Melissa & Gigi and Diego

Who is in the photo at right?

That's me, Melissa, with my two fur babies - Gigi and Diego. Gigi is a 2-year-old toy Poodle and Diego is a 3-year-old Chihuahua! During the day, you can usually find us in this position - dogs on lap, laptop on knee, and coffee in hand. That's because I work from home as a writer and social media manager. I also run my own blog, Proud Dog Mom, where I share training tips, health advice, DIY dog project ideas, and original homemade dog treat recipes. My pups definitely enjoy their official day jobs as treat taste testers!

When we're not busy on the computer or creating healthy biscuits in the kitchen, you can usually find us on hikes, playing at the park, or on a road trip!

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Diego and Gigi wake me up every morning at 7:20 like clockwork (I really don't need to set an alarm clock with these two)! Once we're up, it's over to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee and get to work. Right now, my morning coffee is accompanied with a few dog treats because I'm in the middle of creating and testing new recipes for our upcoming cookbook, Proud Dog Chef! Our book will have everything from gluten-free biscuits to flourless pupcakes, jerky chews, frozen snacks, and even safe icing recipes.

What's brewing?

In the morning, I love a breakfast blend. Since I'm all about quick and easy when I first wake up, I usually reach for a Green Mountain Keurig K-Cup. I like it black - no milk or sugar.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Right now my dogs are munching on my latest treat recipe, which is made from free-range chicken and a little turmeric. They are going crazy over them and I can't wait to share the recipe with everyone!

How were you and your dogs united?

When I moved half-way across the country for a job, it was the first time I didn't have a dog in my life. At first, I thought I would enjoy the quiet and lack of responsibility. That lasted two weeks! I very quickly realized that a house isn't a home without the sound of paws hitting against the floors and a wet nose waking you up in the morning. So I started searching for the perfect Chihuahua. Online, I came across a family that was looking to re-home their 2-month-old Chihuahua because they couldn't afford him. It was their last effort before taking him to the shelter. I met Diego the next day and we immediately clicked. I knew he was "the one!" He's been bringing my life joy ever since.

About a year later, I started working from home. That's when my boyfriend and I began toying with the idea of getting a second dog. We thought it would be fun for Diego to have a friend and I had the time to take care of another pooch. After a few weeks of searching with no luck, we stopped looking. Then, one of my boyfriend's co-workers came into their office with a photo of a toy Poodle puppy. The woman who bred her had passed away and he was trying to help find the puppy a home. We fell in love! We met her a few days later and immediately knew she was meant to be our next family member.

We've been one big happy family every since!

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

When Diego came into my life I wanted to honor his Mexican heritage. One of my good friends, whose family is from Mexico, turned to me and said, "How about Diego?" After a lot of online searching for the perfect name, it just clicked. A lot of times, though, I call him "Little Man." He responds to both!

Gigi has a similar story. Being a French dog, I wanted to give her a French name. I immediately came up with the name "Gigi" and my boyfriend thought it fit her perfectly. Since she is always smiling, I also call her "Happy Girl." I have a long list of nicknames for Gigi and she responds to all of them. I think she just assumes if I'm speaking then I must be talking to her!

Do your dogs have a role at your branch of Proud Dog Mom headquarters?

Diego and Gigi were the inspiration behind Proud Dog Mom. I often share our experiences with our readers. Also, the Proud Dog Mom Instagram is basically their personal photo album!

What is each dog's best quality?

Gigi has a heart of gold. She seriously loves everyone, wants to kiss all the time, and loves to play!

Diego is pretty much a human child trapped in a dog's body. Since I've been dressing him since he was a little puppy, he actually looks forward to getting dressed every morning. He also eats at the table with me. I put his plate at the edge of the table and he jumps up on a chair to keep me company. He truly is my best friend.

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

Definitely squeaky-toys. We have upwards of 50 plush toys in my house and Diego and Gigi are always playing with them. Tug-of-war and fetch are their favorite games.

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

They would come everywhere with me! While I work from home and try to take them out of the house as much as possible, there are certain places that I can't bring them (like the grocery store, yoga class, or movie theater). If it was up to them, though, they would be allowed wherever I go.

