Sustainable dog ownership: tips and tricks

‘Sustainable’ is a bit of a buzzword at the moment and a lot of companies out there are guilty of greenwashing. But, there are many things we can do that don’t cost the earth or even require spending money to help reduce our impact on the planet as dog owners. In fact, some of the advice we’re about to give is the same advice we recently included in our article about money saving for pet owners.

Sustainability is not just about buying the latest trendy vegan treats or the coolest recycled toys; it’s also about taking care of the land and community around us. So, just by changing some small habits, we can make an impact.

Walk, don’t drive

This is such an easy one to implement, especially as fuel prices are soaring. Ditch the car and take a walk with pooch directly from your front door. Ok, it may not be a beauty spot, but perhaps save those for highdays and holidays as a special treat. Get to know your fellow dog owners around your area by keeping it local. 

Food habits

First up, something we all probably already do but it’s worth mentioning: recycle your dog food containers. Reduce the number of containers too if possible - if your canine enjoys dry food, consider switching to that and buy in bulk to reduce packaging waste. Many butchers now offer pet mince which is made up of by-products from their (higher welfare) meat production, another way to increase sustainable dog ownership. Reflect on the food you’re buying and consider ones which contain chicken rather than other meats as it tends to have a lower carbon footprint - if your dog is not allergic, of course. Make homemade treats to avoid unnecessary packaging and again, ingredients that are unsustainable. This is also a great money-saving technique! The new trend for dogs is insect-based food - keep an eye on this.

Bring back the pooper-scooper!

Remember the poop scoop? Well, it might be time to bring it back. All those plastic poop bags are horrendous for the environment, ending up in landfill (even the degradable ones). Consider some other ways to dispose of your doggie’s mess. If you live in the countryside you could think about burying it but be very careful to dig a hole that’s deep enough because there could be livestock or children around. You could also think about composting with it but do not do this if you’re going to be eating any of the plants because it will get into the food chain.

Pre-loved toys

Just as we do with kids toys and clothes, we should be applying the same logic to our dogs. Give away toys they don’t use to other dog owners, and try to avoid plastic when purchasing new ones. Even better, get creative and make some DIY toys at home. This is a great idea all round as it uses old clothes or fabrics lying around to create rope toys and snuffle mats for your four-legged friend. The added bonus here is that your dog will see you making an effort to produce new toys and will probably be able to smell you on them too!

Be vigilant with wildlife

Follow the countryside code - especially if you’re in an are where there’s livestock or birds nesting, it’s common courtesy to keep your dog on a lead, close or leave open gates (depending on how you found them) and be aware of times in the year when it might not be appropriate to walk in certain areas. This will help protect local animals - let’s face it, birds haven’t had a good time this year with avian flu, so let’s protect them.

Avoid toxic pest-prevention

Loads of flea and tick prevention treatments have toxic chemicals in them such as organophosphates and carbamates which can be really dangerous for your dog and for you. The less toxic chemicals we have in our environments, the better. Try doing the preventative work before reaching for the heavier treatments. Groom your dog, keep pet bedding and household areas clean and you can even get worms that eat flea larvae for your garden soil! If you have to use a treatment, do some research around the ingredients - less toxic ingredients such as s-methoprene or pyriproxyfen are advised.

As you can see, sustainability in dog ownership is often more about scaling back, being conscious rather than spending big bucks on the latest ‘green’ products. We’re all on a drive to consume less and as we can see, this can be so beneficial for our doggies too. Let’s keep them, us and all our surroundings, wildlife and communities healthy!