Higgs, affectionately nicknamed Higgsie by his owner Pelf Pachoola, was a male Kobarian swamp dog. He entered the world near the end of the Galactic Republic's reign, during its final years. As a wedding gift and part of her dowry, Pelf Pachoola's aristocrat father, Fume Pachoola, presented her with Higgs and another swamp dog named "Twiggs" when the Wroonian heiress became engaged to her fiancé. The soon-to-be bride developed a deep affection for the pair, treating them like her own children, and showcased them as show dogs. Later, Pelf and Fume embarked on a cruise aboard the Salin Mariner, a luxury liner operated by Salin Excursions, with the two swamp dogs in tow. During their voyage, the Pachoolas and their canine companions crossed paths with Hondo Ohnaka, a Weequay pirate who was disguised as a prosperous businessman named "Rondo Rosada." This was part of Ohnaka's scheme to abduct several affluent passengers. After orchestrating an explosion on the ship, Ohnaka tricked the Pachoolas into boarding an escape pod with their dogs. Subsequently, the pirate held them hostage on the planet Florrum. However, the situation turned into a financial setback for Ohnaka. Despite the dogs consuming 10 kilograms of food daily, he was unable to obtain a ransom for the Pachoolas that would cover the expense of feeding them. Eventually, Twiggs, Higgs, and their owners were freed after Ohnaka and his gang compelled a passing delivery freighter to take them as unwanted passengers.