A Pretty Handsome Dog

      I live across the street from a 24/7 gas station. They allow dogs in there so I often take Heisenberg, my little alleged Chihuahua, with me like I did this morning. I wanted coffee. They brew some kind of obscure local coffee and, in a pinch, it tastes good. Today, the coffee was empty at 10am and, unlike more, corporate run quikshops, the employees @ Shell on Main & 39th, are never concerned when the coffee is empty. 

     So no coffee but I bought a bag of Hostess powdered donuts & an original-flavored Slim Jim for Heisenberg. I break that into small pieces over the course of the day as a treat for him. As far as the donuts are concerned, I have learned to be careful about buying them because, wherever they are stored, must also have stored incense and candles and the donuts CAN taste like the incense and candles smell. 

     As I was waiting to pay, a couple decked out for winter in Minnesota, came in and, as they walked behind me, they asked me what kind of dog he is. I said I, honestly, didn't know because I really didn't feel like going into his " Chihuahua" story and, for some reason, I feel his "breed" requires an explanation. 

     The explanation I usually give is that I was told he was a Chihuahua when I got him in response to an ad on Facebook that was giving away 4 Chihuahuas for free. He certainly, at times, has the facial expressions of a Chihuahua and, appearance-wise, he looks like a long-haired Chihuahua. BUT, he also seriously has the demeanor and appearance of a Papillon. However, while he is definitely a small dog, he is bigger than either a Chihuahua or a Papillon. So, he must have another breed or 2 mixed in with one or both of those. 

      One of my friends sent me a video of a Westminster (I think) dog agility competition. She sent it to me because the dog who won was a little Papillon named Molly. As I watched her race quickly through the obstacles, I thought I was watching Heisenberg. 

     Anyway, to make a long story shorter, after I told the couple that I didn't really know what kind of dog he is, they told me he was "pretty". The man said it first and his companion repeated it. I have never thought of him as pretty. He IS a very intelligent little fellow and he is very attached to me but I would call him handsome more than pretty with his wiry brown & white coat and his plumed tail and his sprightly little walk. Pretty also works but, come on, he's a guy dog.