LavanyaLea
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- N Wales, Frances, Salvador, Primitivo 2022
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Yes, it’s on google drive and I have made the link shareable -> it was on another thread where a German guy asked for info about walking with a dog, but I’ll post it again here.It would be helpful to others if you could set out your list of dog-friendly accommodation when you have time.
It would be helpful to others if you could set out your list of dog-friendly accommodation when you have time.
Did you know there exists a credential for dogs ?Hi everyone!!!
Just a quick post here about our experience walking the Camino with my fur baby Fuji. Still travelling (another 12h drive day today), so full write up will come bit by bit over the next few days.
While preparing for this trip, I have often found that forum members who posted the question about walking the Camino with their furry best friend tend to receive a lot of negative opinions, so I hope to tip the balance a little bit here.
In summary: It’s been such an incredible experience!!But also, doing the Camino with a dog means (a lot more) preparation - but I love planning (!) and most likely will cost you more, but it depends how you like to rough it. We stayed in private rooms in private albergues or pensions (the dorm bed cost €14 or usually €16-30 for private room with 2 beds) and Fuji stayed with me in my room and not outside/in garage/bike shed. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the whole journey with us, but it allowed us to meet many Camino angels who helped us along the way, and I think we had a much better experience, more amazing than what I thought it would be
So yes, if you’re thinking about it, just do it! (But do it the right way)
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Yes! Haha... and in Spanish they are called "los peludos""Fur baby"? Is that what we call our pets nowadays?
Yes!Did you know there exists a credential for dogs ?
I always love your humor, Jeff!I'm thinking of taking my pet strawberry plant on my next Camino - can it get a Compost-ela too (see what I did there?)
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Most interesting... thank you.D-?120 - Pre-Camino preparation
When to do the Camino/Which Camino?
The general advice I receive, from pawrents of perregrinos, seasoned pilgrims, the internet in general… is that it is best to do the Camino in spring or autumn to avoid the heat as well as to have more facilities available (most albergues are open between March and Oct/Nov).
As this would be our first long-distance hike abroad, I wanted to try a shorter camino, so around the 100K mark. I looked at the different options available: mainly CF Sarria-Santiago, CP Tui-Santiago, or Camino Ingles. I decided on the Sarria-Santiago route back in January, because I thought the other routes did not have sufficient dog-friendly facilities. Now that I have spent a lot more time researching into this, I now know that it is also possible to do the other Caminoes with a dog, with sufficient resources and facilities without having to camp with the dog or leave the dog outside or in a garage/shed.
Essential documents
If coming from the UK, since Brexit the pet passport is no longer valid, it is now replaced by Animal Health Certificate (AHC) - which is a bundle of documents (about 12 pages long) and valid for only 1 trip and cost more than the pet passport. Pet passport is still valid if you live in Northern Ireland.
You should plan this part in advance: my usual vet in the UK does not do it and they didn’t know/couldn’t recommend one who does. I looked at DEFRA website and couldn’t find a list of registered OV (official veterinarian, one who is licensed to perform work on behalf of the government). So I googled for vet in the area and luckily the 2nd one I called does it. I live in semi rural area with a lot of livestock and horses, the University’s veterinary school has a department here specialising in equine surgery, so I think that has something to do with the OV availability.
Coming from the UK to France or Spain, our fur babies will need rabies vaccine (this is something not required for UK pets), but no need to measure the antibody titre after the vaccine, which is good. The vaccine is valid for 3 years, after which a booster is needed. So for future trips, only repeat AHC is required, the vaccine doesn’t need to be repeated for the duration it’s still valid. The rabies vaccine needs to be administered at least 3 weeks before the AHC, and the AHC needs to be done no more than 10 days before your travel date, and valid for 4 months - in reality this is more than sufficient as the humans can only be in the EU/Schengen area for max 90 days every 180 daysFind the official information here.