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

This is a really funny question because so many times I look at my dogs and say to them: "I wish you could speak English!" After I pick Gigi up from the groomer I always ask her, "Were they nice to you?" And when Diego curls up in a little ball, I ask him, "Do you feel okay?"

I think my dogs and I communicate very well, but there are some things I really wish they could tell me in English.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which your dogs could speak, who should voice them?

My little man has a lot of attitude and is very confident, so I think Al Pacino would play a good Diego. Gigi is more fun and outgoing so probably someone like Isla Lang.

What advice would your dogs give if asked?

Spend less time working and more time playing!

Visit the Proud Dog Mom blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Cristina Crawford & Brando

Who is in the photo at right?

That’s me, Cristina, with my four-legged love, Brando, who turns eight next month. I’m not working at the moment which is probably best since my boy isn’t fond of being home alone. I hold down the fort, cycle, practice yoga, and now that I cannot run, I enjoy long walks with Brando. I write in my blog, Ten Degrees of Bliss (which all of five people read) while he sits in my lap. Yes…that right, all 35 pounds of him. Brando is a medium standard poodle who thinks he’s a lap dog. More precisely, he is called a Moyen (french for medium), bred specifically for size and he is also called a Klein Poodle. His father was a miniature poodle and his mother a full-size standard poodle. Let’s just say a porch was involved in the process and leave it at that!

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We used to live in Southern California, just two miles from the beach. It was so easy to take our boy with us to a plethora of outdoor eateries and coffee houses. There were countless trips to Peet’s Coffee after a long run (or leisurely walk) along The Strand or after a morning frolic at a nearby dog park. Now that we are in “Bama-Land” we are severely restricted by weather and places that are pet-friendly. I have to make a special effort to bring him with me to Starbucks when the temperature allows. If he could talk I’m sure he would demand we return to Southern California if for nothing else to escape the wrath of thunderstorms and tornado warnings!

What's brewing?

I’m half-Italian and therefore I’m a bit of a purist when it comes to my java fix. I drink espresso, sans anything, for my early morning brew. A simple, no frills Cappuccino or Non-fat Latte is my afternoon preference, often at Starbucks. I eschew syrups and mounds of whipped cream in my coffee —it just corrupts my brew and adds calories which I’d rather assign to a sweet treat.

Any treats for you or your poodle on this occasion?

My boy doesn't care a wit about bones or Kong toys stuffed with peanut butter. But he would dance on his head for cheese. He likes yogurt too. Most mornings I have yogurt with berries for breakfast. I always leave a bit in the bowl for my boy. He can be in a deep slumber in another room but when he hears the last scrape of the spoon against the bowl he’s at my feet in an instant knowing that his treat awaits. He’ll patiently waiting for me to put the bowl on the floor so that he can lick it clean.

How were you and your poodle united?

Initially, my husband wasn’t one for getting a dog. I had to work on him for almost ten years. While living in Southern California a friend told me about a great poodle breeder in Oregon so I began to get a bit more aggressive about changing my husband's mind. I’m not one bit ashamed to admit that I caught him completely off-guard during his “orgasmic” moment when his beloved Steelers won the Super Bowl. As he jumped up and down in euphoria at the winning touchdown I chimed in saying: “Great! So….can we go to Oregon and look at these adorable poodle puppies?”

“Yes, yes, yes,” he cried as he threw his hands up in the air in jubilation. Underhanded, I know. Of course I wanted him to be completely on-board with having a dog-pal; if his heart-strings weren’t pulled then we’d just chalk it up to a weekend getaway.

He chose me. My dog chose me. (swoon)

So….I had been conversing with the breeder for weeks before meeting her in Oregon. Based on photos from her website I had settled on a girl puppy. But several days before flying out she called saying that the girl was developing into a more high-active personality. My heart sank. I knew that for this to work with my husband I’d need a low-key kind of pup. Still, we decided to fly out. When I arrived at the breeders house I was escorted to the large back yard. There seemed to be a sea of puppies running to and fro. As I stood on the porch observing the happy chaos of all those puppies, one puppy came, as if from out of the blue, and snuggled himself down right on top of my feet.

How did your dog get his name? Any aliases?

