Balkans and east, barking dogs threaten our trip 🙁

[davegt43]

Hello everyone. I really hope somebody can help. We have just started a 12 month overland trip of a lifetime and really struggling.

We are in the Balkans at the moment, which is beautiful, but no matter where we go, barking dogs keep us awake all night. We hear that south of here to Greece and east to Turkey, Georgia and Armenia, the problem is the same.

We are in a RTT and have tried every kind of ear plugs we can find.

We are moving each day in the hope that we can find somewhere quiet. It’s now getting dangerous, because we are not well rested enough to be driving safely the next day.

Is anybody else having the same challenge? If so, how did you get around it?

Thanks

Dave

 

[Arjan]

Welcome to Overlanding.
Not a common problem really.
Noise cancelling devices may work - but basically you'll have to learn to live with noise.

 

[Pacific Northwest yetti]

Can you find places not next to dogs?

 

[davegt43]

Welcome to Overlanding.
Not a common problem really.
Noise cancelling devices may work - but basically you'll have to learn to live with noise.

Yeah, I suspected that would be the case 🙁

 

[davegt43]

Can you find places not next to dogs?

That would be a good solution! But so far, and supported by google (so it must be true) is that it’s a big issue. A mix of feral packs of dogs and domestic dogs that the owners simply don’t bother training properly

 

[Pacific Northwest yetti]

They use Livestock guard dogs there a lot, so with the exception of feral packs. The dogs are doing their job, what they are bred to do. Hope you are able to find a solution. I know its not always possible to get far enough out to not be close to livestock, or towns with feral dogs.

Good luck

 

[wickychicky]

Any time you are near houses or livestock you‘ll have this problem unfortunately. Same with the chickens as far as I‘m concerned.
You can try playing quiet music all night to lull you (back) into sleep.
The best thing that I managed were ear plugs that were made for me. They are expensive (100€) but they are so worth it.
You go to a place where they make and sell hearing aids. They take a silicon mould of your ear canals and a week later you get your personalised ear plugs back. You might be able to persuade them to do an urgent make.
You should also be able to specify what noise level you want to hear - I chose the second quietest version and sleep a whole lot better thanks to them.
Best of luck.

 

[davegt43]

Any time you are near houses or livestock you‘ll have this problem unfortunately. Same with the chickens as far as I‘m concerned.
You can try playing quiet music all night to lull you (back) into sleep.
The best thing that I managed were ear plugs that were made for me. They are expensive (100€) but they are so worth it.
You go to a place where they make and sell hearing aids. They take a silicon mould of your ear canals and a week later you get your personalised ear plugs back. You might be able to persuade them to do an urgent make.
You should also be able to specify what noise level you want to hear - I chose the second quietest version and sleep a whole lot better thanks to them.
Best of luck.

That is great advice, thank you so much

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

We spent several months in the Balkans and as far east as Turkey and have no recollection of barking dogs.
Mostly free camped away from towns and villages.
Montenegro was great and Turkey was our favorite country where we spent 10 weeks and drove 10,000km.
Great people.
Enjoy.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[Trail Talk]

Feral dogs were a real issue in Himalayan villages. Buddhists won’t cull or neuter. The packs lay on the streets sleeping all day then roam and fight all night. Locals warned us not to go walkabout after dark. Earplugs worked, though.

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

Mostly free camped away from towns and villages.
............Turkey was our favorite country where we spent 10 weeks and drove 10,000km.

For the OP.....
Some of our camp sites in Turkey.....


This was actually a commercial camp site. The fee (under $20/night per vehicle) included a dinner for 2 of trout from the lake, fresh salad, tea and coffee.


Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome