April is Earth Month worldwide, and Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 to draw awareness to the environment and take action to preserve our beautiful planet. All creatures great and small deserve clean air and water, gorgeous preserved natural areas, and abundant natural resources to sustain life beyond this generation.
Celebrating Earth Day is not just for humans! There are concrete ways to make a difference in the world while including your puppy to reduce your carbon pawprint. You can strengthen your bond with your puppy and create lifelong memories while helping the environment simultaneously, a win-win for all!
Ready to help celebrate Earth Day alongside your puppy? After all, dogs love being outside and going on adventures with you. Grab your hemp leash and biodegradable waste bags! Here are some ways to celebrate Earth Day with your dog so you can have fun with your puppy in a sustainable way that honors our amazing planet.
Earth Day Activities For You and Your Puppy
Don’t know where to start? Some Earth Day activities can be done around your home, while others are more elaborate requiring some prior planning. Check out our ideas to get you and your puppy outside while saving the Earth.
For health and safety purposes, your puppy should be fully vaccinated with core puppy vaccinations before going on any adventures to ensure their well-being. Make sure to prepare by packing what you need for your outing.
Take a hike
The best way to appreciate our planet’s resources is to get outside and immerse yourself in it to experience it in all its glory. Puppies love being outside with so many new sights and scents to explore.
Hiking is a great way to exercise for humans and puppies, work on puppy manners, and experience the Great Outdoors with your puppy. However, you’ll need to ensure you’re hiking respectfully to our planet.
Anytime you’re out in a public space, you’ll need to be familiar with the rules. Look them up online or visit the information station to see what is required of pet owners.
- Pick up waste in biodegradable waste bags and dispose of it properly. Leaving it out on the trail can harm wildlife, and no one wants to discover evidence your puppy has been there!
- Know the leash rules and follow them. Several places require dogs to be on sturdy leashes no more than six feet long. If you allow your dog off-leash, you could cause several problems with other dogs, people, and wildlife in the area. Many dogs, while well-trained, have an innate instinct to go after prey, especially terriers or scenthounds. Other dogs love to run long distances, and all may struggle with recall. The excuse, “Oh, he’s friendly!” is not courteous or welcome because other dogs may be reactive, or not everyone welcomes a boisterous dog running towards them.
- Follow the “Leave No Trace” policy and take only photos for memories (with the exception of our next section’s suggestion). Leave vegetation like wildflowers or sticks where they are to leave the ecosystem intact.
Speaking of taking things - do pick up trash
While “Leave No Trace” is important, the one thing you can take with you from the environment is any trash you see. Carry a trash bag and collect trash along the way, especially if you are on a public greenway or local trail in a more urban or heavily used area. Wildlife can choke on or ingest trash, causing health problems and affecting the local population. Trash can leach harmful chemicals and materials into the soil and waterways, even affecting humans in addition to hundreds of delicate species. Removing trash is truly the best way to leave a place better than you found it.
Bloom where you’re planted
One sustainable and beautiful way to help the planet is to plant a tree or garden or create a natural habitat for other animals. Just think about your puppy frolicking in the afternoon sunlight chasing butterflies, checking out bugs, and napping in the shade. Your puppy may even “help” by digging a hole for you! It’s fascinating to watch your puppy grow alongside something you’ve planted in its honor. It’s also a lovely way to memorialize a beloved pet that has passed over the Rainbow Bridge.
Plan out your planting before you begin. Gain permission for the space you want, and check the soil to see if it’s rich enough to sustain your vegetation. Be sure to choose native plants to blend in and enhance the environment rather than cause major problems with invasive species. Incorporate water-saving features like rain barrels or drought-resistant landscaping depending on your climate.
The most important factor to consider is avoiding harmful pesticides, herbicides, and plants that are poisonous to dogs. Stay away from:
- Aloe
- Lilies
- Tulips
- Azaleas
- Sago Palm
- Philodendrons
- Garlic and Onion
Instead, select these dog-friendly plants instead:
- Basil
- Bromeliad
- Parlor palm
- Money trees
- Baby’s breath
- Gerbera daisies
Recycle and upcycle
We all know how to reduce, reuse, and recycle, but what does that look like for puppies? One obvious way is to recycle dog food cans, certain plastics, and packaging you acquire when purchasing pet products.