We were at the vet for 1.5 hours to get the document done! I felt it was a bit excessive, but I’m a follower of “measure twice, cut once” and there was no mistake in the documents and Fuji travelled to the EU and back without an issue. Note: I have heard stories of vets making mistakes and tippex-ing the document, which was not accepted, or other small errors like filling the information in the wrong place, etc and the document was not accepted.
Coming back, Fuji will need treatment against tapeworm, it is a UK requirement, and this needs to be administered by a vet, and the date and time documented on the AHC and signed by the vet. Treatment needs to be given at least 24h and max 120h before return trip.
If you are travelling in from other countries, then check what documentation is required beforehand.
Getting there and back
How will I get to the start point of the camino? In short summary: it is not possible to travel with dogs >10kg using public transport in Spain, so the easiest way is by car.
- Car (Private or Hired) +/- Taxi
Since I was coming from the UK, and I have a Eurotunnel crossing voucher to use (from a pandemic cancelled trip back in 2020), then I’ve decided to drive to Sarria, leave the car at the hostel’s secured garage for the week, then take a bus back to Sarria to pick up the car after our camino (my friend will meet us in Santiago and she can dogsit Fuji while I go pick up my car).
It is also possible to take a taxi, specify in your booking that you will take a dog with you. And it is also possible to rent a car (see my Google sheet for list of car hire companies that allow dogs and their terms and conditions). Spanish perregrinos that Fuji has befriended on social media seem to have done similar things. Some were dropped off/picked up by friends/families, or dropped off by family then hired a car to get back home.
If you are planning to bring your dog into Portugal, the rule is different to Spain and France. Apart from the standard: microchip, rabies vaccine, pet passport/animal health certificate, Portuguese authority requires you to notify them of your arrival at least 48h beforehand, and a fee of €40 is applicable for veterinary examination, the fee is waived for assistance dogs.
However, despite the initial extra cost and examination, it is possible to travel with a dog on trains in Portugal. So I guess if you are planning to do Camino Portugues with a dog from Lisbon or Porto and leaving your own car in Portugal… on the way back you could hire Spanish car and drive to Tui, return the car there, then cross the bridge into Valença then take a train from there? Just an idea, I’ve not done CP before.
Fuji has been in the car with me loads and I am happy with how she is secured in the backseat and has a comfy hammock to rest and not fall into the footwell. For some cars like SUVs, it is possible to secure the dogs in the boot. For info on how to secure dogs in the car (in Spanish) click here.
Renfe has different services:
- Train
- Cercanias (commuter) trains - pets are allowed, no weight limit, travel for free, do not need to travel in cage/carrier, but dogs must wear a muzzle.
- AVE and long distance: only small animals <10kg allowed. They have to be inside a carrier with max diameter 60 x 35 x 35 cm. You need to get a pet ticket, and the cost varies depending on your type of ticket (from free up to €20, and despite paying for this they are not allowed to occupy a seat).
- AVANT and medium distance: same as AVE, the pet ticket cost is 25% of human ticket and cannot occupy a seat.
Guide/assistance dogs travel for free.
During my initial research, I remember reading that someone used to travel within Spain and did multiple caminoes with their dog and had no trouble taking the train. Maybe the rules were different back then or not enforced. But in 2021, a British pilgrim living in Barcelona took her dog to do the full Camino Frances. They then had to skip Leon which was going into local lockdown, and so decided to take the train… and almost were not allowed to be on the train because her dog was a large dog. See their story here.
Dogs need to be <10kg and travel in a crate and in the luggage compartment.
- Bus
In general, if you want to take your pet in the cabin with you they have to weigh <10kg and fit under the seat in front of you inside their crate. There will be exceptions for guide/assistance dogs. Emotional support dogs have variable acceptance status in differing countries, I understand it is protected under the law in the US and they have the same/similar status as guide/assistance dogs, but in the UK and other European countries it is not the case. But I have read that Virgin and a few other airlines may allow emotional support dogs in cabin. Also check that the rules for flying out is the same as the rules for flying back in.
