Protecting your dog's paws on rocky terrain

Limestone in the Dolomites is often sharp-edged rather than smooth and worn, and scree fields concentrate a lot of small, unstable, abrasive rock underfoot. Pads that are fine on forest trails at home can wear down faster than you'd expect over a full day on this kind of surface.

What to do

Check pads at rest stops. Look for redness, cuts, or unusual sensitivity before continuing.
Consider trail booties for any route tagged with scree or sharp-rock hazards, especially on longer distances.
Build up to rocky terrain gradually over a trip rather than starting with the hardest route.
Cold or wet rock in early morning can be just as abrasive as hot rock later. It's the texture, not just the temperature, that matters.

Read the surface tag before you go. Every DoloPaws trail carries a terrain rank and a surface-hazard list. A route flagged for scree or sharp rock is exactly where booties and pad checks earn their place.

Browse trails scored for your dog →

Last reviewed: July 2026. When this page and the mountain disagree, believe the mountain.

Protecting paw pads on rocky terrain

What to do