Paula Munier & Bear

Who’s in the photo at right?

That's me, Paula Munier, and Bear.

I'm an author, an agent, and a writing teacher. My dog's name is Bear. He's a male, probably about three years old, a Newfoundland Retriever mix as far as we can tell.

Every morning we have coffee together. I drink coffee, he drinks water. Bear is a morning person, I am not a morning person. That’s why Bear has to wait for me to get my act together and come outside and sit down and drink my coffee. We live in New England in a big old 18th-century Colonial—19 acres of Sugar Maples and a lake, and lots of wildlife all around.

What's brewing?

What's brewing is coffee, black. I never drank coffee as a young woman. I drank Pepsi. When I got my first job as the only woman reporter on a tough-guy staff of a business magazine back in the 80s, they made fun of me. They said that real reporters drank black coffee. So I learned to do it. They taught me to curse, too, but that's another story.

Any treats for you or Bear on this occasion?

Bear always get a treat. If we're having bacon and eggs, he gets bacon and eggs. If we're having peanut butter toast, he gets a little peanut butter toast. He's spoiled. What can I say?

How were you and Bear united?

We adopted him. He's a rescue from Alabama. He'd been hit in the head (probably with a shovel) and abandoned. Double Dog Rescue found him, fostered him, and brought him up to New England for us. He's a lovely dog in every way.

How did your dog get his name? Any aliases?

His name was Bear already when we got him. But I call him Yogi Berra because he's the same goofy, profound kind of character that Yogi Berra was. If you see a fork in the road, take it….

Does Bear do more to help or hinder your writing?

Bear is a great help to me in my writing. He served as the inspiration for Susie Bear, one of the dogs in my K-9 mystery, A Borrowing of Bones. She’s a Newfoundland Retriever mix like Bear. She works as a search-and-rescue dog with Vermont Game Warden Troy Warner. Like Bear, she’s friendly and cheerful—and a very good swimmer.

Cat, postman, squirrel…?

We have a rescue cat, a torbie tabby named Ursula. Bear chases her, but only with the aim of persuading her to play with him, which she naturally refuses to do. He really needs a pal, and we're on the lookout for another rescue dog to be his playmate.

Ball, squeaky toy, stick?

Bear doesn't show much interest in fetching, although he’s a very smart dog. He's done very well in obedience training, and we’re doing some agility and nose work now. (When we train him, we use treats as a reward.) We've taught him to go kayaking with us in our tandem kayak, and to jump up on my paddleboard with me when I go out on the lake, which is great for me because it adds almost 100 pounds to my workout.

What is Bear's favorite outdoor destination?

Bear likes to go anywhere anytime. He loves to go with rides from Michael in his truck, especially to Home Depot because he knows that every Home Depot run usually ends in a stop at McDonald's for a cheeseburger or a breakfast McMuffin depending on the time of day. (We are remodeling the house, so there are a lot of trips to Home Depot.) He likes to go on walks with me in the woods. He likes to go swimming in the lake. He likes to go anywhere and everywhere. He's always ready to have fun.

What is Bear's best quality?

I would say his best quality is his ability to live in the moment. He had a very rough beginning in Alabama. When we rescued him, he showed up with half of his upper teeth missing and it was apparent from the X-rays that his skull and facial bones had been fractured. Our vet removed the roots left from those missing teeth, and he seems to be fine now. But you’d never know that he’d had such a tough past. Our vet calls him The Happiest Dog in the World. He’s living large in the present. A good lesson for all of us.

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

That's a really funny question. I'm stricter with Bear than anyone else in the family, because I do the training with him. So, he'd probably like it if I let him get away with more at home. And he’d probably like our walks through the countryside to be even longer than they already are.

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

I'd ask him to tell me a little bit more about his past so that we'd understand him better. Or maybe I’d take a cue from his “Be Here Now” philosophy and just ask him what kind of playmate he'd like to have, now that we are actively looking for another rescue. (Or two or three or...after all, we do have 19 acres now.)

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

I would say Yogi Berra, because he reminds me so much of Yogi Berra in that zany Zen monk kind of way. But since Yogi Berra is no longer with us, Bear will have to settle for Tom Hanks.

What advice would Bear give if asked?

I think Bear would advise us to lighten up, have fun, and live for the moment. He'd also tell us to take care of one another. He's a very protective and loyal dog. And he pays very close attention to everything we do and say. I think he'd remind us to pay attention to the people we love. Just like he does.