It was Academy Award weekend and we were living in Redondo Beach, California (Los Angeles County) when we brought our boy home. As we were driving to the airport with our new addition to the family in my lap I was texting back and forth with my sister who lived in Northern Virginia trying to come up with names. She came up with Brando paying homage to the late great actor, Marlon Brando. Aliases: Troy (as in Troy Polamalu, but only during a Steelers game); Einstein (because my pooch is so freaking smart) and Killer … when he actually got ahold of a chipmunk and knocked it dead!

Cat, postman, squirrel…?

Without question squirrels. He goes positively bonkers over squirrels. He’ll bark like crazy as they all but dance in front of the window to their “U Can’t Touch This” tune. Add to that, lizards in the yard. He tries to sniff them out of crevices then goes nuts trying to catch one as they skitter over and under rocks.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick…?

A squeaky soccer ball toy. I’d swear it’s like his crack toy. Sometimes the constant squeak gets annoying so I’ll hide it. He finds it every time. Once I’d forgotten about the ball. He was sitting quite patiently—like a statue—staring at a closet door. “What’s up with you?” I ask my boy. I opened the door only to realize I’d put the ball on a high shelf! He’ll eventually chew all toys to smithereens but he takes care of this one squeaky ball. We’ve had it for years. He could easily chew it away too—it’s the darnedest thing!

Who is Brando's best pet-pal?

In California, his best pals were Honey-Bear and Kerri, two Standard Poodles. Here in Alabama, he pines for a mutt named Daisy that lives down the street. When we are visiting my sis, it’s Nica-Roo, a beagle mix. They’ll play together from morning till night. We hated moving from Southern California. He loved his play dates with HoneyBear and Kerri. It was quite the sight to see the three of them together. I’d swear he was just as depressed over the move as I was.

What is Brando's best quality?

He is such a gentle, sweet-natured dog who adores me and loves just about everyone he meets. (Well…almost. There was one pest control dude that came to the house and things didn’t go so well. Brando went nuts and would not stop barking at the guy which was so out of character for my pooch. There must have lurked something mighty unsavory under the uniform cap about that guy.)

If Brando could change one thing about Alabamians, what would it be?

Properly contain their dogs. I cannot safely cycle without being chased down by un-contained dogs. It is rather terrifying since I have been attacked by a dog. Dogs come running out of their yards straight onto the roads. One incident was with a pit bull; he was one determined fellow running after me for a good quarter mile. I’m sad to admit I prayed for a car. Not good for the dog nor cyclist!

Where is your poodle's favorite outdoor destination?

We took Brando to the Outer Banks, North Carolina during one family vacation. Dogs were allowed on the beach without a leash. For a week Brando had the time of his life. Though it ruined his poodle coif for the week (they have hair you know!) we were overjoyed to see him so happy and running free. He also loves our large back yard and had a blast with his first snow a couple of years back.

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

Why o why are you so obsessed with licking your feet… and mine?

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

My boy has a touch of regal aloofness about him at times, especially after he’s come from the groomer, perfectly coiffed. We can be walking down the street and another dog will be going all-out Cujo at him. Brando may deign to give the dog a passive glance, with a look to me that says, “Really, what boorish behavior.” I suppose I’m giving my age when I say I’d love Cary Grant to voice my boy.

What advice would your poodle give if asked?

Chill grasshopper. Stop worrying. Bask in the moment of now, with me…the one who adores you so… who is happy on your lap. Oh..and while you’re at it, have some cheese and pass a piece or two over to me…. pretty please.

Visit the Ten Degrees of Bliss blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Diane Rose-Solomon & Gonzo and Ninja

Who is in the photo at right?

That’s me, Diane Rose-Solomon, in the middle; I’m a humane educator. I also write books about animal rescue. Gonzo is the studly blonde guy (whose face is partially hidden), he’s 7 and your guess about his breed is as good as ours. We think he’s some type of terrier, maybe some Whippet or Italian Greyhound and maybe Chihuahua? Ninja is the raven colored dapper dude, also 7 and from the side he looks like a Labrador, and from the front, some type of Pit Bull. Someone once asked me if he’s a Labrabull.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Considering Ninja is my Velcro dog, if I’m home and drinking coffee (or water, or tea, or wine) he’s generally nearby. We start the day in my home office predawn before the family gets up. He goes back to sleep on the daybed while I drink green tea, stretch, meditate and journal. When Gonzo hears the leashes come out of the drawer, he extricates himself from the warm bed upstairs.

What's brewing?

Morning time is Genmaicha green tea and some days I’ll have a decaf Groundworks or Peets coffee. Iced in the summer.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

I carry a bag of treats on our daily walks and use them for training purposes. Fun for them and they no longer go ballistic when they see other dogs. But if they just look at me they get a treat, so we connect a lot. They also get a treat after the walk too. Lucky dogs.

How were you and your dogs united?

We had heard about a boxer red listed to be euthanized who was pulled from the shelter by a local rescue group. By the time we got to the shelter to meet him he had already been adopted. They asked if we wanted a puppy instead and I said “no puppy!” You know what they did? They opened the door to the puppy room and let this six month old puppy out to greet us. My kids shrieked “A Puppy!” I lost. The puppy came home with us.

We found Ninja on Petfinder.com. Our gorgeous dog T-bone had just crossed the Rainbow Bridge and my son wanted a black lab. I wanted a Pit Bull type dog and we found Ninja. Something for everyone.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Gonzo is named for the muppet and also Gonzo journalism. We call him Little Man because he’s a Little Man! Often pronounced “Leetle Man”.

Ninja came with the name Jay because he had a big white “J” on his chest. That didn’t work for us because our first dog (and the namesake of my children’s book series) was JJ. It also didn’t fit. We soon realized that he was very stealthy. Seriously- how does a 65 pound dog with jingly tags sneak up on me while I’m washing the dishes every single time.

Please tell us about your new book.

What to Expect When Adopting a Dog, my newest book, is a guide to successful dog adoption for every family. In five modules, I lead the reader through the steps they should take to decide on a dog, then through the adoption process, as well as lifelong care.

What is each dog's best quality?

Gonzo is great at sitting in your lap, curling up with you while you are sleeping and making a part howl part bark sound when you come home. It sounds like “Rooo” and we call it Rooing.

Ninja is just funny. He’ll get up on the banquette after dinner and put his face on the table. Nothing cuter.

They both make coming home the greatest thing in the world. There’s an imaginary red carpet when I open the door. I feel special and loved.

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

Ninja would play with them all, but he destroys everything and then the dogs get into a fight, so only sometimes do they get balls, and it’s always supervised. Since he loves greeting us with something, when we walk in the door, he grabs one of his light dog beds and shakes it and runs around the house with it. Very proud.

Postman, cat, rabbit...?

All of the above. Squirrels too. Keeps me on my toes on a walk.

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

My dogs would simply want everyone to love each other for their unique beauty, kind of like the way we love them for their unique mutt beauty.

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

Ninja: Why must you bring possums in the house?

Gonzo: What in the world did you eat to elicit that smell from your body?

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which your dogs could speak, who should voice them?

Ninja alternates between Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle, and Jack Black as Kung Fu Panda and Gonzo is sometimes Bert Lahr who played the cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz, and Clint Eastwood. Mostly Bert Lahr.

What advice would your dogs give if asked?

Ninja would highly recommend laying on ones back, with legs splayed as a means of relaxation and stretching whilst soliciting belly rubs. He would also suggest sloppy dog kisses as a means of makeup removal.

Gonzo would recommend turning off the heat in winter and sleeping as close to a human as possible instead.

Visit Diane Rose-Solomon's website and learn more about What to Expect When Adopting a Dog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Mike Nemeth & Sophie

Who is in the photo at right?

Hi, I’m Mike Nemeth and the pretty face with the deep brown eyes is Sophie. Like me, she’s a mixed breed of unknown components, and like me, she’s never met a human she didn’t find interesting, although I have to admit that Sophie is far more popular. While I write books (Cinderella’s Slipper, Defiled and soon, Absolved), Sophie protects my wife and me from all the other critters in the neighborhood.

What’s the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Sophie and I begin each day with a cup of coffee and a doggy treat in our backyard to cleanse our minds, and our territory, so we can be productive at our respective tasks. We’d drive to a coffee house if it weren’t for Sophie’s aversion to cars. She knows they too often lead to the vet’s office or the doggy hotel.

What’s brewing?

