter ensues - for years. I’m actually laughing right now.)

Machu needed a little friend. She was lonely and depressed. Thus came Malfe. His nicknames are Leafays, Leafay, Leafs and Mats-leaf-ars.

How were you and your dogs united?

We had to use a breeder surrogate for Machu, as my husband and I only make humans. We knew when Machu’s “mom” was trying to get preggers, when she got preggers and when she was in labor. We tried to make her stop drinking wine, but she just wasn’t willing to give up her one glass a night.

Machu was born on December 20, 2004. She was 3-hours-old in this photo [at right].

She practically came out of my womb.

Malife was rescued by Boston Buddies (a wonderful organization in Orange County, CA). He was on death row in doggy jail and his back right leg had been broken in three places and reset itself backwards. Boston Buddies made the loving decision to try and save his leg rather than amputate it – which was much more expensive and wasn’t guaranteed to work.

His leg was rebroken and reset. The surgery was successful – he was a champ, but then he sat at the kennel for 3 months. No one would adopt him because he didn’t look like a Boston, probably because he totally wasn’t a Boston.

We took one look at him and knew he was the one – Machu’s little friend.

Ends up he’s mostly Miniature Pincher and Shitzu. This makes perfect sense when you meet him. His frame is Min-Pin and his tongue and personality are totally Shitzu, but he still thinks he needs to pretend to be a Boston. He burrows in the bed and makes hilarious noises, just like Machu.

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

Lulu, the French Bulldog, and Cat Dog, the cat who thinks he’s actually a dog. And if you met him, you’d agree. Any cat that can chill with a Boston as hyper as Machu is a very special pussnickers.

Squirrel, postman, cat....?

Sometimes there’s a possum in our dog run and much barking and hair raising ensues. Malife loves chasing the bunnies when we vacation in Ojai. Machu is completely obsessed with tennis balls.

Balls and bunnies aside, the other thing they love to chase is, well, me. I always wanted to be a celebrity so the universe gave me my very own personal “puparazzi.” Sometimes I put on sunglasses and run around the house pretending like I’m Britney Spears.

Yeah, I just admitted that on the web.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

“Throw the ball, throw the ball, throw the ball.” – Machu Picchu

“Chase Machu, chase Machu, chase Machu after you throw the ball so I can chew on her back legs and steal the ball although I could truly care less about the ball in the first place.” – Malife

What is each dog's best quality?

Machu really is a little person in a fur coat. She’s scary smart. She understands everything.

Yoda, she basically is.

She makes ridiculous noises. She snores as loud as an old man and cries like a baby.

She’s stubborn, moody, hyperactive and is the light of my life.

Malife, on the other hand, is not the brightest bulb in the box. He’s clumsy and codependent. His ears and tongue are comically large for his body. He’s also super jealous, which is weird since he came into the family after Machu.

And he’s everyone’s favorite.

Malife is the sweetest, snuggliest doggy of all time. The love that comes out of his brown eyes is so intense that it’s actually palpable. It’s physical. His energy can only be described as healing.

He’s trusting and compassionate and is the light of my life.

They’ve both been a huge part of my healing process and have each saved my life at different times. When I’m in the throws of my brain disorder, most humans feel unsafe to me. When I have a hard time trusting people, my pups have always been safe.

I often join them on their dog beds and we pray and meditate together. They’re the most tangible evidence I have of a God in this world. They are my strongest connection to the Divine.

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

Only one thing? They’d take away my laptop and never, ever give it back.

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

If “the most interesting man in the world” could be a woman from Boston that would be Machu – or Gisele Bündchen. Malife? Jeff Goldblum or Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees.

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

Malife, what were the first 7 months of your life like?

Machu, who built Stonehenge?

Visit Courtney Rundell's website, BeaPea.com.

