Bruno Bodnar
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- Time of past OR future Camino
- (2001) (2018)
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He would follow us and others, run ahead and then wait for people to catch up.
I remember seeing signs along the Frances saying "Please do not feed the dogs or encourage then to follow. They DO have homes". However, it can be very tempting as we saw some absolutely gorgeous dogs that we were very tempted to have keep us company for a while.Many Pyrenees dogs do this. I first encountered it just past Oloron-Ste.-Marie on the way to the Camino Aragones. After an hour, we reached a field where his buddy was watching a flock of sheep.
They find their way home, and I doubt their owners worry. I agree, however, don't feed them (or other dogs).
Gee, I've never been tempted to steal someone's property, regardless of how beautiful.I remember seeing signs along the Frances saying "Please do not feed the dogs or encourage then to follow. They DO have homes". However, it can be very tempting as we saw some absolutely gorgeous dogs that we were very tempted to have keep us company for a while.
Well - to be honest - I do hope that I have never been tempted to steal anyone's property either. All I said was that it would have been nice to have their company for a wee while, but under the circumstances - that was not something we would have followed through with.Gee, I've never been tempted to steal someone's property, regardless of how beautiful.
Yes, I realize that. I'm surprised by how many people who do think that it's okay to encourage a dog that they don't know to accompany them.Well - to be honest - I do hope that I have never been tempted to steal anyone's property either. All I said was that it would have been nice to have their company for a wee while, but under the circumstances - that was not something we would have followed through with.
Just snorers, I hope...I often feed the dogs when they are looking a bit threatening!
I think many are strays and rely on us to feed them.As much as we love them PLEASE DON’T feed the dogs, or even pet them.
We had an adorable, lovable dog follow us from Roncesvalles the whole day for 32km. He would follow us and others, run ahead and then wait for people to catch up. He was adorable, lovable, and incredibly adorable, and it was hard not to give him something, but I’m sure that his owners must be heartbroken that he’s gone!
People we ran into said they had seen him in St Jean, was fed in Roncesvalles by well meaning people, and continued along the Camino with us and others from there for 25+km despite numerous attempts by some people to shoo him away and send him home. We didn’t see him in Zubiri and we sincerely hope his owners came to find him and take him home.
Another couple we ran into found a stray dog in desperate condition and decided to adopt him and take him home to America with them.
Please don’t feed the dogs!!!
I think many are strays and rely on us to feed them.
I could have used his protection when I was in O'Cebreiro in 2012, which was the only place, on a main thoroughfare in the village itself, in which I was threatened by a large dog, who clearly did not want me walking on his turf.Slight segue of topic. I had a few interesting experiences of being accompanied for a few km where no matter how hard I encouraged a couple of dogs to go home or not accompany me they would not. As much as I hate to admit it, being joined by furry escorts ascending and descending O'Cebreiro really moved me. I love dogs but it really did concern me that they joined me.
Climbing I was joined by the largest German Shepard I have ever encountered just outside of Las Herrerias. Thankfully he was friendly, honestly when he trotted up I assumed I was to be his meal but for some reason he was incredibly protective of me with some other large loose dogs in the villages of the ascent. My biggest concern was that a local farmer might pepper me/him with buckshot. As soon as we arrived in O'Cebreiro he gave me a look of satisfaction and scooted. I inquired about him with the docent in Iglesia when I arrived and she told me his name was Leon and that he often escorts pilgrims and then returns home. Anybody else see Leon "la guardia espalda de peregrinos"?
Strangely enough the next day was more of the same with me walking with a dog from the Iglesia de San Juan in Hospital until Alto do Poio where he gave me a look at turned around and lumbered home back down where we came from.
Just St James in another of his disguises, perhaps?Slight segue of topic. I had a few interesting experiences of being accompanied for a few km where no matter how hard I encouraged a couple of dogs to go home or not accompany me they would not. As much as I hate to admit it, being joined by furry escorts ascending and descending O'Cebreiro really moved me. I love dogs but it really did concern me that they joined me.
Climbing I was joined by the largest German Shepard I have ever encountered just outside of Las Herrerias. Thankfully he was friendly, honestly when he trotted up I assumed I was to be his meal but for some reason he was incredibly protective of me with some other large loose dogs in the villages of the ascent. My biggest concern was that a local farmer might pepper me/him with buckshot. As soon as we arrived in O'Cebreiro he gave me a look of satisfaction and scooted. I inquired about him with the docent in Iglesia when I arrived and she told me his name was Leon and that he often escorts pilgrims and then returns home. Anybody else see Leon "la guardia espalda de peregrinos"?