- Plane
There was a US pilgrim Colby who did the Camino Frances and Via Francigena with her German Shepherd Maverick - IG @adognamedmav.gsd. Maverick was initially her emotional support dog and then became a certified assistance dog, so they always travelled together in cabin.
Accommodation
Perhaps this is the bit most forumites most look forward to! I have put together my list here.
It is an active list which continuously get updated. When I see a perregrino doing the camino and listed a new albergue, I will add that onto the list.
In Spain, they have a list of dangerous dogs (Perros Potencialmente Peligrosos/PPP). There are more restrictions in travelling and staying in accommodation with these breeds of dogs: Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffodshire Terrier, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu, Akita Inu.
How to train yourself and your dog for the Camino
It will be physically more demanding to do the camino with a dog as you will have more things to carry in your backpack. The dog also needs to be adapted to the physical challenge.
Fuji is a labrador, she seems to be quite a petite one, with a very slender yet super toned figure, rather than the stocky English lab type. She has boundless of energy (!). So from the beginning of 2022, we started going on weekend hikes. Soon after that, I came across the Welsh Camino (North Wales Pilgrim’s Way). And thought that it would be a good training walk for our Camino Frances. It is 134mi/215K long and I could collect stamps along the way.
We started at the end of January and finished by mid March. We went on weekends initially, and then I used some of my annual leave to do longer stretches like 3-4 consecutive days of walking. I also got Fuji her own backpack and she was progressively carrying more weight on the backpack and seemed to have no issue with covering the distances (around 20-24K per day) and with backpack.
It was actually a very nice experience because the Welsh Camino was beautiful, and also very quiet. We passed through small villages with medieval churches and abbey ruins, read stories about Welsh Saints, the impact of the reformation, encountered a lovely outdoor (churchyard) meditation bench, grottos, pilgrim churches, etc. At the end, I received a certificate of completion, and the caravan owner where I had stayed with Fuji even gave me a printed watercolour painting of the local beach area as a memento!
Nutrition wise, Fuji has been on this brand of dog kibble Orijen. It is high in calories which meant she requires smaller amount of feed for her weight, which is good for the Camino. I also saw that one of the perregrinos who did the Primitivo also consumed the same brand, so the brand is available in Spain too. She is very easy with food though, she will eat anything and hardly ever have any issues. But as we were only doing a short Camino, I plan to bring all her kibbles and she can have extra treats (healthy human leftovers). Portion wise, for the Camino/during days of intense activity I give her 200% of her daily recommended requirement.
Credencial Canina
Yes!!! Fuji can have her own credential too. It is created by APACA (Asociacion Protectora de Animais do Camiño) an NGO which works to protect animals, I paid €3 for the credential and she can also get an animal compostela when we get to Santiago for another €3. You can get the credential online from APACA website, from turismocanino, or from some dog-friendly albergues.
Luggage Transfer or an Organised Tour
Everyone does their own camino. It is easy to pass judgement against others, and I have to admit I have done so too at times though I try to keep it inside because the other part of me refused to allow me to say it out loud! My opinion of them is that these services enable those who would otherwise not be able to start or complete their pilgrimage. There’s nothing wrong with that.
For this Camino I was carrying my own backpack (and later on Fuji’s backpack too, see my later posts). And when it was hot, and you have been walking long distances, you do question your decisions! I met quite a few perregrinos on the first day, the fittest looking pawrent by far was a young man who looks like he goes to the gym a lot, he was walking with his miniature poodle, and had no pack (!). But this means that when the surface is too hot or the dog is tired, he can easily carry his dog. I have had to carry Fuji over a short distance in the Welsh Camino when she was spooked by cows and refused to move. Have to say - it was not easy to carry a 10kg pack and a 23kg dog altogether (that is more than half my weight)!
If you google “camino de santiago with a dog” you will find a lot of tour companies offering a self-guided camino with them organising your accommodation and luggage transfer. So that is one hassle-free options. If you want to organise your own stages and accommodations, and simply want luggage transfer service, then there are plenty of companies that have been mentioned elsewhere in this forum, with reviews from those who have used their services (Caminofacil, Correos, JacoTrans, NSC, etc). I didn’t personally use any tour companies or luggage transfer service so cannot comment on them.
