On the whole the above is all true - and I did pass many barking dogs - they just seem to have fun .. and they don't step over their property boundary .. they know how far they can go - the chained ones are very loud (but so would you be if you were chained)-
- but I did meet a pack of five farm dogs (I was still in France though, not Spain - I had no problems at all in Spain) who barred my way and when one of them moved in for the attack I had to respond - I was very scared and it made me angry so instead of backing off and inviting the attack to continue I went for it with my walking pole and it backed down, the cur - the thing is with the stick, be prepared to stick it down its throat ..
Yes, I do care about all creatures and wish none harm, but I am not a victim and I will not be bullied and I do not allow myself to be bitten - especially with Rabies in Europe
one way to avoid conflict is to keep your pace the same and don't look at them, just look straight ahead and keep walking .. it is the staring at them that can produce an angry response.
It is the same with most bullies, if you don't engage they have no one to fight.
But, fear naught, you can carry an anti-dog self defence pepper spray - legal in France and Spain (max 5%) and you can get it posted to your first Refugio or hotel you are staying at so it will be there when you arrive.
I always carry one (actually two) and it is a great comfort - even more so I should think for a woman walking alone.
Visit
http://www.pepper-spray-shop.eu/store/ (they use Paypal) they say one of their sprays is enough for a pack of wolves (perhaps also a pack of muggers) - but it is a last resort as although it doesn't cause lasting damage it does cause a lot of pain.
If you want a spray that is effective but is not a pepper spray (and is also legal in the UK) there is a new dye type which sprays a thick and gooey red gel .. you spray it onto the face and the eyes are covered and it stops - temporarily - an attack, time enough to disable the animal or person or run away. It is also a stain and has a uv dye so that an assailant can be traced up to a week or so later - you can buy it on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....37&ih=021&category=20589&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1