Ecology is one of the main topics of our time, and a lot of dog owners are thinking of how they can apply it to their pets. Although we don't have so many options in dog care yet, we can still try to be as gentle to our planet as possible.
For me, ecology is a big topic, so it's no wonder I've always been looking for ways to take care of my pets. I have already written some tips for cat care here, now it's time to put dogs in the spotlight.
Package free shops are a big eco trend for us people, but it's quite hard to do in terms of dog care. It's true that some pet stores sell package free kibble using open bags from different brands. This could be a solution for owners of smaller dogs who can't finish a big pack before it expires. However, I'm not a big supporter of this, because you never know how long the bag has been opened, how it was stored and whether it has been contaminated.
I am in favor of buying the largest possible package that you can consume before its expiry. Keep in mind that you can significantly increase the shelf life by proper storage. Some manufacturers even pack kibble in environmentally friendly materials.
Bigger packages are always better, so I prefer canned food to pouches. But there are dogs that won't eat an opened can the next day. In such cases, there's no other option but to reconcile with a bigger amount of waste, as denying them wet food wouldn't be quite fair.
Today it's not hard to find everything else you need to care for your dog made of environmentally friendly materials, from bowls to toys and beds. The range of products isn't large, but it's certainly sufficient. It's also good to avoid buying useless things. I don't mean you shouldn't get your dog a toy, but it doesn't need a full basket of them.
What you will certainly have to deal with in terms of ecology as a dog owner is how to dispose of dog excrements. It's simply not possible to be completely zero waste. It's true that some will take a shovel along and burry the excrement, but I don't consider this to be the best solution. First of all, with a large number of dogs in large cities, there would be nowhere to bury it, and secondly, I'm not sure what impact it would have on the spread of parasites and diseases.
In my opinion, the most environmentally friendly option are paper bags with a scoop, which some municipalities distribute free of charge close to garbage bins. However, I'm sure you'll agree with me that using them isn't the easiest. There is also the option of bioplastic bags, but they are pretty expensive. The last option that comes to mind is the use of plastic bags that have already been used at home.
Does this topic concern you? How do you deal with it? If you have another tip on how to take care of dogs in a more environmentally friendly way, I would be very happy to hear them. Let's inspire and support each other in our effort.
Cats are no longer the outside countryside homeless animals that come closer to a house just for a while when they are in the mood for it. Rather the opposite, they have started living in city flats and have adjusted to our lifestyle. However, it’s...
Rabbits are popular pets especially for city flats. It’s because they don’t require a lot of space and don’t need to go outside very often (no garden needed). However, it doesn’t mean taking care of them is easy and no time or efforts are needed. We...
It sounds lovely: a dog gets a command, it does it and gets a treat or a reward for that. It won’t end with one moment in the perfect case and it will become the basic idea of a whole training for a dog that will become an obedient pet using positive...
Every dog owner knows that feeling when (s)he has to leave house to work or (s)he can’t take his/her pet with him/her for any reason and (s)he doesn’t know what’s going to happen. Can a dog handle the situation or will it bark and go on the rampage?...
Fear is natural for people and everyone has their own fears. While someone is scared of spiders, heights or confined spaces, others are scared of dogs. This fear is common in children who haven’t explored the world so well yet and who don’t know the...
Guinea pigs are popular pets especially in families with kids. They are small animals that can bring a lot of joy. If you consider buying a guinea pig, there are some aspects you shouldn’t neglect before making the decision. We talked about what to...
Have you heard about sport called Disc Dog? It basically consists of throwing a disc to your dog that fetches it. Disc Dog can be done as a recreational or a professional sport. For professional competitors, there are several disciplines for which...
Siberian Cat is quite a new breed that was only recognized by the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) in 1992. It emerged from crossbreeding domestic cats and breeds brought from the Near East and it found its home in Russia and Ukraine where it...
Most of us have this long thought-to-be-true idea that one dog year equals to seven human years. So, if you have a two-year-old puppy at home, it is already 14 years old when compared to humans. Therefore, if you have a ten-year-old dog at home, it is...
Breast milk is, in the beginning of life, the best thing a pup can get from its mother. It is full of the nutrients it needs to grow and develop properly. However, as the offsprings grow, milk needs to be supplemented with other food, so they are...
Cat lovers and breeders know very well that one cat is often not enough, and that there is sometimes a need to get another cat companion. However, this decision will affect the whole household and, above all, it is necessary to prepare the cat you...
Many of us are under the influence of the need to fulfill a dream of getting an unconventional pet, which the minipig certainly is. This trend has been present in the Czech Republic for about ten years. But don’t be fooled by those cute snouts, taking...
