Bear

Meet Bear, a large mixed breed pup that has a pep in his step, and a curiosity for the world around him. This sweet boy is diagnosed with cerebellar hypoplasia (CH), a neurological condition that affects balance, coordination, and in Bear's case, vision. CH does not cause Bear pain or discomfort, nor does it progress over time. In fact, it often becomes more manageable as dogs learn to take in and interact with the world around them. All in all, this just means that he needs a little extra patience, guidance, and consistency.

HISTORY Bear is a young pup who is believed to have been dumped around the age of only 8 weeks old, as no owners came forward about him when we searched. His estimated date of birth is April 1, 2025. Bear's vision issues were noted almost immediately, when his finder first started caring for him. At 4.5 months of age, he saw the vet for some neurological concerns, and was diagnosed with CH, as mentioned above.

Bear is located in Richland, in Eastern Washington. We share information about our dogs in postings based in other cities to improve their chances of finding a great forever home. he is well worth a road trip, and we encourage you to come and meet him before you decide he should join your family! But, if necessary, HART will transport a puppy to an approved adopter in the Pacific Northwest.

SOCIALIZATION, TEMPERAMENT AND TRAINING Bear has been in several foster homes while we worked to better understand his needs and help him thrive. Early placements with toddlers and high noise levels were overwhelming for him, particularly due to his vision impairment and sensitivity to lighting changes. He primarily sees shadows and outlines, and he may react to visual triggers such as cars or squirrels when outdoors.

Bear is a vocal dog and enjoys expressing himself, so he is not well-suited for apartments, condos, or high-density living.

In his current foster home, Bear has made tremendous progress. He lives with multiple dogs of varying ages and has learned their boundaries beautifully. While he can initially be very eager to play and may push limits due to slower processing of social cues, he is highly capable of learning. With guidance, consistency, and occasional management (such as crate breaks), Bear has shown that lessons stick - and he now respectfully interacts with the other dogs in the home.

Bear loves other dogs, especially playful, medium-to-large dogs who enjoy active play. The younger dogs in the home adore him and match his energy, while the older dogs enjoy his company at a calmer pace.

He is: -Crate trained -Potty trained -Comfortable using a doggy door -Learning basic commands -Treat-motivated and eager to engage in training

Bear is young, curious, and happiest when he has companionship, structure, and activity. He thrives with interaction and does best when he isn't left alone for long stretches of time.

He is working on basic commands & how to be confident in his every day life. Bear would love for you to take him to school so he can learn ALL the skills he needs to be his best self. He is comfortable in a crate, and potty trained.

It's important to remember: Bear is a LARGE puppy, and PUPPIES ARE HARD WORK! This (not so) little guy is just getting started in understanding the world around him. He still has everything to learn about being a civilized member of a mainly-human family. Please don't apply to adopt Bear unless you're sure you have the time, energy and desire to raise him right!

HEALTH STATUS General info Bear is up to date on vaccines, microchipped, neutered, and dewormed. He appears to be in good health. Once full grown, he will likely be somewhere in the 70 lbs range. As stated previously, Bear is diagnosed with a neurological condition and lives with a vision impairment. He can and will live a happy and normal life with your help.

ADOPTION The adoption fee for Bear is $425. For more pictures of Bear, see him Facebook album at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1052851403662615&type=3

To apply to adopt Bear, please complete our online adoption application at https://new.helterluv.com/matchme/adopt/HAWA/Dog, or email HearthfireART@gmail.com and request an adoption application form.

HART dogs live in foster homes, not in a kennel facility. To respect our fosters' privacy, we make our dogs available to meet adopters only after an adoption has been approved.