Visit Paula Munier's website.

My Book, The Movie: A Borrowing of Bones.

--Marshal Zeringue

EJ Hanagan & Brody and Baxter

Who is in the photo at the right?

Brody and I are goofing off in the photo at the right. The other picture is Baxter posing for the camera on one of our car rides. Both boys are going on 7 years old. They are Newfoundlands. Baxter, the black and white one is called a Landseer Newfoundland because of his markings. My name is EJ Hanagan, author of Saving Jason.

What’s the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We are celebrating the launch of my debut novel, Saving Jason, released on September 3rd.

What’s brewing?

Starbucks hot pike place with a shot of hazelnut syrup and cream.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Dew drops from Honeydew. We stop by Honeydew donuts every Saturday for a couple dew drops for them. They are partial to the blueberry ones.

How did your dogs get their names?

Both Baxter and Brody were pre-picked names. There is no real reason behind them, either. We simply liked the names. That sounds so boring.

How were you and your dogs united?

Baxter was planned well in advance-we went through a breeder in Hartville, Missouri. When we first pulled up to the house, he was being pummeled in the front yard by an older newf. It was like a tumbleweed of fluffy newf rolling around.

Brody came into our lives through a rescue in northern Indiana. His name was “Chief” when we first got him, but we quickly changed it to “Chief Brody,” then simply “Brody.”

How do your dogs help—or hinder—your writing?

They certainly help-as they serve as a foot rest while I’m typing away. When I write about dogs, I use them to study fur texture, movement, etc. So, they get plenty of pets as a reward.

Have any actual dogs inspired fictional dogs in your writing?

Yes, Chauncy the Irish Setter in Saving Jason is based on an Irish Setter that made an appearance in the TV series Mad Men.

Squirrel, postman, cat?

Baxter couldn't care less about creatures, but Brody is wild over them. We had guinea pigs for awhile and he would stand by their cage and cry. I’m not sure if he wanted to rescue them and let them escape or if he wanted to eat them. Don’t worry—the guinea pigs are safe.

Brody also took my pet turtle Ben, under his wing. He would snuggle with him and hold him between his paws.

Who are your dogs best pet pals?

While they have completely opposite personalities, they are each other’s best friend. They also hang out with a curmudgeon of a basset hound named Yogi and of course their relatives—Morgan the spaniel, KiKi the Bichon Frise and Dexter and Sammy the terriers.

What is each dog’s best quality?

Baxter has a natural water rescue instinct. It’s good because we always feel safe having kids around the water while he is around, but it’s hard if we ever want to go for a relaxing dip. He circles and barks anytime we are in the water.

Brody is a lover. All he wants is love in return, so a little attention goes a long way. After having a bad day, Brody is the ultimate consoler.

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

They would want them to be more accepting about renting with dogs. And they would love more outdoor seating where dogs are allowed. These boys like to be seen.

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

Brody’s voice would be done by Brian Baumgartner (Kevin from The Office).

Baxter’s voice would be Seann William Scott (Stiffler from American Pie).

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

I’d ask Brody “What exactly do you want to do with guinea pigs and creatures?”

I’d ask Baxter “Why do you require so much sleep?”

Visit EJ Hanagan's website, Facebook page, and Twitter perch.

--Marshal Zeringue

Heather Huffman & Kali, Charlie, Shoeshine and Po

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Heather Huffman, author of seven romantic suspense novels. My latest, Devil in Disguise, was released in June.

My family lives on a small homestead in the Missouri Ozarks, where we’re attempting to become more self sufficient. Our dogs are both our beloved pets and an essential part of the farm.

Kali is a six-month-old female Anatolian Shepherd/Great Pyrenees named after a character from my novel Jailbird.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Our dogs are LGDs (Livestock Guardian Dogs); their primary job is to guard the homestead. Since predators are most active at night, that’s their busiest time of day. In the morning after my boys are off to school, I let them in so we can enjoy a coffee break together.

What's brewing?

Yuban coffee because it’s Rainforest Alliance certified, with a dash of sugar and a splash of French vanilla creamer.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Does the heater count?

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Charlie [photo left] and Kali are both named after my favorite book couple. Charlie is a four-year-old Newfoundland/Lab mix.

Our newest additions are two Great Pyrenees/Corgi cross puppies named Shoeshine, after Underdog, and Po, after Kung Fu Panda.

