TRIP DIFFICULTY ASSESSMENT
Just like a person, a dog needs to be in shape as well, to head in the mountains of the Julian Alps. Which means that you have to assess how far and on how difficult of a trail he will be able to go, before the start of the trip. If you don’t think about that sort of things in advance, you may have to carry it back down the mountain, or the dog may even get seriously injured/exhausted. You must not forget about the type of terrain either, as dogs are generally not equipped with high-tech sports shoes or hiking boots. The sharp rocks of the highlands and semi-climbing sections are therefore not suited to their paws. That’s why embark on trips to the high mountains gradually, so that the dog gets used to it and you can assess his capabilities. To protect the paws, you can get some kind of slippers, which are always wise to carry with you, in case you come to challenging terrain. BUT BEWARE! You have to get the dog used to the “slippers” before the trip, because his reaction to this “fashion accessory” can be negative and consequently dangerous for you and him on exposed terrain.

Also, don’t forget extra water and food for your dog. In the mountains, access to these goods is limited, but crucial. The weather is obviously also something to consider. The summer heat affects your dog much more than it affects you, and your dog can’t tell you when he’s nearing his limit.

MOVEMENT AROUND THE JULIAN ALPS
As a responsible and caring dog owner, you (we believe you already know and follow this) need to be aware of and respect some limitations. Most of the Julian Alps belong to the Triglav National Park, where dogs must not be let loose, but always and everywhere on a leash. Before letting him go you must be 100% sure that the dog responds to the recall command, but at the same time take into account that wild animals can (and usually do) distract him, especially in a new environment. The dog can also misunderstand the behavior of other mountain visitors (running, fear of animals, etc.) and inadvertently cause an accident/bite, for which you, as the owner, will be responsible. This must be taken into account and respected. It should also be clear to everyone by now that, you need to pick up the excrements and take it with you (back to civilisation-not leaving the bag on the side of the road).

For the animals living in the Triglav National Park, the presence of humans and dogs is disturbing, and dog excrement, which alerts wild animals to the presence of a dog in the environment, is just as disturbing or even more so due to the longer time period of emitting odors. Also (and for the same reason) it is important to take the bags where the dog owners put excrement into the valley. Bags with excrement on the edges of forests, on meadows, tree stumps, along forest roads,…, because of their slow decomposition, warn of the presence of “guests” in the living space of wild animals for a long time.
These areas, “marked” by visitors, are avoided by many animal species, which is a problem especially with mass visits to the Triglav National Park. The habitat of many animal species, even protected ones, shrinks significantly in this way.

In short, let’s not forget that we are only guests in this sensitive natural environment. Us and our four-legged friend.

SLEEPING IN THE MOUNTAINS
Mountain huts were not originally intended for animals to spend the night, as they traditionally offer only the most basic option for people to overnight in the mountains, often only in “common” rooms, with multiple beds. Some of your roommates may be allergic to dogs, or they are just uncomfortable being in the same room with them, which must be respected. A matter of basic culture. In addition, the house rules of mountain huts state that dogs are not allowed in dining rooms and sleeping areas.

However, some mountain huts have dedicated rooms for dogs, i.e. kennels or a heated space inside the hut. However, as the owner, you must ensure that the dog is used to such overnight stays and will not keep the entire hut awake the whole night by barking and whining. Of course, not everything is so bleak, throughout the Julian Alps you can find many lodgings that are happy to accommodate your pet as well as you :). The key to the stress free trip in to Julian Alps is to plan and check your options in advance.

If you would like to go on a trip through the Julian Alps with your four-legged family member, you will surely enjoy every step you take with him alongside, it is only important that you prepare well for the trip, with the above tips as rough guide.

Also, the reservation center of the Julian Alps can help you with the organization:

https://julian-alps.com/sl/p/rezevacijski-center-in-nubudbe/41363681/