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Are you looking for creative gift ideas for dogs that not only look cute but also really benefit your four-legged friend? Whether for Christmas, a birthday, or simply as a little treat in between – dogs are family members and deserve gifts with meaning. Here are our 10 favorite dog gifts that combine joy, health, and enrichment. 1. Freshly prepared dog food Health starts in the bowl – give your four-legged friend freshly prepared dog food for a long dog life. With our free food advisor, you can configure the perfect food for your dog's needs. Fresh food is a feeding concept that is based on the "home-cooked meal". The food is gently prepared at low temperatures and then refrigerated. Unlike conventional food, it is perfectly tailored to the needs of each dog. Order freshly prepared food for your dog now and save! 2. Toys When the old tennis ball is long history, it's time for something new. Particularly popular are long-lasting dog toys made from natural materials, which are robust and environmentally friendly. When buying, make sure that: all parts are securely sewn there are no glued-on eyes or small parts This keeps playtime safe – even with strong jaws. Read also: Do dogs really love playing with balls? 3. Meaningful donation to animal welfare If your dog already has everything, a donation to an animal welfare organization is a particularly nice idea. Many animal shelters are happy to receive food, goods, or financial support. This way, you make not only your dog happy, but also animals in need. Bello's tip: At Tierschutz Austria, there are many different donation options. In addition to goods and money donations, you can also take out a sponsorship for dogs, cats, farm animals, wildlife, and even particularly exotic animals. 4. A new dog bed Dogs sleep and rest for up to 18–20 hours daily. During this time, they process stimuli and regenerate their body and mind. A high-quality dog bed is therefore much more than a home accessory. Orthopedic dog beds for example adapt to the sleeping position and relieve the spine and joints. They are particularly suitable for: older dogs large breeds dogs with sensitive musculoskeletal systems A practical gift with long-term benefits. 5. Natural care Skin and coat care is essential for our four-legged favorites, especially in winter. When choosing, pay attention to natural ingredients that the dog can also lick without concern. Bello's tip: In the CANELO online shop, you will find everything you need for the daily care of your dog. The products are sustainably produced in Salzburg, and particular attention is paid to the use of mild raw materials. 6. Bake cookies yourself Do you know best what your dog likes to eat and tolerates? Then surprise your favorite with homemade dog cookies. For especially lots of fun on Christmas Eve, pack the cookies in a box or roll them in a cloth and let your dog unpack or search for the cookies during the gift-giving. Order freshly prepared food for your dog now and save! 7. Lick mat Chewing and licking calms dogs down immensely. After it can become very stressful for dogs around Christmas and especially on New Year's Eve, lick mats are sensible gift ideas for dogs. You can simply spread fresh food on the mat and give it to your dog to lick. In between, you can also use, for example, yogurt, unsweetened peanut butter, or liver paste. 8. GPS tracker Are you worried about your dog running away during free-range exercise? In principle, a reliable recall is essential before your dog is allowed to run off-leash. For double security, a GPS tracker can still be useful. Especially in the days before and after New Year's Eve, dogs repeatedly run away when they are frightened by the bangs. You can also check how active your dog is during the day 9. New leash set A classic gift idea for dogs is, of course, a stylish new leash set or dog harness. So that your dog feels perfectly comfortable in the new set, you can also buy the harness custom-made for your dog. Leather harnesses with adjustable buckles are particularly well suited for this. In winter, however, a Biothane leash is also very practical for rainy or snowy walks with your four-legged friend. 10. Time together So simple and yet often underestimated: time.An extra walk, playing together, or quiet cuddling hours are often the greatest gift for dogs. Attention, closeness, and reliability cannot be wrapped – but have the most lasting effect. Bello's tip: Joint activities with your dog strengthen the bond and trust between the dog and the dog owner.