Useful resources
APACA https://paradoxahumana.com/
Turismo Canino https://www.turismocanino.es/camino-de-santiago-con-perro/
(Mercé did the Camino Frances from Roncesvalles a few years ago with her fur baby Futt, they have now established a very good website and social media account helping pilgrims wanting to do the camino with their dog, and general info for travelling with a dog. She has also published 2 books on similar topic).
Also, I have found that brushing up on my rusty Spanish was incredibly useful for this trip! I used Duolingo, but there are plenty other options to learn Spanish for your Camino.
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We did encounter hardship along the way and I really did feel terrible bad and guilty about the whole thing. ("Oh no, this is exactly what I've been advised against...") But I'm glad it all turned out really well in the end! Fuji has many friends who were walking the camino at the same time, some together, some doing different caminoes, and some past perregrinos. And they all gave really good help that enabled us to finish our journey! -> will come in later post. I think now I must do grocery shopping and mow my lawn, they have grown so much in the time I was away!I admit to not reading much of this thread as I do not have any pets(allergic spouse), but it is nice to read an upbeat, positive report on a pet making it all the way to Santiago on the Camino as I usually read that it is better to leave the pet at home due to hardship for both dog and its owner.
Only if the plant walked the last 100kms by walking, on horseback, airballoon or boat or 200 kms by bike .And two stamps a day and watering .I'm thinking of taking my pet strawberry plant on my next Camino - can it get a Compost-ela too (see what I did there?)
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How do I do that?Sticky? Excellent and detailed thread.
What a beautiful report of Fuji’s and of course your camino.Day 8 - Long March to Lavacolla
I was dreading this day. This was a longer stretch than my original plan, because under our new time constraint we now had to reach Santiago early in the morning for me to catch the 11AM bus to pick up my car on the same day as our arrival into Santiago.
During Fuji’s rest days, I was also talking to a lot other successful perregrinos and their pawrents, and discussed strategies to make our 2nd attempt a successful one. All of them unanimously advised that we really should leave early, the earliest suggested time was 5.30AM, but I settled with 6AM (in Spanish/Indonesian time, it meant 6.30AM in real actual time). I also decided Fuji should wear just her harness and I would carry her stuffs. We did not have much left to go, so there was less food to carry. But I seemed to have picked up more things for Fuji. I also got a fresh tube of vaseline (it was in a tube so she couldn’t sneakily lick it all off behind my back).
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With our new plan, plus we were delayed by 4 days, we managed to avoid the huge crowds of pilgrims that I had encountered before. We were scheduled to arrive in Santiago on Tuesday, and midweek is always quieter in Santiago than at the weekends. Because we left early, we met few pilgrims on the way. Usually just groups of 2 people walking together. I put Fuji on her leash a lot more, and only let her go when there was nobody around. This was to prevent her from running too much, in multiples of human distance in a day.
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(Empty stretches of trail in the last 100K to Santiago, de verdad?!)
We got into O Pedrouzo at exactly midday, and I was disappointed again that the steak house that was recommended to me, was closed on Monday! So we chose the first restaurant we encountered, and I had the menu del dia. Spaghetti bolognese, a lomo with really yummy cheese/pepper sauce, and flan for dessert. The spaghetti was the size of a main dish, but I was very hungry. And I needed all the energy I could muster to push through to Lavacolla, haha. Again, we had nice cool weather with some drizzles but nothing too heavy. The afternoon was dry but due to the morning rain it was nice and cool most afternoon - because this was also another thing I was dreading! The heat and Fuji’s paws. Whenever we came across a puddle of water, or fresh water, I let her cool her feet down.
Because of our early departure and going off stage, we encountered a lot more bikes during these last 2 days. Bicigrinos. Luckily, my friend Trisna tends to walk behind us and she was a good spotter for bikes. So we always had time to move away and the paths we were on had always been wide enough for peregrinos, perregrino, and bicigrinos.
