Since moving to Amsterdam, I've been on a little journey of becoming more mindful of the impact we have on the environment. As a doggo mum, I wanted to bring it into that part of my life too.
The good news is, I found it wasn’t that hard to make small changes for the better. It’s actually pretty easy once you turn it on.
Here are some tips on becoming a more eco-conscious dog pawrent:
Avoid plastic.
Because of its long-term harmful impact on the environment, plastic should be the first thing we cross off the shopping list. For example, switching your regular poop bags to bio degradable ones. Pay attention to packaging of products, can you reuse it? Recycle? And If you have a brand you love that still isn’t on the plastic-free train, send them a pawsitive suggestion. If they’re awesome, they’ll listen!
Choose Natural products
Double think the grooming products you are investing in. It took me little searching to find smaller local companies creating quality stuff, with natural ingredients and conscious packaging. Say no to plastic bottles and choose shampoo bars instead, they're long lasting and easier to keep.
And remember your cupboard is full of doggo-friendly ingredients: Oatmeal & coconut oil are great aids towards healthy looking skin and coat.
Go Vintage
Normalize the vintage doggo life. We have a little corner at the end of our street that has slowly turned into what I call “the bermuda triangle”. It started as a library and now people leave all sorts of things that they no longer need. The point is, there is always someone else that needs/wants what no longer serves you. Same goes for doggos, right? Clothing and toys will always make another fren happy.
Check your Food
Remember that beef is the one of the most polluting food productions out there. Make sure you choose a brand that takes sustainability seriously, or pick an alternative altogether. There are a lot of dog foods out there, with a little research you’ll find conscious companies that truly care about your dog’s nutrition and its impact on the planet.
You can also try making your own doggo treats. Here’s our favourite quickie recipe:
1 cup oat or coconut flour (you can make oat flour by blending rolled oats)
1 large banana (ripe!)
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 tbsp peanut butter
Mix all ingredients, roll dough into whatever shape you like and bake in a pre-heated 175°
oven for 15-20 minutes, or until golden.
Keep it minimal
This one is a current work in progress over here. It is so easy to get caught up in the dog product world, and that “just one more toy/lead/outfit” mentality. The truth is, our dogs don’t need all that stuff, they need our time and love, some food and that’s it (in Lilo’s case, food being the first). I made a deal with myself that every time I buy something new, I donate/sell something Lilo already had. I’ll say it again, we gotta normalize the vintage lifestyle – for hoomans AND doggos.