Stellamaris
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- Time of past OR future Camino
- CF1999,Le Puy 2012, 2014, CF March 2022
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Luka said:@Stephen, did the dazer work against the wild dogs you were attacked by? Dogs are (if any) my biggest fear along the Camino. On the Camino Francés one will be pretty save of course. But this year I will walk in rural France (Vézelay - Le Puy en Velay), a hardly trodden path. I am considering buying a dazer.
I fully agree :!: Four times the Camino Francés from Roncesvalles to SdC wihtout seeing a wild dog. The two dogs encountered around Moratinos were not "wild" but taking their boss Paddy for a walk. :roll:Rebekah Scott said:I have never heard anyone mention packs of wild dogs til I saw the above. I don´t know where you people get these ideas!
I was attacked twice by dogs on the Camino Portuguese in 2011: but I carry a dog Dazer- very lightweight and effective for dogs unless they're old and deaf! Check out:TrishAlexSage said:Any experiences with air horns? A dog trainer once told me to blow an air horn at an approaching dog -- the dog should become frightened by the noise and turn tail. I've never tried this -- if it works, then it would be an effective (and lightweight) tool to carry.
This cyclist had some additional thoughts, primarily that if it worked, there would be lots of low cost competitors!Ultrasonic Dazer / Pet Agree Review
I decided to give the ultrasonic Dazer dog deterrent a try, having read various favorable testimonials on the internet. If you've read the whole article then you'll realize that I had my doubts about the efficacy of this device, but I was willing to give it a fair shake and see for myself.
I ordered two of the Dazer model from Tesco Shopping in Nova Scotia. This guy was recommended by KII Enterprises, who actually make the Dazer. They warned me about cheap copies of the Dazer which are made in China, so I wanted to go through a reputable dealer. You can order directly from KII, but they told me that it would take up to a week to ship the thing, so I decided to go to a dealer.
When I eventually received the package, it turned out to be not the Dazer at all, but something called Pet Agree. On closer inspection (and after confirming with KII Enterprises) it turns out that the Pet Agree is exactly the same as the Dazer, simply repackaged. This is apparently because some people don't want to have something called "Dazer" for training their pet - they prefer something with a more "friendly" name. Bizarre, if you ask me, but as long as the thing is the same inside, I'm not bothered. In fact, it could be an advantage if you found yourself confronted by a dog owner after using the device, you could show them something that looks a little less "threatening" and offensive. Hey, it's for training pets, not liquidizing their brains! See, it's called "Pet Agree"!
Anyway, on with the review: The first thing I noted was that this device should not be exposed to rain or water at all. It has a plastic case, but there are holes (for the switch). Also, the end which has the ultrasonic emitter is not sealed. KII told me that the electronics are delicate and should not be exposed to rain or other moisture. So you should take this into account when thinking about the situations you might be required to use the device. Also, it will not work from inside a plastic bag - the ultrasonic emitter requires an unobstructed line of view.
In practice, the Dazer/Pet Agree turns out to be variable in its effectiveness. On walks around Ashland, WI, where there are quite a few agressive dogs, I began with some (very cautious) tests. I started by aiming the device at distant dogs just to see if they would react in any way. Now the instructions say that the Dazer is most effective from about 5-10 feet away, but I knew that this was for deterrence - I was curious to see just how far away dogs could even hear it. The results were inconclusive - most of the dogs I tried it on (from more than 100 feet away) did not react at all. I was somewhat disappointed - I am no ultrasonic expert but I was expecting at least a raised ear or a glance in my direction. Dogs do, after all, respond to dog whistles, which operate on pretty much the same principle. But the results of this first "long distance" testing were disappointing - there was very little reaction from any dog.
Next I tried it on agressive dogs. There were three that we came across on a walk around town. The first was tied up in a yard, a few houses away. This is a very agressive dog, some kind of pitbull/terrier crossbreed. Starting from a distance, I tried to get any reaction at all (i.e. change in behavior) from this dog, but there was none. Even when I was walking by on the sidewalk about 10 feet away, this dog was still straining at the leash to get me - even though I was aiming the device directly at it and "shooting". Pretty scary. I should add that I am familiar with this dog, and could see that its behaviour was utterly unchanged from the norm (i.e. Beast From Hell).
The second dog was on one of those large, sprawling, run-down country places with 10 abandoned pickup trucks and old cars. We stumbled onto the dog's territory from a woods path, by mistake. It was a large, black dog and it ran right up to us, barking hysterically. It was about three feet away, and acting very aggressively. I tried the Pet Agree, and there was no reaction at all. We retreated.
The final dog came running out at us from a garden. It reacted to the Pet Agree by swiftly running back where it came from in a big arc. There, it peeked out at us again from behind the house, where I gave it another blast, and it kind of cocked its head sideways as if listening to something. This was actually a big relief, because up to this point I had been wondering if the devices were working at all. Obviously this dog could hear it loud and clear, and moreover it was deterred by it.
