Kalkan Turkey Forum - EnjoyKalkan.com
Kalkan Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: tuppy on May 16, 2011, 09:55:25 PM
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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
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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.
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+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
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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!
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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' ;D ;D ;D
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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
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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 :)
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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!!
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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. 8)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.....
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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!
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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.
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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......................
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Once again Thor - well said! We need more like you on this forum :D :D :D
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If you are scared of dogs why not buy a portable sonic dog repeller, cheap on the internet and £9.99 at maplins, and carry it with you wherever you go both in England and abroad. It makes a sound we cant hear but dogs don't like so they move away. It works as we have one in Kalkan we used recently and it worked on the dogs (we got it to stop cats from visiting our apartment as some guests don't like them) If you watch the live webcam pictures you can see how many dogs are around. It might reasure you.
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Hi everyone,
Thanks again for the replies, we really do appreciate it when kind people take the time to reassure us.
We have been looking forward to this holiday so much and have decided not to let the dogs put us off at such a late stage. We have had some really positive messages from KASPA members and think that maybe we over-reacted after reading some one sided reports on the issue.
I did just want to take a minute to clarify that i am completely against the cull (although the post by Thor was funny!) of any animal, I'm not sure if this makes me two faced but i really wouldnt want healthy animals to be put down if they cause no harm to anyone - its my fear so i have to live with it.
I hope that this thread has not put anyone else of visiting Kalkan, hopefully it may have gone some way to put a few other peoples minds at rest.
Time to start reading about the fantastic food, climate, people and adventures we are going to be having in Kalkan and maybe....just maybe i will have a look on the Maplin site just incase!!
Thanks again
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Deat Tuppy - I am really glad to hear it. I'm sure you won't regret it and we all look forward to having you here!
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Hey Tuppy,
Good decision. It would be good to hear your view on return from Kalkan -you'll love it (pretty much everyone does)
Vally
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Again,well said Thor.Lets hope you have 'hammered 'some sense into the troublemakers.We have been coming to Kalkan for over 12 years & have never had a problem with the dogs.as others have said if you ignore them they won't bother you,but most love a bit of attention & if you feed one you have a friend for life.I for one am sick of all the scaremongering on this forum,just what they hope to achieve I do not know.When it first went live about 5 years ago it was full of good information from people who knew Kalkan & could pass that on to newcomers.It is now mostly a place for some people to make crass comment about things that are really not their business & is not doing a wonderful place any good at all.
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Hi Tuppy - You will have a wonderful time and will be wondering what all the fuss was about once you are there. If it makes you feel more secure then take a sonic repeller as someone suggested and ear plugs might help if you are a light sleeper (that's if there is any barking at night near where you are staying) but you will probably sleep well anyway after all the lovely food and wine and Efes!) Relax, chill out and enjoy your holiday and let us know how you got on when you get back. If you need any more convincing whether you've made the right choice just read some of Antler's posts!
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But, do be careful with the sonic dog repellers. We bought one two years ago to bring out here, but found it made one nasty dog in particular even nastier - it seemed to bring about a Pavolvian reaction of snarling and barking!
Best to bring with you someome who's not frightened of dogs to shield you - I can hire out my hubby at a reasonable rate!!
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Mace spray might work better.......you can run like hell whilst the dog is sneezing and spluttering :D :D :D
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If you don't like your mother in law...buy her a Lady Ga Ga meat dress to wear in Kalkan ;D ;D ;D
never had a problem in 24 years with anything other than mozzies ...go to kalkan ..and enjoy all it has to offer you will love it
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Tuppy, if you are scared (as you put it) of all dogs, have you thought of some form of aversion therapy to overcome your fears? Perhaps you have had a very bad experience re. dogs. They can be wonderful friends and companions, they can be so affectionate and a family dog is usually always pleased when a family member comes home. One of our dogs, a Sheltie called Oscar always used to sit on the doormat to greet me coming in from work. No matter what time it was, 2 minutes before I got home he would always go and sit on the front door mat to greet me. So many lovely memories of dogs, and children growing up together. Very best wishes, Allan.
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Hey Nick..gritted teeth...congratulations for your win at Anfield on Sunday :P Please pass on my personal thanks to the Spurs fan who chose to celebrate by streaking onto the Anfield pitch, cartwheeling (3 out of 10, the legs were all over the place), slipping over in his pumps (I kid you not) and generally being allowed to entertain the crowd for quite some time. Not a single steward ran on to tackle him and his one man show was brought to an abrupt end when Lucas lamped him. To be fair, it was the only decent tackle he made all game as Modric bossed the midfiled with some style.