How were you and your dogs united?

Charlie was adopted from a shelter when we still lived in suburban St. Louis and happily turned out to be an amazing farm dog. Kali was a gift from my sister. Shoeshine and Po [photo right] came to us when a friend took in a Great Pyrenees only to find out she was pregnant by a Corgi.

Do your dogs have any influence on your writing?

They certainly influence my productivity! How can you resist the “love me” eyes? Many of my characters have dogs, so my affection for them definitely comes through in my novels!

Rabbit, postman, cat....?

Trash man. Kali flipped out the first time she saw the trash man emptying our bin. I told her to calm down and she kept giving me this look that clearly said, “But Mom, he’s stealing the stuff in that big black box!”

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

Stick, all the way. Squeaky toys and balls are a light snack for my dogs. Every so often I get them a toy because I want to spoil them. Within minutes, it’s shredded and I’m picking up little pieces from all over my yard.

What is each dog's best quality?

I love that Charlie is intensely loyal to the entire family. He sleeps in the hallway so he can equally protect all of his people. He’s so stoic and rarely expressive, but when it’s just me and him, I can see the complete and total adoration in his face.

I love to watch Kali joyfully bound through the pasture; her zeal for life and her love for her home is catching. I think it’s amazing that even at six months old, and despite her happy-go-lucky demeanor, she never hesitates to protect those under her watch, and she’s good at what she does.

I love to watch the puppies’ different personalities develop. Po is a total couch potato and he’d rather be inside with Charlie, guarding the people. Also like Charlie, he comes across as aloof to a stranger. Now that he’s figured out we’re his, he graces us with that same look of adoration.

Shoeshine [photo left] is rambunctious and fearless. He has an amazing puppy smile and he’s incredibly smart. When I took him outside for his first training session, he watched me for a minute until he figured out what I was doing (herding ducks) before falling in line beside me to help as if we did that together every morning.

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

The amount of time I spend in front of the computer.

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

Hmm… Charlie would be Liam Neeson, Kali should be Anne Hathaway, Po should probably be Jack Black in keeping with his name, and Johnny Depp as Shoeshine.

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

Because Kali spends a large portion of her time curled up on her “perch” (a lawn chair) watching over the homestead, I’d love to ask her what’s going through her mind as she watches them.

Visit Heather Huffman's website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Lois Alter Mark & Jessie

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Lois Alter Mark, co-founder of StyleSubstanceSoul, Flicks for Kids editor at NickJr. and blogger on The Huffington Post. Jessie is my sweet old – very old – Newfoundland. She will turn 12 in June.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Every day that Jessie is still here is an occasion for celebration. She’s so old – the vet says she’s around 100 – that she’s pretty much just living on love at this point.

What's brewing?

For me, a trenta-sized black iced tea, unsweetened with no water and extra ice from Starbucks. With two Sweet ‘n Lows. For Jessie, a nice, cold bowl of water.

Any treats for you or Jessie on this occasion?

Yes! It’s hard to get her to eat these days but she has to have a specific amount of food at specific times of the day because she has diabetes and needs insulin shots after both meals. So, today, I brought home a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit from McDonald’s, which we shared. Her nose still goes right up in the air when I walk in the house with that bag, and she gobbled up every piece I gave her. She needs the calories way more than I do!

How did Jessie get her name? Any aliases?

We had just moved to California from New York two years earlier and our beloved chow chow, Sophie, had passed away on the trip cross-country at age 11. We wanted to give our new dog a Wild West kind of name and couldn’t help thinking about Jesse James. We named her Jessie and looked for a middle name beginning with the letter “S” to honor Sophie. We chose Sage because it felt West Coast-y.

As far as aliases, there are many! We often refer to her in third person as “the Jess,” and say “hi, Puppy” to her when we walk into the house. My son calls her “the Newfoundlander;” my husband, who has studied Buddhism, calls her “the rinpoche,” which means “precious one;” and my daughter calls her “Gibson.” They’re all nuts.

How were you and Jessie united?

It took two years for us to feel ready to get a new dog after Sophie passed away. We were at the Del Mar Fair and they had a “meet the breed” event with Newfoundlands. We immediately fell in love. We became great friends with Sharon Gilbert, the wonderful woman behind the table, and she eventually led us to the breeder where we got Jessie. She was one of the two smallest puppies of the litter of six, and, all these years later, she’s the only one still alive.