Guest post by Travall A holiday with your dog by the sea? After a stressful time of lockdowns and travel restrictions, many of us are eager to get away. For most dog owners, this means their four-legged companions are coming along too, as dogs are pack animals and feel happiest when they are close to their people. To make sure your holiday with your dog by the sea is relaxing, we have put together some practical tips and a packing list for you. Table of Contents Proper Restraint in the Car Holiday with Your Dog by the Sea: Fun at the Dog Beach Tips for Dog Hotels and Boarding Kennels Packing List for a Holiday with Your Dog by the Sea Proper Restraint in the Car For a holiday with your dog by the sea, the most important thing is proper restraint. While it is mandatory in some Mediterranean countries to have a dog guard in the car when traveling with pets, there are no specific regulations in Germany and its neighbouring countries on how dogs should be restrained in the car. However, you must ensure that no one is affected or injured – whether human or animal. A safe dog transport system can consist of either an aluminium dog box secured in the boot or a dog guard. A dog guard takes up no space and does not restrict flexibility when using the car. You can easily install the Travall Guard yourself in just a few steps, without drilling or making any changes to the vehicle. It creates a sturdy barrier between the boot and the seats. You can also attach a boot divider and practical rear guard doors to it, making the boot more usable and safer for your dog. If you would prefer to use a dog harness with a seat belt instead of a box or dog guard, make sure it is of particularly good quality, as the carabiners have repeatedly proven to be weak points in crash tests. Due to the enormous forces exerted on the belt in the event of an accident, this restraint option is only recommended for small dogs. Holiday with Your Dog by the Sea: Fun at the Dog Beach A day at the dog beach is like a mini-holiday: you can play thoroughly with your dog, the water promises to cool you down, and after a swim you can make yourself comfortable on the towel. However, for a safe holiday with your dog by the sea, sun protection must come before beach fun. Dogs with light skin and short fur must be applied sunscreen before and during an excursion to the dog beach. There are special sunscreens for dogs, but fragrance-free children's products also work. Always keep an eye on your dog at the dog beach and make sure they do not wander too far from you – even the best-behaved dogs can sometimes get ideas in their heads. If children who are not yet old enough to know how to properly handle animals are nearby, it is better to keep your dog on a leash if in doubt. Also make sure they do not drink seawater, as this can cause water intoxication in dogs and make your dog vomit. Instead, you must provide fresh drinking water and a place to lie in the shade. And after the beach excursion, your four-legged friend should have a shower so that the salt water and sand can be washed out of their fur. Read also: Dogs and heat – a dangerous duo Tips for Dog Hotels and Boarding Kennels Some hotels and boarding kennels offer pet welcome packages with dog beds, dog beds and treats to make your holiday with your dog by the sea a little less stressful. However, as this is not the case everywhere, you should be prepared to take your own dog food, harness and cozy blanket with you. Familiar items also reduce stress levels in anxious dogs. The room should be made dog-safe, which means nothing should be left lying around that could harm your dog. If your four-legged friend (like many others) has a penchant for drinking from the toilet, then keep the lid closed and preferably keep them away from the bathroom, as the cleaning products used in the hotel industry are highly likely to be toxic. Dog-friendly does not mean that animals are allowed in all areas of a hotel or boarding kennel. Dining rooms are usually off-limits to animals. If dogs are allowed there, make sure your dog lies down and does not try to steal food from the table or buffet. Did you know that you can also have your dog food sent directly to your holiday destination if you are traveling in Germany or Austria? Freshly prepared food from HelloBello provides your dog with everything they need for a healthy and long life and will be delivered directly to your accommodation. Packing List for a Holiday with Your Dog by the Sea To make sure your next holiday with your dog by the sea is a relaxing and stress-free experience, we have put together a small packing list of the most important things for you here. Vaccination record and EU pet passport Copy of the dog liability insurance Collar, dog leash, spare leash, harness Dog tag with address at the holiday destination Dog food, if your four-legged friend is picky or needs to follow a special diet; otherwise, you can simply buy it at your destination or make it yourself if you are a barfer Can opener Water and food bowls plus a mat that can be cleaned quickly Medication, first aid kit for dogs Sunscreen and tick remover Address and phone number of a veterinarian at the holiday destination Sleeping blanket or dog bed Dog toy, possibly a clicker Treats and food dummy Protection for the couch and bed (e.g. two old bed sheets) Brush or comb Poop bags or dog walking bags Dog whistle, if you also use it at home quick-drying towels a muzzle, if corresponding regulations apply at the holiday destination. The Travall team wishes you a wonderful holiday and a relaxing holiday with your dog by the sea! Ready to give your dog a healthier and longer life? Order freshly prepared dog food now and save 30% Order now
