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Taking your dog for a walk is one of the best parts of the day — the fresh air is healthy for both you and your pup, and it's a great way to get some exercise in that will make you both feel great. However, one of the worst feelings when you're out taking your dog for a walk? Watching your pup get into a squatting position just as you realize you don't have a bag on hand. Seriously: don't forget to bring dog poop bags, or you'll end up having to use a wayward receipt, tissue, or large leaf to keep your community park clean (we've all been there). The easy-to-carry bags will make scooping poop an easy, mess-free job.
It's not just poop bags you'll need, of course. There are must-have accessories that need to accompany the purchase, like a holder that attaches to any leash for easy access. Here are all the things you'll need to ensure that you never get caught unprepared again:
1. Our Pick for Best Poop Bags
Amazon
Earth Rated Dog Poop Bags (18 Lavender-Scented Rolls) - Amazon, $13.99
These dog poop bags are a serious favorite on Amazon — they have 147,000+ five-star reviews on there, with one summing it up by simply writing "I gave five stars to a poop bag. Enough said." These bags are extra-thick, made with 100% recyclable materials, are leak-proof, and are available in a lavender-scented or an unscented option. One box has 270 bags, so you'll have this for months before you need to refill them. The brand also has an excellent mission: they use some of their profits to help rescue missions and animal shelters.
2. Best Compostable Poop Bags
Doggy Do Good Compostable Waste Bags (60-Count) - Amazon, $10.99
These waste bags are the best option for those who are very, very environmentally-conscious. Earth Rated bags are made out of recyclable materials, but these Doggy Do Good bags take it a step further by being compostable and vegetable-based. They're still thick and leak-proof, and they also donate money to no-kill shelters and animal rescues, so they're another great dog poop bag that does good, too.
3. A Holder for Any Leash
Earth Rated Dog Poop Bag Holder - Amazon, $5.99
Earth Rated took two years to create this dog poop bag holder because they wanted it to be the last one you'd ever buy. If you've ever owned a dog poop bag that didn't work so great for you, you'll know that their improvements definitely remove some of those common annoyances. Instead of a Velcro attachment, it has a sturdy waterproof strap, they've doubled the interior pins that hold the bag sturdy to prevent the roll from moving around, and the bottom screws on and off with ease (no stuffing bags inside the holder). It even can be dropped without cracking. Although this is made by our favorite poop bag company, standard rolls fit inside fine.
4. An All-In-One Bag Holder for Day Trips
Mobile Dog Gear Walking Bag - Amazon, $23.87
If you take your dog out for day-long hikes or short trips, this dog walking bag has a dispenser for you to quickly pull out poop bags — but it also has a ton of other excellent features as well. This bag has reflective straps and an included flashlight so you can safely use this at night, it has a convenient side compartment for a water bottle or umbrella, and a number of zippered compartments to put everything from dog treats to your cell phone.
5. A Must-Have Sanitary Accessory
PuppyDoggy Poop Bag Holder - Amazon, $5.99
Have you ever taken a walk with your dog on a city street or a park and they go to the bathroom, you dutifully pick it up, and you don't see a garbage can in sight? Uh, if you have a dog, the answer to this is yes. This silicone poop bag holder is the solution to this problem: it easily clips onto your leash and holds the poop bag shut until you can find a suitable receptacle to throw the bag away.
This post was originally published on September 26, 2019, and has been updated by Alida Nugent.
