Gone to the dogs...

Duca

Hi all. I just introduced myself to the IM community in the following thread ... You guys...

My question is about dogs in India. I absolutely love dogs but, while in Thailand I experienced their darker side. I was hunted and tracked by these 4 legged beasts all over the place. I didn't show fear and was very firm with them but. between us humans, I was scared shitless at times. They really did hunt in packs.

Can I expect the same in India? If so what is my best defense?

Thanks,
Duca

HerbyGreens

No horror stories here. I think you'll be alright as long as you can remember how to climb a tree

SitaParityaga

I found the dogs in Thailand to be pretty much the same as in India....though in either place, I haven't had them come at me in a pack.

I love dogs too...but have a healthy respect for the streetwise dogs. If they get too close and have any menacing feeling to them, I act like I'm going to pick up a rock and throw it at them. Haven't had any of them take another step towards me after the "rock" act.

Its the monkeys you have to watch out for. (they're my personal paranoia....I keep away from them at all costs)

crvlvr

I would advise against trying to pet stray dogs in India.

manojb

crvlvr, I hope that was a typo and you meant NOT to pet.

arunchs

There are plenty of street dogs in India. There are instances of trouble caused by them, but very rarely.

Keep away from the dogs when you see them in packs or if they are howling or they look like they are about to pick a fight between themselves. They can be especially menacing in the night. The idea of throwing a stone at the pack usually works.

You can actually pet a street dog, but only when they are not in groupds. They seem to be friendly when they are alone and often come behind you begging for food, and are harmless.

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Nick-H

I wouldn't like to get inn the middle of two fighting gangs at night

Otherwise, just give them space and they'll give no trouble.

I wold generally avoid touching a dog I don't know. One exception to this was, when sitting in the Theosophical Society Gardens one day: the dog walked up and put her head on my lap. Would have been rude not to stroke her

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snowcrab

I was lucky last trip, the local dominant female came over for a scratch behind the ears and for the rest of my visit kept all the other local dogs (mostly her offspring I suspect) away from me.Its mostly at night you want to be a bit careful, particularly if you are walking through a neighborhood that you do not frequent during the day. But if you are walking at night dogs may be the least of the predators you have to worry about.

Duca

Dare I ask what other predators must I concern myself with at night?

snowcrab

Two legged ones, same as anywhere else.

lotus blossom

on a walk to the waterfall in bhagsu several years ago, a dog appeared from our of nowhere and acted as a guide to me and my friend. it was the oddest thing, but so endearing. we really felt that she was there as our protectess.

last year there was a "gang" of, oh so sweet dogs and puppies in bhagsu that hung out and slept on the steps of a restaraunt. on one ocassion, one of the puppies latched onto the bottom of my long skirt and started tagging alongside me.

but these sort of dogs have been a rare sight whilst i've been in india. it is very sad to see the famished street dogs.

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SitaParityaga

I have also had some very sweet moments with the dogs...in fact, many have been so relaxed, so friendly, like I have never seen at home.

My avatar picture is of a street dog in Paharganj. He has on this garland....as if it were totally natural to him. Unlike my own dog, who would be shaking off anything around his neck...this guy trotted about with his garland like it was his own fur!

jw46

hesitates to pet stray dogs... but talks nicely to any animal which approaches me.. Hiya pup,howzit goin? Keeps it non threatening...

But , if they present themselves to be petted , always good for a little massage for my canine friends...

Nick-H

Bats. You can tell the vampire ones by the flight pattern. But you only have to worry about them after midnight.

Lotus Blossom, that's a lovely dog story (tale?)

and Edsita, I love your garlanded dog.

BabeInTheWoods

When we landed in Orchha last year at God knows what time in the morning, a pack of dogs came racing up to us. I just stood there and invited them to come and sniff, talking in a low, calm voice. Once they'd done that, they were happy and wandered off again. Something I've learned about animals is that it's handy to check out their body language, then speak the same yourself.

When approached by an unknown dog, NEVER put your hand out. Although it's natural for us to do this in a gesture of friendliness, this can be intererpreted as a threat, and it's natural for them to bite it in what they think is self-defence. This seems to be the same with most animals. Most animals use their noses, beaks or whatever to approach each other.

Looking them in the eye is also construed as a threat or a challenge.

I was once taken to a farm in a very remote place, where the owner was nowhere to be seen. A pack of huge pigdogs raced towards us and so I just stood there and hummed a gentle song to myself, again in a low voice. The humming kept me calm so I didn't give off fear pheramones and I just looked off into the distance and ignored them. They all screeched to a halt, sniffed, then wandered off - having decided I was pretty boring I guess.

If you're going into a situation where there may be animals (i.e. dogs and monkeys) that may be aggressive, take a long stick or an umbrella. Not to hit them with, but to keep them at a distance. This worked well for me the other day at a friend's place. I was photographing her peacock, who cooperated for a while then decided to attack me. I'm guessing he thought the camera was a big eye and I was challenging him, and also it's now Spring here, so he'll be full of testosterone. The peacock's owner didn't know whether he wanted to kill me or mate with me. (Neither of which I found very attractive.) He stalked me for the next hour, so I just picked up a long piece of branch and kept him at bay with that. It was a bit of humour really, but I hope he doesn't remember me next time I go there.

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