The last 5K was a hard slog for me. And Fuji was still full of energy! So she and Trisna could play fetch together, while I was taking a break, in a shaded area. I was so pedantic with making sure she had enough rest the day before, that she wasn’t sleepy at night, and now so full of energy. My friend was physically fitter than me and she had a lighter pack as I had all the extra stuffs for Fuji. She even cancelled her post camino massage, as she felt she didn’t need it, and suggested maybe we could do the last 10K and just make it to Santiago today? I replied with a resolute NO.
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(I just said, my feet/soles are starting to hurt! And Fuji came bringing the inner sole of shoes for a giant)
Our hotel was a typical business/airport hotel. And after the usual routine of washing and drying clothes, I squeezed in a power nap before dinner. Food was very good, but service was very slow. They had 3 servers and about the same number of hotel guests as the casa rural off Palas de Rei, who only had Maria serving all the guests. Neither Trisna or I could finish our main meal, so we asked for…. wait for it… doggy bags! Fuji had an extra helping of entrecôte and rice on top of her usual dinner that night. And for breakfast, an extra portion of magret de canard a l’orange! Lucky girl.
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(Good nutrition and sleep are important for our recovery)
And must be on an approved camino route by the Cathedral? What if I want to take my plant via the Variante Espiritual? Jajaja...Only if the plant walked the last 100kms by walking, on horseback, airballoon or boat or 200 kms by bike .And two stamps a day and watering .
When I was volunteer at the pilgrims office beginning of April this year there came a group of about six militaires with their dogs for their Compostelas , walking too from Sarria.Day 9 - Santiago
We had extra spring on our steps as today we will reach Santiago! Plus we only had 10K to do! That really put big big smiles on our faces.
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(Bonus for starting in the dark is that we could turn around and watch the sunrise, when it's not raining in Galicia!)
AND… no more rain! Sunny arrival into Santiago!
We stopped at Monte de Gozo, which was actually a bit of a detour off the main camino route. The air was fresh and the sky was blue, it was lovely to be there with you… Fuji, my best friend, my fur baby, my loyal companion.
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Oh wait, we had to stop somewhere for our 2nd stamp, so we got our intravenous caffeine somewhere just on the outskirts of Santiago. Our previous hostel in Santiago was actually along the Camino Frances route, so we know the way into the Cathedral very well already, and actually the last bit of the Camino Frances wasn’t as well marked as it had been the rest of the way. So we felt we had a slight “home” advantage, in the race to get to the Plaza and the Pilgrim’s Office!
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(2 pilgrims and a dog)
After taking our obligatory arrival pictures and obtaining my compostela, I had to quickly dash to the bus station. Trisna was looking after Fuji and they were napping at the Plaza. I was half running half power walking to the station, and made it with 20 minutes to spare for the 11AM bus. I picked up my car, drove back into Santiago to pick up Trisna and Fuji, and headed to the APACA office to get Fuji her well deserved canine compostela. The APACA staff asked me if this was the same dog that had injured her paws a few days before, and I said yes! They wanted our pictures for their social media, but we were also in a rush to get to our prebooked wine tasting, that I had left my wallet/passport/Fuji’s paperwork on the desk at APACA. Again, this was another lesson for me to slow down, inhale and be mindful of the surroundings. Once I realised my mistake, though, I was strangely very calm. The place was very quiet and I could trust APACA that they would keep everything safe for me. We were quite far from Santiago by then that we would not be able to come back until the next day, when we drove across Spain back to France. So instead, we chilled by the swimming pool at our lovely villa in Meaño, sipping Albariño, snacking on chorizo and cheese, and taking a quick dip at the pool. We had another lovely meal at this hotel too.
