What about a dog ?

[Pendraig]

I would like to travel with my medium sized dog. He is very fit and we walk every day, in mountains and forests. Do the refugios have a problem with a dog travelling with one. Would other travellers have objections I wonder ..

[kydkop]

I'm curious about this too, as I have a 20lb Boston Terrier that I want to take with me.

[Pendraig]

I posted this under 2 topics and had quite a good reply from someone who moreorless said .. not a good option. First of all the dog would probably have to sleep outside, although my dog sleeps on the floor or on his own bed would need to sleep pretty close by and secondly he said that it was quite heavy on the dogs that he had seen do it .. 26 k a day, they get exhausted as the days go on. I thought what he said made sense but it has made me decide not to do it until after my little boy goes to the big kennel in the sky. Let me know if you do it. Regards

[Eckham]

I've heard that there are a lot of strays in that area, and although your dog may be docile, other dogs may not be...

[Covey]

The Albergues, both State and private generally do not allow dogs in Spain. You do see pilgrims walking with a dog occasionally but generally they are camping along the way because of the Albergue ban.

The general advice is if you love your dog, leave it at home and enjoy your Camino. I doubt your dog will enjoy walking 25kms a day, every day, on mostly rough tracks.

We all wear expensive footwear to protect our feet, and yet most suffer blisters and pain along the Way. Your dog does not have such luxury!

[drsalome]

Please be mindful in this decision. I'd be upset if I met you and mans 'best friend' enroute. If we are to get blisters, bedbugs, and over heated and who knows what else we,'ll encounter, image how a dog woudl feel with blisters, bugs or dehydrated. Please think of him/her comfort levels not just how cool for a dog to walk 500 to 700 miles.

[Covey]

The Spanish love their dogs in the same way as most of us do and in the cities you will see very well cared for dogs.

However, as Pilgrims pass through the remoter parts of Northern Spain, most of the dogs are working dogs who guard farm buildings and vegetable plots. They are often chained or confined in small enclosures, and when they reach the end of their working like, are often turned loose to forage for themselves.

Occasionally the larger stray dogs can prove irritating as they can follow you for miles in the hope of food. It is best not to give them any food otherwise they will continue to pester you.

Carrying a walking pole is useful in keeping dogs at arms length.

[Larry]

I would like to travel with my medium sized dog. He is very fit and we walk every day, in mountains and forests. Do the refugios have a problem with a dog travelling with one. Would other travellers have objections I wonder ..

I walked the Camino in 2009 and the terrain is no problem with a dog; I met a Frenchman with a dog on the first day. The problem comes in finding a place to stay that will take a dog and, later on, in the packs of dogs that seemingly run wild. There will inevitably be conflicts. Also, you will need to provide proof of vaccinations and provide food for your dog. While there are a number of markets that supply human food, I do not recall seeing many places that have food for dogs. It is a logistical problem but I'm sure with proper planning it can be overcome. Good luchk