You're welcome to Channel 5 footie, we can do with concentrating on domestic success.
BTW, I was referring to Tango on the beach, where he is boisterous and steals bottles of water to play with - but we love him.
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Hi Allan,
I had a pretty bad experience in Goa a couple of years ago. In the UK i am not really scared of all dogs, my mum has two and they are lovely. If i see a stray here i still cross the road (or just turn around and walk in the completely wrong direction to where i want to be!), but in Goa the dogs really put the frightners up me. They looked like somehting out of a horror movie and would approach in packs of 10+. They were aggressive and i imagine carrying numerous diseases. They where starving, unfortuanately like many of the people we saw in India, so you can appreciate why they were not too freindly, but i swore never to go anywhere with stray dogs again.
I am now aware that the situation in Kalkan will be nothing like this and now plan on making it an opportunity to try and relax a little in the prescence of dogs.
We have read lots of posts in the holiday reports section this evening, and have been looking through the gallery. Back on track for an amazing holiday again now.....just hope the sonic dog repeller arrives on time!!!
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Hi Tuppy,
I have been to both India and Kalkan and there's no comparison regarding the disposition of the dogs. I've always found the dogs in Kalkan to be friendly, although I appreciate that those people who do not "know" dogs may be disconcerted by being followed home (or more accurately, escorted), by a pack of dogs.
I have been travelling to Kalkan for a number of years and have had no problems. In fact, one year staying at the Villa Limone we were regularly followed by a pack - all very friendly. They stopped at an invisible line on the route back - they know their territory - and let us continue the journey alone. All except one. She looks like a cross-bred collie - very short in the leg - but she insisted on leading us all the way home, right to the very door. The point is, my children never felt threatened by the situation, and indeed on subsequent visits to different locations actually asked me to take them back to see the dogs. And, guess what, the collie bitch recognised us and tried to take us back to the villa which we didn't frequent anymore!
With the majority of dog-people liaisons, the problem generally doesn't lay with the dog but the person. It's a matter of not understanding dog behaviour. So don't let some of the negative comments on this thread put you off from visiting Kalkan - you'll have a great time.
However, I'm very concerned about the recent comments made on this post , principally by owners - not about threats to the tourists, but about threats to the dogs. Such a torrent of bad vibes can only lead to a cull, which would be a travesty.
As a dog lover and Kalkan lover I implore you, Tuppy, visit Kalkan and judge for yourself.
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We haven't been to Kalkan for 3 years so don't know whether the dog situation has changed, but we were never bothered by barking dogs during the night. Sometimes we were followed home but never by aggressive dogs, only those wanting our company. I would have loved to take two of these dogs home, only the cost (and my sensible husband) prevented me. We are dog lovers but can understand people's anxieties if they are worried about dogs. Just have a great holiday.
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So glad you have decided to go ahead with your holiday Tuppy, you will love Kalkan i'm sure.
Have to agree with Popps post about understanding dog behaviour, wherever you are in the world not just Kalkan and i too hope that all the comments on here doesn't lead to a cull.
Look forward to reading your report Tuppy on your return!!
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Hello Tuppy, glad you have changed your mind, I'm sure you will love Kalkan as many others have already stated. Me n the wife are also travelling out on June 6th, Easyjet from Manchester, how about you???
BTW, it's our 8th time!!! :D ;D
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Hi Potter we fly from Doncaster with flythomascook!
We did have it on our head that the dog situation was going to be similar to India but reassured now that it will be nothing like the same.
Only 17 more sleeps!!!
ps - re the sonic dog repellar i bought one from Amazon, took it to my mums house, pressed the button and pointed it at her two dogs....they both looked at me like i was a bit silly and ran over to start licking me and the apparent repellar!!
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Lol Tuppy you poor thing. Try "pet corrector" from Pets at home. It's an aerosol can which has compressed air in it and when you press the button it makes a sound like a very large hissing goose :o Certainly worked for my puppy when he did anything naughty. I now have a perfectly behaved 5 month old bundle of joy who immediately jumps to attention if I mention "the spray"
It's absolutely harmless to dogs but does seem to stop them in their tracks :)
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Tuppy - what a shame we are going to miss you, we are also flying with TC from Doncaster but on 20th June. It would have been nice to have a chat and reassure you what a fabulous time you will have in Kalkan.