--Marshal Zeringue

Crystal & Pinch

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Crystal, a 29 year-old Canadian ex-pat in France who teaches business English at a French insurance company near Paris. My dog Pinch is a miniature pinscher/dachshund mix and he's 4 years old. In that photo, we are on a paddle boat in the middle of a lake in the French Alps on holiday.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I have a coffee every morning around 7:30 before getting ready for work and after coming in from Pinch's walk (we live in an apartment). He'll sit on my lap as I sip my coffee and check blogs, emails, and likely Facebook.

What's brewing?

I have a Senseo coffee maker that makes one cup of coffee at a time. I love flavoured coffees and right now, I'm having vanilla.

Any treats for you or Pinch on this occasion?

I try to only give him doggie treats, but he usually gets a tiny taste of whatever I'm eating. I'd love for him to chew on those tartar reducing dog treats to help keep his teeth clean, but he won't touch them.

How were you and Pinch united?

I found him online in the North of France and actually ended up saving him from a backyard breeder who had no business taking care of puppies. I took him at 4 1/2 weeks when the woman told me to come get him because 'the mother dog isn't feeding him anymore so I'm just giving him cow's milk'. I figured he was better off with me, so I took him to the vet to get checked out and to buy some special puppy formula. He didn't even have teeth yet when he came home with me, but I nursed him back to health and paid for life-saving hernia surgery when he was just 5 1/2 weeks old.

How did Pinch get his name? Any nicknames?

My French husband actually came up with the name Pinch because it's short for 'pinscher' and easy for French and English people to pronounce! We have a variety of nicknames for him including: Mr. Silly, Bean, Nibble(s), and Mini Cujo (because he isn't the most social dog with other people and animals...)

Dogs generally love cheese; France is great at making cheese. Is Pinch a fromager?

He loves hard, salty cheeses but rarely ever gets any because I don't often have cheese at home. He has problems with tartar build up on his teeth, so I try not to give him things that could make it worse. But if I have some cheese, he'll run over and sit up on his hind legs like a bunny til I give him (a very tiny) piece.

If your household suddenly re-located to Canada, what would Pinch miss most about France? What would be the most difficult adjustment?

I don't think he'd miss anything. There are very few dog parks in France - near Paris, anyway - and a lot of traffic and people everywhere, all the time. In Canada, he'd have more places to run free and the possibility to make some doggie friends. The most difficult adjustment would be taking the plane I think. If he got through that, I'm sure he'd love his new life in Canada.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

He's never actually seen a squirrel I think and he's lived peacefully with his feline brother, Noé, since I got them both around the same time. If the postman rings the doorbell, I have to put him in another room so that he doesn't bark too much or jump at the poor guy. He barks at just about anything and everything.

What is an ordinary day like for Pinch?

I don't often work 9-5, so I'm home a lot with him. He gets walked once in the morning before I go to work, once at lunch time, then 2 more times before bed. He's a homebody and likes to just be near me if I'm reading or washing dishes. He also sleeps on the bed next to my pillow every night (my husband works nights). We are moving to the Alps at the end of August though, so his routine will be shaken up and I'm worried he'll need some time to get used to all the changes.

What is Pinch's best quality?

He is a very loyal dog to the people he tolerates. The exhaustive list includes me, my husband, and my French parents-in-law. He loves to snuggle with me at all times and is great at keeping me company when my husband is away for work. He's my baby and I couldn't imagine life without him.

If Pinch could change one thing about France, what would it be?

He'd be happy if other people and dogs didn't exist. Living in the city is hard for him because he's got some anxiety issues ever since a vicious attack from a much bigger dog.

He'd probably also like that other dog owners in France keep their dogs on leashes so that he doesn't feel the need to get into fights with them to protect his Mama.

What is Pinch's proudest moment so far? His most embarrassing?

His proudest moment was probably when, as a tiny puppy, he was published in the Cute Overload 2009 calendar in a photo snuggled up to my cat Noé [photo left].

Most embarrassing? He's scared of many inanimate objects and I've seen him growl and tuck his tail between his legs when we walk past a plastic bag blowing around in the street.

