Introduction: Trix and Sally

[trixcomm]

Hello, Let me introduce myself. I'm Trix from the Netherlands and my companion is a female dog, Sally. We want to walk the Camino Frances and intend to start around the end of April, beginning of May 2013. We are already training and walk between 10 and 14 km every day. I will be 65 when we start out and Sally will be 2 years and 4 months. We are both in very good health and Sally is half Gordon Setter and probably half Podenco as she originally came from Portugal. This is our first time, so all tips are very welcome. I hope to meet lots of other pilgrims in spring next year!

 

[skilsaw]

Hi Trix. (short for Beatrice?)
As much as you love your dog, I encourage you to leave Sally at home with a trusted friend.

You will have difficulty every night with permission to let the dog into the Albergue.
The local dogs sleep in the road but will become alarmed when a strange dog walks into their territory.
The guard dogs that are behind fences already raise a ruckus. Sally walking by will cause a lot of barking.
You will have to feed and water Sally every day. Well yeah, you say!!??!! just like at home. You don't want to be carrying an extra 5 kgs of dog food. I don't know if you can purchase dog food in 1 kg boxes.

Think seriously before you decide to take Sally along.
I know you will do what is best for the dog.

Buen Camino,
David, Victoria, Canada.

 

[trixcomm]

Dear David,

Thank you for your advice of October 2012. I tried to find an alternative for our holiday. We were going to stay at a Portuguese farm but got a cancellation at the last minute. So Sally and I will be walking the Camino after all.

She will be carrying her own backpack - also available for dogs at good pet shops. I assume we will find butchers on the way wee we'll be able to pick up a daily ration of meat for her. I will be carrying a light weight tent for us. I had already heard that getting a place at an albergue can be a problem.

I am going to give this a try. If it doesn't work, there's nothing keeping us from going home.

Thanks again for your advice.

Cheers,

Trix (yes, it is from Beatrix)