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My six year old daughter was bitten on the hand by a dog this Easter when we were out. Fortunately the skin wasn't broken and it just caused some nasty bruising, which unlike the emotional trauma she now feels near dogs, quickly mended.
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Oh Thor - where art thou? We need you :'( :'( :'(
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Tuppy where are you staying? We have spent a week at Komerluk and there is only one dog there and it is friendly, we have also stayed in the old part of Kalkan and although there are a couple of dogs hanging around we have not had any problems there either.
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I walked home from Kalamar at daft o'clock this morning and was escorted by several very well-behaved dogs. Several others were sitting outside the grill near the Asfiya and watching the events there with some curiosity. Others barked at a scooter but moved away from me/us. So, IN MY EXPERIENCE, the dogs here are generally quite friendly. Sorry if that offends anyone, but that's how I find it, if that's OK....
I have however seen two people in the last week get clipped by car wing mirrors and several more people with serious sunburn. What can we do to remove these curses of life in Kalkan? And don't get me started on those darn hills
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I walked home from Kalamar at daft o'clock this morning and was escorted by several very well-behaved dogs. Several others were sitting outside the grill near the Asfiya and watching the events there with some curiosity. Others barked at a scooter but moved away from me/us. So, IN MY EXPERIENCE, the dogs here are generally quite friendly. Sorry if that offends anyone, but that's how I find it, if that's OK....
I have however seen two people in the last week get clipped by car wing mirrors and several more people with serious sunburn. What can we do to remove these curses of life in Kalkan? And don't get me started on those darn hills
All of the dogs we've ever encountered in Kalkan have been friendly. Until that point, and therein lies the problem. She was confident around dogs, we have dogs at home, naturally moved to stroke the animal, and was bitten for her efforts.
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Exactly. I am sorry to hear of the incident with your daughter and of anyone that has experienced similar. I hope that gradually some positive canine experiences will help her to get over the incident. I still try to avoid any eye contact with any dog until I am more confident that it appears friendly and let them make the first move.
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I also have a great fear of dogs!
Having been to Kalkan the past two years now and going again in a week, i can honestly say its not bad at all.
I have never had one jump up at me, they just follow behind you.
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I walked home from Kalamar at daft o'clock this morning and was escorted by several very well-behaved dogs. Several others were sitting outside the grill near the Asfiya and watching the events there with some curiosity. Others barked at a scooter but moved away from me/us. So, IN MY EXPERIENCE, the dogs here are generally quite friendly. Sorry if that offends anyone, but that's how I find it, if that's OK....
I have however seen two people in the last week get clipped by car wing mirrors and several more people with serious sunburn. What can we do to remove these curses of life in Kalkan? And don't get me started on those darn hills
Eniste your post doesn't offend me but I did wonder what the point of it was.
My daughter likes dogs one at a time but is scared of packs of dogs. She is not "escorted" home by the dogs but rather followed and threatened. This year the number around has definitely increased again, and after two days of walking in and out with a frightened child I gave up and opted for taxis for the rest of our holiday.
Perhaps I am meant to show her your post (and all the similar ones) and tell her she is being an idiot. Perhaps it was just intended to wind up the people to whom it is a problem, if so please get back on the naughty step with all the other WUMs
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alantj - it's called having a difference of opinions. You don't have to agree with me and clearly don't, I'm just saying what I think and respect anyone else's right to do the same, even if we don't share the same views. If aimed at anyone (not worth reading back to see who) it was at the earlier poster who sarcastically suggested that another positive post like mine was completely ignoring the perceived dog problem. If you can read back, I have often acknowledged that there are too many dogs, but have personally been lucky with them not being a problem. I have also sympathised with those that are afraid of dogs.
I am sorry if you think my post was meant to wind anyone up. It was not and I am not a WUM, even if this forum offers plenty of opportunity and is, like the town apparently is, going to the dogs.
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For anyone thinking off cancelling a holiday to Kalkan,in my opinion,dont,if you want to holiday in turkey you will get dogs,anywhere,you will have them,the difference is..... you will not have Kalkan,yes there are dogs,yes some are a bit nasty,but you will have this any where in Turkey,I have only had a problem with one dog ( that bloody Dalmation ) I have been to a few places in Turkey and no place has had a effect on me Like Kalkan,the people,the place is Magic,I have made friends for life in Kalkan,and no,not because they want my money,unlike other places,when/if you go to Kalkan,get involved with the local people,talk to them,have a laugh,you will get the benefit.
