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What to give your pet this Christmas? Ideas that go beyond stuffed animals and toys

2022-12-21T11:12:14.897Z


Although at this time the catalogs of pet stores are filled with bears in the shape of Santa Claus for dogs, mice with Christmas hats for cats or even decorated trees for aquariums, there are more options to add a gift under the tree for the other member of the family


Pets are increasingly considered as members of the family.

In Spain, where they are already taken into account as sentient beings, in 2021 a significant line was crossed when it was found that there were more homes with pets than with children.

The change in the sensitivity of the population towards animals, especially with regard to domestic animals, is perceived in the increase in services related to their care and in the importance that owners give to the well-being of their companions.

This change in trend shows that this Christmas there will be many homes in which pets will receive gifts as one more and, as such, the presents will have been chosen with care.

“We are appreciating a tendency to cover the needs of our pets in an individualized way.

Not only in everything that refers to food, which is becoming more demanding, but in everything related to accessories such as beds, toys or accessories that contribute to improving the quality of life of our best friends.

All of this combined with services that enhance and improve your care," says Caroline Arrú, director of marketing and customer service and co-promoter of the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) committee of the store chain. of Kiwoko animals.

More information

How to prepare for the arrival of a dog: toys, personalized beds and working on the emotional bond

Although sometimes these gifts arrive even before the holiday season officially begins.

"This year is the first that we have created our own Advent calendar with natural

snacks

and the reception has been brutal," explains Paloma Ros, creator of Bruno & Henry, a store specializing in natural food that right now has its own section of Christmas where, in addition to the aforementioned calendar, you can find stuffed animals, interactive toys or special food.

"The months of November, December and January are when the most sales of the year are concentrated," explains Ros.

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A post shared by Kiwoko - Animal World (@kiwoko)

Food, a classic gift

Christmas usually serves as an excuse to taste a good number of products that are not common in the daily diet, also in relation to pets.

"Some natural

snacks

according to the size and characteristics of the pet will give each owner the necessary resources both to reward and to offer chewing time," explains Ros.

In the case of dogs, chewing not only keeps them entertained, it also helps with dental health and relaxes them.

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A post shared by Bruno And Henry (@brunoandhenry_theshepherds)

Of course, an important note to point out what natural snacks mean, that is, that they have not been highly processed.

As an example, the recommendations made by Vetformación: caravaca (dehydrated skin from the bovine's face), dehydrated trachea, green gut and rabbit ear, with or without hair depending on how apprehensive the pet owner is.

In the case of cats, fish appetizers such as sticks with gut and salmon skin or dried flounder are rising.

Yes, it can be unsettling to see your dog feasting on a rabbit's foot or beef muzzle, but the first person who saw a human feasting on a lobster or a plate of barnacles probably felt the same way.

Who doesn't like toys?

Favoring the environmental enrichment of our pets through toys that carry food such as LickiMat latex mats, the Kong hollow rubber toy or an olfactory mat is always a winning bet.

Although the Christmas catalogs of pet stores are filled with stuffed animals in the shape of Santa Claus for dogs, mice with Christmas hats for cats or even decorated trees for aquariums.

Here it is essential to take into account that the hardness and resistance of the toys adapt to the characteristics of the pet.

In addition, a trick recommended by experts is to rotate the toys so that the animal does not always get used to it and lose interest.

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A post shared by KONG Company (@kongcompany)

In addition, the teethers can also provide great entertainment for pets.

There are classic ones, made of plastic or

nylon

, or also natural, such as deer antlers or sticks of different types of wood.

The latter are highly recommended for both dogs and rodents.

The best equipment, guaranteed success

"The top one in sales in all our stores are beds, both for dogs and cats," says Arrú, who also points to another classic of these dates: "coats or sweaters for days with lower temperatures, or raincoats, for the most humid season”.

Large chains such as Zara or H&M, which already have specific collections for pets, have joined this trend.

Ros also points out another essential product: ergonomic collars or harnesses.

"If there is an accessory that our furry ones use every day, it is the walking material, which has to be comfortable for them and also for us."

And in the case of birds and rodents, a hanging fabric nest can be the perfect gift, especially if it is insulated to allow pets to snuggle up from the cold.

'Bonus track': improve understanding

"The best thing we can do for our dogs, without a doubt, is to invest a little time in better understanding their communication and their needs," says Víctor Padilla, who together with Alba Fernández are authors of the book

Canine Education for the whole family

and form Sniffing the world, a community dedicated to canine communication.

"The first thing we would recommend to a beginning tutor is a good book on dog education, not training, to really understand the needs of the dog, beyond the human navel," says Padilla.

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A post shared by Canine and Veterinary Education (@olfateandoelmundo)

It is common to forget that pets belong to different species and therefore communicate differently.

For example, as collected in

The language of dogs.

The signs of calm

, by Turid Rugaas, one of the

bibles

of canine communication, a dog's yawn is usually a sign of anxiety or stress, as is the retracted mouth, a gesture that is often mistakenly confused with a smile.

So perhaps one of the best gifts for the whole family is to better understand one of its members.

Source: elparis

All news articles on 2022-12-21

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