"What is a... root?" Dug asked curiously, stopping briefly to scratch again before his ears perked up and he raced towards Kyle and past him in the direction he'd indicated, doubling back and running small circles around him.
"I like cuddling all people!" he added cheerfully. "People are soft and warm and they pet my tummy and scratch behind my ears and it is very nice and happy. When they let me cuddle," he frowned a bit. "Sometimes people say they do not wish to cuddle. I do not understand this."
Master Mal was a common one for that. He would often push Dug away when Dug was just trying to be friendly.
Movement caught his eye, and Dug remembered that Susan was still gathering the not-sticks. He barked somewhat urgently at her. "Hurry! Hurry! We will leave to get sticks without you!"