We have just started hiking in the mountains well (well, it's been about two years), and so far we have visited:
- Kamniško sedlo (KSA)
- Savinjsko sedlo via Okrešelj (KSA)
- Grintovec (KSA)
- Peca (KSA)
- Raduha (KSA)
- Begunjščica (KV)
- Košuta ridge (Veliki vrh, Kladivo...) KV
- Golica (KV)
- Viševnik (JA)
- Vodnikov dom (from Rudno polje via Studorski preval) (JA)
- Triglav Lakes Valley to Prehodavci (from Planina Blato) (JA)
- Pogačnikov dom at Kriške podi (JA)
- Ratitovec (Škofjeloško and Cerkljansko hribovje)
- On Pokljuka we are regulars (Blejska Koča at Lipanca, Debela peč...)
... nowhere any problems, from the technical difficulty point of view, and most peaks are around +/-2000 m. I would emphasize that the prerequisite for joint enjoyment is a properly raised dog, an aware owner capable of sober judgment and good physical condition for both.
Additionally, I would mention a couple of rules we have for such trips (maybe useful for someone):
- dog on leash. For easier trips, regular leash is enough. For longer, more demanding ones, I definitely recommend buying a dog harness with attachment at the back (especially nice if the dog can work and knows how to pull), to which an elastic leash is attached that you clip around your waist. This setup allows the dog to be attached all the time, and it can also help the owner by pulling if trained. Descents, especially steeper ones, are a bit different. Dog pulling can even be dangerous there.
- dog must be under verbal control! Whoever can only control the dog with a leash, better stay home. Generally, descents are more problematic than ascents, as there's risk the dog pulls you somewhere (dog will usually be much faster downhill). In such cases, I unclip the waist belt and hold it in hand. In danger, I can release it. Even better if you teach the dog to walk behind you. Such situations don't allow attachment in practice, so I generally avoid them if possible, but a well-raised dog (and well-raised owner!) won't have problems this way. But you can always encounter wildlife - dog's reaction depends mainly on breed. Dogs with strong hunting instinct need even stricter control (bird dogs, hunting dogs, polar breeds...).
- always watch the dog. What it's doing, what interests it, how it behaves, what signals it gives. Good to be one step ahead (especially with frequent wildlife encounters), to avoid unpleasant surprises. Also, dog is not a machine. Dog gets tired too, and sharp scree or jagged rocks can be terribly annoying for it. Same for mental state - if the dog is scared and doesn't want ladders, steps, ledges... I never force it!
- always assess the trip well before going and never leave things to chance. In practice: figuring out how much water needed, where water is in nature, wildlife, livestock, shade, is hut open, how crowded the path, terrain type, potential dangers (I can put on helmet myself, but not on dog) etc.
- never provoke the dog or "encourage" or in any way stimulate it to be too interested in surrounding fauna. It happens we stop, sit and watch chamois herd below us, but never force nature with our presence more than necessary. Try to respect what's given and enjoy all beauties as calmly and quietly as possible.
- in case of meeting descending hikers, ALWAYS stop, step aside and wait for them to pass. So far in encounters, I've never experienced anything but delighted faces of hikers, but you never know who's among them. Someone might be scared, someone uncomfortable.
- never allow dogs to bathe in lakes or ponds (especially protected ones) where not explicitly allowed. Micro-ecosystems are very fragile, small imbalance can destroy them...
- even in nature, it's polite to clean up after dog's needs. If nothing else, good to move the poop at least off the path, if not elsewhere.
- good to have extra gear and supplies for dog: mentioned harness + belt, for sharp rocks suitable booties, ENOUGH WATER + some treat can do wonders. Dog burns calories too.
I could write more here, but for now enough. As owner of two female Siberian Huskies, I can only say that since we started visiting our peaks more regularly, my life has changed. It's fantastic when you see the dog really enjoys with you... able to sit on ledge or summit for half an hour staring motionless into distances below. And no, I'm not one who keeps dog leashed nonstop no matter what - in controlled conditions I sometimes unleash them briefly, but exceptions - attaching a couple of our shared moments!
Best. F