How to Deal with Dogs in the Balkans

In the summer of 2025 I cycled from Greece northward through the Balkans. Particularly in the Balkan countries I occasionally had trouble with dogs. At first, when I didn't know how to handle them, it was very unpleasant. Gradually, though, I figured out what works. It would be a shame to let a fear of dogs put you off visiting beautiful countries like Albania.

My biggest dog problems were in Greece and Albania. In the other countries along the way — Montenegro, Croatia, and Slovenia — things were much less intense and encounters were fairly rare. On an average day I had three to six unpleasant run-ins. Nothing that can't be managed, as long as you ride during daylight. I would not recommend cycling through these areas at night — you can't tell where the dogs are, whether they are approaching, or which direction they'll come from.

🐕 What kinds of dogs will you encounter?

In the Balkans you'll essentially run into two types of problematic dogs:

Livestock guardian dogs

These dogs guard flocks or a specific territory and, in my experience, most of them are very aggressive. Simply riding along a road near their territory is enough to send them running at you, growling and barking. The "upside" is that they are fairly predictable. You know perfectly well they are coming for you and you need to defend yourself.

Stray dogs

They roam either alone or in packs and tend to hang around villages and small towns. You won't encounter many in remote mountain areas. Their danger lies in their unpredictability. Some are genuinely friendly and wag their tails, but others will charge at you. The worst scenario is when a dog seems relaxed, and the moment you pass it, it launches at you from behind. These are the ones I watch most carefully.

🛡️ How to react when a dog charges

I tried speaking to them calmly, but it did absolutely nothing for me. On the contrary, as soon as I became more assertive and stood my ground, the situation turned around. Here is my tried-and-tested approach:

Don't try to outrun them (unless you're going downhill)

The biggest mistake you can make is trying to sprint away from a dog on flat ground or uphill. Dogs accelerate incredibly quickly and will easily catch you. Only try to ride away when you can pick up speed on a descent and are confident you'll be out of range. Once I tried to sprint on the flat, got nervous, kept looking back, and ended up crashing on the tarmac.

Use your bike as a barrier

As soon as I know I can't outrun a dog and a confrontation seems likely, I immediately dismount. I place the bike between myself and the dog. It creates a solid obstacle and gives you a much greater sense of control. It usually catches them off guard too.

Shout

Don't be polite or submissive — you need to show who's in charge. I simply shout firmly and loudly: "Hey, hey, hey!" That's all it takes. Local shepherds shout at their own dogs exactly the same way, so the dogs are used to it. This resolves the situation in 90% of cases. The dogs stop approaching and you can move forward a short distance and safely remount.

A stone as a last resort

If shouting isn't enough and the dogs are still closing in, pick up a stone (or just crouch down and pretend to). Dogs learn this gesture from shepherds and have it wired into their instincts. Usually that's enough. In an extreme case I once had to toss a warning stone beside them. Fortunately I never had to actually hit a dog.

💉 Pepper spray and vaccination

Many people think about carrying pepper spray as a deterrent. I don't bring it. Be very careful — in many Balkan countries carrying pepper spray is illegal and you risk a fine if you're stopped. You can manage without it.

What I strongly recommend above all else is rabies vaccination. You can't guarantee nothing will happen during an encounter, and this is an insurance worth having. The vaccine (two doses) significantly buys you time if you are bitten — you still need to get to a doctor for post-exposure treatment as quickly as possible, but the window is much larger and the treatment far less complicated. Check with your health insurer whether vaccination costs are reimbursed — policies vary across Europe, but many providers cover at least part of the cost.