Visit the Crystal Goes to Europe blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Brigette Barrager & Lila

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Brigette and I'm a writer and illustrator of children's books. Lila is a little black dog. I don't know what she is exactly, but I strongly suspect miniature pinscher and something else, chihuahua maybe? Rat terrier? Everyone seems to have a theory.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Me and Lila spend every day together since I work from home, and we usually take an afternoon walk to our favorite place around the corner. Lila likes the walk, and I like the caffeine! So the "occasion" is really just our routine.

What's brewing?

Soy latte, mostly iced, unless it's really cold outside. Lila doesn't care for coffee, but she likes to lick the outside of the cup.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

The coffee is the goody!

Any treat for Lila on this occasion?

Lila likes those freeze dried chicken treats. She usually gets one of those. She also loves a good rawhide chew...she hides little pieces of them around the house.

How were you and Lila united?

My husband and I moved into a pet friendly apartment about two years ago, and I didn't waste any time looking for a dog. Sean really wanted an Italian Greyhound, but I'm partial to mutts myself. I spent a looooooooong time on PetFinder.com searching at local rescues and shelters, and then finally came across Lila. She was listed as an Italian Greyhound/chihuahua mix (which I don't think she is) and I thought that she might be perfect, since she met our criteria (kinda). At the time she had just finished nursing five puppies (!) and they were all extremely cute, but I really wanted an adult, housebroken, not-too-crazy-with-puppy-energy dog. Her story was that she had been at an animal shelter in Oxnard with her puppies, and they were very close to being put down, but the rescue, Dogs Without Borders, found her and put her into a foster home. I went to the adoption day that the rescue was holding a few days later, and there she was! I took her for a walk and I just had a good feeling about her. She was a little wary, as most rescues are, but she warmed up to us quickly. I took her home and she ran up my stairs and jumped all over my couch, and when she first met my husband she greeted him by trying to eat the buttons off his shirt.

How did she get her name?

Lila is the name she came with. I'm not sure who gave it to her, but she responds to it, and I like the ladylike sound of it, so Lila she remained!

What's Lila's role in your art?

Ha ha, Lila could care less about art, especially mine. I think mostly she wonders why I spend so much time just sitting and staring at the desk or the computer! I think it seems very boring to her. She does spend a good part of the day snoozing on the studio floor next to me though.

What's an ordinary day like for Lila?

We go on walks around the neighborhood, Lila keeps an eye on the courtyard and takes lots of naps while I work, I take regular breaks to tell her how cute she is, we go the dog park, and she watches me eat with great anticipation. If I should happen to leave her at home for any length of time I'm greeted at the door with enthusiastic leaps into the air! She doe the same when my husband comes home, and the evening is usually lots of sitting on laps and snuggling.

Who is your dog's best pet-pal?

It's hard to say. She has lots dogs that she is always happy to see, most of them from the dog park. I think her all time favorite is my Mom's little chihuahua mix Monty [photo left: Lila & Monty at the beach]. When we are within a block of her house Lila goes into a frenzy inside the car, running across the seats and whining.

What's Lila's best quality?

Lila always lets you know exactly how she feels. If she is happy to see you she springs into the air! If she is sleepy she makes nooooo effort to hide it, gets comfy and takes a nap. But if she doesn't want to be somewhere (like inside any store, she hates shopping) she'll let you know that too, by pulling with all her might towards the door. Also, she is endlessly cute. Spending the day with someone you find adorable is pretty special.

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

Her proudest, happiest moments are at the beach. She loves loves loves to run on the beach, and show off how fast she is. We live somewhat inland in LA, but whenever we go to Mom's in Carpinteria, CA, we stop by the beach so Lila can run. She runs as fast if not faster than all the big dogs, and leaves all the little guys in the dust. She looks so happy!

Sometimes Miss Lila miscalculates her jump onto the couch and bonks her butt on the coffee table. She looks a little bewildered after doing this. That's probably as close to embarrassed as she gets!

