Junior Bear the Tongue Out Sweetheart

Junior Bear honestly looks like someone accidentally combined a sad old grandpa, a baby polar bear, and Sid from Ice Age into one dog and somehow... it works perfectly! This poor guy was in rough shape when he was first found and looked more like a little naked mole rat than a fluffy Great Pyrenees mix, but watching him slowly transform has honestly been so special. His coat is already coming back in beautifully, and while we can't guarantee exactly how fluffy he'll end up being, we can confidently say he is becoming cuter by the day. Between the permanently expressive facial expressions, the little tongue that sticks out of his mouth like he always has something important to say, and the shy gentle personality hiding underneath it all, Junior is one of those dogs that completely sneaks up on your heart. Junior Bear is believed to be a Great Pyrenees/Lab mix, approximately 6 years old, and currently weighs around 50 lbs. He is a rescue dog, and with any rescue, it's always a mystery, and we cannot guarantee breed or age. What we CAN guarantee, though, is that this boy has one of the most unintentionally hilarious and lovable faces we've ever seen. His expressions are absolutely incredible – truly the type of dog that makes you wish you could speak fluent dog because you KNOW he has thoughts and opinions constantly running through that little head. Junior is a very sweet, gentle soul, but he is definitely more of a slow burn with people and new environments. He needs a little time to settle in, observe, and realize he's safe before fully opening up. The good news? Baby talking him absolutely works! Seriously, tell him he's handsome, speak softly to him, let him approach you on his own terms, and you can literally watch him start melting. Once he warms up, you start seeing those little glimpses of his inner puppy come out, and honestly, it's adorable. He'll start asking for affection, leaning into attention, and showing off this really sweet, cuddly side that feels incredibly rewarding to earn. Junior is dog-friendly and has done well with every dog we have introduced him to so far, including dogs much smaller than him. He has been very respectful, easygoing, and mostly aloof around other dogs overall. He'll sniff, coexist peacefully, let dogs sniff him, and then usually go right back to minding his own business. He's definitely more of a quiet, peaceful coexistence type than a built-in wrestling buddy. There were a few moments where he followed another dog around the yard curiously, but overall he seems happiest simply existing nearby rather than actively engaging in play. Because of that, we think he would do best with lower to medium-energy, respectful dogs that will give him space to acclimate naturally and won't overwhelm him socially. He has also been around small dogs multiple times and did wonderfully with them. Junior also met our house cat, Biggie, and met him appropriately and was very respectful around him. He did not chase Biggie, nor was he bothered by Biggie jumping or doing what cats do. Biggie also seemed to feel comfortable around him as well. We do not know if he has ever lived in a home before with a cat, and this was our first time seeing him with a cat. If you have a cat in the home, we can arrange for Junior to have a sleepover with a cat upon request. Just let us know! Junior walks very easily on leash and honestly has the cutest little old man stroll ever. He likes to casually meander along at his own pace and seems to do best when allowed to lead the walk a little bit himself. Too much leash pressure tends to overwhelm him, and then he freezes like a statue. Less pressure and more patience is really the key with him. He likes calm energy and slow introductions to things. Junior needs someone patient, understanding, and willing to go slow while trust is being built. Especially in the beginning, he can become uncomfortable with too much touch too quickly. However, when approached calmly and respectfully, he has continued showing that he is capable of building trust beautifully. Junior truly feels like a dog that just needs someone willing to meet him where he's at emotionally instead of forcing him into situations before he's ready. Despite his quirks, Junior is honestly a very easy, low-energy dog overall. He is crate trained, quiet in the home, and would be perfectly content living a slower-paced lifestyle filled with comfy naps, quiet companionship, sniffing around the yard, and peaceful walks. He could potentially do okay in a quieter apartment, townhome, duplex, or condo setting, but we really think having access to some kind of small yard would help him settle in more comfortably while building confidence with his new person. Once he feels safe, he truly is such a sweet, quirky little gentleman with so much love underneath all the nervousness. Junior is not the type of dog that's immediately going to run into your arms and act like your best friend on day one. He's the type of dog where the connection builds slowly, and then suddenly one day you realize this weird, adorable little creature completely stole your heart. And honestly? Those dogs are usually the most special ones of all.

Ideal Home

Junior would do best with lower to medium-energy, respectful dogs that will give him space to acclimate naturally and won't overwhelm him socially. He has also done wonderfully with small dogs. We do not know if he has ever lived in a home before with a cat, but he was respectful when meeting our resident cat. If you have a cat in the home, we can arrange for Junior to have a sleepover with a cat upon request. A quieter apartment, townhome, duplex, or condo setting could work, but having access to some kind of small yard would help him settle in more comfortably.

Ongoing Health

No specific health conditions mentioned.

Training & Support

Junior is crate trained and quiet in the home. He walks easily on leash, but too much leash pressure tends to overwhelm him, and he freezes like a statue. Less pressure and more patience is key with him, as he likes calm energy and slow introductions. He can become uncomfortable with too much touch too quickly, but when approached calmly and respectfully, he builds trust beautifully.

Application Details:

• Applications start by contacting us through Wags.
• The adoption fee is $1200, which includes all vetting (DAPP with booster, Bordetella, Rabies vaccine, multiple broad spectrum deworming treatments, spay/neuter, flea prevention, a 12 month heartworm preventative injectable, heartworm test and treatment if needed, a microchip with free lifetime registration, a high-quality nylon Martingale collar, a health certificate deeming the pup healthy for travel, cost of transport*, and priceless years of love and loyal companionship).
• A $87 surcharge applies due to rising transportation costs.

Transporation

We facilitate adoptions nationwide using our rescue-run USDA certified transport system. This includes drop-off locations in WA, UT, OR, ID, VA, PA, OH, NY, CT, VT, TN, KY, WI, MN, IL, WI, and Canada (pick up in Bellingham, WA, Buffalo, NY, or Brattleboro, VT for Canadian adopters). You will have the opportunity to track their journey in real time, see photo updates, learn fun facts, and connect with fellow adopters and fosters through our private Facebook event page.