Bear is a dark (ok, black) speckled sheepdog adopted from the Vancouver SPCA in February of 1999, at the age of about 2. Just what type of mix Bear is will never be known. Most people who have met him agree that he is mostly Australian Shepherd crossed with perhaps Border Collie, Belgian Shepherd and maybe something else. The odd person claims that he is a purebred Aussie, just not a very "typey" one. Doesn't matter to me, he's just the big fluffy dog.
Bear enjoys just about everything in life, from herding sheep to running through the woods to patrolling the kitchen. He is living proof that you can teach an old dog a LOT of new tricks. When I got Bear from the SPCA in 1999, he knew how to 'sit'. That's it. But he learned the basics very quickly, breezing through his Intermediate obedience class. Once I realized how much Bear enjoyed learning new things, I began researching classes offered by the local clubs and organizations. That's how we became involved in so many activities.
Bear runs agility, has competed in herding, flying disc and musical freestyle, and does therapy dog visits. He lives to please, and nothing is too crazy for him to try. His excessive biddability, good-natured attitude and love of people make him a favorite of just about anyone who meets him.
What do I think of him? Forget about the boxes of rosettes, the titles and the accolades. Bear has long been, and always will be to me, "The World's Greatest Dog".