Hi. I’m Bear.

I’m a long-haired Dachshund, 12 years old, and I have been with my family since the very beginning. Well, since the beginning of a family vacation to Asheville, North Carolina, to be exact. And honestly, I think I was the best souvenir they brought home.

The whole trip, they kept joking about spotting a bear in the mountains. They never did find one out in the wild. But then they met me, and I think that more than made up for it.

It happened at Sliding Rock. A family nearby had a long-haired Dachshund puppy, and the kids were instantly smitten. From that moment on, the mission changed. No more sightseeing. They were finding a Dachshund breeder. Sure enough, they did, and the breeder brought me to a local restaurant to meet them. My dad kept insisting they were not getting another dog. Then someone put me in his hands, and that was the end of that conversation.

The breeder told them my name was already Bear. It was meant to be.

I rode home with them on a 12-hour drive and never looked back.

Life with my family is pretty great. I have a few non-negotiables. Breakfast comes first, always. And every morning, I get hard-boiled eggs. I cannot overstate how exciting this is. I also have excellent manners about it. I will sit and stay and wait until I hear the magic words before I go for my treat. It takes serious self-control, but I manage.

I have my quirks, too. One of my favorite things is finding just the right corner of molding, tilting my head at the perfect angle, and giving my chin a good scratch along the edge. My family thinks it’s hilarious. I think it’s just good self-care.

For most of my life, I had my big brother Blu by my side. He was a miniature Dachshund, tough and protective, and very much in charge. We were different in all the right ways, and we balanced each other out perfectly. We shared ten wonderful years together. When he passed last year, I felt his absence deeply. The house was a little quieter, and it took some time to adjust.

But I’m still here, still bringing my laid-back, loving energy to every room I walk into. My family says I have a way of filling the quiet spaces, and I think that’s one of the best things a dog can do.

These days, I’m a new resident of Sugar Mill Pond, and I have to say, I am very much looking forward to what’s ahead. New smells. New paths. New friends to make.

I’m Bear. Found in the mountains, loved every mile since.