Born: September 18, 2013 • Passed: August 21, 2026
Owned and loved by: Blake and Kim Oliver

Bear was born September 18, 2013 at War Bouviers in Oklahoma and came home to us on December 26 as our first Bouvier. At 28 pounds, with a plump backside, he looked like a bear cub. The name stuck.

We never thought of him as a show dog, though he looked the part. He was our companion. Bear loved chasing squirrels, swimming, running and being outside. After we moved to the country, he herded and harassed the stray chickens.

Bear was easy to train and had a keen intuition. He was a fierce protector and stood between us and danger even when he was frightened. Visitors he did not know got a loud bark and his front-leg hop to let them know he was watching.

At his peak he weighed 117 pounds and felt like solid muscle. After age nine we brought his weight into the mid-90s to help his joints. By fall 2025, standing and walking were difficult, and running was over. He still loved lying under his favorite oak tree and never complained.

Bear passed unexpectedly and peacefully while resting at the groomer’s on August 21, 2026, 28 days short of his thirteenth birthday. 4,622 days. That is the number we were blessed with. I am honored to have been entrusted as his caretaker. There will never be another like him.