Going on holiday can be tricky if you're a dog - pet-unfriendly hotels, snooty restaurants, sunbathers scowling when you dry yourself off nearby...
But a new venture in Croatia will get tails wagging. A dog beach, said to be the first of its kind in Croatia, has opened on the country's Adriatic coast. Located in the small coastal town of Crikvenica, the beach has all the usual attractions (crashing waves, sand, sun) without the disdain of other beach-goers, and with added treats: Monty's Beach Bar sells special dog beer and dog ice cream. The (non-alcoholic) beer is called 'Snuffle', and is made of a tempting-sounding blend of meat and malt barley extracts.
Croatia is famed for its stretches of pristine coastline, which attract ever-increasing numbers of tourists. And while you'll see many a pup trotting along local beaches (canines are the Croatian pet of choice), they're less popular among sunbathers in touristy areas. The dog beach offers a solution to holidaymakers who'd rather not leave their dog at home.
Igor Montanari Knez, owner of Monty's Beach Bar, says: '"Every dog owner - at least I look at it that way as a dog owner - wants to have the same comfort as everybody else on any other beach, let's call it normal, so therefore it is greatly accepted from all sides."
The beach has already greeted some delighted dogs and their owners. One German tourist, Mirela Pajazetovic, said: "Not a lot of hotels and resorts have places or a beach like this. It's great for us as dog lovers and owners - just to go to the beach, enjoy the sun and take our dogs with us. It's really relaxing for us and our dogs, they find new dog friends here and have fun.”