Don't bring the house pet, unless it's a horse. While rangers allow campers to bring dogs and cats, they're largely restricted staying on a lease or cage inside the campgrounds. Dogs aren't allowed the park's 800 miles of trails.
On the other hand, the horse trails abound in the park. There are restrictions on horse feed, so be sure to call ahead for full details from the rangers. Additionally, at the Cave's Cove section horses can be rented and hayrides are available.
For additional details write j.m.Terry@live.com I literally wrote the book on the park.

I know it is only a mis-print, but for those of you who may not have visited us here, it is "Cades Cove", with a 'd'...and it is beautiful! Well worth the time it takes to do the 11 mile loop, stopping to explore the preserved community and it's history. Just remember to be kind to the local wildlife; they are Real deer, bear, and so on, not Bambi and Yogi, and appreciate not being chased down for that 'perfect' picture.... ~smile~

Cades Cove is the WORST place to see bears in the park. Although they average one bear for every two acres, most of the time they stay in the woods, often in the tops of trees. Cades Cove is largely meadow.

However, it's the best place to see deer and wild turkeys because there aren't all these TREES in the way.

If on the odd chance one does see a bear, remember they're land sharks likely to eat you as well as a yappy dog you brought by mistake. These bears aren't related to Yogi and Boo Boo.

Be ye warned: heavy traffic in the area may result in two mile per hour bumper to bumper traffic. While motorists are SUPPOSED TO pull off the road to watch wild life, that doesn't mean they'll do it. Get there as soon as the gates go up, and you can avoid some of that traffic. While I was there the first time, I seldom got the truck into second gear.

I like Cades cove. Every time I go to Gatlinburg I ride my bike throgh the loop. I have seen all kinds of animals close and far. I have to disagree with the post about not seeing bears. I have seen the bears all over Cades Cove. The last time I went there were 3 of them in the last field of the loop. There was a park ranger there to protect people and the bears were great to watch. I also came up on a 10 point buck that just stood in the road looking at me on my bike until I got within 15 feet of it.