You take the ball out of the bag and your dog already knows exactly what happens next. He looks at you expectantly with wide eyes. His whole body trembles with joy. You take aim, throw the ball as far as you can, and your dog takes off. With all his might, he pushes himself forward, keeping the flying ball firmly in sight. You receive it with a beaming smile when he brings the ball back, praise him enthusiastically, and throw the ball once more. And again. And again. Because your dog loves playing fetch. At first glance, playing with the ball makes the dog incredibly happy – naturally. For ethological reasons, every dog has a hunting instinct. Humans have bred dogs to suit their wishes over many generations, which has made this instinct more pronounced in some breeds than in others. Nowadays, there are dogs that like to chase a ball every now and then, but simply have little interest in toys and fetch, and there are dogs that become literally addicted to it. Table of Contents The Addiction to the Ball How Much Is Too Much? Exhaustion and Recovery The Right Ball Meaningful Fetch Play The Addiction to the Ball Uncontrolled fetch play can quickly turn almost any dog into a ball junkie. However, the dog is not dependent on the ball itself, but on the neurotransmitters released in its brain. Excessive fetch play can trigger a real hormone cocktail in the dog's body. From the dog's perspective, the process is as follows: The ball is fixed, then chased, and finally successfully caught. If the dog already knows what is about to happen, the stress hormone adrenaline is released just by the sight of the ball. Its whole body is excited with anticipation – many show it by jumping around excitedly, barking demandingly, and preparing to take off. In principle, this is "positive" stress, since the dog is looking forward to the upcoming event. However, longer play sessions can lead to an extremely prolonged and unnatural release of adrenaline. Over time, this can also lead to health problems. The ball flies and the dog takes off. Like when hunting prey, the dog's body activates all its maximum strength to reach its goal. Even while running, exhilarating endorphins are released. The dog catches the ball: a successful hunt. The reward system in the brain is activated and releases dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine in particular acts like a drug on the body. The function of this hormone is to direct the dog's attention to stimuli whose satisfaction leads to a good feeling. It leads to a "kick" that the dog wants to experience again and again – it becomes a ball junkie. The Prerequisites for Addiction As already described, the hunting instinct is not equally pronounced in all dogs. But genetic prerequisites are not the only factor. Dogs that have not been sufficiently socialized and grew up in an environment with very few stimuli often react much more extremely to playing with the ball. Due to the lack of stimuli, the dog may suffer from chronic dopamine deficiency. This means that the brain did not have enough opportunities to release important neurotransmitters such as dopamine or adrenaline and to train the reward system. If suddenly a particularly large amount of these neurotransmitters is released through fetch play, the reward system overreacts, and there is a high potential for addiction. How Much Is Too Much? So, how much fetch play is okay, and from when is there a risk that it could become an addiction for the dog? Just like with humans, an addiction does not develop from one second to the next. But you still have to decide how long and how often to play. Do not let your dog control you by repeatedly throwing the toy at your feet and whining. Occasional fetch play, where fun is the main focus, is generally completely harmless. There are several signs that tell you it's time to stop throwing the ball for today: enthusiasm for bringing it back subsides the breathing rate is high and the dog pants abnormally much the eyes become glassy In addition, you should pay attention to whether your dog can easily transition to other activities after playing fetch. How quickly does its breathing return to normal? Can it sniff around or play with other dogs in a relaxed way as soon as the ball has disappeared into the bag? It becomes dangerous when it simply cannot distinguish between play and seriousness. This means that it transfers the situation of playing fetch – fixing, chasing, and catching – to other things. Everything that moves quickly is a potential object. Chasing a ball is harmless, but it looks very different with a car, jogger, or children. Exhaustion and Recovery Endorphins not only make the dog feel good, but also prevent it from noticing the exhaustion of its muscles and any pain in its muscles and joints. Many dog owners think that playing fetch is sufficient exercise in everyday life. After all, it is very convenient. The dog obviously has a lot of fun, moves around a lot, and