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

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

Jill Smith & Bumble, Zippy, and Gus

Who is in the photos at right and below?

My name is Jill Smith and I am an artist. I love to create works of art using watercolor and (of all things) concrete. I make sculptures using a process called Faux Bois. It is very labor intensive, but the results are beautiful. I also do furniture and architectural renderings.

Bumble is a Bulldog and at 4 is the baby of the crew. Zippy is an English Bull Terrier and is 8. Gus is a Labrador Retriever and is 9.

[Editor's note: a week before this posting, Bumble died in an accident. R.I.P.]

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I enjoy having coffee every day with the pups out on our deck (in the summer months...that is). I can't think of a more relaxing way to start a busy day!

What's brewing?

I usually enjoy a cup or two of Colombian coffee with a little half and half.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

The dogs always enjoy getting a horse treat while I am sipping my coffee. Don't tell the horses!

How were you and your dogs united?

Gus the Labrador is my husband's dog and he came to us after our bulldog, Benson passed away. Gus is such a sweet guy and always wants to please. Zippy was a gift from my husband when he saw how upset I was when I lost my sweet Bull Terrier, Comet (Zippy is a whole new ballgame).

Bumble (aka Leon) has an interesting story that I am sure most folks can relate to. One day my husband was on his way home from work and spotted a Bulldog with it's owner in their front yard. I don't know why ... but he stopped to meet the owner and pet the dog. The owner of the dog said that one day she planned to breed her dog. My husband gave the nice lady his card and told her to call him when she did. Well, two years later (and two dogs later), my husband called me and said...you have got to come here and just look at these babies. There were only two of them. I said....we already have two dogs (that do not get along) and we do not need another one. He said...well you can at least stop by and see them. I said no. Then...a day or two later...we were driving past this house and my husband pulled into the drive. He basically had to force me out of the car....and then I looked at the pups. I said okay....let's go....of course I was already in love with the little white round roly-poly one. For days I tried and tried to forget about that cute little butterball. Then...my husband came home from work and he had the little white dog with him. He said that he just borrowed her for an hour. I mean....really.....how on earth was I going to say no again??? I did though....I just kept thinking that Zippy would never get along with another dog and it would be a disaster. Another day or so went by and I just could not stand it any longer and I just gave in. We negotiated a deal and Bumble was home. She actually has been very good for Zippy and he loves her! We call Bumble the "go between dog" because she is the little bridge between Gus and Zippy.

How did they get their names? Any aliases?

Gus is named after the Black Angus cow. His real name is Angus and Gus for short. Zippy was named Zeb when we got him and I renamed him Zippy...well ... because he is quite active and he was already accustomed to a "Z" name. Bumble is named after the abominable snowman in Rudolf..."Bumbles Bounce".

Do your dogs inspire your art...or distract you from it? How so?

The dogs are a constant inspiration for my art. I have many watercolor paintings depicting them and concrete sculptures. Then there is my blog which has been totally taken over by the dogs. I also love to take pictures of them...I have been asked why Gus is not featured as often as the other two on my blog. It is purely because every time I try to get a picture of him he usually has his tongue stuck to the lens of the camera. Not easy to get a good shot of something when it is that close. They also "help" me when I am working on concrete. Usually by carrying my tools off. Of course when I need help lifting something they are no where to be found.

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

Gus loves to go swimming in our "neighborhood" ponds. When he was a pup he would lie down in his water dish dreaming of a swim. Bumble and Zippy live for their daily walks (a tired dog is a happy dog). We are lucky enough to have lots of wooded areas that we hike through on these walks. We go in all sorts of weather. They love the snow until it gets to deep to walk through. Many of my paintings are ideas that I get while out on these hikes.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

They prefer a good deer.

What is each dog's best quality?

Gus's best quality is his friendly attitude. He lives to love people. Zippy's best quality is his loyalty (sticks to me like glue) and also his ability to entertain himself. Bumble's best quality is her huggability. She is super soft and squishy. Bumble is also the dog that keeps my giant pumpkins safe from vermin. She takes her job very seriously.

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

Well...I would hope that they would not change a thing. I mean....they get great food, live in paradise and have their every need catered to. I just wish that I were one of them.

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

Gus's proudest moment...When he thought he got rid of Zippy would probably be his proudest. Ha. Actually if you look in the Black Labrador breed calendar 2011 from PetPrints...you will see Gus.

