One of the questions we probably do not ask ourselves enough when buying pet products is, “what is this made of?” or “what’s in this?” Well, sometimes ignoring the details is easy, but not always healthy for the furry member of our family (or in our household’s case, our ‘children’).
As we can all attest, pugs are not exactly the hardiest of dogs. Don’t get me wrong, they’re perfect in my eyes, but they sure have some quirks that can get them into trouble quickly. For example, eating everything without a second sniff. Their undiscerning palate can quickly have them inhaling anything catching their fancy.
Whether it’s food, or garbage, or toys, or ‘sidewalk sandwiches’, this behavior can lead to some toxic stuff being ingested. Therefore, it’s comforting to know the products (food, toys, accessories) you surround them with is safe, eco-friendly and environmentally sound.
Aside of safety, it’s important to think about our planet when it comes to consumerism. The pet product industry is HUGE! Think about walking into your local pet store. From plushies, to bones, to clothes, to beauty products, the list is crazy. And, all of these things may or may not check out when it comes to safety, sustainability, and environmental trustworthiness (and pet-friendly) materials.
Plus, think how quickly many of these products are thrown away. How much damage are we doing to the environment? How much extra trash are we contributing to the problem?
Pug Life Magazine to the rescue! We’ve put together a comprehensive list of “Green” Pet Products tailored specifically for your precious Pug. Read on and consider switching to some earth-friendly items for your dog.
You can trust that we maintain strict editorial integrity in our writing and assessments; however, we receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners and get approved. Here’s how we make money.
Wearables
It’s time to get ‘dressed’ and take our morning walk. Looking good is always in a pug’s repertoire. Now you can look good and be green. EcoBark has a rainbow color assortment of comfort dog harnesses made from recycled water bottles. The harness consists of 100% non-toxic, eco-friendly straps and mesh materials. Plus, they’re sturdy, safe, and stylish.
As you probably know, harnesses are the best type of ‘collar’ for pugs due to their stout necks, barrel-chests, and short snouts. We always recommend using a harness for your pug. We can tell you why and offer some harness suggestions in our previous article.
However, sometimes a collar is necessary. We had to have a traditional collar when we took our pugs to Obedience Classes. Also, some doggy daycare businesses require a collar as well. In this case, we would suggest the RescuPets Adjustable Dog Collar. This collar is made of 100% recycled plastic water bottles. RescuPets offers you a soft, durable, and comfortable collar or your money back. That’s buying with confidence!
Once it’s time to clip on the leash, reach for your matching EcoBark Comfort Dog Leash or something flashy like a Fabdog Lead. Both products are made from 100% Recycled Plastic Water Bottles, which is the new standard for eco-friendly apparel in the fashion world. Now you’re ready to walk and take care of business!
Fetch My Poo, Hooman
Just one of the many joys of being owned by a pug is duece cleanup. That precious moment your pug circles for two minutes, they assume position, your eyes meet, and they await your duty of picking up their doody. Despite the nastiness of plucking up a warm turd, you can feel good about the fact that the bag you are using is biodegradable and eco-friendly.
We suggest the following earth friendly brands:
Each of these brands are 100% biodegradable and break down within 18 months to prevent further plastic pollution. So there you go, poo clean-up with peace of mind. How nice.
Consumables
“Is it ti….” That’s usually all I have to say and the dancing starts. Excited gruff barks, sneezes, and jumping against the counters ensue. As fun as this ‘ti...’ is to your pug, it’s also extremely important for their health and wellness.
While food can sometimes be a personal affair, we are just going to promote a few great brands we feel strong about. They all fit right in the theme of this post because they are made from local ingredients, naturally-sourced, sustainably farmed, and free of artificial flavors and animal by-products. These descriptors don’t get much more ‘super crunchy granola peace, man’ do they?
On the health side, their ingredients are fresh, the protein is lean, they are grain-free (which is typically an allergen for dogs), and USDA certified. The ingredients in these gourmet entrees are chosen to keep your best buddy's coat shiny and skin healthy and itch-free. So here you go, the most eco-friendly and healthy yummies for your pug.
Here is our top five list of the best dog food on the market:
Fromm (our pugs eat Fromm’s Salmon A La Veg)
Same deal with treats. There are literally hundreds of brands and types to choose from, but here is our top five list of the best dog treats on the market:
Nom Nom Nom! Enjoy your Pugfast, Pugner, and Treaties time with these eco-friendly choices.
Dinnerware
Now that you have the delicious food picked out, you’ll need a serving receptacle. Now, we know pugs tend to inhale their food in about 20 seconds flat. These slow feeder dog bowls are a central part of tackling the problems of pugs who gulp their food, eat far too quickly, regurgitate, overeat and generally have poor eating habits. Many overweight dogs do all these! Therefore, it’s important to slow the process down, help them enjoy the experience, and aid in digestion.