Does Jessie have any non-canine pet-pals?

Only her fuzzy green frog squeaky toy. She loves him.

What is Jessie's best quality?

Jessie has a heart that’s as big as her body – and that’s saying a lot. She is pure love, and she brings the most incredible sense of peace to the whole house just by being there. Sometimes we swear she smells like a fresh baked good.

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

She would want me to spend all my time petting her. When I sit on the floor with her, she puts her paw on my knee, then throws her head back so I can rub her neck. When I stop, she gets mad and barks. She would like to change the fact that I stop.

For a dog her age, Jessie must have many proud moments. Care to share about a couple of those?

Well, she graduated puppy school with honors and won special recognition for her ability to “stay” longer than any other dog when there was a treat in front of her. She was also awarded a ribbon for “Miss Congeniality” because she was always friendly and welcoming to everyone.

She is probably very proud of the fact that, when she was confined to the family room after knee surgery, she somehow managed to end up in the kitchen – a feat we have never been able to figure out.

I am proud of her amazing spirit. Even though she has been almost completely blind since developing diabetes three years ago, she still manages to get around without a complaint and is as loving as ever. She used to make a crying sound when she couldn’t get up, and I would go help her. One time, she must have leaned all her weight on my arm, and I ended up with a torn tendon. Since that day, she has never again “asked” for help. She manages to get herself up, and I am awestruck and touched by her sensitivity and compassion.

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

My husband talks for Jessie all the time, and he would have to be the one to do her voice in a movie.

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

How in the world did you ever get out of the family room that day?

Visit StyleSubstanceSoul, and read Lois Alter Mark's blog posts on The Huffington Post.

--Marshal Zeringue

Charity Dennington & Katie and Louie

Who is in the photo at right?

That's me, Charity Dennington, with 4-year-old Newfoundland Dog, Katie, on the day she first qualified in Advanced Rally Obedience. You can tell we were both quite proud of ourselves.

I am a purchasing manager and database programmer, but my main passion is my family which besides Katie includes my husband, Gary; our 3-year-old Newfoundland, Louie; and our daughter Natalie who we are adopting from China later this year.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We are just relaxing at home on a nice Saturday morning.

What's brewing?

Hawaiian Kona coffee, black.

Any treats for you or Katie and Louie on this occasion?

Salmon treats for Katie & Louie, Newman's Own Organic Chocolate/Chocolate Sandwich Cookies for me.

How were you and the dogs united?

Katie and Louie came from some amazing Newfoundland breeders in Cabot, Arkansas: Wilbon Newfoundlands. We have become good friends with them over the last five years and have learned a lot from them about this complex breed. Since we live close to Cabot we were able to visit the litters about once a week after the puppies were born. We wanted to get the sweetest pups of the litters and we seem to have succeeded. In both cases, Katie and Louie picked us as much as we picked them. In Katie's case it was love at first sight. However, when I heard that Louie at the age of 2 weeks old managed to climb over the wall and escape his puppy enclosure I told Gary we had to steer clear of that one because he was going to be trouble. By the time Louie was 5 weeks old though we saw that we really had no choice in the matter. Even the breeders were calling him Louie at that young age because it was apparent that he was the sweetest, cuddliest pup of the bunch just like we had requested. Louie has gotten into a few scrapes over the years, but mostly he is an eager-to-please boy.

When Louie came home at the age of 10 weeks Katie was 18 months old - still a puppy herself. She matured overnight though when she got a little brother to nurture. Katie is the best big sister ever (although her "little" brother now outweighs her by 20 pounds).

How did they get their names?

Katie is named after my favorite fictional character. Her full name is Wilbon's Katie Scarlett O'Hara.

Louie is registered as Wilbon's What a Wonderful World - He is named after my favorite jazz musician, Mr. Armstrong.

Any aliases?

Katie Sue & Louie Lou, pumpkin, sweetie, honey, tiny little puppy dog, kookoo, booboo…just about any endearment you can think of.

Do Katie and Louie have a favorite place to go for walk?

Any park-like setting is always a hit. If there is water it's even better. The very best days are when the temperature is below freezing and the ground is covered with beautiful snow.

Squirrel, postman, cat…?

Katie and Louie would love to be friends with them all, but all three are usually afraid of giant Newfs. They have met a couple of brave kitties nose-to-nose and thought they were really cool.

Squeaky-toy, tennis ball, stick?

