Category: Training

Dog parks, or as they are known in many parts of Spain, “pipican”, offer our furry friends the perfect opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and socialise with others of their own kind. We are fortunate to have many dog parks in Spain to choose from, and many take advantage of them, so it is important to always carry out best practice in dog parks.

To make your visits to the dog park much happier, we’ve put together some tips to help you the next time you go to one – we want you and your dog to be real role models for the rest of the pack!

What not to do when you go to a dog park or a doggy kennel

For the safety of dogs and people, the established rules of dog parks must be followed at all times, including those that are specified before entry, but there are also unwritten rules that you should follow. Here are five important mistakes to avoid in a dog park:

• Unvaccinated dogs

For your dog’s protection and the protection of others, make sure your dog is up to date with canine vaccinations and parasite preventatives. Do not take a dog or puppy that is not yet fully immunised to the pipican, and above all, be responsible and do not go if you find any worrying symptoms in your dog.

• Not picking up their faeces

Your dog is likely to relieve himself while enjoying the moment, and leaving him on the grass for other dogs or people to step on is one thing you should definitely avoid. Not only is it uncivic, but it can also lead to the spread of diseases and parasites that reside in our dogs’ poo.

• Not intervening when you should

When puppies’ tempers clash, it’s up to humans to calm the situation safely. It is important to be aware that, if your dog has a habit of mounting other dogs, it may not be looked upon favourably by all pipican companions, as well as a dog running full speed at another dog, incessant sniffing of other dogs or any behaviour that may be seen as an act of aggression or dominance. When a dog seems uncomfortable, it is time to take action to stop the situation escalating and prevent it from ending badly.

• Ignoring your dog

One of the worst things dog owners can do is keep their heads buried in their phones or spend time talking to other people while their dogs go crazy. TikTok and Instagram can wait. Keep your eyes on your dog.

• Bring food or treats

It’s perfectly fine to reward your pup for a fun day at the park, but having treats in your hands or pockets at the park could cause quite a revolution! Also, you should avoid eating food in front of the dogs yourself while you are in the doggy food bowl.

We want you and your dog to enjoy your next dog park experience. And remember: if your dog is not fully vaccinated, don’t hesitate to contact us so that our vets can look after you and protect your furry friend’s health.

If you have had more than one dog in your life, you may have come across one that pulled more than necessary.

They pull against tension, sometimes choking on the collar, and you may think putting a harness on it will solve that problem. And it may, but there are significant trade-offs to consider when deciding between wearing a collar or a harness.

If you have doubts about whether to use a collar or harness with your dog, we hope that after reading this article you have reached some conclusion.

Using the collar on dogs

Collars are the usual solution when walking a dog. They come in a wide variety of styles, some are even intentionally designed to constrict or cause discomfort when a dog pulls as a means of training, but at Hospital Veterinari Glòries we do not recommend them, as there are other training options that use positive reinforcement on their place.

A common traditional collar, which does not contract when stretched, is fine for dogs that do not have respiratory problems and are not prone to pulling on the leashes. They can also be more comfortable for some dogs than others, especially if you want to keep the collar on all the time.

Harnesses are generally not as comfortable to wear throughout the day. Also, if your dog has long hair, it could pull on his coat and make him uncomfortable. With the necklace you will not have this problem.

But for those dogs that do pull hard during walks, a regular collar is the worst option. Harnesses provide a more secure hold for these cases.

Using the harness on dogs

Harnesses are becoming more popular as dog owners discover the benefits they can offer. They are excellent training tools for puppies to learn to behave on a leash and allow humans a little more control.

Harnesses discourage pulling and allow you to prevent your dog from injuring himself. Additionally, dogs in harnesses are also less likely to accidentally become entangled in the leash.

Another advantage harnesses have over collars is that they reduce the risk of neck injuries, especially for the more delicate toy breeds. They also cause less restriction for breeds such as pugs and French bulldogs that are prone to respiratory problems or tracheal collapse.

If your puppy is having trouble breathing, a harness is likely the best option. Collars can also cause the eyeballs of certain breeds to stick out of their sockets if too much pressure is applied to the neck.