the owner hardly has to do anything. But beware! Dogs whose only physical activity is chasing a ball can become generally less focused, less attentive, and more irritable. Muscles and organs can also be strained, as the organism is simply overloaded and the recovery phases are far too short. Order freshly cooked food for your dog now and save! Be Considerate There is one basic thing you should always keep in mind: Only throw the ball to your dog when there are no other dogs nearby. You never know how another dog will react to the flying ball. It might also take off to catch it, and in the worst case, a resource conflict could occur. The Right Ball The choice of ball is not as unimportant as some dog owners probably think. The size of the ball must fit the size of the dog. Table tennis balls and bouncy balls, for example, are far too small, and there is a risk that the dog will swallow them. Tennis balls are also rather unsuitable. Due to the coating and the rough surface, the dog's teeth wear down quickly. Meaningful Fetch Play You can also use fetch play as a useful training session. The keyword is impulse control. Do not let your dog take off immediately as soon as you have thrown the ball, but let it sit quietly and only then chase after it when it is relaxed. This way, it learns to control its own impulses and pay attention to your commands – which can also be helpful in everyday life. Also try calling it back when it is on its way to the ball. Of course, it is important to reward it then when it lets go of the ball and comes back to you on command. Wolfgang Maurer
Every year when Easter is just around the corner, the search for chocolate bunnies and eggs begins all over again. And we can also make the Easter season extra special for our dogs and let them join in the fun. We have put together everything you need to know about it. Table of Contents Eggs as Dog Food Eggshells for Dogs Preparing Eggs Properly Easter Egg Games for Dogs And What Else There Is at Easter Eggs as Dog Food Eggs are highly valuable, nutrient-rich, and also tasty food. Their protein is particularly high-quality, and they are low in purines. So there is no reason not to let your pet take part in the Easter egg hunt. The egg yolk is particularly rich in fat and contains many essential fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins, and also biotin. Eggshells for Dogs Eggshell is an excellent natural source of calcium. It is present as inorganic calcium carbonate and is very well available to the body. But be careful: Your dog must not eat dyed Easter eggshells! If you want to feed the undyed eggshell once, please wash it thoroughly with hot water beforehand. This removes any potentially adhering bacteria. You can also dry the shell in the oven and then grind it. The calcium powder is extremely high-quality and long-lasting. ATTENTION: Calcium can also be overfed! If your four-legged friend already eats a perfectly balanced dog food, you should not add much more calcium. Otherwise, they will have a calcium excess, which can lead to problems such as bone spurs. For your information: 100g of eggshell contains 37,000mg of calcium. Try HelloBello and save on your first delivery! Preparing Eggs Properly Dogs love eggs, and they even get a beautiful coat from them. However, it is important to feed the eggs boiled or cooked. Otherwise, poisoning and digestive problems can quickly occur. Although the risk is greatly minimized by today's controls (e.g. for salmonella) in our chicken coops, better safe than sorry. Raw egg white also contains a trypsin inhibitor, which inhibits protein digestion, and avidin, which binds biotin. So from this point of view as well, it is better to heat the egg before consumption. This does not apply, however, if you only want to feed the yolk. Easter Egg Games for Dogs Egg Nudging Of course, there should be plenty of fun at Easter too. One game that every dog is sure to enjoy is "egg nudging". You only need a regular egg and small treats. For clumsy and mischievous four-legged friends, you can hard-boil the egg beforehand to prevent any accidents. Have your dog sit and place the egg in front of them. Place the treat underneath or in front of the egg as best as possible. To get the reward, your dog has to gently nudge the egg away with their snout. You can repeat this step a few times until you are sure they have understood the task. At the next difficulty level, the treat is no longer under the egg, but the dog only gets it after nudging. It is important that they get the reward immediately after nudging the egg. Gradually, you can then combine the trick with the word "nudge". In the long term, of course, you can develop the trick even further, the possibilities are endless. For example, you can build a small slalom course through which the dog nudges the egg. Or you can vary the objects – the main thing is that it can be rolled well. Dogs love being challenged, which also has a positive effect on your bond. Order fresh-cooked food for your dog now and save! Cracking Eggs Another fun activity for your dog is a