Katie loves her water dumbbell. It is the only thing she will retrieve. Katie also adores tennis balls. She has a knack for finding balls that were left behind by other dogs when we go out on our walks. When she finds one she carries it home and adds it to her ever growing collection.

Louie likes anything that Katie has. As soon as she loses interest so does he.

What is each dog's best quality?

Louie is the sweetest dog I have ever known. Katie is very sweet also, but Louie has her beat in this department. Both Newfs are certified therapy dogs and regularly visit Hospice patients, kids at Easter Seals, nursing home residents and elementary school students (see picture of Louie giving a kiss to a second grader). Louie is truly a gentle giant. He has brought joy to hundreds of people during the last few years. He just loves giving love.

Once when we visited a special needs classroom Louie and a little boy we'll call J bonded immediately. J talked non stop to Louie. His teachers were stunned because they said J rarely speaks. Another time we were at a Hospice center and Louie approached a patient and gave her a gentle kiss. The lady had difficultly speaking, but her sparkling eyes told me she enjoyed the encounter. Before we left the building we stopped by to see her one more time and Louie gave her a few more kisses. She struggled to speak, but managed to say "Those were the best kisses I've had in my whole life". Louie just has a profound effect on people and we feel lucky to receive daily doses of therapy from him ourselves.

Katie's best quality is her protective nature. She makes friends quickly. Once you are her friend she considers it her job to protect you from all dangers. She has a photographic memory which she uses to catalog everything in our home and quite a few objects around our neighborhood. If she sees something new she peruses it to see if it might be a potential hazard. If she deems it to be dangerous she will warn you about it and try to steer you clear of it. From the age of five months old she has put herself between us and danger. Thankfully we have a word that I can use to quickly let her know that a particular object is actually quite safe - like that oddly shaped sprinkler that the neighbor down the street put on his lawn. I guess Katie thought it was going to attack us.

When Katie was still a pup she thought the diving board was dangerous. Here is a video showing Katie's concern for her Dad: First she tried to block him, then she verbally chastised him to try to stop him and after he jumped she ran to make sure he was OK.

If Katie and Louie could change one thing about you, what would it be?

I would quit my job and spend all my time with them.

If Hollywood made a movie in which Katie and Louie could talk, who should do their voices?

Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan because they are good-natured, funny, cute and smart.

Visit the Welcome to the Happy Haus blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Kelli & Buster

Who is in the photo at right?

This is our dog, Buster, a male Newfoundland, age 1 yr, 9 mo.

My name is Kelli. I am a registered nurse who worked 11 years as a cardiac RN, and am now a stay at home mom to one almost 5 yr old little boy, and this sweet big dog.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Just returned from Buster's walk around the neighborhood.

What's brewing?

I love the smell of coffee, but never developed the taste for it, so for me it's just water. What's brewing for my husband is usually just good old Folgers medium roast.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Not this time.

Any treat for Buster on this occasion?

Buster just had a homemade doggie treat. Made from a mix.. just add water, mix and roll out the dough and cut the shapes with cookie cutters. My son loved this project. Tonight's treat was shaped like a dinosaur.

How were you and Buster united?

Buster came to us from a breeder, Great Basin Newfoundlands in Fallon, Nevada. We live in northern California so we drove and met them half way and picked Buster up when he was 10 weeks old.

How did Buster get his name? Any aliases?

We originally decided to name him "Tug", but our son was so opposed to that name for some reason. We had just lost our previous dog (a 13 yo Newf mix) about six months prior and he took it so hard. We wanted him to like whatever name we gave our next family member, so after vetoing "Percy" (from Thomas the Tank Engine) and "Corvette" (his favorite hot wheel), we settled on Buster (the name of the dog in Toy Story).

He has all kind of Bustery nick-names. Dust Buster, Busteroo, Bust-a-move.. you name it. My husband sometimes calls him Daggoo, the name of a character in Moby Dick.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Definitely cat, but what drives him really crazy are things with small wheels... skateboards, rollerblades, golf carts. He wants to chase them. We are working on that right now!

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

All of the above. Lately, he is fond of a rubber duck that my son picked out for him. He also loves a giant raw-hide.

Where is Buster's favorite place for outings?

More often the dog park, but once in a while we take him to a lake and he loves it.

Who are Buster's best pet-pals?

He has a buddy down the street, a giant breed Alaskan Malamute named Sasha. They are the same size.

