I’m not really a dog person and like cats way better. My darling Persian cat Izzy passed away early in 2021, and I’ve since welcomed two brilliant new fellows into my home, a mustached gentleman named Burt Reynolds and an orange devil named Dominick DeLuise. So whenever I travel, I seek out all things cats as well, like when I visited a cat shelter on a boat in Amsterdam or when I met cats in the Roman Coliseum.
Then I spent time in Costa Brava and hung out with a bunch of dogs. Despite my initial resistance, those canines won my heart and now I find myself wanting to someday get a loyal and faithful companion of my own. I dream of a peaceful retirement somewhere warm, by the sea, in a beautiful villa with a big yard, filled with some furry companions.
How did this new love for dogs develop? I blame it on the cutest dog ever, Pequita (pictured above).
Photos Of Adorable Dogs In Costa Brava, Spain
Arriving at Mas Perafita, a winery in Cadaqués (where I later witnessed a beautiful sunrise) our group was greeted by four very excited and happy dogs. All but one ran to meet us at our vehicles. Pequita excited too, stayed back looking like she wished she could join. She hesitantly stepped forward and it was then I saw that she had a limp, which we later found out resulted from a car accident. I walked up to her instead and as I started to pet her, she leaned against me and sweetly extended her injured paw.
This was the defining moment when I fell in love and started plotting complicated kidnapping scenarios that would bring her to Berlin with me.
So meet Pequita and understand why my love for her runs so deep. Just look at her face!
These are Pequita’s cute friends who we played fetch with using rocks and pine cones. Who needs a tennis ball when you have the resources of Mother Nature?
As I watched the dogs frolic about, I couldn’t help but be delighted to get a glimpse of their lifestyle in the Spanish countryside. They spend their days outdoors playing, sleeping, and enjoying the affection of the winery’s visitors against the beautiful landscape of the Pyrenees. This is the way all animals (and even people) should live.
A couple of days later when our group was celebrating the Catalonian Calçotada tradition at a farm not far from Besalú, we again had more dogs to keep us company.
I spied this guy snoozing in the grass. He didn’t even make an effort to greet any of us so I made my way over to him. Pequita turned me into a dog stalker! Creepy, right?
We then had two German shepherds follow us for a walk to a nearby river. When we got there, the German Sheppard pictured in the below photo astounded us by wading deep into the water, digging up a giant rock, and carrying it with her as she followed us back to the farm.
This goes to show – sometimes when you travel, it’s the unexpected or simple things that impact you the most and for me, it was the dogs of Costa Brava.
What do you think of the dogs in Costa Brava? Have you ever had such a moment of unexpected joy when you’re traveling? Tell us about it in the comments.
Good To Know
1) Find a place to stay while you’re in Costa Brava.
Booking.com2) Make your time in Costa Brava even more memorable and book a guided tour experience.
3) If you love Europe as much as we do here at this blog, give some of our top posts a read for further inspiration.
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Hmm… I’m more of a cat person myself, too… but every now and then I meet a dog who I actually like
@Adam – Pequita was something special. I miss her!
So cute. There is something about meeting dogs in other countries… they always seem so free and relaxed.
Haha you beat me to it, I wanted to make a post on Catalonia’s dogs as well! I completely fell in love with Mas Perafita dogs and the fluffy German Shepherd too…
@Jenna – Very cute! They’re so happy and well taken care of …
@Eurotroptips – Look forward to your post. When you put it up, I’ll link back! 🙂
I am a total dog person and … now I want to move to Spain! The dog with the pinecone made me want to jump into my computer screen and wrestle with that gorgeous bundle of dog love!
@Barbara – Ha ha. I want to move to Spain too. Aren’t they just the cutest? The fact they play fetch with rocks really amazed me!
Pequita looks adorable! I love the photo with the pine cone best – so cute. I wish my lifestyle allowed me to own a dog. But its kind of hard when I’m always away from home. So glad though that they seem to be everywhere in the world.
I often wonder how dogs view human beings. Some of us are so cruel to them and others treat dogs as their best friend. The dedication that dogs can show to the later overhwhelms me.
Aww, sweet – I’m a total dog person!
Ohmygod, that fluffy german shepherd puppy in the second to last photo is RIDICULOUSLY adorable! Cats are lovely, but dogs just reel me in with their big goofy grins.
Great photos! And Pequita looks absolutely adorable. I am a dog lover and their company always makes me feel like I’m not alone and I’m glad you had a great time with them!
I’m more of a cat person as well, but I agree, the dogs in Costa Brava are some of the friendliest, happiest dogs I’ve ever met.
I am usually more of a cat person…but these photos of Pequita are adorable! And Costa Brava….one of the most beautiful areas in Spain!
@Sherry – She had a lovely, gentle soul! I love the photo with the pine cone too. And perhaps you’ll have a dog someday. 🙂
@Christy – That german shepherd was pretty cute too! I love their goofy ways too … so funny!
@Natalie – They are loving creatures. I’m glad that these were very happy and well cared for dogs.
@Andrea – if I wasn’t a dog person before, I am now.
@Alexa – thanks!
@Laurel – those dogs made our days more fun I think. 🙂
@Cherina – isn’t she the best? And I agree, Costa Brava is now one of my favorite areas of the world. 🙂
what is up with all these blogging cat people. ugh! dogs are awesome. cats i like on a case by case basis 😛 so cute i will share!!
@Nicole – Thanks!! These guys were a highlight of my visit to Spain. 😉
Cute photos! I think I know a couple of people who adopted dogs during their travels/ expat life.
@Stephanie – I will someday but definitely not until I am more settled and that’s not going to happen anytime soon. 🙂
The dog playing with the pine cone is great – love it!
@Don – Thanks! Such a cutie, right.
Great stuff….I am not much of a dog person either, but anytime I see them playing I can’t help but smile. Nice one as always:)
@DJ – Thanks! I loved these dogs. I miss them sometimes!
I enjoyed this post. I love dogs, but when traveling I’l always a little leery of being approached by them. I was bitten twice as a kid, so those incidents always come to mind.
I had a cat in Canada (Boots), who went to live with my Dad when I moved to Asia. He lived to be 15. I was in Korea for five years before I succumbed to the temptation of having another. Indy has been with me since 2005, and I’m so thrilled to have her. As you know I travel a lot, and I’m always amazed at the great people who come forward to look after her. It’s a win-win situation. I have Indy cared for and the sitter gets to pamper a cat for a month or two.