Considering self-sustainable living in a bear country (like the wilderness of Canada) can the dogs be used to protect animals and fruit trees against bears?
I'm reluctant to the invasive methods like electric fences that require a lot of resources and constant maintenance, or hunting down and killing bears that settle nearby, because it's their home too. But are there dog breeds that are able to cope with a bear and successfully keep it away from my territory?
I know that dogs can cope with wolves and coyotes, but brown bears are the other pair of shoes.