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

She would probably make me more patient in regards to her personal whims. The longer I know Lila, the more determined she gets about where she wants to walk and how far and how long, which is cute, and if I had nothing better to do at all I'd let her have it her way. But most of time I have things (work mostly) that prevent me from taking hours long promenades of the neighborhood. She'd like to be able to take her sweet sweet time sniffing around it, too. On a daily basis she gives me a look that says "Why can't you just stand there patiently while I sniff this leaf for twenty minutes? Why can't I stare blankly up the street into the distance for a good long while? Why don't you just relax so I can gnaw on this grass for an hour or so?"

Visit The Brigette Brigade blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Mickey Harmon & Penelope

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Mickey Harmon and I am an illustrator and graphic designer. This is Penelope and she is just one year old and a miniature pinscher.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Everyday we walk over to Cafe Taza on Elmwood Avenue next door to Sweet Tooth and they all love Penelope so much and all the neighborhood dogs get to say hello to her.

What's brewing?

If not Cafe Taza's coffee we have Wegmans Organic Arabica at home.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Just cereal in the morning; I'm a purest. OK, OK, maybe the occasional scone.

Any treat for Penelope on this occasion?

Penelope gets enough treats from the crumbs from people at Taza!

How were you and Penelope united?

Penelope was brought into our arms when a friend of ours was getting a Chihuahua from a breeder in North Townawanda. The breeder had a friend who had miniature pinscher pups and she was the calmest one in the bunch, just looking up at us and the rest is history.

How did she get her name?

Well... If I were to explain the entire 6 year run of the TV show LOST to you, this would be a different blog. Penelope is named after Penelope Widmore Hume, a character and if I may say so the prettiest one on the show. Kind of obsessed. Penelope is also the lead woman in Homer's Odyssey in which the character in LOST is named after!

What's Penelope's role in your art?

Penelope has one contribution = lap warmer.

What's an ordinary day like for Penelope?

Well, she gets up at 7, has a light breakfast, goes back to sleep, wakes up, demands my attention, we walk to Taza, come home, begs me for my lunch, naps again, sits on my lap til Ben gets home, eats dinner and then watches movies snuggled in between the two of us all night long.

Who is Penelope's best pet-pal?

She has a few, including Patrick the Shih-tzu downstairs from us and Daisy the Yorkie, Ben's boss's dog.

What's Penelope's best quality?

Penelope's best quality is her sensitivity. She almost looks as though she cares about your well being. If I am down and out, she somehow knows it and snuggles up on my neck to almost hug me.

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

Proudest = beat up two chihuahuas. Most embarrassing = fell in the in-laws' pool and didn't know how to swim.

If Penelope could change one thing about you or Ben, what would it be?

We won the lottery and would never leave her alone at home again.

Visit Michael Harmon's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Paty Jager & Tink, Boots, and T-Bone

Who is in the photo at right?

Hi, I'm Paty Jager. I'm the author of nine historical and contemporary western romance novels. My side kick, Tink, believes she's my muse. Being a Miniature pinscher and Chihuahua mix she is the right size to squeeze onto my lap when I'm writing, and therefore, she believes she is the ghost writer of all my books. She's been on all of my research trips. Gold mining in Sumpter, OR, checking out the historical center in The Dalles, taking a trek up the gravel roads of Silver City, ID and she's even been to several book signings, wearing a tiny cowboy hat. Tink believes she's a person and ignores the two cow dogs. Boots, a Border collie, and T-Bone, a Red heeler/Australian shepherd mix who help us move our thirty head of cattle. And the two Mini-aussies we're keeping for our daughter.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We heard about Coffee with a Canine from another dog lover and had to stop in and check it out and see if you have tasty treats. Tink's cute face always gets her a treat.

What's brewing?

I'm a green tea drinker- especially green tea with honey, lemon, ginseng.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

T-Bone and Tink have sweet tooths and will consider just about anything a treat, but Boots is a picky eater. While T-Bone might take half your hand when you give her a treat, the other two are very polite. So feed them first.

How were you and your dogs united?