Other than that, he has some canine cousins in the family that he loves to be around but live further away... Skippy, a 3 legged Border Collie, and Calvin, an Australian Cattle Dog, and Chipper, a shepherd mix.

What is Buster's best quality?

His soulful eyes and sweet spirit. He is so patient and gentle with our son.

What is Buster's proudest moment? Most embarrassing?

If we're talking from Buster's point of view, when he's most proud would probably be either when he gets a new rawhide and prances around with it, or when he finds the marshmallow we've hidden somewhere in the room for him.

If he's ever felt embarrassment, it would be when he got fixed and had to wear what most people call the cone of shame. We call it the satellite dish.

Visit Kelli's "Seriously..I think it needs stitches" blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Jen Costello & Sherman and Leroy

Who is in the photo at right?

That's Sherman, Leroy, and me, Jen Costello.

I am a part time vet tech and full time mother to 2 beautiful children: Bobby, 9, and Gracie, 6.

Sherman is 4. He is a male Newfoundland. Leroy is 3 and is also a male Newfoundland.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We stopped for a Pepsi before heading to the ballgame.

What's brewing?

Well I don't drink coffee, so what is brewing is a Pepsi!

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Sherman and Leroy are having veggie treats.

How were you and Sherman and Leroy united?

Sherman and Leroy were both acquired from a breeder in North Dakota.

How did they get their names? Any aliases?

Sherman got his name because I wanted a dorky name for a big dog and "Sherman" just fit!

Leroy got his name because the first day he stepped into our home I just knew was going to be trouble. Badd Badd Leroy Brown.

Do Sherman and Leroy have a favorite place to go for an outing?

Sherman loves to go to my son's baseball games with me. Leroy loves to go for walks and basically anywhere!

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

Sherman has a thing for birds and groundhogs.

Stick, ball, squeaky-toy?

Sherman's favorite toy is his yellow Air Dog squeaky bone, or Air Dog tennis ball. He will only play with Air Dog toys.

Leroy's favorite toy is any one of my shoes! He loves to run around the house with one of them!

What is each dog's best quality?

Sherman is a total "velcro" dog and always wants to be in the same room as me. His favorite place is by my side.

Leroy is just a "goofy Newfy." He is always looking to have fun and is constantly making me laugh with his silly antics!

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

Sherman's proudest moment was when he earned his championship title in the show ring--now wait, that was mine. Sherman's proudest moment was when he went in our pool for the first time!

His most embarrassing moment was when I put bunny ears on him!

Leroy's proudest moment was when he finally got close enough to me when I was walking that he stepped on the back of my slipper and tripped me.

Leroy's most embarrassing moment just happened the other day when he was smelling a water fountain drain and then water came shooting out of it up his nose!

Follow Sherman and Leroy at Jen Costello's My Brown Newfies blog and on Facebook.

--Marshal Zeringue

Cindi Myers & Snoopy and Katie

Who is in the photos?

Author Cindi Myers and her two spoiled pooches, Snoopy (beagle mix, 13) [photo, below left] and Katie (Chow/Lab/Newfie/?? mix) 3 1/2 [photo, right].

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We stopped at The Knotty Pine on our way to snowshoe in the National Forest in the mountains of Colorado.

What's brewing?

Green chai for me -- I'm not much of a coffee drinker.

Any goodies to go with the chai?

A cranberry/orange scone. Yum!

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

The dogs are having Mother Hubbard biscuits. Snoopy likes the Carrot Cake flavor. Katie is a beef girl.

How did you come to be united with your dogs?

Excuse me, but I think we should be allowed to tell our own stories. Snoopy here. I ended up with Mom and Dad all because of romance. (And I didn't even know she was a romance author at the time.) Here's how it went down: when Mom and Dad lived in Texas, I lived across the street with five WILD children. To escape from them, I'd go across the street to hang out with their dogs, Gretchen and Shelby. Shelby was a gorgeous blonde -- a Belgian Malinois. Very regal. It was love at first sight, I tell you. She didn't usually get along with other dogs at all, but she flipped for me. One day during an ice storm I followed her right into the house. Mom found me eating out of Shelby's dish and after that I just sort of moved in. Mom must have worked it out with the neighbors, because when Mom and Dad moved to Colorado, I made sure I was the first one in the front seat of that moving van.