Harnesses can be attached to the front of the body or to the back. Front restraint ones are effective for larger dogs as they lead from the front, whereas a rear restraint harness does not allow the dog as much control and can lead to worse pulling behavior as the dog does not feel the necessary guidance.

Therefore, we recommend rear restraint harnesses for small breeds as they are more sensitive to pressure, and front restraint harnesses can be painful for them.

Collar or harness, but with identifier

When using a collar or harness with your dog, it is important that they always carry identification tags. You never know when something might scare or distract your dog and cause him to bolt, and you never know when your dog might accidentally leave the house or off a leash. Accidents happen. Microchips are important, but not always the solution in all cases.

Walk training

You should also research effective methods to train your dog for walks. Throwing and jumping on strangers is not ideal, neither with a collar nor with a harness, and changing between one and the other will not prevent you from doing so. Training is always the best option.

You will have to study which is the best option for your dog, always taking into account his well-being. What do you wear? A harness, a collar or something else? Does your dog have any preferences? Let us know in the comments!

When you think of spoiling your pet, what is the first thing that comes to mind? If you are like most people, you probably thought of prizes or toys. These are not really bad ways to please your pet, but sometimes we abuse them too much. In fact, with the very high rates of obesity in pets that are handled in Spain, constantly rewarding them with treats is not the best of ideas.

Whether you have a dog or your furry companion is a cat, there are several healthy ways to pamper and spoil them that will be much better for their health in the long run. The team at Hospital Veterinari Glòries offers you some of the healthiest ideas for your best friend. Take note!

5 healthy ways to spoil your pet

Instead of offering treats and pampering that all they do is gain weight, we’re going to offer you some healthy ways that will make your pet feel just as loved as if you were offering the most appetizing of treats. So put away those dog biscuits and try chewing on this:

• Fun exercise. All pets need to move and play, and your furry loved one needs to exercise every day. But it doesn’t have to be that boring walk that no longer excites your pet. Try some new exercises together like running, walking, outdoor agility, trick training, new interactive games, etc. Plan to exercise your pet every day for about 20-30 minutes to give him the movement he needs. Exercising and doing activities together is also pampering and loving your pet, and you will also be strengthening your bond.
• Spa day for your furry. Taking care of the health of your pet’s skin and coat requires daily brushing, an occasional bath, nail trimming, and more. It doesn’t have to be a bad drink. It can be as simple as just making sure you brush his hair every day, in addition to his teeth, or trim his nails every few weeks. Buy a new brush or comb and spend some relaxing time together to brush. It is a great way to improve their coat and again create a stronger bond between you. Your dog or cat will appreciate it!
• Spend more time together. During our busy lives, it’s easy to forget that pets need quality time, too. It is not enough to just throw a ball at them a couple of times, collect their droppings or feed them. We are talking about true care. Take a day out to do pet-friendly things, whether it’s a trip to your favorite park or snuggling with him on the couch while watching a movie.
• Monitor their nutrition. If your pet has been eating poor quality food, check his nutrition and seriously consider a change. Work with your vet to choose the best food and / or nutritional supplements for your companion, as well as ask for advice on maintaining a healthy weight.
• Get regular health checks. One of the main goals of contributing to the best life of a pet is through wellness or preventive care. Just like you make your annual medical check-ups a priority, it is important to make an effort to promote the health of our pets, who are also part of our family.

What things do you do to pamper your pet in a healthy way? We would love to hear from you! If you have any questions about how to care for your pet, or want to schedule an appointment with us, please get in touch by clicking here.

Spending a lot of time at home, for whatever reason, can be a hassle for both you and your dog. But spending time indoors does not mean that you cannot stimulate and entertain your pet: there are endless options to encourage her physically and mentally. Therefore, the next time you are looking for how to entertain your dog and at the same time strengthen your bond, you can try some of the games and activities that we propose below.

Look for the award

Teaching your dog to discover treats using only his nose is a great game for the body and mind. While all dogs have a great sense of smell, sometimes they have to be reminded to use it, and this exercise can get your dog excited about solving the hidden treat problem. Place a few opaque boxes or containers upside down next to each other and, without your dog seeing it, hide underneath a treat, a favorite toy, a bone … whatever you think your companion might want. Next, encourage your dog to smell the boxes. If he stops at the one with the award, pick up the box and enthusiastically congratulate him on his discovery. Of course let him eat the treat, look for the toy, or enjoy whatever treats he finds under the box. If you repeat it over time, your dog will know how to anticipate and will be excited to play this game.

