What do Australians do with their dog poo? A survey of dog-owning household practices and attitudes

Abstract

ABSTRACT Australian dog owners are seeking sustainable alternatives to dog faecal collection and disposal, such as compostable waste bags and home composting. Little is known about dog owners’ attitudes towards composting dog faeces or how they manage dog faeces within private households. Australian dog owners’ (N = 1054) were surveyed to investigate household demographics, how they collect and dispose of dog faeces, their home composting practices, and their attitudes, experiences, and concerns regarding home composting dog faeces. Within households, most dog faeces were collected using tools such as shovels and scoops more than single use bags. General waste bins were the most common home disposal location followed by organic waste bins, home compost and burial. Few participants included compostable plastic dog waste bags in home compost. Most composted dog faeces were applied to non-edible plants within gardens. Over half of dog owners viewed home composting as a potentially effective disposal method and many wanted to home compost dog faeces but were not yet doing so. Reported challenges included a lack of reliable compost information, hygiene concerns and uncertainty how canine de-worming treatments affect compost. Findings are important for conducting future research that reflects current practices and address dog owners’ main concerns and challenges.