The Best Dog Poop Bags

Most dog parents would agree that interacting with their dog is one of the most rewarding and therapeutic activities any animal lover can experience. Walking them, playing with them, even standing by as they do their “business” before heading back home. It’s all fun and games until you try using substandard dog poop bags to clean up after them.

Even though you love your dog, there’s no doubt that very few dog parents relish the thought of having wet dog poop all over their hands. The best dog poop bags are not only easy to use, but they do a great job containing the poop and the smell. They don’t tear, exposing your bare hands to the poop. If they happen to be reasonably priced, even better!

Buying the right pet waste bags may seem like an easy task, but all too often it can end up being a nightmare without the right kind of preparation.

We have taken the time to do our research and test a few of the dog poop bags on the market today. We can honestly say that we have found some that are worth your consideration. Here are our top recommendations for dog poop bags:

Best Overall: Heart of Tafiti Compostable Dog Poop Bags

• Eco-friendly: Yes
• Standard Dispenser: Yes
• Heavy Duty: Yes

You will be hard-pressed to find another dog poop bag as highly certified as the Heart of Tafiti Compostable Dog Poop Bags. A few of its accolades include it’s the highest-rated ASTM D6400, OK Compost Home Certification, and European standard EN 13432. All of which goes to show that experts have run all manner of tests and placed all kinds of stringent standards on the manufacturing and production process, and this bag has surpassed all expectations.

This is why these poop bags take the coveted “Best Overall” spot on our list. These bags are compostable and will degrade in about 90 days. This means that you can bury them in your backyard, without creating a nasty landfill situation back there.

These bags are super-thick, moderate-sized at 9 x 13 inches, and leak-proof. They are also quite easy to use and tear off the roll, so you don’t have to struggle with that bit of the business. The bags also come with a reusable dispenser that has a carabineer-style clip that conveniently attaches to your dog’s leash.

What We Like

• The bags are easily compostable
• They can fit into most standard-sized dispensers
• They are super-thick and leak-proof
• They are affordable

What We Don’t Like

• The rolls don’t fit in every dispenser

Best Value Pack: SVD Pet Compostable Poop Bags with Retractable Dispenser

• Eco-friendly: Yes
• Standard Dispenser: Yes
• Heavy Duty: Yes

There are a few features that make these SVD Pet Compostable Poop Bags with Retractable Dispenser stand out from the competition. For one thing, they are made out of certified compostable cornstarch and have no plastic. This makes them excellent for the environment.

Secondly, they come with a unique dispenser featuring a patent-pending design. Designed for efficiency, this dispenser has a button that retracts any unused bags back into the roll. You no longer have to worry about dismantling the holder and manually re-rolling the bags when you inevitably pull the roll out too far.

Finally, one of the main reasons why these SVD Pet Compostable Poop Bags with Retractable Dispenser took the “Best Value Pack” slot is because you get two unique dispensers and 90 waste bags (6 rolls of 15 waste bags)!

What We Like

• The bags are thick, odor-proof, and leak-proof
• The pack comes with two unique dispensers
• The dispensers can be refilled with some standard-sized rolls
• It comes with a built-in used poop bag holder

What We Don’t Like

• Other standard-sized rolls don’t always fit quite as effectively

Best Flushable Option: Doodie Flush

• Eco-friendly: Yes
• Standard Dispenser: Yes
• Heavy Duty: Yes

These Doodie Flush Bags are made out of PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol) which is the same stuff that wraps around dissolvable detergent. They dissolve quickly in water, but not so quickly that you have a hard time using them when you are out for a long walk. They are heavy-duty enough to hold the poop in until you can toss it into your toilet.

What makes these Doodie Flush bags stand out from the crowd is the fact that they are both dissolvable and compostable. This gives you options when it comes to disposal. You can either wait to flush it down the toilet, or you can simply toss it into a trash can. Either way, you are covered.

The biggest issue, however, is that the bag begins to dissolve as soon as it comes into contact with moisture, such as rain, snow, or runny dog poop. It won’t completely break down, but that could be a concern for the more self-aware dog lover.

What We Like

• They dissolve completely in water
• They are compostable
• They are easy to use

What We Don’t Like

• The bag needs to remain untied after use

Best Compostable Option: Give A Sh!T Poop Bags

• Eco-friendly: Yes
• Standard Dispenser: Yes
• Heavy Duty: Yes

Being made out of 100% botanical plant components such as BPAT (Biodegradable and Compostable Polymer), cornstarch, and edible glycerin, gives these Give A Sh!T Poop Bags the “Best Compostable” spot on our list. These bags break down easily in both home and commercial composting systems across the country. You can even compost them with the poop intact.

It is advisable, however, to only put these bags in composting systems for non-edible plants, such as your flower bed.

