Author Topic: Please help - thinking of cancelling our holiday due to dog problem (Read 15771 times)

tuppy · « **on:** May 16, 2011, 09:55:25 PM »

Hi,

We booked our holiday to Kalkan in January. We read some amazing things about the place on this forum and found ourselves a nice little villa and some reasonable flights. Everything has been paid for and we are due to go on June 6th (3 weeks away)

Ever since booking our holiday the threads on this forum seem to have become more negative by the week. It was only last month that i emailed Agni travel for some advice on how best to keep our valuables and money safe in our Villa due to the problem with increased burglaries.

We have now just read some of the horrendous stories about the street dogs. Myself and my wife (especially me) are really scared of dogs. The thought of been followed home at night by a pack of stray dogs fills me with horror. The thought of been kept awake at night been a very light sleeper by a pack of barking dogs fills me with dread.

My wife is in tears, i am absoloutly gutted and we are seriously considering cancelling our flights and villa costing us over a thousand pounds, all of which i imagine will be non refundable at such a late stage.

For some reason i can no longer find the threads concerning the dog issue, have they been taken down as to not scare any more visitors from coming? Unfortunately for us it probably alreads has.

Any information or advice would be much appreciated

Thanks

Linkback: https://www.enjoykalkan.com/forum/index.php?topic=7755.0

misty · « **Reply #1 on:** May 16, 2011, 10:02:21 PM »

Don't cancel..yes the dogs can be a pain even more so since I have last been by all accounts..... but you can assess the situation when you are out there.....see which is the best routes to take to avoid any problem dogs...possibly use taxi's.....as for all night barking cant really offer a solution for that....but I'm sure you will have a great holiday all the same.

Vally · « **Reply #2 on:** May 16, 2011, 10:08:30 PM »

+1 for don't cancel

You'll find it has been painted much worse than it is. Ignore the dogs and they'll ignore you and as Misty says you can always get a taxi around or back at night. We don't ever hear all night barking (have stayed in 3 locations in Kalkan and have probably heard 1 dog for 10 mins).

With regard to crime this happens everywhere but Kalkan always feels like a safe place - take the same precautions that you would anywhere else including home and you'll be fine.

Kalkan is an amazing place & you'll love it

Babs · « **Reply #3 on:** May 16, 2011, 10:09:49 PM »

hello Tuppy
I was only saying to my husband yesterday that sooner or later people will consider cancelling their holiday if they read such negative threads about dogs. We are coming back to Kalkan this year for the 7th time, yes, we love the place. We can honestly say we have never been bothered by the dogs. Yes, there are street dogs and yes they sometimes follow you home but we have never found them to be threatening. We have never been kept awake at night either by barking dogs, trust me if my husband had been kept awake he wouldn't want to go back as he's not the world's best sleeper.
I do wonder if the barking is worse in certain areas...we have always stayed quite central, don't know if that has any relevance. Maybe if you explained where you are planning to stay someone would be able to put your mind at rest?
I hope you are able to make an informed decision about your holiday and I'm sure that if you go ahead you will have a wonderful time......after all the vast majority of posts on this site are glowing.

ps have just seen Misty's advice and think its a great idea....as for getting to sleep, if it is a problem at all, I always find that the excellent food and drink in Kalkan mean I go out like a light!

misty · « **Reply #4 on:** May 16, 2011, 10:17:55 PM »

Tuppy...I would ask myself am I going to let a few dogs spoil my holiday and even more so cost me thousands of pounds....I think not....go for it and you will have a fantastic holiday......just watch out for the 'blue lizard'

tuppy · « **Reply #5 on:** May 16, 2011, 10:33:38 PM »

Hi,

Thank you so much for the replies. We will have to give it some serious thought but you have helped to calm us both down a little. I appreciate that things can be exaggurated but honestly i dont think i could enjoy a minute of my holiday if the dogs were even half as bad as some of the people were making out. To some people its maybe not a problem but we are both really scared of dogs!

I cannot understand how we didnt notice that they had a large amount of street dogs before we booked - i really try and research a place before we ever go anywhere new. The only other place i have had a similar problem is India and the stray dogs there had the same effect and meant that i spent 90% of the time looking over my shoulder.

Losing money and cancelling would be really bad but spending the same amount again on spending money and not enjoying the holiday would be even worse.