Hideout

If your dog knows the command “search” or a similar term that means to go find something hidden, then hide and seek is a great indoor game for fun. To play, simply show your dog what you are going to hide, again it can be his favorite toy, or even a person!, And then put it in a place where he cannot see it.

Hide the item, then go find your dog and tell her to find it. Give him clues if he needs help, like “great!” when he gets closer or “nooo!” when it gets further away. Give clues if necessary, by pointing or walking to the hideout, until your dog really understands what this game is about. When you find the hidden item, make the praise or award worth as much as all the effort you put into locating that item. Over time, you will realize what the game is about and it will become faster and faster to search and find.

Below, above and through

Training your dog to do tricks that require physical skills will help them exercise the mind and body, which makes teaching certain tricks perfect for spending energy at home for example during a rainy day. One of the skills you can teach your dog is to train him to go under, over, or through furniture such as chairs, stools, or hula hoops.

For example: place the stool near your dog and through the use of treats, teach him to pass through the legs while saying a command like “cross”, then do the same to teach him “up” and “down” .

Once she knows how to do it, you can ask her to make matches before she earns her reward. With the passage of time and repetitions, you will not need the reward to encourage him to do so, since he will know how to relate your command to the action he must perform. If your dog already knows these commands, it will be much easier and faster to carry out this entertaining exercise.

Run down a ladder

If you have a ladder, make it a game to climb it and burn some energy with your pet. To get the most out of this game with the least risk to your dog’s joints, start at the bottom of the stairs. Put your dog in a sitting position and throw a toy or ball upstairs. If you wish, you can make it more exciting and work on impulse control at the same time by keeping it at a certain distance from the stairs, until you give the order so that it can go up to look for the object. Let your dog run up the stairs as fast as she can to retrieve the toy and come back down the stairs at her own pace, encouraging a slower return, as it is the descents that are really dangerous for injury. After a few repetitions, your dog will be exhausted.

Obstacle race

Setting up an obstacle course for your dog and helping him learn how to get around obstacles is a lot of fun. A lot of work, sure, but in situations like confinement, where you have to spend a lot of time indoors, it can be a lot of fun for both of you. Here are some suggestions on what to use:

• A sturdy plastic box, stool, or other item for balance.
• A kitchen chair to jump or run under.
• A box with two open ends that he can crawl through.
• An obstacle (a box would be enough) that you can jump.
• A hula hoop to jump.
• A frisbee or a ball to catch.

Create some obstacles and guide your dog through each one. Make sure to reward your dog with lots of praise or other high-value rewards for him each time he makes it through the obstacle course. Use your imagination! Most importantly, have a good time, and adapt the game to your dog’s physical ability and the types of tricks he enjoys the most, making sure to offer lots of praise for his attempts to overcome obstacles.

The relationship between humans and cats goes back a long way. Sometimes these small cats (although still wild, less and less so) create true bonds with “their humans”. Other times, the relationship between cat and human is not good and problems arise. Cats behavior can be very unpredictable, and when problems like aggression arise, you need to know how to help them. It is just at that moment that feline ethology appears as a solution to problems like this.

What is feline ethology?

When we talk about feline ethology we refer to the science that studies the behavior of cats. During a cat’s life cycle from birth, it goes through a series of stages through which its behavior develops. These are the neonatal period, the transitional period, the period of socialization (probably the most important in behavioral aspects) and the juvenile period.

Thanks to the ethology and scientific studies developed in this field, we can get an idea of ​​what is the “natural” way of behaving in cats and what behaviors are expected of them. Ethologists are able to explain the reason for their behavior and help us distinguish when that behavior is not appropriate, or how to modify it.

Feline ethology itself has its clinical branch. This is the veterinary practice that studies the behavior of cats, is responsible for diagnosing possible behavioral problems and is an appropriate veterinary treatment to solve them.

