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I was bitted by a dog two years ago. You mean you came across dogs during the way, right? In which area? Thanks.I am also afraid of dogs, especially after I was bitten by a Rottweiler in the upper arm a number of years ago. I've walked the Frances route twice and never had a problem. The dogs are usually disinterested in pilgrims or napping. The more aggresive ones have always been tied up and I just steer clear and move on quickly.
Hi Jsalt, I read your post about the lessons, it’s really helpful. Could you please tell more about the cows and bed bugs experiences. How I could know there’s bed bugs, thanks.The farm dogs are unchained at night, so not a good idea to walk past a farm before the sun is up. Otherwise, there are rarely dog encounters on the CF.
Jill
Yes, I'm referring to dogs along the Camino. I don't particularly recall "where", but they were around quite often. My hiking poles made me feel safer, but I never felt threatened anyway. Odds are you will be fine. Buen Camino!I was bitted by a dog two years ago. You mean you came across dogs during the way, right? In which area? Thanks.
Hi Jsalt, I read your post about the lessons, it’s really helpful. Could you please tell more about the cows and bed bugs experiences. How I could know there’s bed bugs, thanks.
Thank you very much. I will pay attention when I’m near Galicia. I was really unlucky to got bitten by a “very friendly ‘ dog when I walked nearby my home. Now I really feel afraid of other dogs except my own one.I can only recall three dogs free before Galicia. Two were herding sheep with their master. The other was trying to get out of the rain. I saw no cows free before Galicia.
Once in Galicia things changed. We passed a good number of cows and dogs on the loose. None wanted anything to do with us. Dogs napped in the middle of the road and didn't even flick their tails as we walked right next to them.
You are very brave. Thanks.We saw plenty of dogs along the Camino - some leashed or fenced, some not. Most could not care less about pilgrims walking by. Some are pets, some are farm dogs - none that I saw were ferel. I only had one slightly negative encounter with a dog. It snarled at me as I walked through a town - I brandished my hiking pole at it, it went away. I also had a very funny encounter with a dog - I was walking with a group and a local farm dog decided that it needed to herd our group to the next town. It stayed with us, making sure no one fell behind, until it had safely brought us to town, then it turned around and went on its way.
You forgot the wolves and the bears!Not to put and unnecessary fears in anyone, but all of you do realize northern Spain is home to large populations of wild boar, some of which weigh in excess of 100 kilos. The males can be very territorial and aggressive at times.
I'm hesitant to mention the Iberian lynx populations as well.
Don't pet a strange dog on his head. This can make dogs nervous as they can't see your hand. Substitute with a rub under the chin if they seem like they will be OK with contact.Someone else can hold out their hand for the dog to sniff and then they can choose to pet him or not.
We did see a lot of dogs on the Camino Frances; however, as someone else said earlier in this thread many were sleeping and most were so used to pilgrims passing by that they were not interested. There were some loose dogs in Galicia, more so on the Camino Finisterre than on the Camino Frances. I carry a dog dazer when I go walking but I did not have any reason to use it. It makes a high pitched noise that dogs don't like. It gives me more confidence to walk past dogs as I am also afraid of them.Hi, I will take the Camino France on the middle of April. As I’m afraid of dogs I wonder if anyone who did the way came across the dogs without lead and in which area, thanks.
Not crazy about dogs either but never had any problems. The few I saw off the leash were quiet and gentle. The chained up ones completely ignore you unless you go into their domain which you are highly unlikely to do. The sometimes heard rumour of gangs of wild dogs running around the camino is a complete and utter fairy tale. You are more likely to run into a wild elephant and there arent any in spain. Having said that, a few years ago one ran amok in Cork, IrelandHi, I will take the Camino France on the middle of April. As I’m afraid of dogs I wonder if anyone who did the way came across the dogs without lead and in which area, thanks.
Hi, I will take the Camino France on the middle of April. As I’m afraid of dogs I wonder if anyone who did the way came across the dogs without lead and in which area, thanks.
Hi, Some of the dogs on the Camino are large beasts...most won't be interested in you however...I used this technique twice last year on the CF as someone more learned than me on this forum happened to mention it. If you reach down to the ground as though to pick up a stone the dog will retreat... as it did in both of the cases I faced. No need to actually pick up a stone as the dogs know what it may mean by a human picking up a stone.
Buen Camino
Umm, I'm not meaning to hijack this thread, but was that white elephant wearing red socks perchance?Not crazy about dogs either but never had any problems. The few I saw off the leash were quiet and gentle. The chained up ones completely ignore you unless you go into their domain which you are highly unlikely to do. The sometimes heard rumour of gangs of wild dogs running around the camino is a complete and utter fairy tale. You are more likely to run into a wild elephant and there arent any in spain. Having said that, a few years ago one ran amok in Cork, Ireland
Generally they walk as far as they can, sometimes all the way to where a pilgrim spends that night and then they have nowhere to go. They are then lost and are homeless. Keep in mind that they have left what is quite probably a good home and chances are they may never find their way back to it.
what I am saying is that don't judge the locals by the standards you are used to
I have no idea and do not care. I did not say Spain did not have animal cruelty laws. I am well aware that many countries do, and also aware that even with the laws, certain subcultures of people within the countries still see dogs and cats as just animals.And if part of my family are Galician (Vigo area) and they requested the removal because of the way dogs are treated there, how does that fit with your comment.
Lots of dogs but never a problem. I make it a habit to greet the dogs in a very gentle and loving voice: "Good morning. How are you today? Two stray dogs walked with me for about 8 km on my way to Papas de Reis.Hi, I will take the Camino France on the middle of April. As I’m afraid of dogs I wonder if anyone who did the way came across the dogs without lead and in which area, thanks.
Well it was neither wild or white. It was a circus elephant that got loose and ran amok. Was actually quite seriousUmm, I'm not meaning to hijack this thread, but was that white elephant wearing red socks perchance?
Hi Lucy, thank you for your reply. as you said you had a dog dazer, have you tried it after you got it, did it work? If yes I would like to have one. Thanks again.We did see a lot of dogs on the Camino Frances; however, as someone else said earlier in this thread many were sleeping and most were so used to pilgrims passing by that they were not interested. There were some loose dogs in Galicia, more so on the Camino Finisterre than on the Camino Frances. I carry a dog dazer when I go walking but I did not have any reason to use it. It makes a high pitched noise that dogs don't like. It gives me more confidence to walk past dogs as I am also afraid of them.
An unintended consequence but the warning about what might happen does need repeated.
Could @t2andreo give us a link to the animal shelter that takes these strays in SdC. I'd like to visit when I am there.
Is it this one?
http://www.adopt-a-griffon.eu/en/adopt-a-griffon/refuxio-de-bando-the-news-from-griffon-heartland/
Brought 4 back from Galicia last March as there isn't the same support for dogs in Spain compared to other countries.