Strangely enough the next day was more of the same with me walking with a dog from the Iglesia de San Juan in Hospital until Alto do Poio where he gave me a look at turned around and lumbered home back down where we came from.
This reminds me of something funny that happened when we were getting close to Santiago in 2015. We had stayed the night in Salceda, in the "albergue turistico" which is a few hundred metres off the Camino in a tiny hamlet on the other side of the N547. As we were leaving in the morning a small dog appeared and started trotting alongside us. Oh no. "A casa", we said. "No! " we said. We tried ignoring him, pointing back the way he had come, but on he trotted. We were about to turn around and try to take him home when he stopped. Just stopped trotting and stood, while we walked on. We realised we had reached the last house in the village. He wasn't following us - he was seeing us out of his territory! We waved goodbye and continued on.
Just St James in another of his disguises, perhaps?
...We realised we had reached the last house in the village. He wasn't following us - he was seeing us out of his territory! We waved goodbye and continued on.
I could have used his protection when I was in O'Cebreiro in 2012, which was the only place, on a main thoroughfare in the village itself, in which I was threatened by a large dog, who clearly did not want me walking on his turf.
Wow - these stories of Leon are very similar to the dog we encountered in Las Herrerias. He was hanging around the street and I asked about his breed and who he belonged to. I was told by the volunteer hospitalero that he was a special breed for protecting the livestock from wolves and that he more or less belonged to the village. The next morning he escorted us out of town and got into quite a barking match with a dog that was walking the Camino with it's German owners. My husband and I nervously made our way around and carried on but the local dog continued right up the path with us. When we stopped for breakfast in Laguna de Castilla, our friend turned around. Now I'm not sure if it was the same dog or not. My memories are tainted by the image of the dog that attacked and bit me a few hours later.As I was ascending, just before the rather steep yet short section before La Faba, Leon my furry "guardiaespalda" took off in a field and I thought our brief encounter had ended. After getting through the steep stuff I needed to use the tree facilities. Just as I concluded I was startled as I turned around to find directly behind me...just staring at me. We shuffled by each other in the trees like folks waiting for a lavatory on a crowded airplane as he walked to the tree, looked at me and then marked it. The satisfaction that appeared on his furry face of "fixed" and "these are mine" still gives me a chuckle!
Karl, I wonder if one of the dogs you encountered was one of the ones loose that Leon almost took a chunk out of in and sent fleeing La Faba. It was amazing and frightening to see him as we entered a village, he was clearly the dog to be reckoned with. He didn't care about dogs in general but if they were aggressive and barking he doubled down. In La Laguna it appeared like he was going leap over a short fence to get the two gnashing dogs on the other side. As soon as he got to the fence he did a couple of pogo-stick-bounces and shined his intent they retreated quickly into a barn space. I considered documenting all this briefly with a photo or video until I realized I really didn't want to see or be involved in anything potentially horrific nor be attacked by a villager. But reflecting on the videos and pictures of us wandering together still bring me joy and curiosity.
Wow - these stories of Leon are very similar to the dog we encountered in Las Herrerias. He was hanging around the street and I asked about his breed and who he belonged to. I was told by the volunteer hospitalero that he was a special breed for protecting the livestock from wolves and that he more or less belonged to the village. The next morning he escorted us out of town and got into quite a barking match with a dog that was walking the Camino with it's German owners. My husband and I nervously made our way around and carried on but the local dog continued right up the path with us. When we stopped for breakfast in Laguna de Castilla, our friend turned around. Now I'm not sure if it was the same dog or not. My memories are tainted by the image of the dog that attacked and bit me a few hours later.
I wonder if it is the same animal. Here is my furry escort. After these I just have videos. Him running ahead, waiting around blind corners a few hundred meters ahead. Patiently waiting and then playfully bounding off again.
I am so sorry about the dog that attacked you. I hope nothing serious.
Leon - Guardiaespalda de peregrinos
February 8, 2018, this was the photograph documenting the dog that was surely here to consume me.
I think many are strays and rely on us to feed them.
This lady could feed her dog better, even if he walks a lotI disagree. Stray dogs are not common in Spain. Loose dogs are.
I was followed all day by Runa the Mastiff from Villafranca del Bierzo to the German Albergue. Nothing I could do would get rid of her. I phoned the owner and she said 'oh she always gets out and follows pilgrims.. she is skinny because she walks so far every day'.
Here she is being collected:
View attachment 48869
What the? Why, how? Where? Tell us details to avoid this. And what happened to you? What did you do? How did it end up? How severely did he bite you and why? Jeez, this is crazy.My memories are tainted by the image of the dog that attacked and bit me a few hours later.
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