soft-boiled egg in the shell. Cracking it requires skill, is fun, and sometimes also looks funny. And this "toy" also provides your dog with valuable nutrients.Tip: Some of our four-legged friends have especially much fun throwing the egg into the air and jumping around it. Then it is often better to try this fun game outdoors or in a garden – unless spring cleaning is already on the agenda anyway. And what else there is at Easter At Easter, of course, eggs are not the only thing on the menu. But are there more "Easter traditions" that the dog is also allowed to eat? For many people, spicy, freshly grated horseradish, savory bacon, and an Easter sweet bread are just as much a part of it as the eggs. But these very foods are not recommended for our pets. The horseradish is too spicy, the bacon too savory, and the Easter sweet bread too sweet. Special caution is also required here with other "sweet bread types" such as the Carinthian Easter Reindling. Because raisins are usually processed in the dough. Raisins can lead to massive kidney failure in dogs. For the sake of completeness, it should also be said that chocolate in any form must not be fed under any circumstances! Whether it is a chocolate egg or a chocolate bunny – anything with theobromine is forbidden. It is a neurotoxin and leads to severe poisoning in dogs. Anyone who still wants to pamper their dog on Easter Sunday can fall back on lean, rather unseasoned ham. A piece of smoked meat is also certainly allowed once in a while. As mentioned above, the undyed Easter egg is also a special, fun surprise for your pet. In this spirit: HAPPY EASTER AND STAY HEALTHY! Dr. Eva Schmal-Filius
For dog owners, it is particularly important to have a dog first aid kit at home. This can help avoid an unnecessary stay in waiting rooms, crowded together with other people. Simple tips and tricks or even "home remedies" can repeatedly protect against more serious illnesses and help your pet. Of course, you can get all the remedies mentioned in the following article from any veterinarian or pharmacy, and in some cases online, without a prescription. Dog first aid kit – What helps with which illnesses? Skin injuries When it comes to injuries, the range and severity vary enormously. If they are scratches or minor bleeding wounds, it is always a good idea to treat them. It is therefore advisable to have an antiseptic in your dog first aid kit. Here, I recommend iodine-based solutions or antiseptic sprays. After successful cleaning and disinfection, it is recommended to apply a wound ointment (containing zinc), of course only if it stays on and is not immediately licked off. For safety, sterile swabs, self-adhesive bandages, and gauze should also be readily available in your dog first aid kit. Bello's tip: If you want to apply a bandage around a limb, please make sure above all that it is not wrapped too tightly! This can happen very quickly and can lead to serious circulatory problems, even death of the limb!It is better for the bandage to slip off and need to be replaced more often than to cut off circulation! As a general rule, do not leave bandages on for more than 3 days; changing the bandage daily is generally the most sensible approach! We would like to emphasize here that for more serious and deeper injuries, a veterinarian should definitely be consulted, as these wounds often need to be stitched. In case of heavy bleeding, you can of course also apply a tight, hemostatic bandage to prevent excessive blood loss on the way to the veterinarian. Diarrhea in dogs Diarrhea that is not accompanied by severe general malaise or blood in the stool can often be treated by the owner using the dog first aid kit. However, if the diarrhea lasts longer than 2 to 3 days, the patient should be presented to a veterinarian for further investigation. For milder cases of diarrhea, it is recommended to offer the dog (if tolerated) mushy cooked and salted rice (cooked with three times the amount of water), steamed chicken breast (lean), cooked carrots, and probiotics—for example, mixed with cottage cheese. Probiotics are live microorganisms, such as bacterial strains and sometimes fungal strains, that are ingested orally. In the gut, they reach their target and, in the right composition, can have a positive effect on overall health. Sobamin and Dysticum also often help excellently with intestinal imbalances. Top tip for home remedies for diarrhea: Morosche carrot soup Morosche carrot soup is known as a proven and scientifically sound home remedy for diarrhea. The recipe is very simple: Cook 500 g of peeled and finely chopped carrots in half a liter of water for at least 90 minutes then drain the cooking water Puree the carrots and top up with fresh boiling water to one liter Then add 3 g of table salt Morosche carrot soup can be offered to the dog in small portions 5 to 6 times a day at the beginning of the diarrhea illness. This also ensures adequate fluid intake.TIP: The soup can also be cooked in advance and kept frozen for up to 3 months. Read our detailed article on diarrhea in dogs Dog first aid kit