Sally Gould & Pebbles and Jade

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Sally Gould and I'm a children's author. Pebbles is the white dog. She's four years old and a Spoodle (which is a cross between a poodle and an American Cocker Spaniel). Jade is the chocolate coloured dog. She is two years old and she has the same father as Pebbles.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Everyday is a good day to have a coffee with Pebbles and Jade.

What's brewing?

A Jaspers cafe latte. They use organic fair trade coffee with biodynamic milk - yum.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Rawhide sticks wrapped with smoked chicken breast, which they only get after my coffee.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Pebbles got her name because when we first got her she kept bringing pebbles in from the garden to chew on. Jade still does that. We're constantly finding pebbles in between the sofa cushions. My youngest son calls Pebbles, Willie Nelson, after Paul Rudd's dog in Our Idiot Brother.

How were you and your dogs united?

My youngest son desperately wanted a dog, but my oldest son was allergic to animal hair, so we got Spoodles from a breeder because they don't shed hair.

Do your dogs help--or hinder--your work?

They hinder my work. They sit on the window ledge of my study and bark at passers-by and they ask for tummy rubs. Sometimes I threaten to take my laptop and write at the local library, but of course I never do.

Have any actual dogs inspired fictional dogs in your books?

Yes, my husband owned a dog named Sandy when he was young and she inspired a picture book that is currently being illustrated by Leanne Argent. Sandy was a golden Labrador. The book is titled The City Dog [illustration, left] and is about a dog who has to move from the city to a sheep farm when her owner moves overseas. Essentially it's about adapting to change.

Rabbit, postman, cat....?

Postman and anyone who dares to walk past our home.

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

They're best friends. They often sleep in the same bed, they play together and one gets sad if the other has to go to the vet.

What is each dog's best quality?

They are both unconditionally loving.

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

I asked them and they said, Nothing, they're perfect as they are!

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

I love the southern accents of Julia Roberts and Reese Witherspoon, so they'd be perfect.

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

Are you really still hungry?

What advice would your dogs give if asked?

Bigger servings make for happier dogs.

Visit Sally Gould's website, Facebook page, and Pinterest page.

--Marshal Zeringue