© Samantha Muth, Erholungsgebiet Thülsfelder Talsperre e. V.

Dwergte Dog Trail

Dear guests!


Welcome to the starting point of the Dwergte Dog Trail! On this 1.9 kilometer path, you and your dog can enjoy nature and try out a variety of exercise elements together. There are ten features in total, including a beam, a seesaw, a balancing trunk, and a jump hurdle. All elements are made of naturally grown wood and thus blend harmoniously into the landscape.

Leash required from April 1 to July 15.

Dog Trail Stations

  1. Gap walk
  2. Wobble board
  3. Through the gate
  4. Seesaw
  5. Balancing trunk
  6. A-frame
  7. Step hill
  8. Beam
  9. Slalom
  10. Hurdles

Join in and protect nature!

Code of Conduct


The Dwergte Dog Trail lies within the Dwergte Sand nature reserve. It offers recreation for people and dogs, but more importantly, it's a vital habitat for wildlife—especially ground-nesting birds. These birds build well-camouflaged nests directly on the ground and are easily disturbed. Therefore, please follow these important rules.

© Karoline Thalhofer

Keep dogs on a leash:

From March to June, rare birds breed in this area. To protect their nests, dogs must be leashed from April 1 to July 15. Help safeguard these vulnerable ground-nesting species.

© Sergii Mosovyi

Stay on the path:

Please stick to the designated trails to avoid trampling rare plants or disturbing ground-nesting birds and other animals.

© Anders Haukland

No littering:

Litter and plastic don’t belong in the forest. Garden waste is also not allowed here, as it may introduce invasive species.

© andrei310

Be quiet and considerate:

In the Dwergte Sand nature reserve, we share the space with animals, plants, and other people. Please be respectful and keep noise to a minimum.

© ekim

No fire or barbecues:

Smoking, barbecuing, and open fires are strictly prohibited year-round due to fire risk. Wildfires can spread quickly and be hard to extinguish.

© Pixel-Shot

No random camping:

To avoid disturbing sensitive wildlife, random camping is not allowed in the Dwergte Sand nature reserve.

Do not disturb native ground-nesting birds!

© Rotkehlchen: Nicky Rhodes, Nest: Stphanie

Robin

The robin is surely our most beloved songbird! And no wonder – with their bright, trilling song, these birds can be heard year-round. Thanks to their orange-red face and breast, they are easily recognizable. The belly is white, while the upper side, tail and flanks are dark olive-brown to grey-beige.

Robins are quite tame and often approach people closely. They’re commonly seen hopping nearby while gardening, looking for worms, snails, spiders, and insects.

Robins breed from April to July in forests, bushes and hedges, favoring ground nests made of moss and leaves, laid between roots, under tree trunks, in burrows, or in grass. Clutches of four to seven eggs hatch after two weeks.

© Rebhuhn: Monikasurzin, Nest: Josipa Zrilić Birin_Wirestock Creators

Grey Partridge

One of our best-known ground-nesting birds is the grey partridge. These 30 cm tall birds, weighing up to 450 grams, prefer open farmland and pastures, but also inhabit moors.

They have brown-grey plumage, an orange-brown head, and a black-brown chest patch. Their camouflage allows them to stay hidden while foraging on the ground for seeds, grass, or insects. These birds only take flight when threatened.

Nesting takes place from April to June. The female lays 10–15 eggs in a hollow in the ground. The chicks leave the nest immediately after hatching and feed mainly on spiders, ants, small beetles or caterpillars for the first new weeks. Unfortunately, their breeding success is declining.

© Braunkehlchen: AGAMI, Nest: Sarema

Whinchat

The whinchat is found across Europe in wet meadows, pastures, and moorland. Unlike its relative, the robin, its plumage is brownish, with a more whitish belly and a honey-toned throat. A distinctive white stripe above the eyes makes it easy to identify.

Whinchats return from their subtropical African wintering grounds in early to mid-April. A few weeks later, they begin building their ground nests in hollows or near bushes. A clutch usually consists of four to seven blue-green eggs. The chicks hatch after 12–14 days and leave the nest flightless after another 11–15 days.

Whinchats feed mainly on insects, spiders, small snails, worms or berries. Due to the intensified use of our cultural landscape, they are increasingly threatened.