Gevalia Vanilla Latte most mornings, no sweetener. Sometimes Colombian.

Any treats?

Sophie always gets a bone. Sometimes my treat is my wife joining us for our morning ritual.

How were you and Sophie united?

Sophie was abandoned as a puppy and wandered into my brother-in-law’s yard to drink at his fountain. She was emaciated and near death. My brother-in-law texted us a picture and said, “Can you take one more?” At the time we had three other rescue dogs, all of whom are now in doggy heaven. We couldn’t resist Sophie’s sad brown eyes. And we still hang that original photo on our wall.

How did your dog get her name?

We thought Sophie’s svelte figure, ahem, deserved a name often given to beautiful actresses.

Does Sophie help or hinder your writing?

Sophie finds a sunny spot beside my desk and basks until it’s time to remind me to take a break from writing. Then we take a walk and the next writing scene becomes clear. Write, walk and think. Write, walk and think. That’s how we produce a book together.

Has Sophie inspired any fictional dogs?

No, but what a great idea. She’ll be in the next book!

Cat, postman, squirrel…

The cat on the other side of the cul-de-sac tortures Sophie constantly, walking around Sophie’s yard, lying in the street as though he owns the territory. Sophie watches from the dining room window and emits a constant low growl. I think the relationship works for both of them.

Ball, squeaky toy, stick…

Stuffed animals. At the moment she has a huge blue and white teddy bear that she drags from room to room, stopping to rip holes and distribute the stuffing.

Who is Sophie’s best pet pal?

Charlie, our next door neighbor’s poodle, comes for play dates. Hercules, our daughter’s Chihuahua, often comes to stay but Sophie is jealous of the lap time Hercules gets. Sophie is not built for laps. But Sophie’s best friends are the young kids on the street.

What is Sophie’s best quality?

Sophie knows how to chill. She’s fiercely loyal and loving and wants to meet everyone who comes to the door. She’s gentle (except for cats).

If Sophie could change one thing about Georgians, what would it be?

Stop testing that infernal bad weather warning siren. It drives her crazy.

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

Why do you hide your bones when you are the only dog in the house?

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Sophie could speak, who would voice her?

Kathy Bates. I think Sophie would love to sound menacing to cats and squirrels. Think: Misery.

What advice would Sophie give if asked?

It’s a wonderful life, so just chill and enjoy it. Like I do.

Visit Mike Nemeth's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Kelly Nelson & Sophie

Who is in the photo at right?

Hi! I am Kelly Nelson and the little cutie next to me is Sophie. At my job I crunch numbers, hunt down missing receipts, and tell scientists to stop spending money but during my free time I can be found training for my first half marathon, blogging about my training at The Hangry Waffle, and binge watching Netflix with Sophie. She is particularly fond of romance comedies. Sophie is a 6 year old maltipoo who has yet to find a lap that she did not like to be in.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

During the work week drinking coffee is a necessity but during the weekend drinking coffee becomes a treat. My schedule slows down and I am able to enjoy sitting at one of my favorite coffee shops with family and friends enjoying a latte. Today Sophie and I joined my brother Kevin for a coffee date.

What's brewing?

Sophie is enjoying a puppuccino (straight up whip cream) while I am having a greentea latte made with almond milk.

How were you and Sophie united?

I got Sophie when I lived in a small town in Oklahoma. The breeder had 2 puppies left and I choose Sophie because she was independent and had a sense of adventure. She was 13 weeks old and a 4 pound ball of fluff yet she was not afraid of anything.

How did your dog get her name? Any aliases?

When it came to naming my pup I was torn between naming her Sophia, after the leading female character in the movie Letters to Juliette. Or, naming her Bear, because she looked like a mini polar bear from behind as a puppy. I ended up combining these two names and naming her Sophia Bear but only call her by her full name when she is in trouble.

Does Sophie do more to help or hinder your running goals?

She helped me recover from rupturing my Achilles tendon by steadily increasing the distance of our evening walks until we were walking 3+ miles without my ankle swelling. While she does not run with me these days she does help me loosen up my leg muscles up by walking with me then giving me kisses as I foam roll.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

She is a little squirrel hunter but has yet to actual catch one.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Squeaky-toys all the way. The squeakier the better… well, for Sophie, not so much me.