Thanks again for all of your advice

Enjoy Kalkan · « **Reply #6 on:** May 16, 2011, 10:43:48 PM »

Tuppy,

All I would say is when Kalkan is quiet out of season the forum gets quiet and the topic of dogs comes up every year around the same time! Full time residents also have very different views of Kalkan than visitors as you will see from posts, hence one of the reasons why the owner / resident fields were added to profiles to allow you to gauge peoples perspective.

I have just come back from Kalkan and not had an issue - Trust me, your only regret will be if you don't go.... I look forward to your holiday report when you come back

kele · « **Reply #7 on:** May 16, 2011, 10:49:59 PM »

I’m sorry, but i think it’s time to face facts, there is a real dog problem throughout Kalkan. Whilst not being a dog owner, I feel I do have an affinity with animals, but the scabby mutts that wander the streets of Kalkan and follow people around are beyond a joke.
And anyone residing at the far end of Kalamar road is in for a dual shock, both with the pack of quite aggressive dogs that prowl close to Cafe Vita, and the constant barking throughout the night by two or three animals in that area.
I am a very heavy sleeper, and one who augments his slumbers with the aid of Efes, but sad to say both my wife and I have had many night’s sleep disturbed by these damned animals, and sadly closing even double glazed windows does not help.
Other contributors have not offered a solution, only caution, so it’s your call.
So, come if you will. But beware.

sidari · « **Reply #8 on:** May 16, 2011, 11:13:43 PM »

Good post Kele. I am in the Tuppy school of thought. We also considered cancelling-to costly to contemplate. By the way where do these mutts defacate. Or do we have to do a merry jig to sidestep the issue. Not quite so easy at night. (please dont tell me they all go to some dog toilet somewhere). Anyway, really looking forward to sleepless nights and meeting these adorable (not) prowlers. Face facts-if there was no problem there would be NO TOPIC!

deepasforever1 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 16, 2011, 11:24:43 PM »

I'd say go to Kalkan, definitely. When we visited last year for the first time we met a few dogs - but I remember thinking that they seemed as friendly as the people we'd met in Kalkan. (Sorry, I know that sounds really corny!) They weren't too keen on cars that drove at more than about 15 mph but there was no problem with them and people. Obviously, that's just our experience, but we've booked for this summer and I'm totally looking forward to it!

daisymai · « **Reply #10 on:** May 16, 2011, 11:38:44 PM »

Tuppy, I am sure from the research that you undertake when booking a holiday you will note that some people's expectations and therefore opinions of one place differ greatly from others. What is a problem to one person may not even be noticed by another. Kalkan is a beautiful place and I don't think anyone would disagree about that. Even if it does have a problem with some stray dogs you may not encounter it at all and if you do, it may not be as bad as you think or led to believe. Don't let a few (friendly in my opinion) dogs ruin what could be a holiday of a lifetime. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. You will love Kalkan, guaranteed!!

AllanChris · « **Reply #11 on:** May 17, 2011, 12:43:29 AM »

Difficult one this! We have been coming to Kalkan twice a year since 2008. We usually stay over at Komurluk, which is a 15minute walk away from the centre of Kalkan and therefore quite peaceful. We have never had any problems with aggressive dogs so far. We last visited in October 2010. Many of the dogs we have encountered just want a bit of human interaction and affection. One evening a few visits ago, Chris and I were sitting on a low wall by the old bus station when this great big dog came up behind me, pushed his head under my arm and left it there. What to do? I slowly raised the back of my hand for it to sniff, gently spoke to it and slowly started to stroke it. The dog was perfectly calm and obviously getting the affection it desired. Then after a couple of minutes it gently pulled its head back and loped off. We were surprised but delighted at this encounter. A day or so later we were having dinner in one of the restaurants by the harbour when the same dog came over to us wagging its tail. Again I slowly offered the back of my hand for it to sniff and it was almost as if it recognised us. (perhaps it did!) It then walked over to another table where the man started waving his arms at the dog and shouting, (I kid you not,) "Get this dog away, it's a biter, get it away from my daughter, waiter waiter, get me another table." Of course the dog started barking and the waiter started to try and shoo it away. which just made the dog even more aggressive/defensive. Chris and I are used to dogs, but we would never approach a dog to try and stroke it. If a strange dog wants attention it will slowly approach you with its ears back, slightly cowering. If you want to interact with it, slowly offer the back of your hand well in front of it, never try to pat its head as it cannot see your hand and will be afraid that you are going to hit it. If you are not sure or not used to dogs ignore it/them. One holiday we stayed near the Emir apartments and the dogs were very noisy for 2 nights, all night! Maybe the dog situation has changed for the worse. We are out soon so will see for ourselves. Cheers, Allan.

chickengeorge · « **Reply #12 on:** May 17, 2011, 08:13:37 AM »

Kalkan is still a great place. There have always been dogs and people are trying to control them, some would say with limited success. The Belediye should be shown these comments as ultimately it will affect the whole town if customers are put off coming here because of it. They need to take control and stop turning a blind eye.

