In 1953, Patti Page musically asked, "How much is that doggie in the window?"

Today, 36 years later in State College, another canine question lingers: Who are those dogs in the Gnomon Copy Service window?

The dogs -- Duffy, a West Highland Terrier; Dexter, a Cairn Terrier; Towser, a Scottish Terrier and Coby, a Shipperke -- have become a familiar and welcome sight to passersby of 130 W. College Ave.

Wayne Pawell and Skip Brightbill, Penn State graduates and co-owners of both the dogs and the business, began bringing the canines to work to make house training easier. Another reason the dogs spend time in the store is because their owners do, Pawell said.

Little did these alumni know when they bought Gnomon in 1980, what a boost a few barks could give to the copy industry.

"It's a good part of the business," Pawell said. "People always seem to identify with them. People recognize the dogs."

The dogs have become such a trademark of the business that they have also been used in Gnomon ads.

Brent Frank, a Gnomon employee since 1980, said he enjoys having the dogs around. So much, in fact, Frank brings in his own dogs -- Maggie, a Scottish Terrier and Buster, a West Highland Terrier -- on Sundays.

Incidently, Maggie and Buster are second generation Gnomon dogs because they are related to Towser and Duffy, respectively.

In addition to the attention lavished on this canine foursome by their owners, the dogs also have "special friends."

"People come in and bring them treats," Pawell said. "Some people come in just to visit the dogs."

One such treat-bearing couple are Ray and Pat Siggins of State College. The Siggins' befriended the dogs three years ago when they moved from Long Island to State College, after retiring from teaching careers.

"They're delightful," Siggins said. "Each one has their own personality."

Regardless of this difference in personality, these dogs get along better than most people. The majority of their day is spent playing amongst themselves or keeping a watchful eye out for people they know from the window, or have met on their mid-morning and mid-afternoon walks. Although the dogs have developed a rapport with numerous people, they never limit their circle of friends. One never knows when a mild-mannered customer could become a milkbone-carrying buddy.

If a customer comes in that interests them, the dogs will approach him or her, Brightbill said. "It's 50-50. Sometimes the customers approach them, and sometimes the dogs make the first move," he continued.

Customers do not have this unique opportunity quite as often as they used to. The dogs are not able to be at Gnomon's every day due to the increase in business, but they usually can be found there on Mondays, anxiously awaiting whatever treats or friends the day holds in store.