sf story --author or title? (woman scout & dog trainer, post-plague

Anyone know the author or the title of the science fiction book (or
serial) below, or have any tips on finding out?  The DH would love to
read more by this author.
He remembers that it was neither fantasy nor particularly hard-science
sf, and thinks the author was female.


(basic plot:)

Main character is a young woman who trains dogs and is a scout in
California where males are rare after dying heavily in a plague. The
resulting society has lost nearly all high-tech industry and horses
are the main trans****tation, except for San Francisco which is a
walled city run by wealthy Chinese families whose benign troops
protect trade & order.

A small band of travelers arrive at the young woman's community; they
turn out to be envoys from another community which is threatened.
They also have a male with them which shocks the community since males
are highly protected. Before giving these strange folks permission to
settle, the elders want to know more about who they are and what
they're like.

Our heroine, accompanied by her favorite dog, is elected to go check
them out.  Adventures ensue.



TIA to anyone with ideas!

Diane B.