Shortly after we bought our 70 acre ranch, a friend showed up at our door with T-Bone as a puppy. He picked the dog up for his daughter, and she didn't want her. Since she was a cow dog and my husband can never turn down a puppy face, she stayed. She hasn't been much of a cow dog, but she has such a happy go lucky personality you can't help but smile when you look at her. That was 14 years ago.

A year later a man was selling Border collie puppies out of the trunk of his car at the local feed store. My husband was there and the man told him this last pup and fallen out of the trunk and hurt herself, and if he didn't find someone to take her he was going to kill her. So my husband brought her home, and she has been his shadow ever since. She has the best cow instincts I've ever witnessed in a cow dog.

We'd lost a house dog and moved into a new house. I told my husband I didn't want another house dog, but an elderly couple who are good friends had a small dog that I made over every time I saw him. And low and behold, one day the couple showed up at my house saying, "Come on, you get pick of the litter." Their little male had sired a litter of pups and they were giving me the pick of the litter. I went along and sitting in the middle of eight puppies, I picked out Tink. She had a little crook in her tail but she had the same coloring as three other females. The owner of the mother said she couldn't tell which one I wanted and I might as well take her with me that day. She was 4 weeks old and fit in the palm of my hand. My husband and I wouldn't know what to do if something happened to her. She's been our enjoyment the last five years now that the kids are all raising their own families.

How did the dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Tink is short for Tinkerbelle. Because she was so small when we first got her, I wanted a name that fit something small and dainty. Our friends and kids call her Stinker.

Boots… I'm not sure why my husband picked that name. He just did and it stuck, but I like to call her Tootsie.

T-Bone- The person who gave her to us said that was her name because the white on her face looked like a T-bone. And she's just T-bone.

What role have your dogs played in your writing?

As I said above, Tink thinks she's my muse. She sits on my lap when I write, travels on road trips, and attends book signings. But the outside dogs have influenced cow dogs in my contemporary novels. I've used some of their personalities in fictitious dogs in Perfectly Good Nanny and Bridled Heart. One is a cow dog mix like T-Bone and the other a Border collie.

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

Tink likes riding in the car, but she especially likes to ride on tractors. My husband fixed up boxes on every tractor so she can ride along. If she's at the house and hears a tractor start at the barn she heads down there and the next time I see my husband and the tractor Tink is riding in her box. Boots and T-Bone like to ride on the hay trailer in the winter when we feed the cows.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

T-Bone and Boots- Cat, Sage Rat, Rock Chuck.

Tink – mice and voles.

What is each dog's best quality?

Tink- Peppy character and doesn't bark.

T-Bone- happy face and attitude.

Boots- Sweet and cattle savvy.

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

They'd have me handing out treats every hour.

What is each dog's proudest moment? Her most embarrassing?

Proudest for Tink would be when she chased a rabbit out of my flowers. It took her some time to get up the gumption to chase it. It was bigger than her. Her embarrassing moment: when our daughter's mini aussie rolled Tink. She got up looking so befuddled.

T-Bone's proudest moment would be when she finally caught a rock chuck she'd had cornered in a rock pile for several hours. Embarrassing: chasing a cow out of a pasture we'd just put her in.

Boots' proudest moment would be when she herded five heifers out of one pen and into the next just with my husband giving her hand commands. Most embarrassing would be when she fell from the hay trailer and caught her leg in the stake pocket and dislocated it.

Visit Paty Jager's website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Diane A.S. Stuckart & Ranger, Delta, Oliver and Paprika

Who is in the photo at right?

That's me, Diane A.S. Stuckart, author of various romances, short fiction, and mysteries, including my current Leonardo da Vinci mystery series published by Berkley Prime Crime. With me is my Italian greyhound, Ranger. He just turned six years old in December. He's what they call a "biggie Iggy" since he's about 25 pounds and 19 inches tall. Most Iggies are half that size.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Are you kidding? I can't eat or drink ANYTHING without Ranger and his brother and sisters wanting to join in!

What's brewing?

I'm no coffee snob. My favorite brew is fresh MacDonald's coffee, small, with two creams. I also have a weakness for chai tea latte ... Starbucks' version, in particular. Ranger likes cappuccino (hey, he IS Italian!)

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

If it's chocolate, it goes with coffee.

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

Our guys' current favorite treat is chicken jerky wrapped in dried sweet potato strips. But since the manufacturer has quit making that particular goodie, my husband has started dehydrating sweet potato strips for them.

How did your dogs come to be united with you?

Ranger and his sister, Delta (also an Iggy), came from a breeder in Oklahoma. Ranger was supposed to be my dog after my sweet white German shepherd, Aspen, died, but Ranger bonded more with my husband, Gerry. We had to go get Delta so that I'd have my very own Iggy. Oliver, our Australian shepherd, is three years old and is a rescue dog. Our friend Shelby took home a mama Aussie and her four 2-week-old pups from some woman trying to sell the little guys in a garage sale! She raised them in her condo until they were old enough to be adopted out, and then we brought Ollie home with us. Since he didn't go through the usual tail bobbing, he's an "Aussie with a Tail" which makes him look almost like a different breed. Paprika--or Rika Red Rocket, as we call her--is another rescue dog also three years old. She originally was sold in a pet shop as a miniature pinscher, but we're pretty sure she's half dachshund. We're her third home, and she's with us for good.

How did they get their names?

Ranger's full name is Lone Star Ranger. Though we live in Florida now, we're from Texas originally. He is white with chocolate markings that look like a Western vest and a little mask like the Lone Ranger wore, so the name seemed to fit. My husband chose Delta's name...he was riffing off of Ranger and came up with Lone Star Delta, as in Delta Force. But since she has a bad leg and ended up being a little fatty, we nicknamed her "Delta Bark", a play on Delta Burke (both of them are plump but beautiful). Paprika is red and spicy, just like her name, and Oliver just seemed like a good name for a big old fluff head.

Do they have any influence on your writing?

Rika sits under my desk when I write, and when she thinks I'm staying up too late, she'll jump in my lap and go to sleep, which tells me it's time for bed. But Ranger is the one who's really the literary dog. He was the inspiration for "Pio" the Italian greyhound who appears in my Leonardo da Vinci mystery series. In fact, he was the cover dog on the second installment, Portrait of a Lady. My husband was so thrilled to see his dog on my book that we bought the original art.

What's an ordinary day like for your dogs?

Since both my husband and I work full-time, they spend the day on the big screened-in sun porch on the back of our house. Once we get home, they run around outside for awhile, come in for awhile, go out for awhile...and repeat until bedtime, when all of them but Oliver crawl under the covers with us and go to sleep.

Do you & the dogs have a favorite place to go for walk?

We're on more than an acre, so they have plenty of room to run right here on the property. But every so often, we'll go for walks in the neighborhood (kind of a risky business, since we're in an area where there are no sidewalks and certain people feel free to let their dogs roam unleashed). Their favorite thing, though, is to hop in the back of my SUV when I get home at night and ride with me the whole 20 feet down the driveway from the gate to where I park. What fun!

Stick, tennis ball, frisbee...?

Ollie and Rika are big on fetching any of those. Ranger and Delta prefer to chew on their stuffed toys and rip the squeakies out of them.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

Squirrel chasing is a big pastime here, as is trying to catch birds at the bird feeders. Rika is fast enough that she's snagged a couple. And then there was that rather grisly incident with the baby bunnies. As for cats, we have two orange tabby boys, Butch and Sundance. Dogs and cats, they all get along just fine together. The only problem is that Butch is a bit flighty, and inevitably he will run if he sees Rika or Ollie heading toward him. So, of course, they chase him, and the race is on. Ollie and Rika think it is great fun...Butch, not so much. The postman (actually, a postwoman) drives in a car, so she just gets barked at.

Want to share a favorite dog story?