Puppies are always growing, and you probably have a collection of items in good condition but are now too small. Gather all items you don’t need anymore and donate them to a dog rescue organization or animal shelter. Some also take old, clean sheets, towels, and blankets.
Even if you are not crafty, there are plenty of ways to upcycle household items into toys and accessories for your puppy. DIY projects are also easy on your wallet! You can make dog sweaters out of an old sweater with just a pair of scissors, or be more elaborate and build a toy box from scrap wood. Check out our suggestions for DIY mentally stimulating toys and brain games for dogs you can make with items that may have exhausted their original purposes to give them a new life with your puppy.
Purchase Earth-friendly pet supplies
Did you know that several pet products are made with materials toxic to dogs? How can you tell before you potentially harm the Earth and your puppy?
Look for items from certified B-Corporation pet companies. A B-Corp positively impacts the planet by using its profits for good. Meeting transparency, accountability, and social and environmental performance are all factors in certification.
Check out these B-Corp pet companies that are making a difference in sustainably sourced, eco-friendly puppy products:
- P.L.A.Y. Pet Lifestyle and You is a company that specializes in the creation and design of safe, responsibly made, and eco-friendly pet beds and toys.
- Natural Pet is proud to be the first pet food and treat company in North America to become a Certified B Corporation.
- Organic Pet Boutique features products from various companies that are not only organic and sustainable but also American-made, woman-made, hand-crafted, or family-owned.
In addition to looking for products from Certified B-Corps, you can check the local aisle of your favorite pet supply store. Researching and choosing pet products from environmentally responsible companies should start before you step food inside. Seek out biodegradable or compostable poop bags when shopping. Some pet-friendly cleaners are plant-based and come in recyclable packaging. Opt for toys and leashes crafted from recycled materials. Choose human-grade treats and dog food. Not only will these choices benefit the planet, but they'll also enhance your dog's well-being.
Shop locally, think globally
When searching for the best deal online, it’s easy to purchase things with a click of a button and have them show up at your home two days later. However, you might not consider how your products get to your house, including shipping logistics via international barges, trains, planes, or trucks. The carbon footprint of the logistics industry is astronomical with not enough company policies to offset their impact.
You can reduce your carbon pawprint by shopping locally. Staying close to home and traveling within a small radius is good for the environment, and you’ll be supporting the local small business economy. Many brick-and-mortar local stores are puppy-friendly and serve as a community hub for pet lovers. Those who make hand-crafted items get to share their beautiful and practical creations for your puppy to enjoy.
How much more local can you get than in your own kitchen? Earth Day is a great way to try out some DIY homemade dog treats with puppy-friendly ingredients. You could even use spinach to make them green in honor of Earth Day!
Before feeding homemade treats to your puppy, check with your veterinarian to make sure they are a good choice for your puppy’s individual needs. These foods are just some of several safe ingredients to use in puppy treats:
- Oats
- Apples
- Carrots
- Cheese
- Spinach
- Pumpkin
- Strawberries
- Sweet potato
- Peanut butter
- Unsweetened yogurt
Attend a dog-friendly Earth Day event
Look for a dog-friendly Earth Day event for the community that celebrates how to be good stewards of the environment for canines and humans. Events can include workshops, sustainable products, demonstrations, samples, music, planting events, and contests with pet accessories and costumes made from upcycled materials. Your puppy's tail will wag in excitement as they explore eco-friendly exhibits and interact with other dogs, fostering socialization skills in a welcoming environment.
Make a Pawrade Puppy Your Whole World
Want to celebrate your next Earth Day with a dog by your side? First, you need a puppy!
When searching for puppies to adopt, you may be overwhelmed by all your options. That’s why turning to Pawrade to adopt your forever puppy will be the best course of action you take to enhance your world!
We are proud to offer secure, scam-free pet adoptions for all our puppies. Our service is based upon a fundamental belief that adding a puppy to your family should not come with the risk of many unknowns. We earn your trust through transparency, communication, and delivering our promises.
Pawrade takes care of finding reputable breeders for you. We are extremely selective in who we work with, and each breeder must pass a rigorous selection process to be accepted into our program. From there, you choose a puppy and begin your seamless journey with a Puppy Concierge team assisting you through the process, from the moment you reserve your puppy to after delivery.
Ready to make a Pawrade puppy the center of your world? Browse our puppies for sale, and we can’t wait to see what a difference a Pawrade puppy brings to your life!