for loss of appetite If your dog suddenly no longer wants to eat its usual food, please do not try to coax it into eating with treats, ham, or sweets. There is certainly a reason for it, and that is what needs to be found and addressed. Think carefully about what the cause could be. What has it eaten in the last few days? Could it have ingested something spoiled? Is it very stressed? Could it be due to hormones (heat cycle). It is not easy to say after how many days you absolutely must contact a veterinarian, as it depends very much on the age and size of your pet! Young animals and underweight animals have fewer reserves and should be presented earlier (max. 1 day). If your pet is in good general condition and is larger and heavier, you can wait a little longer. But I would in no case accept more than 2-3 days. Read our detailed article on loss of appetite in dogs For this case of itching in dogs, it is therefore at least advisable to have a home remedy against fleas at home. Please do not resort to purely plant-based products here. That would be nice, but they simply do not help with an acute parasite infestation. Don't forget that fleas also live in the environment, i.e., in your home. Antiparasitics are available in a wide variety of forms. Common ones are spot-ons to apply to the skin or tablets. Most products are also helpful against other parasites, such as mites. Allergies of any origin also often manifest as itching. Above all, food allergies are important to mention here. As a rule, pay attention to healthy, organic food with few artificial additives. Dogs with food intolerances particularly tolerate industrial food very poorly; here I recommend fresh food. More serious cases can also react allergically to protein (meat) or individual carbohydrate sources. With food intolerances, your pet likes to excessively lick its limbs, but also recurring ear infections are a sign of this illness. The same applies here: if symptoms persist, or if there is no improvement – go to the veterinarian! Eye infection in dogs: home remedies The eye is a very important and sensitive organ. So please do not "doctor around" with it yourself for longer. If you notice a mild redness of an eye with discharge, you can use cooled cheese tree tea to carefully clean the stuck areas on your dog. It works best with a non-linting cotton pad. You also cannot go wrong with moisturizing or cornea-nourishing (vitamin A-containing) eye drops or ointments. Please always wash your hands thoroughly before and after. Common cold / cough in dogs: home remedies Common colds and respiratory infections naturally don't spare our beloved pets either. If your dog starts coughing or sneezing, you can initially try some remedies from the dog pharmacy. Never give them cold food, and their drinking water should also be slightly warmed. You can also try giving them tea. Another home remedy for dogs with a cough and cold: Keep them warm at all times, and even a scarf when you leave the house is always a good idea. Short-haired dogs without an undercoat should also wear a coat in the cold season. You can also give your dog vitamin-rich fruit (e.g. berries of any kind, apple, banana or pear) and vegetables (e.g. carrot, zucchini, cauliflower or fennel). For optimal vitamin absorption, I recommend steaming the vegetables gently and chopping them up. Here too, of course, special attention should be paid to healthy, easily digestible food. We would not recommend dry food, especially for throat infections. If the symptoms do not improve after a short time, it is also here essential to go to your trusted veterinarian. A trivial cough can hide heart failure, for example. To assess how much an infection weakens the body, it is always good to measure the internal body temperature. In dogs, this can only be done rectally. Keep a fast-reading digital thermometer with a soft tip ready for your dog pharmacy. It is also helpful to have a lubricant on hand. Oils (please not essential oils!), Vaseline, or ointments are well suited for this. The body temperature of dogs can vary greatly depending on size and age. The normal temperature range for healthy adult dogs is 37.5 to 39 °C. Most important home remedy: Keep a clear head When something is wrong with your four-legged friend, it is very worrying at first for their owners. That is precisely why it is important to stay calm in such situations and to be prepared with a dog pharmacy. In these exceptional situations, you can also ask your veterinarian for an assessment over the phone and act accordingly. Here are the physiological values of dogs as a small guide for you: Breathing: 15–30 breaths per minute Temperature: 37.5°–39.00°C (puppies up to 39.5°C) Pulse: 80–120 beats/min (depending on breed, age, size) Please pay special attention to hygiene and cleanliness at home during this difficult time. Wash your dog's bowls after every meal and always make sure there is enough fresh water. Try to pay attention to your beloved pet's mental stimulation, especially if they have to spend most of the day at home, to prevent kennel cough.