No,I dont live in Kalkan,and I dont own property,just a normal punter who loves the place.
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Eniste - its not a difference of opinion for you the dogs are not a problem, for me they are because I have a daughter (and to a lesser extent wife) who get frightened when they are surrounded by lots of dogs.
My question was why post the fact that they are not a problem for you, lots of things that annoy other people are not a problem for me but I don't feel the need to post to tell them that.
Happy to accept you did not intend it as a wind up buts that's how it came across. I was probably oversensitive as it followed a lot of snide comments that pretty clearly were intended to wind up/put down anyone who thought the number of dogs roaming around was a problem.
It has now reached the point where my daughter is not looking forward
I have always tried to make a game of it by getting my daughter to count the dogs to see how many we can round up on the way into town. This year we set a new record 11 at which point I was becoming a bit worried myself and agred to
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hi Tuppy
This is a tricky one, and overall I would recommend you go to Kalkan and judge for yourself. Kalkan is delightful and magical.
I love Kalkan, it is my favourite place, and I HATE dogs. So, imagine I feel pretty similar to you and your wife.
The dogs are a problem, there is no getting away from that. I don't understand how they can be allowed - it baffles me. It certainly isn't ideal to have a large number of stray dogs roaming the streets of a town. I don't walk anywhere, I go everywhere by car, so the answer is to hire a car to go into town or to get a taxi. When you are actually sitting in the restaurants the owners will chase the dogs away. They 'scrunch' water bottles and the noise frightens the dogs away. You can also buy those sonar gadgets in Maplins for about £9 each which will keep the dogs away.
Why not judge for yourself as I know this sounds terrible, but believe me if I still love Kalkan I think you could too.
Remember too that you only encounter the dogs when you go out, and if you are in a car then its fine. You don't get them in your villa, you don't get them when you go further afield, eg to Patara beach. So context is important.
I'm sorry that this problem exists at all, and that it has put you off Kalkan. Its such a shame. I hope you decide to visit Kalkan as it is absolutely wonderful.
Clare
ps: I've never heard dogs barking, they are eerily quiet actually. Our villa is at the end of the Kalamar raod.
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Hi Tuppy
We have just returned from our first visit to Kalkan and was a bit concerned about the dogs after reading some of the comments on the forum, but we had no problems with any dogs, one even "adopted" us during our walk from Kilsa to Kalkan and it was very friendly just seemed to want a bit of company.
We did see a couple of dogs snapping at each other once or twice, but please, don't be put off. We are already looking for accommodation to return again, having enjoyed it so much.
Hope you enjoy your holiday as much as we did. :)
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Hi everyone,
Thanks again for the replies, we really do appreciate it when kind people take the time to reassure us.
We have been looking forward to this holiday so much and have decided not to let the dogs put us off at such a late stage. We have had some really positive messages from KASPA members and think that maybe we over-reacted after reading some one sided reports on the issue.
I did just want to take a minute to clarify that i am completely against the cull (although the post by Thor was funny!) of any animal, I'm not sure if this makes me two faced but i really wouldnt want healthy animals to be put down if they cause no harm to anyone - its my fear so i have to live with it.
I hope that this thread has not put anyone else of visiting Kalkan, hopefully it may have gone some way to put a few other peoples minds at rest.
Time to start reading about the fantastic food, climate, people and adventures we are going to be having in Kalkan and maybe....just maybe i will have a look on the Maplin site just incase!!
Thanks again
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I have been reading all your comments and agree that no-one should yet be put off coming to Kalkan but to come without knowing just how bad the problem is simply sticking your head in the sand. If you are someone in Kalkan who is not bothered by the dogs then you are lucky to be an area where the problem is not bad. They appear to hang out in areas were dumb people feed them or leave the bins open. Don't take my word for it speak to a local who is there all year.
My wife and I have just returned from a trip to our Villa in the Kızıltaş area of Kalkan. One evening we were returning in the early hours of the morning and were attacked by dogs whilst trying to get out of our car. I dealt with the dogs by biding my time and then finding a weapon. However something like this has only happened once before in the 6 years we have owned the Villa.
The noise levels on the higher slopes are now totally unacceptable and unless your a heavy sleeper or have ear plugs you can expect to have sleepless nights until you get used to it.
This is the reality of the situation and since Kalkan exists for tourism something should have been done about it long ago. It will only take one bad incident like ours to reach the British press and then what will happen.