Redirecting cat aggressiveness through ethology

In general terms, aggressiveness in cats originates when, in certain situations, a stimulus appears that generates fear, discomfort, surprise or pain in the cat. But the stimulus is not accessible at that moment, so the feline decides to choose another target that is within reach: it can be another animal, an object or another person. The problems come when from that moment on, the cat develops fear towards the chosen target, since at any moment another attack can take place.

For this reason, when the target chosen by the cat is another person or domestic pet, great tensions and concern are created by the family, which does not know how to manage the situation.

The stimuli that usually motivate this type of behavior in cats are:

• Unknown people in the household.
• Living with other cats in the home.
• Housing changes.
• Loud noises.
• Medical problems that may be causing you physical pain.

The prognosis of feline aggressiveness

This type of feline aggressiveness is the most common, unpredictable and dangerous that these animals can suffer, so it is important to go to your trusted veterinarian first so that he can rule out other types of health problems, and then be referred to a specialist. cat ethologist.

In any case, they must be evaluated by specialists, since the treatment will be very different depending on the cause that motivates their behavior.

Do you have kittens at home? Do you think any of them may be suffering from an aggressive problem? From the beginning, good socialization with them is important, as well as a good environment in the home in which they live. If you think your cat needs help, do not hesitate to go to a professional.

Whether due to alterations in health, behavioral problems or nutritional complications, many dogs tend to ingest their own feces or those of other animals. This behavior is called coprophagy and although it occurs quite frequently, it usually causes confusion among the owners of the animals.

In order to know what the causes are and what solution can be used to correct this behavior in dogs, we have prepared the following note.

¿Why do some dogs eat feces?

In the veterinary literature, canine coprophagia is the scientific name of this behavior and is defined as the voluntary ingestion of feces by the dog, due, generally, to behavioral alterations or behavioral disorders of the animal, although in certain cases it can be considered as a normal behavior of our pet.

There are several reasons why a dog comes to ingest its own feces or those of other animals. In some cases, dogs begin to consume these droppings because their own body drives them to naturally correct some alteration generated in their digestive process.

Some veterinarians believe that coprophagy tends to be more frequent in those dogs that are fed commercial croquettes which, being biologically inappropriate, can create a chronic deficiency of digestive enzymes. Thus, dogs that have this deficiency, ingest feces of animals whose stools are a good source of digestive enzymes.

But canine coprophagia can also be due to other natural causes.

¿What are the causes of canine coprophagia?

In principle, during the first weeks of a dog’s life, the mother ingests the feces of her pups at the time of performing the ano-genital stimulation so that they can meet their needs. This practice is also common as it allows you to keep the space clean.

However, there are some clinical causes that can generate a problem of canine coprophagy, although these do not usually represent most of the cases that occur.

Among the medical causes that can cause canine coprophagia, we can mention pancreatic problems, nutritional deficit or malabsorption syndrome, among others. Some pathologies such as diabetes mellitus, parasitosis or Cushing’s disease can also cause this problem.

In addition, poor diet can also cause canine coprophagia; in this way, if the diet established for the animal does not cover its nutritional requirements determined by professionals, the dog will seek to fill this deficiency by consuming its own excrement.

Alterations in dog behavior

Some of the cases of canine coprophagy may be due to behavioral causes. For example, on certain occasions, dogs eat their own feces or those of other animals as a way to explore and discover their surroundings.

Also, it may be the case in which a dog imitates the behavior of another who observes eating feces. Many times, a dog shows submission to another by consuming its feces; This situation often occurs when there is more than one dog at home.

When a dog is set aside and does not receive the attention of its owner, it usually consumes its own feces as a way of attracting attention or simply as a fun for lack of sensory stimulation.

Certain compulsive behaviors on the part of the animal as a result of suffering from anxiety and stress situations can also cause canine coprophagia problems.

Other conditions such as overcrowding or lack of cleanliness can also trigger this behavior in the pet.

According to specialists, canine coprophagy may also be due to the fact that the dog simply found it pleasant to consume the depositions of other species, without manifesting health problems or any behavioral disorder.

¿How to correct canine coprophagia?

Based on the causes that may have triggered this behavior in the dog, it is possible to determine the ideal solution for this problem. Thus, if it is an alteration in your health, the veterinarian will establish the appropriate treatment to cure the disease or pathology directly.

If, on the other hand, canine coprophagia is due to a behavioral problem, there are some recommendations that can help correct this behavior in the animal:

Extreme cleaning measures in the area where the dog lives. Keeping the environment clean will help reduce the likelihood of stool consumption by the pet.
Placing a muzzle in the dog’s snout can be a good remedy to avoid this problem, especially if the animal is accustomed to eating feces while being alone at home or when it is taken for a walk.
Offering the dog some toy that distracts him is an excellent practice to keep him entertained, grabbing all his attention.
The punishment can be considered a bad practice to correct the problem since, on the contrary, it can induce the dog to consume its own feces because it considers that it must eliminate the proof that it acted badly.
On the other hand, rewarding him when he defecates could serve to encourage him to seek his prize and distract him from what he has just done, making him forget to consume his own bowel movements.
Many veterinarians recommend adding some preparations that alter the smell and taste of excrement in the animal’s diet, making them repulsive for the dog.

Canine coprophagia can represent a serious health problem for the dog; the stool consumed may be contaminated with bacteria, fungi or parasites. The animal can face intestinal infections or other diseases of greater or lesser severity.

Correct the behavior of our pet can become an odyssey and success will depend on the personality of the animal. For best results, it is advisable to consult with the veterinarian about the best way to modify the dog’s behavior.

Having a puppy at home can be a great experience for all household members. Sharing and raising your own puppy from birth is an adventure for the whole family; In fact, experts recommend that people have a dog at least once in their life.

But, like any adventure, it has its risks. And is that puppies, like babies, can be difficult to raise and often require constant care.

One of the situations that must be dealt with is his eagerness to bite and destroy everything around him; Puppies like to break clothes, shoes, paper and even furniture, while they are in their growth stage.

This can represent a risk for the family and even for the animal itself, so it is a behavior that must be eradicated. For this, we are going to give you some very valuable guidelines.

¿Why do puppies destroy everything?

The desire to bite, tear or destroy the puppies, is usually related to the exit of the teeth. This behavior usually occurs between three and six months of age, when the puppy’s permanent teeth are developing and the gums usually become inflamed.

Gum discomfort leads them to look for objects to bite and relieve itching or pain.

However, depending on race, this behavior may be more prevalent. Puppies of breeds such as golden retriever, poodle, labrador or cocker spaniel, tend to be very playful, so the behavior of biting and destroying is more frequent.

Risks of disastrous puppies

Although we know that our puppy can cause damage, it does not mean that it is something we should allow. The fact that the puppy walks by biting different things and chewing different materials, can pose a risk to his health.

Remember that you do not do it because of hunger or the desire to consume the product but, rather, to scratch your gums or play. However, in the attempt you can end up consuming some piece of the material.

Any object inside your body can choke, pierce or even intoxicate the small animal, so it is necessary to educate the dog so that, since childhood, he loses the habit of biting everything.

Tips to teach the puppy not to destroy

The best way to keep the puppy away from your shoes, furniture or even the remote control, is to buy toys suitable for their age. The best are those that make noises, as they find it more entertaining.

There is nothing that relaxes a puppy more than a bone. There is a wide variety of synthetic bones on the market that are safe for the gums, allow them to scratch and are not dangerous.

You can also opt for a natural bone, but it should not be in any case a chicken because they are splintered and are a risk to your health.

Your puppy can understand when what he is doing is not well received. Thus, it is best to be attentive to their behavior and be firm when the puppy is doing something inappropriate.

A clear and resounding NO at the appropriate time is an excellent way to extinguish behavior.

As we have said, quite apart from the gum problem, the dog also seeks to bite as a way to have fun. Therefore, it is essential to take the puppy for a walk at least twice a day.

Take it to open spaces, although safe, that allow you to run and relax enough to burn energy.

If after the toys, walks and scolding the puppy continues to destroy, it is necessary to consider other causes. Canine anxiety is a disorder of the behavior of dogs that, if left unattended, can affect the development of the puppy.

Talk to your veterinarian and study the different causes that may be influencing.