HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT ONE PAW PRINT AT A TIME

So, you are trying to be more environmentally friendly! You use less plastic, recycle, and try to be less wasteful, but what about your dog? Do you still buy him lots of toys and grooming products? Have you ever wondered just how eco-friendly your dog really is?

It’s a question I asked myself a few years ago when I moved to the coast and could see all the microplastics caught in the seaweed on the beach. It was shocking. And don’t get me started on the poo bags left by bins, halfchewed dog balls and toys, and the polystyrene fish and chip boxes. I’m no eco-warrior, but I thought my dog needed to join me in being a bit more ecofriendly, helping the planet, one paw print at a time!

I started by ensuring I was using fully compostable poo bags, not just Earth- friendly bags. Then I looked into changing his toys; Bertie is a shredder; he will do anything to get to the squeaker inside or strip the surface of a tennis ball. I decided there would be no more plastic for him! Just recycled cotton toys or cardboard, no nasty plastic squeakers that go straight in the bin, no plastic cord or shredded fabric destined for landfill.

I thought about his grooming products, the shampoos in big nasty plastic bottles that were neither natural nor long-lasting and didn’t leave his coat feeling glossy or shiny.

Little did I know that it was to become my business and something I was passionate about.

I use shampoo bars on myself, a total convert, so I explored the market for my dog, and all I found were human soaps masquerading as dog shampoo bars! Then lockdown was enforced, and my day job went quiet, and so I started thinking about developing a shampoo bar for Bertie. One that left him moisturised and didn’t strip his coat as he’s a non-moulting dog. My daughter (a trained vet’s nurse) was with me for the first lockdown; together we started researching and experimenting with ingredients and testing them on ourselves. I launched the business in November 2020, a rare silver lining to Covid 19.

We cracked the holy grail of the doggie shampoo bar, which launched our company, and very soon, a further 4 bars followed, each with a specific purpose.

Then came the game-changing conditioning Coat Oil, initially made for professionals but loved by all, with more balms following. The next item we added to the range was ‘tug toy’s made from recycled cotton t-shirt material. All of this was boosted by appearing in Vogue, The Sun, Forbes Magazine, The Mail, Total Grooming, Top Dog, Woman and Home, Ruffle Snuffle, BBC Radio, and various other media outlets.

It’s been a rollercoaster, but myself, my daughter and our dogs, are loving it!

So, here’s a question: do you know what is in your dog grooming products? Are you sure? I mean, it might say on the label, but would you be surprised to hear that there are no regulations covering what goes in them or that the maker doesn’t have to list or disclose all of the ingredients?

I found this out when I sent my new business products for testing; I was as shocked as you.

I wouldn’t want to use anything without considering the contents, the packaging, the sustainability and the appropriateness for use on my dog. Same as I wouldn’t for me. I’m a member of the Pet Industry Federation, and there is no certification to prove my products are safe for dogs. Mad, isn’t it?

This is my next mission. You should always know exactly what is going onto (and into!) your dog; I want to create some noise and get this changed. I have started very gently questioning the situation. I list absolutely every tiny little thing that goes into our products, and yes, that does mean questions as to what and why it’s there, which is totally welcome and indeed encouraged!

Eco-centric products do not equate to underperforming products; our award-winning soaps and oils have to work for professionals and the everyday dog. Education of dog owners is key to moving to a more eco and

Pup Suds XL Tail Wagging Travel Bag prize

Perfect for get-aways, contains our award winning and 5* best sellers:

◼ 1 mini Anti-Stink Anti-Fox Poo Travel Shampoo Bar

◼ 1 The Coat Oil conditioner (as used by Crufts winners!)

◼ 1 cotton waffle Travel Towel

◼ 1 Nose & Paw Balm

◼ 1 Tasty Training Treats in a tin

We have one fabulous bag to give away. You can enter via the Vanity Fur Magazine social media pages or on our website: www.vanityfurmagazine.co.uk/pupsuds UK shipping only sustainable dog ownership.

At Pup Suds, we source locally where possible, but also in the UK and Europe as it is really hard keeping it close to home and still maintain a profitable business. We support charities, businesses, and people locally, offering competition prizes; we give a percentage of our takings to a rescue charity, Tibetan Terrier Rescue UK.

We attend local dog training classes to give talks about sustainable and ethical products for your dogs. We collaborate with many other small businesses to provide products for them (if our ethics are aligned). We champion other ethical start-ups, helping share the costs and knowledge. It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there (forgive the pun!), but there’s plenty of business for us all if we work together ethically.

Our customers and retailers love us for many reasons: the products work, the ingredients are thoughtfully sourced and sustainable, and the packaging is recyclable, compostable, and reusable. They appreciate that the products are also incredibly long-lasting, with little or no waste. They are helping to improve the world by improving their own world and that of their dogs.

And the future? Pup Suds will continue to invest in its ethical ethos to educate, improve our surrounding environment, and provide products that delight and deliver our promises to our customers.

So where will you start your eco-dog journey? Let’s work together to ensure there will be lots more eco, soft, fluffy, moisturised, glossy, sweet-smelling dogs in the world. Let’s make that difference, one paw at a time.

WWW.PUPSUDS.CO.UK

The iconic Dukes Place cross body bag. Now crafted in our new premium Heirloom jacquard. A signature woven material with a tiled pattern made up of Scottie dogs. The same multicompartment shape with slim, contrast leather trims and all your favourite Radley London features. - Crafted in Heirloom woven jacquardSlim leather trims - Detachable cross body strap - Two zipped compartments - Central compartment with magnetic fastening - Metal Radley London logo letters - Detachable Scottie dog key fob - Comes with a Radley London dust bag