Soon after we got Ranger, we headed out to Lake Powell in Utah for a houseboat trip we'd planned for a long while. At that time, we only had Ranger and our previous Aussie, Matilda. Both of them wore life jackets while on board. Ranger was still a little guy back then, so anytime we needed to we could just pick him up by the handle on his life jacket and carry him around. And he was a big hit every time we docked. People--women, especially--would see him prancing around in his little yellow life vest and decide he was the cutest thing ever. My husband calls him a chick magnet, as a result.

What's each dog's best quality?

Of course, ours are the best dogs in the world! Ollie and Ranger are the people persons, er, dogs. Rika is the star athlete despite her stubby legs, and Delta is the pampered princess.

What's each dog's proudest moment so far?

All the dogs are proud of Ranger being on the cover of a book AND having his very own page on his mom's website, especially since he puts their pictures on the site, too. Their most embarrassing moments? Any time mom catches them counter surfing, or eating the kitties' food, or sticking their snouts in the kitty box.

Besides Ranger's appearance in your Leonardo da Vinci series, have you used any of your other pets as characters in your books?

Our Mitred Conure, Rascal, inspired a parrot in one of my romances. And the two cats who try to raise a mummy cat from the dead in my short story, "Once We Were Worshipped" (which appears in the A Constellation of Cats anthology from DAW), were based on various cats we've had over the years, although none of them actually talked or performed magic. But one of my favorite animal characters was Tiffany the talking rat in my short story, "Business as Usual" (also in a DAW anthology, this one called Familiars). Tiff was no ordinary talking rat, but was a reincarnated saleswoman who'd been a queen of mean in life and was sent back to earth to help a meek coworker win a sales award. Unfortunately, she finds it hard to change her ways, even in rodent form.

Visit Diane A.S. Stuckart's website and learn more about her latest novel, A Bolt from the Blue, the 3rd Leonardo da Vinci mystery.

View the video trailers for A Bolt from the Blue and Portrait of a Lady.

--Marshal Zeringue

Juliet Marillier & Gretel, Pippa and Sara

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Juliet Marillier, a full time writer of novels that span the genres of historical fiction, romance and fantasy. My most recent book is Heart’s Blood, a romantic ghost story loosely based on Beauty and the Beast. I live in a riverside suburb of Perth, Western Australia. With me in the picture are Gretel and Pippa. My third dog, Sara, needs her own photo [below left] because she’s fussy about whom she allows close. Gretel is an intriguing cross breed, aged about 8. She’s part miniature pinscher, part something with really big ears. Pippa is a purebred miniature pinscher, aged 4. Sara is mostly Maltese. She is an old lady, at least 12.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

A work break for me, on the couch at home. The dogs are very strict about enforcing these breaks, so I can attend to their needs.

What's brewing?

A decaff long black for me, made in the plunger.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

I’m having almonds and dried apricots.

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

Pip and Gretel are having a Greenie, a type of dog treat that is good for their teeth. Sara is too old to be bothered chewing anything challenging. We’re all on special diets for various health reasons.

How did your dogs come to be united with you?

They are all rescue dogs. Gretel has been with me for six years. She was found wandering in an industrial district and taken to a refuge – she was there several months before I adopted her. It is amazing that nobody took her earlier as she is a good-tempered, pretty little dog. She does have a major health issue – she’s epileptic and needs daily medication for life. My best companion.

I’ve had elderly, blind Sara for just over a year. Most of the time she’s sweet as pie, but she can transform instantly into a growling, biting ball of aggression. I took her in as a foster dog, and once she was settled here it seemed too cruel to expect her to move again. She has a heart condition but is doing OK thanks to good veterinary attention plus love and care. She spends a lot of the time sleeping.

Pippa is the newest arrival. Her owner was an elderly acquaintance of mine who died suddenly last winter. Pip was his precious only child, and I took her rather than see her go to a refuge. She came complete with a wardrobe of hand-sewn dog coats ranging from brocade to faux fur. She’s had to learn to share her house and her human with other animals. A bundle of energy in a small body. Oh, and she’s so good at those pleading eyes…

How did they get their names?