Apart from being highly compostable, these Give A Sh!T Poop Bags are also about 30% sturdier than most poop bags on the market. While many other options are only 13 microns thick, these Give A Sh!T Poop Bags are 18 microns thick. This makes them more reliable than other options.

What We Like

• They are highly compostable
• Very sturdy
• Easy to use

What We Don’t Like

• The first bag on the roll may rip as you take off the sticker

Best User-Friendly Option: Mutt Mitt Bags

• Eco-friendly: No
• Standard Dispenser: No
• Heavy Duty: Yes

Let’s face it, some of us are more squeamish than others, especially when it comes to handling dog poo. Even though we love our fury friends, picking up after them might not be our favorite activity. If you concur, these Mutt Mitt Bags might be exactly what you need.

Mutt Mitt Bags are not only opaque, but they are also 2-ply. These plastic dog poop bags are thick enough to keep your hands protected from the mess that your dog makes as well as the radiating heat from the poop, which is what most squeamish dog parents don’t like to feel.

Using these bags is super easy. All you have to do is put your hand inside, pick up the poop, turn it inside out, tie it off, and dispose of it. You won’t feel the radiating heat or pick up any scent from the dog poop inside the bag.

What We Like

• Easy to use
• Heavy duty
• You won’t feel the radiating heat

What We Don’t Like

• They aren’t eco-friendly

Buyer’s Guide: What to Look for When Buying the Best Dog Poop Bags

As you can see from the list above, there’s a whole range of dog poop bags that come with a host of bells and whistles to try and differentiate themselves from the competition.

Terminologies such as “biodegradable”, “eco-friendly”, “compostable”, and “degradable” are just a few of the qualities that make choosing the right dog poop bag quite a chore. Thankfully, they also make our lives that much easier, especially if you are a dog parent who also loves the environment.

Environmentally concerned or not, you still need to find the best solution for cleaning up after your dog. Here are some of the key factors that you should consider when buying the best dog poop bags for your pup:

Eco-Friendly Bags

There’s no doubt that we need to consider the environment any time we buy plastic products. Each year, about 140 million tons of waste are deposited in landfills across the globe. Not all of this waste is recycled, and as a result, the environment around the landfills is polluted almost beyond recovery.

It’s our duty to reduce this mess and clean up our world. As such, finding the eco-friendliest dog poop bags should be a top priority. Although that is much easier said than done.

Of all the available options, cornstarch dog waste bags come highly recommended by experts. Mostly because they are compostable, which makes them eco-friendlier than their biodegradable counterparts.

Rolls or Loose Bags?

This comes down to a matter of personal preference. Some dog lovers prefer using poop holders or dispensers, which makes them more amenable to rolls, while others prefer loose bags. Either way, you will find both options on our list.

Affordability

This comes down to personal finances, but it does play a huge role in cleaning up after your dog. Unfortunately, cheaper products are almost always worse products. These bags are often thin, weak, and don’t do a great job concealing contents. Not only is this unpleasant for you as the owner, but for everyone else, you might encounter on your walk.

It’s better to spend a little bit more to have dog poop bags that are not only eco-friendly but also reliable and scented, if that’s your preference.

Choosing the best dog poop bags involves figuring out which product aligns with your needs and preferences. If you want the eco-friendliest options, then you might be best suited for bags such as the easily compostable Give A Sh!T Poop Bags or our best flushable option, Doodie Flush.

If, however, you are after the best of the best, try Heart of Tafiti Compostable Dog Poop Bags. These bags check all the right boxes. They are eco-friendly, heavy-duty, easily compostable, flushable, and affordable. This is why they are our top pick for the best dog poop bags.

FAQ:

Q: What are the best ways to dispose of a used dog poop bag?

A: This depends on the kind of dog poop bag you use. The first and simplest way to dispose of a used dog poop bag is to put it in a trash can. Another option would be to flush it down the toilet, but only if the dog poop bag is water-soluble.

Q: Why should I pick up after my dog?

A: There are several reasons why you need to pick up after your dog. For one thing, it’s a legal requirement in most regions. Even if it weren’t a legal requirement, it’s common courtesy toward your fellow human beings. Dog poop stinks, and since dogs tend to go wherever they please, their poop presents a challenge for those who would be walking by unaware of the poop in their path.

Dog poop is a pollutant that contributes to about 30% of the bacteria that are found in our water. Picking up after your dog simply minimizes the chances of that particular piece of poop contributing to water pollution.

Q: Do dog poop bags expire?

A: Most manufactured products have an expiration date. The shelf-life of the dog poop bags you use will depend on the dog poop bags you choose. For the most part, degradable dog poop bags have a shelf-life of about 12 to 18 months.