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Home » Reader question » Reader Question: How Can I Avoid Stray Dogs in Thailand?
Reader Question: How Can I Avoid Stray Dogs in Thailand?
Dear readers,
I want to backpack to Thailand with a friend this year (from north to south), but there is a problem. I'm terrified of dogs. I was bitten a number of times as a small child and the fear runs deep. Now I read that Thailand is bursting with street dogs and when I think about that, I get restless.
Is there a way to avoid the street dogs? What can I do myself to stay away from the dogs. Does anyone have the same as me. Please tips and advice.
Greetings,
Love
No. That is not possible. Find a course in the Netherlands to get rid of your phobia (if I may call it that).
So the most obvious solution is not to go to Thailand.
But you were not waiting for this answer.
Just ignore the dogs. Don't show that you are afraid.
And just with a bow around it.
Solution can be by bringing some dog biscuits and giving them.
If you see the same dogs more often, this certainly works.
Don't hit with a stick, etc.
This is counterproductive.
I heard it's a good idea to have a whistle with you. If dogs approach you, which they hardly ever do, you can blow the whistle. That scares them
Buy a taser for 400 or 500 baht. Dogs run away from the sound
Hello Elske,
The best way to avoid dogs in Thailand is to avoid Thailand. Thailand is teeming with dogs and cats everywhere and I can't think of a way to avoid them on your backpacking trip through Thailand. It is probably best to overcome or control your fear first.
Best regards. Bz
Good that you ask this question Elske, I am currently in Thailand with my (Thai) girlfriend who is also very afraid of the many dogs. I don't care much about it myself, but she sometimes prefers to walk around the block.
In any case, I come across a lot of sweet dogs that do nothing, I just never pet them. Good to delve into this because you can't avoid them (without wanting to scare you). In any case, don't let it spoil your trip, maybe it will help you get over it? Good luck!
Greetings Eric
Not…..
It depends a lot on where you are going.
When I go for a walk in the countryside or in nature, I always take a walking stick or umbrella / parasol with me. I also have a Dazzer in my pocket, but because of the ultrasonic beeping sound, it doesn't scare off all street dogs.
Persistence usually gets their way and your calves don't do well with it....
It's a well-known problem in Thailand, and that's about it.
Avoiding coming near (read: territory). Easier said than done.
Take a walking stick with you and they will automatically go away from you.
Dear Elske,
I recognize this problem because I also don't have it on (street) dogs and I have also been bitten a number of times, including here in Bangkok. It seems as if the dogs sense that we would rather not see them; and honestly, I think that's true. They sense when something is "wrong", and it is probably our way of saying "I'm not afraid and just keep walking" that puts them on our track. I bought a device a year or so ago that emits a high-pitched sound when you press a button, which is supposed to keep the dogs away from you. Since I carry that with me, I apparently no longer radiate the nerves, because the dogs stay where they are (I've never had to use the thing). I hope I don't ever wonder whether the device is working, because then they will feel it again. This is how you stay busy…. I think it would be best to buy one of those things and then just keep going. If you come home and discover that you forgot to put the batteries in, you will at least know that a calm appearance is always best.
Good luck and happy holidays
Hi Joan,
Just for your information, I think it would be interesting for you to report that a long time ago a scientific study showed that people who are afraid of dogs, for example, unconsciously secrete a substance to which the animals react. So the dogs know, as it were, that you are afraid of them and that apparently attracts them. I find it remarkable that the victims themselves often say “It seems as if they smell it! The question remains, of course, whether they come to you because they realize you're afraid or because it's just attractive to them.
Best regards. Bz
Crossed Thailand alone many times and never been bothered by the many rather quiet dogs. However, I was a bit disturbed once when a dog or seven came running towards me from a distance of 60m. I remained calm and got on my scooter. The dogs eventually paid no attention to me but walked past me to another species. So if you don't pay attention to the four-legged friends yourself, you should certainly not be afraid. Usually they are relaxing under cars….
Chock dee!
Not going to Thailand is your only guarantee; in Thailand street dogs are unavoidable. It remains a major plague, which is part of it.
Hello Elske,
I have been living in Thailand for many years and you certainly have a lot of street dogs. Especially at the 7 Eleven shops you will find a lot of them. But if you walk past it quietly and don't pay attention to it, you won't be bothered by it at all.
And I speak from experience, have lived here for many, many years and never been bitten by a dog. I understand if you have been bitten by a dog a few times in your childhood you are terrified of it. But it is a risk that is present and there is little you can do about it. But I've never had any problems with it. Good injections can prevent a lot. But I think the chances of being bitten by a dog are minimal. So don't let it spoil your holiday fun, because that's not necessary. And you can of course also walk around it. Good luck. And if you have bad luck and get bitten, go straight to the hospital for treatment. So good insurance and good travel insurance is necessary.
day dogs are not the problem, the evening and night dogs… watch out for that.
here they are on the public road, they only go away when you almost drive over them, but that is of no use to you as a walker. pay attention, dogs that are up to something attack you from behind, never from the front, so watch out for dogs left behind…
hello elske,
Always have a stick at hand. They're afraid of that. Just holding up a stick keeps them from getting closer.
