"Two Dogs" is the story of a marriage--between dachshunds, Augie and Perry. These two are adored, in youth, but then their owner goes away to school, and life becomes somewhat repetitive.
Augie (the immature one) fills his days by stealing Perry's rubber ball. Perry (the civilized one) calmly asks for his property, but the only trick that works is to play high notes on the piano until Augie relents and apologizes.
Desiring a change, the two dogs attempt an illicit trip outdoors. They roll in raccoon poop; they pee on the rose bush. But they go too far; they realize they can dig (and dig, and dig) an enormous hole. And the evidence of their transgression threatens to overturn their lives; they risk eviction from their comfortable (and warm, and food-filled) home.
I love these dogs because I think I know them; I think I'm reading about two halves of myself.
Falconer died soon after "Two Dogs," but he ended on a high note; it's a funny and suspenseful work of art.
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