It was the perfect way to relax and unwind, because to be honest my anxiety and stress level was quite high in the 2nd part of my Camino. I think if we had continued and Fuji again got sick, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. We also made the stages very long, rather than making them shorter, for a dog who was recently recovered from injuries! We couldn’t delay our return date as Trisna had prior commitments. So we were limited with the time we have left. But, as always, Fuji delivers. She really truly is, a wonderful dog. We have been through some rough and really awful times together and she has always been there to protect me. She is a quiet dog (“tranquilo”) but she would bark at one particular bad neighbour and at people who tried to harm me. Having said that, she also barks at a neighbourhood cat who uses our garden (Fuji’s territory!) as her toilet, and at random birds, so >.< sometimes she is also just a dog, jaja.
This camino was our camino together, as my appreciation for Fuji, because I believed she would enjoy the walks, the swimming in the sea and river, all the different smells and tastes, and all the special foods and treats she was getting. And of course, all the new people she gets to see. At home she was only with me most of the time and her face lit up and tails wagging like helicopter blades each time I got up from my desk, putting on my walking shoes, and picking up the leash to take her out. I’m glad that she recovered quickly from her injuries, and that she was genuinely very happy to continue our way together, because we are a team, we are family.
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(Her proud Compostela Canina! It was number 282... so 282 dogs have completed the camino so far this year, who registered, and got the compostela from APACA. Out of the 5 dogs departing from Sarria, 1 other dog registered with the APACA and has gotten the compostela, I think Daniel/Luna were old skool and didn't bother with this, they carried on to Finisterre, not sure about the others)
You can do it this way? (I saw one carried like this on our Camino. I also saw a couple with 2 dogs, 1 walking and the small one one a sling hehe)I don’t think my Cavalier King Charles will do this
I'm impressed by the "lifesaver" look over the left shoulder - not many cyclists/bikers seem to bother.Sticky? Excellent and detailed thread.
Next steps.
That is a good idea and I carry my 50 liter Osprey pack at the front.You can do it this way? (I saw one carried like this on our Camino. I also saw a couple with 2 dogs, 1 walking and the small one one a sling hehe)
Hi there! I find that linking with other perregrinos and their pilgrim pawrents have been very useful. There were people who have done it in the past (even wrote a book about it), or people currently on the Camino. So we share what works for us, the troubles we were having, and how to deal with it, etc.Hi Fuji and mum! I am so glad that you described your experience. I have been met with a lot of negative comments so it's nice to see that I am not the only one thinking about this. My main concern is about other stray dogs. Have you had any problems? I heard that dogs in Spain live mainly outside so I am not sure how I would protect us..
Thank you for your response. It sounds very similar to what you would have to deal with anywhere else too. This has been helpful.Hi there! I find that linking with other perregrinos and their pilgrim pawrents have been very useful. There were people who have done it in the past (even wrote a book about it), or people currently on the Camino. So we share what works for us, the troubles we were having, and how to deal with it, etc.
I met perregrinos (pilgrim dogs), they were all friendly. One dog showed the usual doggy hello/sniffing nose and tail, but somehow he was reprimanded harshly by his owner who expected 100% obedience! To be fair, this dog was following the owner to heel 99.99% of the time and was not even leashed when crossing a carretera (I personally would not do so), and the only time he was “disobedient” was when he was near Fuji!
The other category of dogs would be the local dogs. 80% of them would be chained or behind the fence. They would bark as we pass by, but that is harmless, and Fuji doesn’t show reactivity to it. There were 2 times we came across loose dogs, one was in the village where a lady was selling cheese. And maybe my anxiety was heightened as a pilgrim just told me she saw dogs fighting the day before and there was blood everywhere. So we tried to walk away as fast as we can, but I think Fuji got pretty spooked by that experience, she jumped off a bridge and only just able to climb back. I wonder whether some of her “injuries” were not just blisters on the paws but also muscle exhaustion. The second time we had this dog coming to chase/sniff her, did not look too aggressive to me, but his owner quickly came out of his house and chased his dog to go inside the field and closed the gate.
