Awww... He looks like he had a rough time and needs a break.

He really has... I haven't gone into his past much, but he's had it rough. I may need to explore his backstory at some point.

Well, it's only a presumption, but I guess he had a divorce, is stuck in a job he doesn't like and his appartment is in chaos since his wife isn't there anymore. Also some money problems and a bunch of depressing bears every afternoon with TV dinner just to complete the picture.
You know... The usual.

I haven't given him a whole lot of thought, honestly, but I do know that he doesn't like to talk about his past. To be honest I use that as a way to cover for me not having put a lot of thought into why he is the way he is. I do know he's had a rough time, he's done drugs in the past, he's a recovering alcoholic, and he is an officer with a paramilitary corporation trying his best to get his life on track although his demons still chase him. Despite being short, pudgy and kinda cute in a pathetic way, those scars come from years of fighting and rough living.

There's never been a Mrs. Barker, and that might actually wear on him a bit as well--he's lonely, a bit of an outcast, and even among his friends probably feels like an outsider or like they just tolerate him at best or let him tag along out of pity at worst.

I have been planning on including him as part of a group of dog friends though, so that might happen in the future at some point. Even if he's shorter than Bum Dog, Buddy and Wolf Dude, I think he'd fit in with them quite well, and would happily join them for a couple beers at the bar once in a while.

I like your assessment of him, though, and I'm glad that this drawing was able to convey that sort of feeling. Even if it wasn't 100% what I envision for him it was interesting to read your thoughts on him and what he's been through.

Well, his face looks very sad and exhausted. His cigarette looks like it could fall out of his hand any second. And his clothes aren't realy what a cearing soul in his life would let him wear outside. Practically everything at him says: I gave up.

And that he was at the military once would have probably been the last thing I would have guessed. He looks more like an underpaid forklift driver or something similair to me.