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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Fund Summary
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The fund seeks to maximize total return.

Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in certain funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the Shareholder Guide section beginning on page 12 of this prospectus and in the How to Buy Shares section and the Additional Information About How to Buy Shares section beginning on page II-1 and page III-1, respectively, of the fund's Statement of Additional Information.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 58.82% (unaudited) of the average value of its portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 58.82%
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in certain funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount $ 50,000
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

The Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategy
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in emerging market bonds and other debt instruments denominated in the local currency of issue, and in derivative instruments that provide investment exposure to such securities. These instruments consist primarily of emerging market government bonds and currency forward exchange contracts. The fund's portfolio managers employ an investment process that uses in depth fundamental country and currency analysis disciplined by proprietary quantitative valuation models. A "top down" analysis of macroeconomic, financial and political variables guides country and currency allocation. The portfolio managers also consider other market technicals and the global risk environment. The portfolio managers seek to identify shifts in country fundamentals and consider the risk adjusted attractiveness of currency and duration returns for each emerging market country. The fund is not restricted as to credit quality when making investments in debt securities. Emerging markets generally are those countries defined as having an emerging or developing economy by the World Bank or its related organizations, or the United Nations or its authorities, as well as any other country the portfolio managers believe has an emerging economy or market.

Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. It is not a complete investment program. The fund's share price fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money.


· Foreign government obligations and securities of supranational entities risk. Investing in foreign government obligations and the sovereign debt of emerging market countries creates exposure to the direct or indirect consequences of political, social or economic changes in the countries that issue the securities or in which the issuers are located. Factors which may influence the ability or willingness of a foreign government or country to service debt include a country's cash flow situation, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of its debt service burden to the economy as a whole and its government's policy towards the International Monetary Fund, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and other international agencies, the obligor's balance of payments, including export performance, its access to international credits and investments, fluctuations in interest rates and the extent of its foreign reserves. A governmental obligor may default on its obligations. These risks are heightened with respect to emerging market countries.


· Foreign investment risk. To the extent the fund invests in foreign securities, the fund's performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting investments in foreign issuers. Special risks associated with investments in foreign issuers include exposure to currency fluctuations, less liquidity, less developed or less efficient trading markets, lack of comprehensive company information, political and economic instability and differing auditing and legal standards. Investments denominated in foreign currencies are subject to the risk that such currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar and affect the value of these investments held by the fund. To the extent the fund's investment are concentrated in a limited number of foreign countries, the fund's performance could be more volatile than that of more geographically diversified funds.


· Emerging market risk. The securities of issuers located in emerging markets tend to be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers located in more mature economies, and emerging markets generally have less diverse and less mature economic structures and less stable political systems than those of developed countries. The securities of issuers located or doing substantial business in emerging markets are often subject to rapid and large changes in price.


· Foreign currency risk. Investments in foreign currencies are subject to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar or, in the case of hedged positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline relative to the currency being hedged. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. Foreign currencies are also subject to risks caused by inflation, interest rates, budget deficits and low savings rates, political factors and government intervention and controls.


· Credit risk. The instruments in which the fund invests may have ratings that are below investment grade ("high yield" or "junk" bonds). High yield bonds involve greater credit risk, including the risk of default, than investment grade bonds, and are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's ability to make principal and interest payments. The prices of high yield bonds can fall dramatically in response to bad news about the issuer or its industry, or the economy in general.


· Liquidity risk. When there is little or no active trading market for specific types of securities, it can become more difficult to sell the securities at or near their perceived value. In such a market, the value of such securities and the fund's share price may fall dramatically. Investments in foreign securities, particularly those of issuers located in emerging markets, tend to have greater exposure to liquidity risk than domestic securities. Liquidity risk also exists when a particular derivative instrument is difficult to purchase or sell. If a derivative transaction is particularly large or if the relevant market is illiquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price.


· Derivatives risk. A small investment in derivatives could have a potentially large impact on the fund's performance. The use of derivatives involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the underlying assets. Derivatives can be highly volatile, illiquid and difficult to value. Certain types of derivatives, including swaps, forward contracts and other over-the-counter transactions, involve greater risks than the underlying obligations because, in addition to general market risks, they are subject to illiquidity risk, counterparty risk, credit risk and pricing risk.


