### Will these two ever see eye to eye?
![image.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmSukJMY6uHcECFHqbV5ghiERJspBWuwrWWeLE1XwJQwWE/image.png)
### Prince. Bear. (Well, Bear is on top, here, so, "Bear. Prince.")

Before them came Blaise and Bailey. Litter mates. Neither was ever rescued from a life of abuse or neglect, yet Bailey lived in constant concern that Blaise might get one more pat on the head, a bigger scrap from the table, a bit more love from the humans. Blaise, a jumbo collie at almost 120 pounds, never acted anxious or worried. He just shouldered his sister aside and got what was coming to him. Praise. A pat on the back. A bite of **CHICKEN!***

But I am not posting old photos of the old days, the days gone by, the years when our first pair of collies were here, watching our children grow up. When Claire finished college, Blaise gave up the ghost. When Mariel graduated high school, Bailey followed. Of course both dogs had to be put down. They would never leave us. No. Dogs like these will never voluntarily quit this earth. Their owners must put them down. At the vet's. It is awful. It is part of the Dog-Human pact.

Ok, I lied. OF COURSE I'm a gonna post at least one shot of B and B!

![image.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmYVVrFXAwgBNmtGJhF9Z7EVketyzouNfdnE6kSMp1jtUR/image.png)

I've already posted dozens of Prince and Bear shots, back when @kona hosted the @dpet community. Does anyone know what's become of our beloved @kona? I miss him/her. (Some say Kona was a her.)

Back on track: two collies in constant competition for the attentions of THE MAN!

![image.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmQEMyKERfLwQLqeRSSq8GTtP3HKm7dRhurNXFtqLsVHiy/image.png)

### Bear cannot bear to see Prince getting attention from The Man of the House.
He looks at me with disbelief. "Seriously? What does the man see in that other shaggy dog?" So he hauls himself up, ambles over, averting his face, and lays a gentle paw on the man. "Here. Look at me. Me, Bear, the son of Black Onyx, dandy with the champion bloodline. Prince has no papers! He came from working parents. Farm dogs. Herders. What am I, chopped liver? --OMG, liver! When will the food lady cook us some more liver?"

![image.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmaxBE36gxgYU4Scdw3r4thmXCUK8CWB8KebeCAt4QJFrd/image.png)
#### That collie in Wayne's World. 
I've seen some collies in the assorted Facebook collie groups with hair (fur) almost like this. I was trying to capture Bear's wispy ears but he made this face at me, and that was the end of that.

![image.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmYAavEfHm2cfUGLemFMb7TUB4VjqgfqDKTf3yL9ZoSDAF/image.png)

Or so he thinks. I'm a gonna come round with a comb and give Bear, the court jester, a floppy blow-out just to remind him that The Other Dog is a crown prince, whether or not he has the papers to prove it.

We love them both, but Bear will never be convinced of this."Puppy Bear" was only ten months old when his young owner posted him on **For Sale** on Craig's List. With a baby on the way, this guy and his wife were unable to handle a little fluffer they named Bear. 

All Bear's "bad habits" were dead on arrival at our house.  Well, except for the barking. I just cannot use one of those shock collars on him to break him excessive, enthusiastic barking. It's what he does. Bear is so sensitive, I cannot imagine the trauma an electric shock for barking would inflict on him. Prince would take it like a man, but Prince is already the strong, silent type. No need for rough (evil?) heavy-handed training methods with the gentle collie. (Or any dog. Says me.)

Whatever "misbehavior" Bear was guilty of in his former life, it had to be acting out due to lack of attention. And food. Lord, that dog was skinny. To this day he acts like he's starving to death. Poor little Bear! He was an angel from Day One, from the moment he got into our SUV without a single glance back at "Josh."

Prince was like a proud daddy when we drove home on that snowy Sunday in mid-December with another dog. My "Evil Jungle Prince" was suddenly letting this poor, pathetic, blank-slate of a dog, "Puppy Bear," win at tug-o'-war. Mind you, Prince would NEVER let any human wrest that rope from him. Ever. He taught Bear everything he knew, patiently, like a doting papa. Even so, little Bear has remained insecure.

But, little Bear knows he is loved. I am confident he knows this. I'm not sure Bear always believes it.

Bear is the first to hear a car approaching, half a mile out, knowing it's our daughter coming home from Omaha. He is first to hear the UPS truck rumble down the driveway with a package. Prince merely pricks up an ear: "Duly noted." Bear runs out to play Master Watch Dog, barking to alert us of STRANGER DANGER on the driveway.


![image.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmWLubGsDZcc9ZT9RgfnRes3JKbqVysaNz88jobNrXpdYw/image.png)

***Come on, Prince! The TRUCK is here!***
Every evening, Bear starts counting the hours til the sun goes down and it's no longer too wretchedly hot for a walk. If we don't get moving at twilight, he barks to let us know what time it is. At bedtime, he barks to remind us of the hour. 


![image.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmVzoAPftBZDJimgNpKUjkiLFz3mrqre8NoNDEnAd7nCno/image.png)

To be fair, the Barker, little Bear, also does this to-die for bow. Every day. Every time we praise him! Prince never bows. He's just too cool for that.

![image.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmd8RZ2aogxZ1H31eVq8tYUXBicQyin3Kha2ZFg1yCTbZ6/image.png)
Two collies, only a few months apart in age, but Prince is **The Man** (even if he is a dog!) and Bear is forever the little clown. Mr. Sweet Face, demure, unassuming--until he sees Prince getting attention that Bear believes is rightfully his.

![image.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmeMXmuzJSVvhYcNQ8MvnVQYAinW1jNoVfqmCWQ42uEudR/image.png)


Ok, little Bear. Know this: 
### We love BOTH of you, 
even if Prince was here first, for an entire year, before we rescued you from that impatient young man who clearly wasn't gentle with you. Even though the cat arrived long before Prince. Bobi was rescued from the pound when Prince and Bailey were already fixtures here. He enjoyed only a few dog-free years before the Advent of Prince and Bear.

#### Our hearts have room for Blaise and Bailey, for Prince and Bear, all in equal measure.

# <center>The cat? No comment. :)</center>

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