We have found the following feeders made of 100% recyclable materials as well as biodegradable non-toxic ABS components. Plus, interactive feeder bowls allow your pets mealtimes to be much more as nature intended and stop feed times becoming boring.
JasGood offers a dog feeder maze that will turn your pugs meal into a fun game. It’s various nooks and crannies separate the food, slowing your pug down and challenging their wits.
Seinsync Non-Slip Slow Feeder is just another version of this same concept, but just as cool. It’s main material is a non-toxic bamboo that also biodegrades and is eco-friendly.
HZFS is our next recommendation. I would call it a ‘non-bowl bowl.’ It has a maze similar to the previous two bowls, but without the sides. One of the cool features is it’s made of non-toxic, eco-friendly soft silicone. There is a suction silicone base to prevent it from sliding all over, and the soft nubs keep your pugs eyes safe while the are rooting around for their kibble.
A final few products are the all-in-one Boomro Feeder+Water which is a maze design with eco-friendly ABS materials. And, for the adventurous pug and family, there is the Comsun Collapsible Dog Bowl, and in the water department, the PupCup Eco-Friendly Dog Water Bottle. Both on-the-go products are earth friendly and easy to carry in any backpack or dog daypack.
Around the House
Ugh, the hardest part of any pug and pug-hooman’s day is leaving each other. My heart hurts every time I look into their meepy eyes and say, “Papa will BRB.” However, having the house dog-proofed and possessing all the necessities for success at the very least can ease the mind.
The Safety 1st Nature Next Bamboo Gate is an eco-conscious way to restrict access between rooms. Made from durable bamboo, a renewable resource, the gate also features 100% recycled plastic panels.
For their 6 hour naps, lay down the Eco-Paw Reversible Eco-Friendly Pet Bed. They will ZZZZZZZ in comfort while they dream of you coming home.
If you are housebreaking you pug puppy, or have a dog unable to hold it for a while, Four Paws Wee-Wee Pads are the ecological choice. The absorbent layers are made with bleach-free, dye-free tissue and fluff, and the leak-proof liner is made from 50% recycled material.
If marking is an issue, or your sweet senior is struggling with incontinence issues, we suggest trying Belly Bands. For males, wegreeco makes reusable, washable eco-friendly belly bands. They are machine wash safe and easy to clean. In addition, they give you the option to reuse or recycle them when the time comes. For females, Wegreeco Reusable Dog Diapers offer the protection needed for you, and the comfort needed for your pug. Incontinence issues, females in heat, or excitement urination are quelled with these waterproof diapers.
Still, accidents happen, and there are green cleaners to take care of the messy job. Clean+Green makes a professional-strength carpet and upholstery odor eliminator and stain remover. The solution is made up of purified water, cane sugar derivatives, botanical extracts, and nitrogen (a non-toxic, natural propellant that does not deplete the Ozone). It’s an easy spray and walk away formula and worth a try.
Skout’s Honor also has an all-natural urine destroyer for those larger messes. It is non-toxic, biodegradable, and eco-friendly. Plus, an awesome feature of buying Skout’s Honor is the Skout’s Pledge, which donates a portion of every product sold to rescue animals in need.
Fresh, Clean, and Green
The sweet, sweet aroma of corn chips is a smell that comes along with owning a pug. However, there are times, like after walking (or pulling) in the rain, and maybe more than a week or two without a bath, the odor can become too much. So it’s time for a bath. Here are your earth friendly options.
Pura Naturals has their organic, nourishing oatmeal and aloe shampoo that will have your baby smelling as fresh as peppermint sticks and a crisp bag of Tostitos. Eco’s for Pets also has a earth friendly fragrance-free option if you or your pug are sensitive to certain scents.
If your pug just requires a quick tidy, reach for some Earthbath All Natural Grooming Wipes. They’re perfect for muddy paws or cleaning the grime from their folds. There, now you two, or your grumble, can snuggle in freshness.
Playtime
Time to strike up some zoomies! I love getting my boys worked up into a snorty, spinny, crazy running fit. They have their favorite snuffies they sleep with every night, then wake up every morning by grabbed them and taking them to the couch. It’s adorable!
From bones to chews to fun stuffed animals, here is our list of eco-friendly toys for your pug.
There You Have It…
We hope you can take this jam-packed ‘green’ list and find some awesome eco-friendly items for your pug and home. There’s a lot of comfort in knowing you are providing safe, quality, and healthy products for your fur child, and at the same time, doing some good for the planet. Much love to you and your babies!