· Issuer concentration risk. Because the availability of local currency emerging market securities, including from sovereign issuers, may be more limited than other asset classes, the fund may have increased issuer concentration and, in order to comply with IRS diversification requirements for registered investment companies, may experience higher portfolio turnover. Higher portfolio turnover may cause the realization of gains and losses, which may impact the taxable income available for distribution to shareholders as ordinary income.


· Non-diversification risk. The fund is non-diversified, which means that the fund may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers. Therefore, the fund's performance may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence than a diversified fund.

Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney The fund's share price fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text] rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus The fund is non-diversified, which means that the fund may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers. Therefore, the fund's performance may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence than a diversified fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the fund's Class A shares from year to year. The table compares the average annual total returns of the fund's shares to those of a broad measure of market performance. The fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future. Sales charges, if any, are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would have been less than those shown. More recent performance information may be available at www.dreyfus.com.


Since the fund's Class Y shares are new, past performance information is not available for Class Y shares as of the date of this prospectus. Class Y shares would have had substantially similar annual returns as Class A, C and I shares because each share class is invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would have differed only to the extent that the classes do not have the same expenses.

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.dreyfus.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Year-by-Year Total Returns as of 12/31 each year (%) Class A
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads Sales charges, if any, are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would have been less than those shown.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

Best Quarter
Q2, 2009: 14.82%


Worst Quarter
Q3, 2011: -10.42%


The year-to-date total return of the fund's Class A shares as of March 31, 2013 was -0.46%.

Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel The year-to-date total return of the fund's Class A shares
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Mar. 31, 2013
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn (0.46%)
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 14.82%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (10.42%)
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax performance is shown only for Class A shares. After-tax performance of the fund's other share classes will vary.
Performance Table Narrative rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock

After-tax performance is shown only for Class A shares. After-tax performance of the fund's other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Caption rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/12)
JP Morgan Government Bond Index – Emerging Markets Diversified reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 21.51%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 8.95% [1]
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Aug. 31, 2008
Class A
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 4.50%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none [2]
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption (2.00%)
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other expenses (including shareholder services fees) rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.47% [3]
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.22%
Expenses Deferred Charges [Text Block] rr_ExpensesDeferredChargesTextBlock Class A shares bought without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1 million or more may be charged a deferred sales charge of 1% if redeemed within one year.
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 569
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 820
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,090
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,861
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 569
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 820
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,090
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,861
Annual Return 2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 21.12%
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 11.60%
Annual Return 2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (4.02%)
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 17.93%
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 12.62%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 6.95%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 12, 2008
Class A | After Taxes on Distributions
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 12.14%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 5.85%
Class A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 8.20%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 5.32%
Class C
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00%
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption (2.00%)
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.75%
Other expenses (including shareholder services fees) rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.46% [3]
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.96%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 299
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 615
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,057
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,285
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 199
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 615
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,057
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 2,285
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 15.97%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 7.27%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 12, 2008
Class I
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption (2.00%)
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other expenses (including shareholder services fees) rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.18% [3]
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.93%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 95
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 296
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 515
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,143
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 95
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 296
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 515
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,143
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 18.21%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 8.37%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 12, 2008
Class Y
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption (2.00%)
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other expenses (including shareholder services fees) rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.12% [3]
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.87%
Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text] rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates Other expenses for Class Y are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 89
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 278
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 482
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,073
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 89
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 278
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 482
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,073
Performance One Year or Less [Text] rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess Since the fund's Class Y shares are new, past performance information is not available for Class Y shares as of the date of this prospectus.
[1] For comparative purposes, the value of JP Morgan Government Bond Index - Emerging Markets Diversified on 8/31/08 is used as the beginning value on 9/12/08.
[2] Class A shares bought without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1 million or more may be charged a deferred sales charge of 1% if redeemed within one year.
[3] Other expenses for Class Y are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.