Who is Sophie's best pet-pal?

Sophie’s best pet-pal these days is Bandit, my parents’ 1-year-old springer spaniel puppy.

What is Sophie's best quality?

I would have to say Sophie’s best quality is her confidence. She has yet to meet a stranger and will happily sit in anyone’s lap whether or not she was invited. At the dog park she will go say hi to everyone there. She loves attention and she is not afraid to get it.

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

She would change my inability to sit still for long periods at a time so that I would stop moving her in between episodes during our evenings filled with Netflix marathoning.

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

Sophie, do you think I am crazy?

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Sophie could speak, who should voice her?

It would have to be Kristen Bell.

What advice would Sophie give if asked?

Great things await right outside your comfort zone.

Visit The Hangry Waffle website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Ellen Byron & Wiley and Pogo

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm novelist Ellen Byron. My dogs are Wiley and Pogo. Wiley’s the white one, and I like to call him a Corgi-jack-huahua. I don’t know if he has any Jack Russell in him, but he might. He’s definitely part Corgi. The tan-and-white furbaby is Pogo. He’s a Chihuahua mixed with some kind of terrier.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I was taking a break from trying to outline the fourth book in my Cajun Country Mystery series. The doggies are always good for a break.

What's brewing?

I actually don’t drink coffee. I despise the taste of it. Most people who don’t drink it usually enjoy coffee ice cream or chocolates. Not me. I can’t stomach anything coffee-flavored for some reason. So my beverage of choice is a jasmine green tea that I order loose-leaf in bulk from Coffee Direct through Amazon. I drink it straight up, no milk or sweeteners.

Any treats for you or Wiley and Pogo on this occasion?

Oh, there are always treats for my boys!

How were you and your dogs united?

They’re both rescues we adopted from the Amanda Foundation, a Beverly Hills-based animal rescue. We had Wiley for five years before we adopted Pogo. I used the excuse that he needed a friend, but to be honest, I wanted a second dog. I just love them. I’d have a dozen of them if I could.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Wiley came with his name. For some reason, we never bothered to change it. Pogo was named Snoopy by the family that had to surrender him due to financial problems, but our daughter renamed him Pogo because he jumps up and down like a pogo stick. It fits him much better than Snoopy in our opinion.

Do Wiley and Pogo do more to help or hinder your writing?

I find their presence in the room when I write very comforting. But if I make eye contact with Pogo, he either jumps in my lap for affection or brings me a ball to throw. So that can be a hindrance, but it can also force me to take a much-needed break.

Have your dogs inspired the creation of any fictional dogs?

Absolutely! Gopher, the basset hound in my Cajun Country Mystery series, was inspired by our late lamented basset hound rescue, Lucy. I featured a dog inspired by Wiley in a mystery I’ve yet to sell, and I used Pogo as a model for a stray that Maggie, my protagonist, helps save in Body on the Bayou, the second book in my Cajun Country Mystery series. Then I felt badly about Wiley being in a book that hasn’t sold, so I turned him into the pet of a supporting character in the third book in my series, which is currently with the publisher.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Squirrel.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Ball.

Who are Wiley and Pogo's best pet-pals?

Right now, their besties are two little black rescue mutts who live up the street. But their best pal was truly Sophie, a retriever mix who lived across the street. Sadly, she crossed the rainbow bridge about a year ago. We all miss her.

What is each dog's best quality?

Their best qualities are the opposite of each other, interestingly enough. Wiley is totally chill and sweet. Pogo is rambunctious and assertive. He loves to play and demands affection, but in the cutest, funniest way. He’ll jump on your lap and nuzzle, or crawl under the covers and park himself next to you. They’re both super-loving, which is really rewarding.

If Wiley and Pogo could change one thing about Angelenos, what would it be?

The fact that they ignore the stop signs in our neighborhood.

If Wiley and Pogo could answer only one question in English, what would you ask them?

What else do you need from me to live a happy life?

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Wiley and Pogo could speak, who should voice them?

I think Wiley might be Owen Wilson and Pogo, Joe Pesci.

What advice would your dogs give if asked?

Spend less time working and more time petting us.

Visit Ellen Byron's website.

--Marshal Zeringue