Dogs

Ok so this is a really important fact about the camino, there are a lot of dogs. Every small town or big city for that matter has numerous dogs. The camino friend that you don't always want to see. You want to see them on a leash or behind a fence, not running around a corner barking and showing its teeth. This is just one scenario that I had to deal with. It was funny because every pilgrim I talked to that night had to deal with the same angry white dog with the broken chain. The dogs in Spain bark all day and all night. I blame it on the owners as they don't get reprimanded for barking, but in the owners defense I think that's why they have the dog in the first place. To be the first line of defense against any intruders. It really gets old after a while though because every time you enter a town you know you will have to be confronted by dogs barking or maybe even running after you. This is where the purpose of the walking stick becomes multifunctional. I never had to use a stick in defense but you sure feel that much more confident walking into a city with a stick than just your hands and no possible way to run. ha So word to the wise bring some kibble or dog treats next time. I think the best way to get through the situation is befriending the animal, but have the stick just in case.