Tips and rules for dogs

For committed dog owners it is a given that the dog excrement is taken up with a " dog waste bag " and disposed of in the next waste bin. In rural areas this is a legal requirement for all public areas (streets, squares, pavements, parks and green spaces, children's playgrounds, sports facilities, music pavilions etc.) and also for all agricultural areas. Fields and meadows must be kept absolutely free of dog excrement, otherwise the cows grazing there could become seriously ill.

In the Wilder Kaiser region, therefore, you will find dog waste bag dispensers and waste bins on almost all walking and hiking trails. However, if a pile of waste is left lying around, a fine of up to € 2,000 is to be expected. The obligation of the dog excrement collection applies always and everywhere!

Dogs have plenty of room for free exercise along the walking and hiking trails in the region. In buses, parks, public buildings (also in shops and inns) as well as near pastures, dogs must be kept on a leash for their own and other people's - subjective - safety. In Going, the leash may be a maximum of three metres long, in Ellmau and Söll no longer than two metres. In Söll the leash obligation also applies to field and hiking trails outside the local area - these are marked on the local map.

The leash obligation applies without exception, even for very well-behaved or small dogs. Negligence can tear a hole of up to € 360 in the wallet of the dog owner. The smells of the alpine flora and fauna, unusual for the city dog, can also lead to unexpected reactions of the dog. So it is better to put an obedient dog on the leash than to have to whistle it back later!

In all regional buses and also in the free KaiserJet hiking and bathing bus, you can of course take your four-legged friend with you on a leash (muzzle obligation).

You can also use the mountain cable cars in the region with your dog. At the cable cars Ellmau - Going it costs € 3.00 per day and dog, in Scheffau and Söll your dog rides free of charge. Dogs must be on a leash and wear a muzzle if necessary.

If you arrive by train, you can take your dog with you into the compartment with a dog ticket. On the train, leash and muzzle are compulsory. Small lap dogs in a dog carrier travel free of charge.

On hot summer days a jump into the mountain stream provides cooling. Please note that the lakes in the region are not used as refreshment for dogs. However, if you would like to treat your dog to an extensive lake bath, visit the Gieringer Weiher in the forests of Reith near Kitzbühel.

Even in winter, extensive hiking trails tempt you to go for a walk and take a stroll. As these run parallel to the cross-country ski runs, special attention must be paid to the compulsory use of a leash. In addition, the winter trails lead across meadows where cows graze in summer. Therefore, it is essential to use the dog waste bag and rubbish bins located at the crossroads.

Especially in early summer, when many wild animals have their young, the dog should be kept on a leash in the forest, as its innate hunting instinct quickly turns it into a poacher! Hunters have no mercy on poaching dogs. In the high mountains the leash protects not only the game but also the dog. If he suddenly chases chamois, he will quickly lose out in rock and gravel.