Miko Kuma… Our Friendly Bear ~ Be Careful What You Ask For ~

Miko Kuma… a most excellent name for a most excellent dog.
Miko—like amigo—means friend. Kuma—Japanese for bear.

And indeed, Miko Kuma was our friendly bear.

By far the smartest pet we ever owned. There was never a fence… yet he faithfully remained in his yard. He responded to hand signals—sit… lay down… and, most impressively, he would put his toys away before bed. One by one. By name.

There was Skunk… Rope… Ojos… and—since he was Karen’s dog as well—a dozen others, each somehow known and remembered. Not just a dog… but a tidy one, too. (A trait we briefly considered teaching to guests.)

His voice? A language all its own. From his least appealing note—an ear-piercing, fully committed whine when guests arrived—to the softest, most endearing growl he reserved for only one occasion: the group hug.

Yes… a group hug.

He always knew when one of us was leaving. How? We never quite figured it out. Some instinct… some awareness beyond explanation. And in those moments, he alone was permitted to jump up, joining the embrace as if to say, “Not yet… stay just a little longer.”

Even in his final weeks, when his strength was nearly gone, he gave us one last gift. The day I left for Mexico, he gathered himself—summoned whatever remained—and joined us… one final group hug.

Miko was also a strategist.

When Karen was in the living room and I was upstairs, he stationed himself at the hallway between us. If I was outside, he guarded the kitchen doorway. If we were both upstairs, he took position on the second landing—perfectly placed to watch the front porch through the window.

A little dog? Yes. But a great protector of his people. Always.

One year, we cared for a friend’s black Labrador named Trigger—a dog whose very existence revolved around retrieving. Watching him fetch… and fetch… and fetch again (for five, ten, even fifteen minutes without pause) revealed something profound.

Dogs truly live their names... Trigger retrieved with relentless joy. Miko… not so much.

~ Not 'Trigger', but a friend nonetheless ~

Three to five throws—that was his limit. Occasionally, with encouragement, he might stretch it to nine or ten. But mostly, he would stop, look at me with that thoughtful, slightly puzzled expression, and seem to say:

“Rick… it’s just a ball.”

Another glimpse of his intelligence came during our walks. Rarely on a leash, Miko walked with me as a companion, not a captive. Yet he had one habit I could never quite break—he liked to walk just a foot or two ahead.

I had a signal—a gentle tap on my pant leg—and he would fall back into place. For a moment. Then, inevitably, he’d drift forward again, as if leading the expedition.

It wasn’t until our final walk, when his strength had faded, that he finally mastered the command. Only this time… he lagged ten feet behind.

And I remember thinking, with a quiet ache… Be careful what you wish for.

Yet one of his most remarkable traits was his calm indifference to distractions. Other dogs, people, noise—it didn’t matter. When he walked, he walked with purpose. If we stopped, he was friendly as ever. But in motion, he was focused… steady… present.

We miss him dearly. And I suspect we will for quite some time.

I miss my little buddy—my camping companion. My kayaking partner. Though, to be clear, Miko loved the idea of water more than the experience of it. Not like a retriever who plunges in without hesitation. No… Miko preferred to ride on the water.

Perched proudly on the bow of the kayak.

I remember one trip across Devil’s Lake in Lincoln City. We launched on a calm Monday afternoon from the west side. But midway across, the wind rose—five to ten miles per hour. Nothing dramatic for most boats… but for a kayak, low to the water, it was enough.

Waves began to lap over the bow… and onto Miko.

He endured it, of course. But if he could have spoken, I’m quite certain his words would have been:

“Rick… I know this is fun for you… but the sooner we reach land… the better, don’t you think?”

Though Miko was black in color, he was truly a dog of many colors—
intelligent, strategic, loyal… a traveler… a quiet guardian… and a faithful friend.

More than a pet… He was our buddy.

And he always will be.