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I have been reading all your comments and agree that no-one should yet be put off coming to Kalkan but to come without knowing just how bad the problem is simply sticking your head in the sand. If you are someone in Kalkan who is not bothered by the dogs then you are lucky to be an area where the problem is not bad. They appear to hang out in areas were dumb people feed them or leave the bins open. Don't take my word for it speak to a local who is there all year.
My wife and I have just returned from a trip to our Villa in the Kızıltaş area of Kalkan. One evening we were returning in the early hours of the morning and were attacked by dogs whilst trying to get out of our car. I dealt with the dogs by biding my time and then finding a weapon. However something like this has only happened once before in the 6 years we have owned the Villa.
The noise levels on the higher slopes are now totally unacceptable and unless your a heavy sleeper or have ear plugs you can expect to have sleepless nights until you get used to it.
This is the reality of the situation and since Kalkan exists for tourism something should have been done about it long ago. It will only take one bad incident like ours to reach the British press and then what will happen.
Thanks for setting Tuppy's mind at rest. If I'm not mistaken there's been some kind of canine zombie attack fest since my last visit ...
Take no notice, Tuppy, judge for yourself and enjoy your holiday.
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When I was in Kalkan I learned that its best you don't make eye contact with the dogs, If you do, Your in their gang and will follow you ;D We even walked in shops hoping we could shake them , Half an hour later walking out of the shop, The trusty new friend was there waiting for us, They never gave us any bother, After saying all sorts to the dog to get rid of it , Words like SHOO ! BUZZ OFF!! ect we saw a local just say the word OOOOST!! and the dog just went ;D I was a bit daft speaking to Turkish dog in English, Still to this day I don't know what OOOOST ! meens but it seemed to work for the rest of my holiday ;D
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Apparently your OOOOOOSSSSHHTT works best for dogs and BIIIIIISSSSSSTT for cats
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yep, OOOOSSSHHHTTTT works on dogs,dont know why or what it means but dont half shift,I was told this years ago,I have even used it when dogs have been fighting and have stopped,so give it try,but you have to shout it loud so you might fell a bit of a idiot ;D
I now have a vision of loads of brits walking around Kalkan shouting OOOOOOSSSSSHHHHTTTTT at every dog they see,should make great viewing from the moonlight bar ;D >:D
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:laugh: Nice one :laugh:
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We'll look out for that then when we're sat watching the world go by at the Moonlight bar with a glass of something cold!!! Could be quite entertaining!!
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yep, OOOOSSSHHHTTTT works on dogs,dont know why or what it means but dont half shift,I was told this years ago,I have even used it when dogs have been fighting and have stopped,so give it try,but you have to shout it loud so you might fell a bit of a idiot ;D
I now have a vision of loads of brits walking around Kalkan shouting OOOOOOSSSSSHHHHTTTTT at every dog they see,should make great viewing from the moonlight bar ;D >:D
Tried it on the dog back home and it has no effect, although the house rabbit will shoot off back outside without missing a skip. Interesting, a multilingual rabbit ...
I'm told the closest English translation to "ooost" is "bugger off".
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I saw a lady fall off the chairs on the slope outside The Moonlight Bar....it sounded like she said oooosssshhhhttt as she bounced down the hill :angel:
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I saw a lady fall off the chairs on the slope outside The Moonlight Bar....it sounded like she said oooosssshhhhttt as she bounced down the hill :angel:
V good Mr Lizard ;D ;D
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I saw a lady fall off the chairs on the slope outside The Moonlight Bar....it sounded like she said oooosssshhhhttt as she bounced down the hill :angel:
Hmmmmmmm that was probably me and I most definitely wasn't shouting ooosssssssshhhhhhhtttttttt :o
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The dogs do not frighten me when I have my OH with me….one look from her and they are off..I know when she is on her way home because my two Rottweiler’s are cowering in the corner....the mice are also flinging themselves in the traps as well :D :D :D :D :D
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My wife got thrown out of the SS for cruelty! Gulp, oh no, she'll read this. :'( I'm just going outside, I may be sometime! 8)
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It's not that you just say ;OOOOOSSSSSSHHHHHTTTTT' but more how you say, if you say it with great confidence and don't show any fear, like so many people who aren't afraid of dogs on here, then you are not going to have a problem and then of course most of them are quite friendly, especially when they're not in packs.
