Every dog owner knows the moment. The walk is going beautifully, and then your dog stops, circles, and you reach for a bag with one hand while the leash tugs in the other. Picking up after your dog is part of the deal. It just doesn't have to feel this awkward.
In this article
Why picking up is such a hassle · Five habits for easier clean-ups · Why the bag-over-the-hand method falls short · A cleaner way to do it
The problem
Why picking up feels like such a hassle
01
Only a thin bag between you
The classic method works, but a thin plastic layer is all that separates your hand from the job.
02
One hand is already busy
Opening a bag, bending down and picking up, all while holding a leash with an impatient dog on the end.
03
Tricky ground
Long grass, gravel and leaves make it hard to pick up everything in one clean go.
04
The forgotten bags
Halfway through the walk, you check your pocket. Empty. Everyone has been there.
What helps
Five habits for easier clean-ups
Keep bags where you can't forget them. Clipped to the leash, not in yesterday's jacket.
Learn your dog's routine. Most dogs go at similar times and places. Being ready makes it quicker.
Use a short leash moment. Shorten the leash while you pick up, so your dog can't pull you off balance.
Tie and bin straight away. Carrying an open bag for the rest of the walk helps nobody.
Put some distance between you and the job. The change most people wish they'd made sooner.
The simple shift
Instead of reaching down with a bag over your hand, let a tool do the reaching. The mess goes straight into the bag, and your fingers never get close.
The setup
A cleaner way to pick up
Hang it from your wrist or the leash, and the bags come with you every time. No more checking empty pockets halfway through the park.
First time
Getting started
Load
Unscrew the handle and drop in a bag roll.
Try at home
Practise the open and close once before your walk.
Rinse
Rinse the claws after use and let them dry.
Always dispose of used bags in a bin, and please pick up after your dog wherever you walk.