Have a lot of experience with this as a cyclist.
First I tried it with a device, bought at Beversport. gives high tones and that scares them, but due to incest, many dogs' hearing is no longer that good and then it doesn't work.
fun and success
Adri
By incest and by collisions ha ha. I will also try with a stick. Do have a bicycle pump, but it does not impress the many stray dogs. And, as if the devil were playing with it, if a Thai bike passes by, they don't react yet, but they love Europeans, those dogs. Might have some more visible flesh on it. In any case, it's a real problem, those stray dogs. Even on a motorbike you cannot avoid being chased from time to time.
And, as a tourist, if you are bitten, it is not easy to fly back. You may need a doctor's certificate that you are allowed to fly.
It's a pity, if that means you have to stop yourself from visiting the country, but there's no escaping it. They run everywhere, in urban and rural areas. And it's good to watch. By bike, on foot and on a scooter.
At AS adventure in Belgium they sell a device that makes sounds that dogs cannot tolerate. Humans do not hear those sounds. If a dog approaches you, press the button on the device and the dog will run away. Very handy. My brother lives in a village in Thailand and there are also many stray dogs there. I have very good experience with this device. Good luck!
I have already bought 4 different devices (dog repellers), but none of them deter the soi dogs, the last one is Dazzer 2, I bought 2 of them, about 30 euros each, doesn't help a damn, is all a rip or those devices.
I cycle regularly and come across dozens of (street) dogs in the morning. The trick is not to be afraid, because that smells them and stirs them up. Although I'm not familiar with those high-pitched devices, I think it will boost your confidence. It is important, however, never to look dogs directly in the eye and only to keep an eye on them out of the corner of your eye. If necessary with such reflective sunglasses. Nothing wrong with a bow around it either. In the six years that I have been walking and cycling in Thailand I have never been bitten or aggressively approached, but I hope it stays that way.
Dear Elske, I take a bike ride through Isaan every day, but you cannot avoid the dogs, they really live throughout Thailand and do not stay alone on their property. What I always take with me on my bike is a stick of approximately 50 cm, which I secure to my handlebars with elastic. another idea is a horn or something similar that produces a loud sound. Never make eye contact with them, sorry, but in my opinion Thailand is not exactly a cycling country, because apart from the dogs it is certainly unsafe with the traffic behavior of the Thais, they can hardly understand the rules and they regularly drive recklessly under the influence of alcohol and drugs by traffic. If you do go, have fun but be careful, greetings William.
Unfortunately, street dogs in Thailand are an unavoidable problem. I don't dare take a walk here in my own area. Cyclists who come here always have a stick with them just in case... A month ago, a moped rider had to swerve from a dog that aggressively ran after her. She fell and suffered serious scratches. If, as you say, you have a panicky fear of dogs. then Thailand is not the best destination for you. Certainly not as a backpacker, where you usually want to explore rural rural areas. As long as there are no controls on dog ownership in Thailand, the problem of stray dogs will continue to exist. Dogs have a strong territorial drive and view strangers as intruders who need to be chased away.
take a long walking stock with you and a little food, they will understand and in case of aggressiveness a pepper spray.
Dear Elske,
There are swarms of stray dogs everywhere in Thailand and there are quite a few aggressive ones. As an avid Thailand cyclist, I often have to deal with it. Take the rabies vaccinations in advance, 3 pieces every 2 weeks, then you only have to get 2 vaccinations instead of 5 in case of a bite!
I usually have my chain lock id nearby, I can possibly sell a big pendulum with that. But here in Th you can buy a catapult on every corner of the street, from a simple wooden one to a professional one made of steel wire. And when they see it, they hate it and choose the hare path!
Welcome to Thailand
In 8 months of almost daily cycling in the north of Thailand in the past year, I have had a total of 2x barking dogs chasing me. I have no idea what that is, why they don't or hardly respond to me.
I was never afraid of dogs. I come to Thailand every year. I often come across dogs, aggressive or not. I always avoid them. Until I once passed a house with a dog. It is normal close the gate and then the dog barks. Now the gate was open and I walked past. Sure enough, the dog jumps out and bites my calves. Fortunately I have a DTP vaccination and a Rabies vaccination. I went with the owner of the guesthouse to the owner of the dog. She said: I pay the hospital bill. Fortunately, I did not have to go to the hospital. We tried to make it clear to the owner that she always had to keep the gate closed. My doctor said that thanks to my vaccinations it turned out well.
I have developed a kind of fear of dogs.
I've heard from people who have a dazzer that it doesn't always work.
I don't know a stick.
I never cycle.
It seems clumsy to walk with a dazzer, flute or stick.
I'm going to try the cows.
There is someone who takes the bones from the night market.
My advice is: ask the doctor what to do if you do get bitten.
Try to get away from the dogs.
Go to Thailand anyway. It's the only country I go to every year.
I am not Thai.
What I have not yet read in the first series of comments: in areas where many people come, I have never been bothered by dogs. Only in quiet streets and neighborhoods do they have the feeling that they are in charge and that they have to chase away intruders. I am also afraid of dogs and indeed they have to have me much more often than people who are not afraid. Especially on the bike.
