[Mr.Atos]

I tend to pack both. His nose alone is as valuable as the steel companionship, and will give you the 15 second head's up that you may need to direct that piece. In the dark forests of the Cascades and Olympics, your likely to walk right up to a bear or a cat and not otherwise know it until its too late.

[tertiary01]

Happens in the Sierra Nevada too. One time while hiking my Chesapeake went charging downstream until she was out of sight, then I heard all this barking and growling. When I got to where she was, she was growling in the direction of some trees about 200 feet up the hill, then she gradually calmed down. I looked around and found a one of the largest fresh cat tracks, I'd ever seen. Of course I also carry a weapon, but she was my best early warning system.