I replied to your other post giving pretty much the same advice as Lori. Take your dog for companionship, not protection, hike your dog's hike and keep her on leash. The big thing I'm going to miss now that I'm hiking without dog is the advance warning when somebody is approaching from behind.

The big dangers out there are not people nor animals, but accidents. You can take precautions against those by staying alert.
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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey