Once there were two dachshunds named Pinot and Lokie who had the best life. They lived in a house on the lake and had a big backyard to explore and play. And when they were tired from playing, they could rest in their big comfy bed. Life was good.

Then one day, a fire engine bed appeared in their house. What’s this? Pinot wondered. She sniffed it and then got on it. Hmm…must be a new bed for me.

Lokie checked out the big plush cushion on the floor. Looks like our bed, she thought and made herself comfortable. What lucky dogs we are, they thought.

But soon after that, their Persons went away for weeks and the two dachshunds had to go live with the GrandPeople. When the Persons came home, Pinot and Lokie were so happy to see them that at first, they didn’t notice the little boy with them.

Must be a visitor, the two dachshunds thought, and they politely sniffed him and the snack cup he was clutching. But the little boy shrank away in fear and much to the horror of the two dachshunds, they were taken back to the GrandPeople’s place while the little boy, that Interloper, got to stay in their house!

They were allowed to go back home for only an hour every day and couldn’t understand why HE was still in their house.

Person told them they had to make friends with him. Pinot wanted nothing to do with him but Lokie thought maybe he would be a good source of snacks. So she waited.

Um, what am I supposed to do with this dog? the little boy wondered.

Person urged him to pet Lokie.

Do I have to? the little boy asked.

Does he have to? Lokie asked.

Person nodded and the little boy slowly reached out a hand.

I‘m out of here, said Lokie. I was only hanging around for that snack cup but it’s nowhere to be found. 

Person sighed. This wasn’t going well and she felt bad that the two dachshunds couldn’t sleep in their own house.

But then a week later, Person came upon a heart lifting sight. It seemed the little boy was tired of Lokie constantly stealing the Cheerios from his snack cup and had decided to feed the two dachshunds. But he didn’t like it when their mouths touched his hand, so he came up with a clever way to feed them.

As she watched, the little boy extended his makeshift plate to Pinot.

And Pinot very gently accepted the treat.

Then it was Lokie’s turn. Lokie has been known to be a piglet and scarf down food, earning her the nickname “Landshark” from her vet. Person held her breath as the little boy extended the plate to Lokie.

Lokie surprised Person by taking the Cheerio daintily off the plate. And then the little boy rewarded himself for a job well done.

After all, when you live with two dachshunds, you start acting like them right?

From that day on, a tentative agreement seemed to be reached between the two dachshunds and the little boy. Anyone who would feed them treats when the Persons weren’t looking had to be a friend. The Persons sighed with relief, and were happy to have their two dachshunds back home where they belonged.

Pinot let him join her on the bed to look out the window.

And soon they were lying side by side, staring out at the lake.

When the little boy got tired, he would take a nap in the dog bed, snuggled up against Pinot.

Lokie would come on his other side to protect him, making a little boy hot dog sandwich.

And one day, Person walked in to find that the little boy had completely taken over the dog bed. Didn’t you know dog beds are for little boys, not dogs?

Pinot became his playmate.

How did this happen? Pinot thought.

But secretly, she enjoyed her new partner in crime, since Lokie wasn’t always up for an adventure.

The little boy bonded with Lokie and they would spend long moments staring into each others eyes…

…until they were forehead to forehead, communicating without words.

The little boy and the two dachshunds were finally best friends.

And the three Musketeers lived happily ever after in their house on the lake.