Katie: Snoopy says it's my turn now. I'm a little shy. I have a tragic past I don't really like to talk about. Let's just say my puppy years were not all good times. I ended up at an animal shelter, where I stayed for a month. I was really depressed, beginning to think I'd never find my forever home. Then one day, Mom and Dad and Snoopy came in. They seemed like really nice people. Snoopy said if I threw my lot in with them I wouldn't be sorry. He'd been living with two older lady dogs who passed away and he was lonely. So, even though I have issues about trusting people, I decided to trust Mom and Dad. And boy am I glad I did. I've been with them over two years now and life is good! I'm even learning to deal with some of my trust issues, thanks to them. And Snoopy has taught me a lot of things, like how to catch squirrels and how to do a beagle howl!

How did your dogs get their names?

Snoopy was named by his former owners, I suppose because of a certain famous beagle. Katie had another name when we adopted her, but it really didn't fit her. We thought a pretty girl deserved a pretty name, and Katie seemed to fit.

Do your dogs have any influence on your writing?

Katie and Snoopy are my constant writing companions. In my office, Snoopy has his own chair and Katie has a dog bed by my desk.

Where is your dogs' favorite outdoor space?

They love going hiking or snow shoeing in the woods, where they don't have to be on a leash.

Stick, Frisbee, tennis ball...? Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Katie likes chew toys, but Snoopy thinks he's above all that. But Snoopy is a Mighty Hunter. So far his tally is six squirrels, a ground squirrel and a rabbit. Katie is following his lead and has managed to dispatch a squirrel and a ground squirrel. Fortunately, they leave the deer and elk alone.

What's an ordinary day like for Snoopy and Katie?

Up at 5:30 with Dad, breakfast and a nap. Mom gets up at 6:30 and writes until 8, then has her breakfast and reads her email. They bug me for the next hour to take them walking, so finally we go for our walk, which takes about an hour. Back at home, more napping for them until noon, when they get a treat. More naps, with forays into the back yard to patrol. Dad gets home about 4:30, an occasion for much rejoicing. Dinner, playtime with Dad, another patrol of the backyard and a treat before bed. It's a good life!

Who are their best pet-pals?

Wesley, the black dog next door, is Katie's age and they were adopted about the same time. He occasionally hops the fence between the yards and comes to play. Kai and Rusty are our pet sitter's dogs and Katie likes to play with them. Snoopy prefers to observe the children from the top step.

What's each dog's best quality?

Snoopy is super smart and very obedient. Katie is so sweet and loving and gentle.

What's each dog's proudest moment? Most embarrassing?

Snoopy: I am the mighty hunter. We don't have to worry about any squirrel infestations at my house. And the UPS man hasn't broken in yet, though he keeps trying. I scare him away every time. If Mom would only let me out the front door I could keep those guys from stealing our trash every week, too.

As for embarrassing moments -- I did not steal that whole chicken carcass from the garbage in the kitchen. It crawled out of the can, down the stairs and out the doggy door all by itself. And that incident with the potting soil -- I had no idea if I ate the stuff it would swell up inside me and I'd have to go to the hospital.

Katie -- I'm really proud of the way I'm getting over my fear of people. Mom can take me places now -- like this coffee shop -- and I'm not terrified the way I used to be. I still am not sure about strangers petting me, but I'm getting better.

Mom and Dad make fun of me for being scared of the dragon in the basement (central heat blower) but that thing breathes fire! Who wouldn't be scared?

If Snoopy and Katie could change one thing about you, what would it be?

Snoopy: Mom sits in front of that computer too much! She should go for more hikes with us. And she shouldn't be so stingy with treats. She says she doesn't want us to get fat but Duh -- if we went hiking more that wouldn't be a problem.

Katie: I wish Mom and Dad would stay home ALL the time with me. I would be happy if they never went anywhere without me.

What's one secret about Cindi only her dogs would know?

Snoopy: She reads dialogue and stuff to us and asks our opinion.

Katie: Snoopy and I think she should write a book with a dog as the hero or heroine, but so far that hasn't happened.

Cindi Myers worked as a newspaper reporter, travel agent and medical clinic manager before turning to writing full time. She's written both historical and contemporary romance, as well as dozens of short stories and nonfiction articles.

Her latest books are Her Christmas Wish, Harlequin American Romance (December 2009), and A Father For Her Son, Harlequin Superromance (January 2010).

Visit Cindi Myers' website.

--Marshal Zeringue