Near the Santiago airport, we saw local people walking their dogs (small Pomeranian type), they were leashed. The owner must have known that their dogs are quite reactive because she turned around from the trail and walked on the road (opposite direction to us). When we got to the road, these tiny pomeranians were very yappy, barking and pulling on their lead until we have walked further away!
In Bordeaux and San Sebastián, I saw many local dogs with their owners in parks, cafes, restaurants and they were all calm. In Santiago itself, while I was walking around the cathedral, sometimes I saw other pet dogs too (small dogs) and they tend to be quite yappy.
I suppose the trick to deal with barking dogs is to show no reaction to them and keep walking. I think it was better when my friend has joined as I could keep walking with Fuji and my friend can delay the other dog. If your dog is quite small then maybe you can pick up your dog and carry him. When you are out of sight, the local dogs will stop barking/chasing.
Hi - 2 of us are planning on doing part of the Camino del Norte with my dog. San Sebastián to Gernika and staying in dog friendly hotels in October. There are SO many negative comments that I am now wondering if this is a good idea!Hi everyone!!!
Just a quick post here about our experience walking the Camino with my fur baby Fuji. Still travelling (another 12h drive day today), so full write up will come bit by bit over the next few days.
While preparing for this trip, I have often found that forum members who posted the question about walking the Camino with their furry best friend tend to receive a lot of negative opinions, so I hope to tip the balance a little bit here.
In summary: It’s been such an incredible experience!!But also, doing the Camino with a dog means (a lot more) preparation - but I love planning (!) and most likely will cost you more, but it depends how you like to rough it. We stayed in private rooms in private albergues or pensions (the dorm bed cost €14 or usually €16-30 for private room with 2 beds) and Fuji stayed with me in my room and not outside/in garage/bike shed. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the whole journey with us, but it allowed us to meet many Camino angels who helped us along the way, and I think we had a much better experience, more amazing than what I thought it would be
So yes, if you’re thinking about it, just do it! (But do it the right way)
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I'm not seeing any of the negative comments you speak of.Hi - 2 of us are planning on doing part of the Camino del Norte with my dog. San Sebastián to Gernika and staying in dog friendly hotels in October. There are SO many negative comments that I am now wondering if this is a good idea!
The thread you’re on is probably the most complete, positive and helpful ‘dog on Camino’ thread I’ve seen.Hi - 2 of us are planning on doing part of the Camino del Norte with my dog. San Sebastián to Gernika and staying in dog friendly hotels in October. There are SO many negative comments that I am now wondering if this is a good idea!
Yes, complete and positive input and responses. @Sassygirl doesn't say if she said it "tongue in cheek", but I suppose it's possible.The thread you’re on is probably the most complete, positive and helpful ‘dog on Camino’ thread I’ve seen.
Elsewhere I’d say the prevailing response is ‘don’t do it’ - which as a dog owner, I’d concur with.
However! It can be done, it has been done (many times) and you’ll know your and your dog’s capabilities better than anyone..
I don’t think we’re supposed to speculate now.Yes, complete and positive input and responses. @Sassygirl doesn't say if she said it "tongue in cheek", but I suppose it's possible.
Or maybe she is referring to other negative threads she has read.
Also, could this be a bot or troller?
Yes, it can be done, just need careful planning, and pay attention to your dog's and your needs. Don't push it, and be prepared to make changes to your plans.Hi - 2 of us are planning on doing part of the Camino del Norte with my dog. San Sebastián to Gernika and staying in dog friendly hotels in October. There are SO many negative comments that I am now wondering if this is a good idea!
In the spirit of “the Camino provides…” Fuji found a German pilgrim who walked many caminoes it seems, with her dog Lola, including del Norte! They arrived in Santiago yesterday.Hi - 2 of us are planning on doing part of the Camino del Norte with my dog. San Sebastián to Gernika and staying in dog friendly hotels in October. There are SO many negative comments that I am now wondering if this is a good idea!
is there one for cats? I mean it IS an "all pets are welcome" camino, no?Did you know there exists a credential for dogs ?
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