A recent study examining interactions between dogs and bears has found that dogs are frequently the aggressors in such encounters, challenging the common perception that dogs primarily serve as protectors against bears. Conducted by researchers at Brigham Young University and other institutions, the study analyzed 326 documented incidents involving dogs and bears in North America from 1901 through 2023. Its findings were published in The Journal of Wildlife Management.
The analysis revealed that dogs initiated confrontations with bears in 54 percent of cases, while only about 36 percent of encounters involved dogs actively defending their owners. Additionally, dogs successfully alerted their owners to the presence of a bear in approximately 9 percent of incidents. Most encounters involved black bears, which were 3.6 times more likely to be involved than brown bears, including grizzlies. Medium-sized dogs comprised the majority of those involved in these incidents.
Lead author Tom Smith, a professor at Brigham Young University, noted that from the bear’s perspective, dogs are seen as close relatives of wolves, competitive rivals for territory and resources. This evolutionary antagonism contributes to the likelihood of aggressive interactions. The study was prompted in part by the fatal 2019 grizzly bear attack in Banff National Park, Alberta, where a Border collie was present with its owners.
The researchers acknowledged limitations inherent in studying dog-bear encounters, as controlled experiments are not feasible for ethical reasons. Instead, they relied on accounts from newspapers, internet reports, government records, and books, excluding cases lacking sufficient detail. Lana Ciarniello, an independent scientist in British Columbia involved in bear management programs, emphasized that many encounters likely go unreported, making comprehensive data collection difficult.
One notable finding was that 85 percent of recorded incidents involved unleashed dogs. Ciarniello highlighted the increased risk posed by dogs running free, which can lead to surprise encounters with bears in natural habitats. The study also found that dogs often return to their owners after confronting a bear, potentially escalating danger; in 70 percent of 27 such cases, owners were injured.
The study’s conclusion that dogs do not reliably enhance human safety in bear country has prompted debate among experts and outdoor enthusiasts. Some critics, like Nils Pedersen of the Wind River Bear Institute, who works with Karelian bear dogs bred to deter bears effectively, argued that dog breed and training heavily influence outcomes. While certain breeds, such as Akbash or Pyrenean mountain dogs, are specifically suited for confronting bears, many common household dogs, including Siberian Huskies, lack these traits and may provoke bears instead.
Smith emphasized that effective control and training are crucial in managing dog behavior around bears. “Most house dogs are not that well trained,” he said, adding that dogs rarely “fight your fight” when facing a bear. Retired wildlife biologist John Hechtel expressed skepticism that the study’s results would significantly change behavior, pointing to the strong attachment owners have to their dogs and resistance to leash requirements.
Beyond safety concerns, the presence of unleashed dogs in wildlife areas can disrupt local animal populations, according to Pedersen. He advises keeping dogs leashed in national parks and other bear habitats to prevent harassment of wildlife such as bears, moose, elk, and deer.
The recent high-profile incidents of dogs confronting bears, including a French bulldog named Cassie in California and a husky named Bella in Connecticut, have captured public attention but represent a more complex and often risky dynamic between dogs, bears, and humans in shared environments. Cassie, who engaged with a bear attacking her owners outside their home, died two days after the encounter, underscoring potential dangers in these interactions.