We’ve already reviewed how to green your cat adoption and given our feline a chance to chat about his sustainable lifestyle, but what can those with canines do?

My good friend Maria has an adorable dog, Baxter. Today, we’ll address how to green your dog to help Maria and Baxter become as sustainable as possible.

How to Green Your Dog

From the moment you bring home your pup until their old years, here’s 8 ways to green your dog:

1. Pick Organic & Natural Dog Food:

• Read labels of dry dog food, and try to go organic (and grain-free to avoid unnecessary fillers) if you can. Avoid ethoxyquin, a food preservative and pesticide linked with a variety of health problems including liver issues and mutations. Also steer clear of “meat and bone meal”, which is typically made from animals that are dead, dying, diseased or disabled.
• Choose organic & natural dog treats, too! The less ingredients (or leaving out unreadable ones) is a good rule of thumb.
• Try to avoid canned dog food, since they’re lined with BPA. BPA lines dog (and people) food cans, potentially affecting brains, reproductive glands and possibly even increasing miscarriages. This chemical isn’t good for you, nor your little canines. You can make a batch of food for your dog with these recipes or try to look for alternative packaging in the store.

2. Dog bowls:

• Use stainless steel or ceramic bowls instead of plastic. It will last longer (therefore eliminating a replacement when it breaks) and leaves chemicals out of your doggy’s food.

3. Doggy grooming:

• Your dog’s shampoo will get absorbed into his or her skin or inevitably licked off. Keep your dog clean and healthy by choosing brands with non-toxic, organic or biodegradable ingredients. Dog Time has a list of green dog shampoos for suggestions.

4. Toys:

Dogs looove chasing the toys. Luckily, there’s a ton of recycled, organic and low impact goods. Also, don’t be mislead by the ‘natural’ label – It typically doesn’t hold much substance since ‘natural’ isn’t a regulated term.

5. Dog beds:

Your pup deserves the best bed as well. Organic cotton versions come in plenty of styles and shapes.

6. Dog poop:

Obviously, everyone needs to be a responsible dog owner and clean up after their dog. Regardless if your city has a plastic bag fee or ban, there’s many ways to pick up after your dog. Any plastic bag you receive (bread bags, muffins, newspapers) can double as doggy-doo duty. Don’t want to go plastic bags? Yogurt cups, pooper scoopers, paper bags and other sturdy containers can also be used. Just make sure never to throw it in with your compost bin or leave it around – trash that $hit.

7. Spay or Neuter your pet

There’s so many awesome pets at local shelters, so PLEASE. Don’t shop, adopt!

8. BFF (Best Furry Friend) For Life

A dog is a man’s best friend, although I’ll argue cats are the feline BFFs. When you adopt an animal, it’s yours for life. Not until you move, have a child, it starts misbehaving or meows/barks consistently at 3 AM for a midnight snack.

Thanks to Maria & Baxter, our spokesdog & model for this post!

Photos: Pokeys Ponderings & María Paredes-Fernández

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Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake. View all posts by Julie Hancher