Kumquat and the Birth of the Kool

Do doggies have an "in-crowd," a popular group of cool dogs that shuns the geeks?  If you ever went on a walk with Kumquat the Squat, you would think that they do.

Kumquat has some of the shortest little legs I've ever seen.  Short little legs and a large head that bobs up and down as he walks.

Kumquat walks like he owns the world, with little Squeaky Squirrel filling in as wing man. Kumquat throws a doggie nod to the other "cool" dogs on the block, followed by the requisite sniff.  Every now and then we come across a dog who's not cool (in fact some of them are downright nerdy) and Kumquat must let him or her know.  We're cool, you're not.  See how my big head bobs up and down as I motor along on my short little legs.

And for once in my life, I'm in with the In Crowd.  I think.

Kumquat's Kunundrum

Kumquat awoke and wondered, would this be the day?  Would today be the day he would brave the upstairs landing and pass by Puck the StairMaster, unofficial Gatekeeper to the Sacred Spot (a brand new Kumquat-sized cat cube). 

Kumquat's stumpy little legs carried him up the stairs until he was only one step below Puck.  Kumquat and Puck faced off in a shifty-eyed Eastwood-esqe stare down that would have done Clint proud.  Puck stared down upon little Kumquat, and Kumquat's eyes stared back and squinted up at his nemesis. 

Would today be the day that Kumquat dared brave the Stair Master?  Yes, today was the day.  Mustering every ounce of courage in his 9-lb body, Kumquat sprang forward.

Whack.  Twenty pounds of feline fury swatted at Kumquat and down the stairs he went.  Today would not be the day.  Maybe tomorrow …. 

Or maybe he would just sit at the stairs and whine until someone carried him past the Puck.

Kumquat and the Siege

Kumquat can't seem to figure out why everyone isn't always happy to see him, all the time, any time.  After all, he's always happy to see everyone.  All the time.

After a rather long walk tonight, Sneaky Squirrel retired to his favorite sleeping spot, a cat cube which the cats abandoned immediately upon smelling dog.  Kumquat wanted to spend time with Sneaky Squirrel, after all they had only already spent the entire day together.  It was not enough, not yet.

Sneaky Squirrel would not come out of the cat cube, so Kumquat laid siege to the cube.  He lay in front of it, his large head blocking the cube entrance.  Every now and then he attempted to enter the cat cube, which is not an impossibility when the cube is empty, but it is definitely an impossibility when the cube is occupied.  This Kumquat did not understand.

Alternating with Kumquat's attempts to enter the cube was his whining at Sneaky Squirrel to come out and play. 

The cat cube siege went on until Sneaky Squirrel (and I) could take it no longer.  I went into the kitchen and opened the treat drawer.  End of siege.

Kumquat the Squat

Kumquat is Sneaky Squirrel's best friend.  Like Squirrel, Kumquat is also a rescue dog, but unlike Sneaky Squirrel he will most likely be moving on to a permanent home soon.  He is outgoing and friendly to everyone, something that Squirrel is not.

Kumquat is a shorty, a low-rider with some of the shortest legs I've ever seen.  Probably a Dachsund and ? mix, he's incredibly cute, even if he has trouble keeping his short little legs in his harness.

When I take Sneaky Squirrel for a walk, so does Kumquat.  He grabs Squirrel's leash with his mouth, wherever he can grab hold of it, and goes motoring along on his little stubs.  He's every bit as bold as his little friend is timid.

My little shorty backs down to no one, man or dog, no matter the size.  He makes Sneaky Squirrel feel very safe.  Kumquat's head is kind of big for his body and it sort of rolls from side to side.  Sneaky Squirrel's head is tiny and it bobs up and down.

Everyone should have a friend like Kumquat the Squat.