Well it's almost Friday...so
  My dogs are my most useful part of my regular Vanagon camping gear.  Kinda
a pain, but well worth every f+*t, every gooey nose print on the windows,
everything....
  They are my remote locking device.  I rarely bother locking anything, even
in downtown La Paz, which can be a pretty tough Baja city...
  While I've never had a run in with a Griz (and dogs would probably be a
drawback there) I've had plenty of go rounds with black bears.  The dogs
always run them off...every single time over 30 yrs of camping with dogs.
Bears and dogs just don't like one another and a tough dog is usually equal
to the task of driving off a bear who's become a nuisance around camp.

  Yeah, my bed is usually full of dog hair and they seem to love coming in
the slider and THEN shaking after a swim...but two Chessies beat  a propane
heater on a cold night and not many bad guys will 'challenge' the "look"
from my big male...Bright yellow eyes, staring staring...daring the crook to
stick his hand inside......

  I do have to be careful where I leave the van parked so I don't give
innocent passers-by a heart attack when Jake charges the window if they come
near.  I do have bright red signs in each window saying "Beware of the dog"
and in Mexico, I use "Cuidado, Perro  Bravo" (sp?  It's been a couple of
years since the last Baja trip)

  They do earn their dog food.  Once out of the van, they are very friendly
and are quite useful for breaking the ice...both with strangers and on a
frozen river, should I need that.
  Don Hanson