Yes a dog can be a benefit in bear country, but it does depend upon the dog.  Some will alert you to bears but stay close, those are useful.  Others will chase after them, harass them and bring them back to you, not so good.  The Park Service does not allow dogs in many areas for a number of reasons, interaction with wildlife is only one of them.  Dog feces is another, X number of visitors per year with dogs would create a lot of mess, most of it would be concentrated in the heavily populated areas.  Not all dogs are well behaved which would create more issues.

In Denali National Park the Park Service uses dogs for transportation.  They maintain a kennel of huskies for Winter trips into the Park.

Mark in AK

----- Original Message -----
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Date: Saturday, August 29, 2009 7:40 am
Subject: Re: Ultimate Camping List;
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM

> One of the reasons given by the National Park Service for not allowing
> dogs on trails is the interaction with wildlife, bears especially.
> So,are you folks saying that dogs are a benefit when hiking in bear
> country?  I can see how they would alert one to a bear, but I can also
> see how the dog and the bear could take a powerful interest in one
> another.  Most dogs being smaller than most bears ........... .  Of
> course, the Park Service doesn't allow dogs on trails in parks where
> there are no bears, as well.
>
> Dave MC
>
>
>