Here, I've used Hero Forge to create a slender Labrador Retriever, whom I call Alexander, and a brown bear blacksmith, whom I call Hafthor. Hafthor is ready to train this young Labrador Retriever in the art of blacksmithing.

Part 1
Alexander, the Labrador Retriever, traveled aimlessly.
He had no family, no friends, no home. He was quite slender, barely able to find enough food to keep from starving.

But then Alexander saw a blacksmith shop in the forest.
He crept up to it and saw the blacksmith, who was a brown bear.
This bear seemed to have more muscle than any of his fellow bears.
Alexander watched with fascination as the bear blacksmith went about his work.
Behind the bear, Alexander saw the results of his work: chalices, swords, armor, kitchen knives, and even small metal statues.
This bear must have been a son of the blacksmith god Hephaestus, perhaps even his incarnation.
Alexander continued to watch until he lost his carelessness and the bear spotted him.
Alexander was frozen with shock and remained silent, as if this would make him invisible.
But Hafthor wasn't bothered and simply asked Alexander to come in and watch.
Alexander obeyed the friendly invitation and watched as the bearsmith worked on a sword.
After the bear finished the sword, he invited Alexander to eat.
Alexander was delighted, and when offered a bowl of stew, he forgot all manners and devoured it all.
Hafthor was amused by this and realized that this Labrador Retriever hadn't eaten in a long time.
Alexander quickly gained trust in the bear and explained that he had lost his parents very early and was constantly passed from one foster family to the next, even though he had done no harm to anyone.
One day, he was so fed up with it that he would rather roam the land than continue being treated like a toy no one wanted. Hafthor showed great compassion for Alexander.
Behind all that massive muscle mass lay a compassionate heart.
Alexander then began to praise Hafthor's craftsmanship and how much he would enjoy making something like that himself. Hafthor offered him a place to live with him as his apprentice.
Alexander was thrilled, a home, and even an apprenticeship.
But then Alexander expressed his doubts, since he was so skinny and no bear.
Hafthor, however, said that he had exactly what it takes for blacksmithing.
The muscles would come with both work and training.
From that day on, Alexander became Hafthor's apprentice.
A new day, and thus a new life, had begun for Alexander.