Zippy's proudest moment was being on the cover of Dog World Magazine [photo credit: Close Encounters of the Furry Kind].

Bumble's proudest moment was being chosen to be on the cover of Evelyn David's Brianna Sullivan ebook series. She is also an amateur meteorologist and predicts weather with her toungeometer. She is pretty good at making an accurate prediction and is an atmospheric wonder.

The most embarrassing moment...there have been so many...Once I took Zippy in for one on one dog training. Zippy and Gus were fighting and I was trying to get a handle on it. I had already been clicker training Zippy and he was doing really well...he knew all of the basic obedience commands and could heel like there was no tomorrow. Anyway...the guy I went to was a behaviorist and I thought he could help out with our tense situation. Soooo... I signed up for a nine week training session (this incident happened 8 weeks into the training). I also need to mention that if Zippy sees a ceiling fan he goes psycho (and I truly mean psycho). The training room has a ceiling fan... So...I walk into the very nice training room (this was a really classy place) and the ceiling fan is going full speed...I noticed it right away and thought I better get out of here. I turned to walk out...leash in hand when Zippy noticed the fan....Too late!!! He pulled the leash out of my hand and the trainer said...let's watch him and see what happens....well after he bounced off of the walls for a moment...he jumped up on a table that had some magazines lying open and then the trainer went a little crazy... Zippy on the table shredding magazines and the trainer scrambling to get to him and me just standing there.... I finally gathered my senses and ran over and grabbed the leash and pulled Zippy off of the table. The trainer turned off the fan...and just stood there looking at his magazine. I said... just let me know where I can buy you another magazine and I will be happy to replace it....he said (with a low voice)...you can't replace that one...it is from the 70s and it had a long article about me in it... Needless to say...I felt very bad about it. I said well...I guess I will see you next week.... He said yes...we will sit down and talk about whether or not you should extend training. I showed up the next week and he told me that Zippy did not need further training. It was really pretty comical. By the way, Gus and Zippy get along enough to be in the same room now.

Bumble's most embarrassing moment was when her head got stuck in the bulldog toilet brush holder. She is sitting next to the toilet brush holder in one of the photos.

Gus is too happy go lucky to have an embarrassing moment.

Visit Jill Smith's blog. Her paintings and faux bois can be purchased at Glen-Scott Gallery in Blowing Rock, NC and also at The Wren's Nest in Valle Crucis, NC.

--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

Bruce Littlefield & Westminster

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Bruce Littlefield, a best-selling author, lifestyle expert, and seeker of all things fun. My pal Westminster is a 6-year-old male “medley.” (There are prominent notes of Border Collie and cattle dog, with undertones of terrier.)

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

There’s this “only in New York” routine called “alternate side parking,” which means twice a week the car has to be double parked for an hour so the street cleaner can come through and do its thing. Westminster and I move the car together. He loves to sit in the front seat and people watch while I sip my coffee and catch up on phone calls.

What's brewing?

I buy Dunkin Donuts beans and grind them in my Cuisinart coffee maker. I love my monkey coffee mug designed by my book illustrator Paul Heath.

Any goodies for your or Westminster to go with the coffee?

Occasionally, I’ll sneak a piece of dark chocolate with my coffee. Rather than coffee, Westminster likes to bring along his rubber chicken and gets one of his favorite beef jerky treats when we finish the task of moving the car.

How were you and Westminster united?

Westminster was in a very strategically placed rescue van outside the Westminster Dog Show. From the moment we met, it was love at first sight.

How did Westminster get his name? Any aliases?

I loved the irony of a mutt being named “Westminster.” That’ll show ‘em! He also goes by “Wes.” His cousins call him “Westie” and the doormen in our building like to playfully call him “Wesley.”

What role if any does Westminster play in your writing?

He’s my sidekick, my muse, and is the inspiration for The Bedtime Book for Dogs. One day I was working away at my computer on a book project, and he obviously wanted my attention. When I looked down at him, I asked, “What? You want me to write you a book?” He wagged his tail and this tale was born. It was a real “aha!” moment. He’s retained an attorney to claim any and all royalties.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

One of Wes’s favorite activities is stalking and then startling squirrels. He seems to find great humor in their sudden panic. He also loves when the UPS truck comes down the driveway at the country house. The woman driver is a dog person and always brings him a treat. If we’re not home, she leaves a package with a treat on top.

