Stick Dog Wants a Hot Dog

Stick Dog Q&A

Recently, Tom Watson interviewed the main character in his Stick Dog books. The interview took place at Stick Dog’s home – a big pipe that runs beneath Highway 16.

Tom Watson: Hi, Stick Dog.
Stick Dog: Hey.

TW: Before we get started, I just wanted to say thanks for letting me write about your food-finding adventures. It’s a large number of fun.
SD: No problem.

TW: Do you like the stories?
SD: I do. But I wish you could draw me better. I’m really a lot better looking than that.

TW: Umm, yeah. Anyway. I used to be wondering if I could ask you a few questions?
SD: Sure.

TW: Okay, here goes. We know what breed all your friends are. Karen is a dachshund. Mutt’s a mutt. Poo-Poo is a poodle. And Stripes is a dalmatian. But what breed are you?
SD: That’s a great question. And I have a great answer.

TW: What is it?
SD: I have no idea.

TW: Okay, umm. Next question, I guess. What’s your favorite thing to eat?
SD: Hamburgers. Hot dogs. And, let’s see … pizza is third, I think.

TW: I’m curious about how you met all your friends. I know some things, but not all the details. Stripes, for instance. How did you meet her?
SD: I used to be looking for scraps behind the mall. They have a food court in there and I will be able to usually scrounge up something in the alley behind it. That’s what I used to be doing when I heard all this yelling. Then one of the vital guards at the mall opened the back door – and Stripes came running out real fast. She looked scared and like she was in trouble, but also kind of funny.

TW: Funny? How?
SD: She had nacho cheese sauce everywhere her face. It was like black and white and orange everywhere. Anyway, that’s how we met. She was upset and I tried to help her feel better. We’ve been friends ever since.

TW: Interesting. Here’s another question: Do the other dogs stay with you in your pipe?
SD: Not usually. If it’s really cold or late, we might have a sleepover. But they all have their own sleeping places. We almost all the time hang out together during the day though.

TW: Isn’t Poo-Poo just the silliest name?
SD: Yes. But he is a poodle, so it makes sense.

TW: Don’t you ever want to stop Poo-Poo from hitting his head into things on purpose?
SD: I do stop him most the time.

TW: Who decorated your place? I love what you’ve done with it.
SD: Do you? Thanks. Karen was the lead designer. She calls it ‘early-industrial.’

TW: What are you looking at?
SD: Excuse me?

TW: Well, we’re having this nice conversation and everything and now you seem to be staring at my feet.
SD: Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. It’s just your socks.

TW: What about them?
SD: Well, they look really soft and Mutt likes to chew on socks a lot. And I used to be just wondering …

TW: You wish to have my socks so you’ll give them to Mutt to chew on?
SD: Well, not to just chew them.

TW: What else?
SD: He’ll swallow them too. He eats the whole thing.

TW: Okay, here you go. The socks are yours.
SD: Thanks. Mutt will love them.

TW: Do you all the time look out for your friends like that?
SD: I try to.

TW: And do they look out for you too?
SD: Umm, occasionally.

TW: Are you able to give me an example?
SD: Let’s see, let’s see. Well, once Stripes wanted to shoot me out of a catapult and through a glass window.

TW: And that was being nice?
SD: It’s hard to provide an explanation for. We were trying to get some food and she had this plan. She meant well.

TW: What kind of food were you trying to get?
SD: Pizza.

TW: Could I write about that for the next book?
SD: Sure. It was a pretty funny adventure. I’ll tell you all about it later.

TW: I want to ask a question about Karen. I used to be wondering: Has she ever actually caught her tail?
SD: Only once. January 16 – a day that will live in infamy.

TW: Thanks, Stick Dog. This was fun and informative.
SD: That’s it?

TW: That’s it.
SD: Umm, I used to be wondering if maybe I could ask you a question now?

TW: Sure. Shoot.
SD: Do you have any food?

TW: I don’t. But I’d be happy to take you out for hamburgers. Would you like that?
SD: Yes! And then could we go out for hot dogs after that?

TW: You bet.
SD: And pizza for dessert?

TW: You got it.
SD: And can I bring a few friends?

TW: How many?
SD: Four.

TW: No problem.