My conclusion from all this is personal and shouldn't be taken as scientific - but in my opinion, the Dazer/Pet Agree is not usable as a dog deterrent in its current form. It should be at least water resistant, and in my (unscientific but empirical) tests, it did not seem to affect all dogs (or even an obvious majority). Therefore I would feel extremely uneasy depending on it for my personal protection against agressive dogs. I don't know where all those glowing testimonials came from, but having actually tried this out on some of the local dogs I can say conclusively that it didn't work for me in many cases. I am fairly confident that the two devices we tested were working and not defective, because of the fact that they seemed to work on at least one of the dogs. Unfortunately without an ultrasonic testing device it is hard to confirm how well the things are actually functioning. I would stress again that these are personal conclusions resulting from non-scientific tests.
In an interesting end-note, I went out on my bike to see if the device would work on a dog out on a remote country road that had repeatedly chased me in the past. I had used Halt! pepper spray on my previous trip. Unfortunately, on the occasion I had the Dazer, the dog refused to chase. It saw me coming, and it just paused there, one paw in the air. Then it retreated. So obviously it had learned a lesson from the previous application of Halt!. I was both gratified and frustrated by this, since on the one hand it's a Good Thing that this dog won't be rushing into the road to chase bikes any more, but on the other hand it had been a "faithful" chaser on whom I had been hoping to try out the Dazer. Oh well! I've passed this dog on several occasions since, and it has obviously been completely cured of chasing bikes by the Halt!.
So, my conclusion remains that Halt! (or other pepper spray appropriate for use on canines) is the best thing out there for deterring aggressive dogs. I think I gave the Dazer/Pet Agree a fair shake, and was left with a feeling that while it definitely works with some dogs, I certainly wouldn't want to depend on it. Having said all that, obviously there are people out there who have had success with it - so you'll have to come to your own conclusions.
Since I enjoy checking out posts that never get answered here goes. It has been more than three years since you posted. The way product developement cycles are these days If a little widget like the dog dazer was effective there would be dozens of varients by now. I have not heard of others so . . . Also I am a life member of the LAB and the UMCA. Am active in local cycling and compulsively read all the bike gear catalogs I get. Nada, zip, zilch on dog dazers. The only ultrasonic deterent I've heard of is a little molded plastic thingy to be stuck to your car. Supposed to generate ultrasound while you drive and scare deer off of the road. Been tested, did not work. Last, contact the postal worker or meter reader organizations and ask them. Let us know if ANY of them have any dog deterant besides pepper spray, OK?
newfydog said:Again, a real airhorn is not as good as an imaginary one. Rather than carrying the thing, and trying to dig it out when a dog is about, pretend there is one on the ground, pick it up and and throw it at the dog. In 6000 km of trail, I have yet to need to actually throw anything.
TrishAlexSage said:I bought a version of the dazer,.
BillinDC said:Beware of ultrasonic devices to repel dogs. I had one once (not the brand discussed in prior posts). The one and only time I tried it, on an aggressive farm dog, it infuriated the dog. Luckily I'd had the foresight to climb up on the hood of a car, because he really wanted a piece of me when I blew my ultrasonic whistle. Check the 1 star reviews on the rating sites (a lot of people find the ultrasound ineffective). As for the underlying problem, I never encountered a threatening dog on the Camino Frances in Spain. .
nreyn12 said:But do what suits YOU. You will be carrying the darn thing, not asking anyone else to.
WOW, a dog that understood English, beating a lot of other living creatures in the area.mmm042 said:....I sternly yelled, "Go home!" and amazingly one of the dogs immediately turned around and ran back across the fence.
fraluchi said:WOW, a dog that understood English,:mmm042 said:....I sternly yelled, "Go home!" and amazingly one of the dogs immediately turned around and ran back across the fence.
tyrrek said:Be the boss! They're dogs! Stand tall.
Buen Camino!
Yes, perhaps. They have a big double chin and triangular eyes.newfydog said:I had to snip the picture of this fine dog. Maybe the Spanish Mastiff tyrrek was looking for!
Dogs are excellent linguists. My ex-girlfriend was Polish and her dog understood Spanish. 'Sit down', 'Lie down' etc. She was amazed and called her mother through to watch. 'Ares understands Spanish!' I was cracking up laughing. Obviously it's how you speak and gesture to them that matters, just like people.fraluchi said:WOW, a dog that understood English, beating a lot of other living creatures in the area.
This is an old post, but wow... what a scary experience... In such a situation I might die from a heart attack instead of dog bites...I had an unexpected, unprovoked attack by 5 German Shepherd dogs that came tearing out of an ungated farmyard driveway and circled me. At the time, I was walking on the furtherest side of the road away from the driveway, with my nose buried in Brierleys figuring out where my next coffee stop was to be. It was not a good situation and I was completely vulnerable.
I didn't stop, but decided to keep walking at the same brisk pace, not to run and avoided direct eye contact. I was desperately trying not to antagonise or make the situation any worse.
Unfortunately one of the dogs leapt at me, latched on and bit my thigh, and not a playful nip at that.
