I am in the process of updating the forum guide to the Camino Invierno (and will soon be bugging you for comments and suggestions 
) but I wanted to share some of the comments that came in from a pilgrim who walked in June this year:
I completed the Invierno. I was so proud to have done it all, and to have done it alone; in fact, I never saw another Pilgrim for 10 days and then only a few on the last day into Santiago. If I had stayed on the Frances I would have returned home unsatisfied, but having walked the Invierno, I found all I had hoped for. I have so many stories of kind locals and you already know about the peace and solitude and stunning scenery.
This pilgrim also made her peace with the dog issue:
I encountered so many loose dogs and very nearly gave up due to a fear that was becoming irrational. I finally, on day 3, talked myself through the facts: these dogs are here to guard cows/sheep/property. If I am not threatening the cows/sheep/property, then they will not attack me. No farmer would let a human-killer dog run free. So I started to talk to each dog and told them what a good job they were doing protecting their cows/sheep/property and my fear left me. By the end I felt like the dog whisperer. I read on the forum that someone gave up several days in because of the dogs. It isn't necessary. They are intimidating, but they are not trained to attack innocent people walking down the road. So, perhaps a reminder about that would be helpful.
It's clear that the new version of the guide has to mention the dogs, but I am trying to find a way to minimize the likelihood that people will fall into irrational fear, so maybe I will just quote these comments verbatim. Buen camino, Laurie
) but I wanted to share some of the comments that came in from a pilgrim who walked in June this year:I completed the Invierno. I was so proud to have done it all, and to have done it alone; in fact, I never saw another Pilgrim for 10 days and then only a few on the last day into Santiago. If I had stayed on the Frances I would have returned home unsatisfied, but having walked the Invierno, I found all I had hoped for. I have so many stories of kind locals and you already know about the peace and solitude and stunning scenery.
This pilgrim also made her peace with the dog issue:
I encountered so many loose dogs and very nearly gave up due to a fear that was becoming irrational. I finally, on day 3, talked myself through the facts: these dogs are here to guard cows/sheep/property. If I am not threatening the cows/sheep/property, then they will not attack me. No farmer would let a human-killer dog run free. So I started to talk to each dog and told them what a good job they were doing protecting their cows/sheep/property and my fear left me. By the end I felt like the dog whisperer. I read on the forum that someone gave up several days in because of the dogs. It isn't necessary. They are intimidating, but they are not trained to attack innocent people walking down the road. So, perhaps a reminder about that would be helpful.
It's clear that the new version of the guide has to mention the dogs, but I am trying to find a way to minimize the likelihood that people will fall into irrational fear, so maybe I will just quote these comments verbatim. Buen camino, Laurie
