dogs & other creatures

I nearly stepped on this little guy on my way into Ponte de Lima, Portugal. Can someone identify it? It was only about 12 inches/30 cm long. (P.s. I checked Ivar’s new suggested title and it used “small animal” instead of critter and added the town name. I kept my original title as it was shorter)

In discussing the Camino with my daughter, what is most attractive to her are the possibilities of animal encounters. You know the type I mean: cowherds and shepherds guiding their hers/flocks along the road (or just the road cows one encounters along the way. Or the horses, cows and sheep one...

I know some people walk a Camino for a deceased friend or loved one, family. So in this context walking for an animal might sound wrong or disrespectful. And it never came to my mind to do so until when yesterday I suddenly lost a beloved furry friend, not a youngster, but still she was the...

Last year at least three pilgrims had a vicious dog encounter after Puerto de Pajares - all three with one of those giant Spanish mastiffs guarding livestock. Mine was in May just after I passed through Pajares and made the left off of the small section of highway onto the tractor track. Another...

Hello! I have written a short story about our camino experience. Part of a longer memoir, maybe, we'll see. For now, I have submitted this story as part of a writing contest on Reedsy, you can find it here. Please if you come across this post before Friday 10th Feb, do click like! In fact...

I've noticed a lot of cats in the background in various YouTube videos about the CF. Question - are these cats strays? Or pets? Or a mix of both? Do pets tend to wear collars in Spain? Another question - what's the etiquette around giving them food? Frowned upon? I don't want to potentially...

After following the sub-thread Camino Verde with great interest, I decided that the detour to Sobrado dos Monxes was worth it for visiting the monastery itself as well as avoiding the crowd from Camino Frances. We did it only in May this year and combination of heat+tarmac+crowd didn’t bode well...

I am wondering if you might be able to help me. I wish to travel el Camino with my 21 year old daughter with Down syndrome who would be more inclined to trek with a donkey to sometimes ride as well as alternately simply bearing her pack. Can you tell me if it is possible to hire a donkey...

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/sheep-take-over-madrids-streets-they-head-winter-pastures-2022-10-23/

Just finished my third Camino: the Primitivo. Quite busy there into early October, but nothing compared to the huge numbers from the junction at Melide on in to Santiago! I can understand the abundance of pilgrims given the circumstances, but dos preguntas: With all the nuts everywhere (acorns...

Hi guys, So, I have been dreading the stage coming into Borres, because travelling with Fuji, the only place that accepts a dog is the municipal albergue in Borres. The nearest places before was 28-30km before (in La Espina, Bodenaya, and Fontenonaya) and 30km after in La Mesa. I was worried...

I am currently in SdC and am looking for the best way to return to Pamplona with my dog. Alsa will not take us, Any suggestions, ideas?

I intend to walk with my dog. I’m just wondering if anyone here has done that or might have input on things I need to consider… which I might have already considered… or not? I don’t want opinions unless you can give reasons to back them up. It’s just not helpful. So if you have experience...

Hey folks, Looking to hear from Pawrents who have done Camino with a dog. I looked for a dog topic thread this is close as I can find? We've staged to Bilbao on Norte from St Jean de Luz. As I was told before it was extremely difficult on this route both terrain, length, elevation and...

I have had numerous encounters with livestock on caminos over the years. I don’t enjoy it, but I have more or less gotten used to it and have usually been able to forge ahead. But I have on occasion scrambled up sharp brambly hills or walked quickly through ankle-high mud to avoid them. One of...

Is it bad the Camino del norte is making me dislike dogs? Friendly dogs so far, 0, dogs that bark all the time or chase me down the street, 6. And I'm only on day 2 😅🤣 of course I know they are just doing their jobs, but it's still not great and being chased down the street is a no no, your dog...

I will be spending 5-7 days walking the Camino in mid September. My service dog will be traveling with me, she hikes quite a bit in the states and I don't have any concerns with her physical abilities but want to make sure I plan accomodations properly on her behalf. I could sleep anywhere :-)...

Hi everyone!!! Just a quick post here about our experience walking the Camino with my fur baby Fuji. Still travelling (another 12h drive day today), so full write up will come bit by bit over the next few days. While preparing for this trip, I have often found that forum members who posted the...

I am looking for pilgrims who have walked the Camino Frances with their dog. I have walked the Camino from StJPdP to Santiago and Finisterre 4 times and know the way very well. Next time am thinking of taking my dog with me, because I can’t leave him at home. He is a Labrador, very friendly...

In 2016 as I was walking down the mountain from Roncesvalles a scruffy tan dog Zoomed by me, followed later by the owner who told me that the dog was his Basque shepherd dog going for its daily two hour run in the mountains! I was so excited to see the dog run by! Those dogs are working...