My subsequent scream did not rouse any local support but I'm darned sure that it was heard down in NZ loud and clear.
With that, 4 of the dogs dropped away but the attacker stayed alongside me for at least another 100 metres or so, growling, jumping up at me and still very menacing but no further bites.
Needless to say I was in complete shock after that, and with tears streaming down my face, I have never walked so fast for a coffee.
I still sport my scar from that bite 3 months later.
It was a one off incident, I couldn't have avoided it, and I regarded it later as just pure bad luck.
Prior to that, most of the Spanish farm dogs I had seen were asleep in the sun and could barely lift an eyelid as you passed. My advice is to be aware, but don't freak out unnecessarily and save your worries for where the next bar is going to be. It didn't deter me from experiencing a wonderful Camino.
This is an old post, but wow... what a scary experience... In such a situation I might die from a heart attack instead of dog bites...
I wrote here before. Dogs are still my biggest fear on the camino. The quiet caminos at least. Last weekend I had been training for my camino in the Ardennes in Belgium. We met two dogs in the woods barking and walking towards us. No owner to be seen. We went straight off the path and walked in the other direction until the dogs stopped following us. Heart beating in my throat.
The advices I found are a bit confusing. From throwing stones, kicking and using a stick until standing still and stay as calm as possible not to provoke the dog to attack. I guess it is all about common sense. As far as I still have any sense in such situations...
Hi Richard! Only 1 post in three years?!?!Hi I am Richard the Managing Director of Dazer that sell the dazer ultrasonic dog deterrent
in over 31 Countries .If I can be of help please email me richard@dazer.com I shall be walking onwards from Sarria 11th Sept. Blessings Richard
Did you know that in Galicia after living here for a year we automatically grow an umbrella out of the top of our heads!I have sung the praises of an umbrella on another, more weather related thread, on this forum. Though the drift of this one is from is from Canis to Pluvia.
An umbrella, makes you look like a local (certainly works in Galicia where the natives are born carrying umbrellas), keeps the rain off, and can be "whooshed" at belligerent dogs to remarkable effect.
The lightest dazer I've seen weighed 8oz and didn"t keep the rain off.
That's it. I am only (a bit) scared about the first and the last part of my Big Journey (a fortnight away...). The first ten or eleven days or so, before reaching Le-Puy-en-Velay and the last ten or eleven days, which I will most likely spend on the Camino de Invierno. On the Chemin du Puy and the Camino Francés I don't expect any attacks from dogs. I can't imagine there are dogs around that have already bitten 10 pilgrims and are waiting for number 11...I would be surprised to find any untethered dogs on the heavily traveled caminos, it's just too much potential liability for the owners. They tend to be in places where no one expects a pilgrim and the dogs are just out doing their jobs.
That's it. I am only (a bit) scared about the first and the last part of my Big Journey (a fortnight away...). The first ten or eleven days or so, before reaching Le-Puy-en-Velay and the last ten or eleven days, which I will most likely spend on the Camino de Invierno. On the Chemin du Puy and the Camino Francés I don't expect any attacks from dogs. I can't imagine there are dogs around that have already bitten 10 pilgrims and are waiting for number 11...
To all of you above who ridicule the issue, as someone has said- fear is personal- so have a little respect. And to those of you swapping photos of cute dogs, perhaps YouTube might be a better platform for that.
I finished Frances last month and currently halfway through the Camino Norte. I'm a solo walker. Dogs were pretty much my only worry while planning and preparing, and there are other pilgrims like me.
That is not to say that we're necessarily afraid of dogs in general. But there are unchained guardian dogs in some places and they are there for a reason. Just as being afraid of a scruffy looking man in a dark alley doesn't mean I'm afraid of humans. No need for ridicule.
Those 'unchained' ones, however, are very rare. The two places where I found myself waiting for other people to pass were both industrial estate/farms. Nothing extreme but you might consider walking that part with others. One was just before the ascent to Villamayor Monjardin and the other half way between Najera and Azofra. Someone else mentioned before the part before the alternative route to Samos.
For the peace of mind (not much else in practice), I carried a whistle and a pepper spray. Also carrying walking poles improved my confidence greatly.
And no, there are NO WILD DOGS on the Camino
It was fear of dogs that kept from me Camino for 38 years from 1977 when I was a student in Santiago until October 2015 when I walked Sarria to Santiago. I am pretty phobic. There were some very scary ones about but they were chained or caged or busy with cows. There was one huge Alsatian in the middle of the road at one point when I was walking alone but I watched another pilgrim go by and the dog never even twitched so I followed suit. There were other times when there was a little snarler on a wall but I kept with other folk and was OK. It still scares me but I wouldn't let it stop me now. Buen Camino!I would like to know is some pilgrims have had some unpleasants experiences with dogs along the camino.This time I will start from Le Puy in the beginning of september for a 2 months hike and I really feel so happy about the decision of walking again on the Camino. I did the CF in 1999 from SJPdP , it has been a wonderful experience but I had then what I could call quite an unpleasant encounter with a black '' danois''(don't know this english name).
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