Enişte · « **Reply #13 on:** May 17, 2011, 08:21:00 AM »

Hi Tuppy

I have heard tell of some tourists (American or Daily Mail readers, probably) cancelling holidays to the Med for fear of events in Libya, Syria, Bahrain and even Pakistan spreading! To me, to cancel your holiday because of comments on here about dogs would be about as daft. I am sure that you will have a great time and, IN MY OPINION AND EXPERIENCE, will have little problem with any of the street dogs. I very much hope so.

kalkan4eva · « **Reply #14 on:** May 17, 2011, 08:42:44 AM »

Tuppy, I'm slightly nervous of dogs but I've never had a problem in Kalkan. Yes we've been escorted home but I don't find it menacing. There are a few dogs who are boisterous (Tango) and I have witnessed a couple of agressive dogs but NEVER has it made me not want to be there. Previous threads on this subject have suggested that the street dogs escort you home for their own safety - they feel safer around humans if there is an agressive dog about. We've been coming to Kalkan for years and for me there seemed more dogs in 2007....! But that might be because we stayed up the other side of the village (by Yali). Its all subjective. Come and make your own mind up when you are here, thats my advice.

Enişte · « **Reply #15 on:** May 17, 2011, 09:27:30 AM »

Well said K4E, although I would more often have used the word 'comatose' to describe Tango, unless he is on his way down to swim. If he's boisterous, so am I!

By the way, thanks for your generous congrats for our win at Anfield on Sunday.....

HolmfirthNicky · « **Reply #16 on:** May 17, 2011, 09:31:14 AM »

Just to echo previous comments, don't miss out on coming to a beautiful place like kalkan because of the comments about dogs. I have to agree with Allan and Chris's comment about how to approach not just street dogs but any dogs. We stay at the Lizo on Kalamar road and last year we did get escorted home quite a few times by dogs but they never bothered us, all they did was walk with us so far then found something more interesting to do and left us. Can't recall hearing barking at night, but i always sleep with earplugs in due to Hubbies snoring!! We go back out there in just over 2 weeks and we can't wait!

Thor the Thunderer · « **Reply #17 on:** May 17, 2011, 10:08:15 AM »

Tuppy, there is no dog problem in Kalkan. Come your holidays, and you will enjoy yourself, guaranteed. There are dogs yes, but I have been coming to Kalkan for FIFTEEN YEARS and never seen or heard anyone menaced or attacked by dogs. They will amble up to you in the streets, but they're only looking for some love or a bit of attention. Which is surely not much to ask of a world where you've been abandonned and left uncared for?
The folks at KAPSA do a great job, and have gone a long way towards reeducating people and changing ideas. They need all the help they can get, and most people do sympathise with their aims and do help them.
Sadly, there are a few (and it's a very few) callous, selfish expats who seem hell-bent on causing upset amongst tourists and potential visitors, so that they can ensure their villas are rented out and no dogs bark to annoy their sources of money.

Personally, the thought that I may be sitting next to such monsters of callousness and cruelty causes me a lot more worry than a few sad, unloved and lonely dogs.

tiamaria · « **Reply #18 on:** May 17, 2011, 10:11:06 AM »

Tuppy
Please don't put off coming here to Kalkan.......... We're here at the moment and Yes we do have dogs barking some even join in with the early morning calling, Yes we do have them in our street, they haven't spoilt our time, some of them are loveable characters.............. We've been coming here since 1997 and still love it.... warts....dogs.... and all.........
Don't be put off by what you read.............. Do you believe every thing in the news papers?

Crime goes on everywhere and the UK certainly as it's fair share
So pack those cases............. get on that plane...............enjoy the transfer...............and above all ENJOY KALKAN it's charm good food and EFES.........You'll not reget it.....................
.......................................................Well said Thor the Thunderer......................