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Ottawa pooch makes New York Times bestseller list, promises presidential run

(Photo: Facebook / Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund)

It’s not every dog that can make the New York Times Best Seller list, earn millions of YouTube hits and announce plans for both Presidential and Prime Ministerial runs all in the same year, but then, Ottawa-based dachshund Crusoe is not every dog.

The adorable six-year-old pooch has seen his popularity skyrocket in the five years since Crusoe’s owner and manager Ryan Beauchesne began blogging about everyone’s favourite wiener dog.

It all started with a simple blog written for family and friends by Beauchesne and his girlfriend, Lauren Dionne. The blog features Crusoe in a variety of adorable doggy costumes, and photos are accompanied by humorous posts written from the dog’s point of view.

As it turns out, dog’s-eye-view blog posts – and now videos – are what the world wants, because Crusoe’s fame has exploded. Crusoe has pulled a number of stunts, including promises to run for office, and even a stint as “Bat Dog.” The blog has become a book, Crusoe, The Celebrity Dachshund, and that book is now the ninth bestseller on the New York Times list in the category of “Animal Books.”

“When I found out we were a New York Times Best Seller, I literally almost cried,” Beauchesne told CTV Ottawa. “I really didn’t think that would ever happen.”

Though Crusoe deserves a kudos for looking so darned cute in a three-piece-suit/hunting cap/police uniform, much of the credit has to go to Beauchesne and Dionne, for finding such a compelling and loveable voice for their pet pooch.

For example, Crusoe is currently on his book tour, and “wrote” the following about his interaction with a hotel consierge:

“I picked up the receiver and dialed the front desk. ‘Yes, hello? This is Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund who just checked in – huh? Oh yes, the room will do quite well, thank you. I just wanted to ask, is it okay if I squeak my rubber chicken? It’s very loud so I just wanted to ask first. Yes? As loud as I can? Fantastic. Thank you.’”

Admit it: you giggled.

Crusoe and his owners have just returned from a North American book tour that included an appearance on Good Morning America, and CTV Ottawa reports that there are even talks of a Crusoe TV show. In fact, Crusoe’s fame has become so time consuming (and profitable, one would assume) that Beauchesne has left his day job to manage Crusoe’s skyrocketing career full-time.