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;) Can I suggest a solution to anyone having trouble with dogs not being friendly? When I was little my mother always had great ideas, one was to put a picture of my dad over the fire to keep us away from danger but the best was to put a pork chop around my neck for the dog to play with me! :) Why not try it when walking through Kalkan :) :) :) ;) ;)
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Hello all, I have just returned from a 1 week holiday in KalKan. Probably the best holiday I have had in a long time. For anybody that is anxious about the stray animal population, don't worry. There are some strays present on the streets but they never troubled myself, wife or 4 year old son. In fact my son often approached the dogs, and cats, to stroke them, most are very friendly. While I was in Kalkan I visited the local vet (I am a vet myself, so had a professional interest). This guy works alone, mainly neutering stray animals to give population control. The neutering is mainly subsidised by KAPSA, a local animal charity who appear to work very hard at fund raising for the stray population of dogs and cats. If you have concerns about the numbers of stray animals on the streets, make a donation to this charity or call in on the vet to make a donation. I am sure it will be greatfully received and will help towards reducing the stray population in future. I can understand why some holiday makers would have concerns but I would certainly go to Kalkan again and would not be put off by the strays. I am certain that the problem would be much worse if it wasn't for the efforts of KAPSA and the local vet.
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Thanks Sean, it is very useful to hear a professional opinion.
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Thanks so much Sean for sharing your experience :) The cats and dogs over the years have become an integral part of our Kalkan experience and it's great to see the same ones year after year looking happy, healthy and contented. Glad you enjoyed Kalkan!
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Just to echo the last 2 posts Sean, thanks for your post. It is good to hear another vets opinion, i do donate monthly to kapsa as i think they do a good job for the street animals and for me it's part of Kalkan seeing the animals, glad you enjoyed your holiday, not many more sleeps left now till we'll be back there!!
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Is Sean a pseudonym for the local vet in Kalkan ;)
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Hi, I, for one, am terrified of bloody DOGS :'(, and have posted my rants about this subject many times in the past. Just before we came out to Kalkan (last Friday) I was reading on EK all the NEW postings on this subject and how much worse it had become of late. With this in mind I was not loooking forward to walking anywhere. We love walking into town from our place in Kalamar Bay, so we said, sod it, lets see how bad it is for ourselves, and set off to walk into town on our first evening.....we have now walked into town 5 times ( taxi home ;), and yes there are a few dogs, but nothing to write home about, certainly no wild snarling packs of dogs, in my veiw its better now than ever......... ???
I can only say what I see :o
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I agree Thor !! Sadly sometimes bored people do put up antagonistic comments on this forum. Kalkan is a really beautiful place. I have travelled extensively and there is nowhere I like better !! Re street dogs yes there are some NO they are NOT aggressive by Cafe Vita infact a couple of them are so geriatric that I don't think they can barely move now apart from wagging their tails. Why some people have to write such negative comments I don't know. Kalkan has beautiful scenery, some very good restaurants and is an amazing place to chill !! No before anyone starts it is not perfect but I can tell you it is an awful lot better than 98% of tourist destinations offered in a lot of holiday brochures.
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Tuppy
I have just come back from kalkan and loved it so much i'm going back in july.
It is the most beatiful place you have ever seen. Myself and my friend both of us are female felt like the dogs were protecting us more than anything....they followed us around a bit but not in a menacing way....I did not once feel intimidated by them and they did not really come into your personal space they were just there. One of them sat under our table while we were having a drink by the harbour but it didn't bother us and stayed there when we left. And we were never kept awake by any barking.
It would be lie to say there are no dogs there, there are but they don't really bother you. Don't miss out on such a beautiful place.
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Well Tuppy, how did you go on during your 1st visit to Kalkan? I hope you had an excellent time. ;)
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Tuppy wrote a report on 24th June - We nearly cancelled our holiday but........
I am so glad that Tuppy wasnt put off by some of the comments on EK and had a fantastic time.
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I went OOOSSSHHHTT!!!! myself when i slipped on the cobbles in front of the Moonlight bar last week!! The funny thing is at the time there was 2 workmen with a bucket of white paint painting a big white arrow in the road and when i was sprawled out on the cobbles i just missed the white arrow and bucket of paint!!!
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Tuppy wrote a report on 24th June - We nearly cancelled our holiday but........
I am so glad that Tuppy wasnt put off by some of the comments on EK and had a fantastic time.
Thanks Amber, I cannot find the post from 24th, where is it located please?
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Ray, it's under Holiday reports .
http://enjoykalkan.com/forum/index.php?topic=8049.msg55055#new
here is the link
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Thanks for that Mrs EK. I found it in the end but appreciate your help. ;)