I like to go for a walk with our beagle on the beach in Cha Am. The many stray dogs can't tolerate an intruder like my dog at all, so they come frantically and aggressively with bared teeth to try to drive the intruder away, but once I get my bamboo stick from 50 cm up, these aggressors are immediately calmed down and keep enough distance. Once I gave one a slap on the mouth...one who didn't know what that stick was for.
It is my experience in Thailand that if dogs approach you aggressively, you can do 2 things.
You have a sturdy stick 50-75 cm with you and threaten the dog by lifting it up and, if necessary, also deliver a blow.
Extra, you have some egg-sized stones in your pocket, take a stone in your hand, pretend to pick up a stone and then throw the stone in your hand at the dog.
If a dog continues to follow you, keep an eye on it.
Threatening with a stick or throwing a stone has been enough for me for 20 years in Thailand, also in the outlying areas.
Never pet an unknown dog, show no fear, in Thailand dogs are also kept at a distance by Thais in this way.
With these precautions you can safely come to Thailand, I wonder how you fared with the dogs in Thailand.
Good luck and success on your journey.
I'm afraid my solution won't work for you...
On the River Kwai I walked home with 2 girls who I had met in a nice restaurant, so for me my guesthouse and for them to THEIR house.
they had to take a side road but were prevented by a group of 4/5 dogs and they were terrified of it.
I myself macholy picked up a few stones and threw them at the dogs, shouting loudly and waving my arms. the dogs sloughed off growling I must say so MY system did work…
I am NOT afraid of dogs and apparently dogs smell when you are afraid and they feel like they are in charge, but because you are terrified of dogs this will not work for you and that is why the taser might be a good idea if it at least works well.
If you decide to buy one of these, I would first try it out on a normal lonely dog because once you come into contact with a pack, there is no time left to experiment...
my system would even have been used in a confrontation with a lion...but I read that somewhere on the internet in a true story
I always say that I work for the tax authorities, they are gone in no time. 😉
Then who are gone? The owners of the property certainly, to either run away or take the watchdog off the chain…
I always say, in Dutch: “I say 1 word: Vietnam”. Instead of Vietnam you can also use Nakhon Sawan. Works great.
Hans says.
Hans says.
I've looked at your question.
So when you say that you are very afraid of dogs, there is only one way out and that is not to come here.
There are stray dogs here in most places, although at least here where I live in Changmai, much less.
You also ask, how can I avoid them?.
No possibility.
If you've asked how do I keep them at bay, see the advice above, although I have my doubts with any dog.
Why? Between the Navy and the Air Force, I had to wait almost 2 years because of my training.
Have asked if I can't temporarily start a little earlier, allowed to temporarily work at the LBK as a dog handler.
A dog that is anxious will follow you because the person is also anxious or walking or cycling fast, then show you a stick and he will leave.
If we have to buy a dog, we go to people who say they have an aggressive dog, then we test,
The dog remains on the owner's leash, we look at its tail, is it wagging, or is the tail down?
Grab a stick, if the tail is down, then we'll be done soon, don't we want to, if he keeps wagging, then we'll hit his body and he'll keep coming.
We find them suitable.
If you are bitten by a dog, don't pull it back, but push it deeper into its mouth and try to pinch its nose or put it in its eyes or hit its private parts.
Hitting his body is useless.
Not much experience 1.1/2 years, but learned so.
Then my whole career as a tech.
Hans
I've looked
Hello Elske,
Because I see comments here and there about a Taser, I just want to point out that you are not allowed to import such a thing into any country unless you have a permit for it. In Thailand you can buy one of course, although I don't know if owning it is legal in Thailand.
Best regards. Bz
When I go for a run or walk early in the morning, I always take a stick and a few small stones to throw. The dogs I have encountered over the past 10/15 years quickly become frightened and run away. The dogs in the park itself where I walk are apparently used to people. They don't bark and I can safely walk around them. More dangerous are the dogs that come out of an open gate of a private home. But throwing a stick or a pebble or pretending to pick up a pebble appears to be enough to deter them. My father-in-law uses a catapult with pebbles when he goes away on his moped.
This one works perfectly.
My wife is also very afraid of the dogs.
https://www.conrad.nl/nl/dierenverjager-isotronic-space-dog-ii-trainer-meerdere-frequenties-1-stuks-1302637.html
m.vr.gr.
Yes, those dogs are a nuisance.
I like to cycle and regularly have to confront dogs.
Not the dog's fault, but the owner's fault for keeping the dog indoors.
I am an animal friend, but if I have to, and if it has already happened, I will get off my bike and
take my bamboo and I react in a controlled manner to their reaction.
And also a bit disturbing, they are just sleeping everywhere on the road
When I sometimes see those poor animals not cared for, sick, with injuries, bone thin my
heart breaks.
The Thai dog knows the Thai man.
Thai man pretends to pick up a stone from the ground.
The smart Thai dog knows he has to be gone.
Always take a jar of salt with you and sprinkle some salt on the dog's tail. They hate that. That is also an old method of catching sparrows.