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

He loves all things that squeak, but his two most cherished toys are his Frisbee and his rubber chicken [photo left]. He’s an amazing Frisbee catcher and the rubber chicken is his favorite thing to take on walks in the city. It’s a real vaudeville act. The old ladies love it.

Where is Westminster's favorite places for outings?

He loves running with me along the Hudson River in Riverside Park and on the tractor trails near our country house. He also loves New York City’s sidewalk cafes and any car trip, particularly when it involves a cow drive-by.

Who are Westminster's best pet-pals?

He loves Bella the Beagle. They like to play hide and seek. And he also loves Sophie the GoldenDoodle. They often take romantic beach walks together.

What is Westminster's best quality?

He’s kind, a truly good dog.

What is Westminster's proudest moment? Most embarrassing?

He loves appearing on stage or TV with me. He seems to relish the attention of the audience and the act of performing. Most embarrassing? Well, he’ll be very upset I told you this, but when he was a puppy, he was caught eating his poop. He’s never lived that one down!

Bruce Littlefield is a best-selling author, lifestyle expert, and an arbiter of American fun. He shares his passionate curiosity (and occasional mischievousness) with millions of people through his books and appearances on NBC’s Today Show and CBS’s Early Show. His new book is The Bedtime Book for Dogs.

Visit Bruce Littlefield's website and Facebook page.

Writers Read: Bruce Littlefield.

--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

Kris Tualla & Pepper

Who is in the photo at right?

This is a year-old photo of my camera-shy mixed-breed, Pepper. I'm certain her name is self-explanatory. She was a rescue pup back in October of 1995, and we have no idea what she is!

That's me, Kris Tualla, in the photo below left.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I'm working on my 7th historical novel - the hero is a deaf private investigator in 1700's Norway - and a little caffeine does help awaken the muse! Pepper is always by my side, no matter where I am in the house or what I'm doing. She's deaf now, too. Maybe she knows.

What's brewing?

Freshly ground beans, Starbucks from Costco (I'm not a rich author - yet) made strong, drunk with half-n-half. No sugar or flavors.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

You are so cruel. I'd love a cherry fritter. What I'm having is strictly imaginary.

Any treat for your dog on this occasion?

At the risk of offending purists, Pepper always gets a bit of whatever I'm eating. She watches me and if I don't offer immediately she walks out of the room, walks back in a different door as if to say, "Oh look - here I am!" She does this expecting each "appearance" to generate a handout. She's actually 25% successful with that ploy.

How were you and Pepper united?

We had to put a 5-year-old Cocker Spaniel down and were heartbroken, as you might imagine. There was a poster in the vet's office advertising the 3-month-old rescue pups which they thought were Dalmatian and Springer Spaniel. (Um… No.) My youngest daughter and I went to see them and we fell in love with the shy little girl.

Does Pepper have any influence on your writing?

Not her specifically. But my love for dogs - and their love for us humans - inspired a chapter in my first novel. Unfortunately, I had to cut the chapter, but I released it as a short story. Your readers can download it for free here.

How did you come up with Pepper's name? Any aliases?

She's white with tiny black spots all over. "Pepper" was obvious. We call her Pepper-la-wepper… Peps-la-weps… Peeper…

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Cats. Definitely.

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

Rawhide chews. Mostly to hoard and keep away from the other dogs who have passed through our home.

Where is your dog's favorite place for outings?

My husband takes her on long walks through our Phoenix suburban neighborhood. At 16, she still enjoys it!

Who are Pepper's best pet-pals?

My son's dogs and my precious grand-puppies: Teva and Bella. Before our son bought a house and moved out, they were puppies in our home. Pepper kept them in line [Teva and Pepper, photo above left].

What is Pepper's best quality?

She is scarily smart. At 8 months old, she figured out that if she stood up and pushed down on our lever-style door knobs she could push a door open. Then a year later, she figured out how to push down with one paw and pull with the other. The first day she came out of a closed bedroom, I didn't believe it. But she did it successfully for years.

What is your dog's proudest moment? Most embarrassing?

Pepper has always been uber-concerned with following the rules and doing the right thing. She strives to understand what is expected, and behaves accordingly. As such, there are no "missteps." True story.

Visit Kris Tualla's website, blog, and Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue