Is your dog earth friendly? With 35% of Canadians as dog owners, there is a need to do your part in being an eco-friendly dog owner. The sustainable journey doesn’t stop when it comes to our pets, here’s how you can get started today!

Compostable Waste Bags

Let’s start with dog waste, there are 7.7 million pet dogs in Canada, so all that poo really adds up! First thing you want to look for is COMPOSTABLE bags, not biodegradable bags. There is a difference—biodegradable bags can still contain plastic, and you don’t want that.

Double check with your municipality to confirm how to dispose of dog poop. You can also flush your furry friend’s waste, without the bag, of course!

Dog Treats and Food

It’s important to look into the ingredients within your dog’s food and treats. A lot of resources go into making dog food and treats.

Research suggests that pet food is already responsible for around a quarter of the environmental impacts of meat production.

It’s important to look for local alternatives to help the environment! There are so many great Canadian dog food, treats, and toy companies! Wilder Harrier (pictured below) is one, based in Quebec, they make dog food from farmed insects. They also make treats from leftover fruit and veggie pulp they get from another Quebec based juice company!

Grooming

If you do grooming at home it’s important to look for the materials that make up your products. Make sure the products you buy are made from materials that are compostable and recyclable. One of the easiest ways to start is to make your own grooming products.

DIY Dog Shampoo

A great and sustainable alternative? Give this DIY dog shampoo a try!

DIY DOG SHAMPOO ingredients:

• 2-3 tablespoons of liquid unscented castille soap
• 4 cups of hot water
• 1 cup of white or apple cider vinegar

To begin, mix the soap and water together. Mix with a spoon or whisk until the soap solids are dissolved. Then, add 1 cup of white or apple cider vinegar. Lastly, Pour ingredients into a bottle for storage. Make sure that you shake well before each use. Remember that the mixture should not be overly sudsy.

DIY Dry Dog Shampoo

Sometimes giving your dog a bath is a hard thing to do. If they just needs a little pick me up, you can always use a doggie dry shampoo. Everybody needs a good dry shampoo!

DIY DOG DRY SHAMPOO:

• ¼ cup cornstarch
• ½ cup baking soda
• 3-5 drops of lavender essential oil

To begin, mix all the ingredients together and pour into a bottle. A bottle with a shaker lid will work great. Then, brush your dog first and shake the dry shampoo into your dog’s coat. Using your hands, rub your dog’s coat and work that shampoo in. Lastly, brush again and dry towel your dog off!