Pippa was originally just Pip, and named after an English cartoon character called Pipsqueak. Sara came from the shelter with her name, which I thought suited her, though on second thoughts Her Ladyship or Princess might be more apt. In the refuge Gretel was named Petunia. I knew I’d never use that in public! Since she’s part pinscher, a Germanic name seemed appropriate, so I named her after a German fairy tale character.

What's an ordinary day like for your dogs?

In theory it’s structured around my work routine, but actually it’s structured entirely around the animals. Gretel, Pippa and Sonia the cat all sleep in with me. Once someone wakes up, we’re all up. I make their breakfast and administer their various medications, then we listen to the radio news while I have my breakfast.

Next come walkies in rain or shine. Dogs never seem to understand that if it’s raining out the back it will be raining out the front as well. I’m lucky enough to live in a riverside suburb with many great places for dogs to play, explore, socialise and, in summer, swim. Not that mine do – they are all timid about water. Gretel and Pippa get their walk first, a long, brisk one. Sara lives her life at a slower pace than the others, and that includes her walks. Being totally blind, she has to stay on the lead. We make a regular visit to the corner store for our daily newspaper. Sara likes to stop every few paces and have a good sniff around.

After the two walks, I settle down to write for most of the day, with breaks for coffee and meals.

In the late afternoon we repeat the whole routine. I usually work some more in the evenings, but the dogs prefer it when I watch TV. Gretel, Pippa and Sonia the cat take turns on my lap, with the others snuggling as close as possible. When Sara has her turn on the lap, everyone else moves away rather than risk a sudden random attack.

Do your dogs have any influence on your writing?

They provide inspiration for the dog characters in my books. In my most recent novel, Heart’s Blood, there is a giant hound named Fianchu, of whom it’s said that he can eat a ram in one bite. He plays quite a big role in the story, and part of his tale is based on real life experience. I think readers will be able to work out which part it is and why it was so difficult to write. My work-in-progress contains a crotchety little white dog called Fang. No prizes for guessing which member of the household she’s based on!

Cat, rabbit, postman…

Cat, but not our own cat Sonia, who is unafraid of dogs. Pippa is still learning about this.

Who is each dog's best pet-pal?

Gretel likes Sonia the cat – they’ve been here longest and are happy to curl up and sleep side by side. Pippa likes Gretel best, as she is a good walk buddy and super-tolerant. Sara doesn’t like anyone.

What's each dog's best quality?

Gretel: sweet temper
Pippa: courage
Sara: super-cuddliness

What's each dog's proudest moment so far? Her most embarrassing?

They all get ‘proudest moment’ awards for their unstinting support this year during my long course of breast cancer treatment. That’s why my hair is so short in the photo – it’s growing back after chemo. My dogs’ unconditional love was a major factor in my staying brave and positive through this challenge. Gretel especially liked sharing the daytime naps.

Most embarrassing? Well, dogs have no concept of embarrassment, but there have been a few moments involving bodily functions and public places.

What would your life be like without your dogs?

Too quiet! I’d go a little crazy if it was just me and my laptop all day. My exercise regime would suffer, and instead of talking to the dogs I would have to start talking to myself … I’d miss the cuddles and affection terribly. The love you give a dog is returned a hundredfold. It’s unlikely I will ever be without at least one dog. I find it very hard to turn away a waif who needs a home.

Best dog book?

Street Dogs by Traer Scott, a wonderful photo essay on dogs living alone or in packs in Puerto Rico and Mexico. It will make you cry, but it’s uplifting too.

Juliet Marillier's historical fantasy novels are published internationally and have won a number of awards.

Her Wildwood Dancing made Amazon's 2007 list of top ten books for young adults; it also won the 2006 Aurealis Award for best fantasy novel.

Visit Juliet Marillier's website to learn more about her books and works in progress, and read her "author's spotlight" essay at the Random House website. Also, check out Writer Unboxed, a genre writing blog which she shares with several other writers and editors.

Read an excerpt from Heart’s Blood.

The Page 69 Test: Heart’s Blood.

--Marshal Zeringue