Dog Moms: Reduce Your Carbon Pawprint in These 5 Unusual Ways!

Really rocking the Dog Mom game means flexing some next-level sustainability vibes that help protect our planet along with animals. I’d love for you to take a look at these little-bit-outside-of-the-box dog activities. If one or two of them are a match for your lifestyle, give them a try! They will drop some serious eco-consciousness into your relationship with your dog.

1. Plant a dog-friendly garden full of native plants

Are you a gardener as well as a dog lover? Why not add a bit of biodiversity by adding some native plants that are also safe for your dog to sniff and roll around in? Create a backyard haven for you and your dog while promoting local biodiversity. Audubon provides valuable guidance on selecting native plants perfectly suited to your region. Consult the ASPCA list of toxic plants to ensure the greenery is safe for your pup to explore.

2. Practice taking pet-friendly public transportation

This suggestion is pointed toward you urban dog moms out there. Who’s tried public transportation with your dog? Whether you experiment with bus, subway, or train travel will depend a lot on how comfy your dog is with other people and new experiences, and how dog-friendly your local services are. If you do decide to try this adventure, take it slow by visiting subway stations and bus stops first, and pick a location where you can easily get off at the next stop if your dog prefers a gentle introduction. Are you and your dog already seasoned public transit travelers? I’d love to hear about it!

3. Schedule a recycling day for your unused electronic devices

Tech is amazing and pet tech is fascinating, with trackers, home monitors, and automatic feeders that make life safer and more fun for our dogs. However, more tech means more tech TRASH! Old AirTags,Tiles, trackers and other gadgets break or get drowned in the water bowl or a during a dip at the beach while dangling from our dogs’ collar, and after few years auto-feeders and cameras to monitor pets when they are home alone can get a bit glitchy. And of course, we have our own array of dead laptops and smartphones. Don’t just toss old tech in the trash or let it pile up in closets and drawers around your house -- especially if it’s powered by a lithium-ion battery. Explore local programs or businesses that accept electronic waste and contribute to a greener future. Put a tech-trash day on your calendar today!

4. Watch for environmental hazards while hiking with your dog

Is that soupy green stuff at the pond near where you walk regularly with your dog toxic blue-green algae? Did you notice that someone tipped a truckload of trash along a rural road you were hiking together? If something catches your eye, record the location and give your local environmental office a call or email.

5. Pick up trash while walking your dog!

Sadly, I often encounter plastic water bottles and other items people toss aside when I’m walking Doba and Kobe in Central Park. If you aren’t already, follow my lead and grab a litter bag to scoop up trash on your daily walks to help keep your community looking loved. Your dog might be a bit confused or anxious the first time you step across a ditch or dive under a bush to grab some windblown trash, leaving them at the end of a stretched leash, so take it slow to start. Don’t make your first trash pickup an hours-long community litter sweep. Revisit your dog’s cues to sit and stay and reward them with praise or a treat when they successfully wait for you to emerge from the underbrush. Or just pick up a few pieces every day. What’s one more bag to carry every now and then? You lug along a poop bag for your pup, anyway, right?

And of course – scoop that poop!

I can't really add this to a list of "unusual" activities, since it's something we all should be doing every single day. The most earth-friendly daily task any dog parent can commit to is picking up after their dog. Dog waste can harbor parasites that can infect other animals and humans, and the phosphorus and nitrogen in dog excrement can harm aquatic life and contribute to toxic algae blooms when it washes into ditches and streams. I also purchase poop bags made from recycled materials.

While I know it’s no fun at all to pick up after someone else’s dog, I’ve taken on that role when I can. Extra points to you if you tackle scooping a "stranger poop" on your walk, now and then!

What else can you do to reduce your carbon pawprint?

Here at Dog Mom Lifestyles, we look for vegan-friendly options for our self-care products, and the beautiful cardboard boxes that come to you each month include recycled materials. I’m always keeping my eye out for earth-friendly products to share. For example, I love including products from Spunky Pup Clean Earth Collection, made from 100% food-grade recycled plastic water bottles, keeping plastic waste from oceans and landfills. If you have any favorite brands, let me know!

Come check out our favorite Dog Mom Lifestyle gifts and come on by Facebook to tell us about your own eco-friendly dog activities. By embracing even just one or two of the unusual yet practical options I’ve shared here, you’ll be contributing to a healthier planet while ensuring you and your dog lead happier eco-friendly lives!