Talking About Green

Going green is a popular topic nowadays. There are green cars, green improvements you can do on your home, and many other ways you can decrease the size of your environmental footprint. One of those ways is to consider changing your dog’s lifestyle to a more green one. Ways to do this include buying organic food, using dog supplies only made from organic or recycled materials, and purchasing an all natural or organic dog bed for him. Organic dog beds come in a variety of styles and materials to fit your particular taste. If your dog has allergies or health problems, an organic bed may help him, as many of them repel dust mites, mildew, mold, fungus, bacteria, and in spite all this are still completely machine washable.Many options exist for the pet owner who wants to upgrade their dog’s bed to a more eco-friendly one: Hemp, latex, all natural cotton are some of them. We’ll start by examining hemp. Hemp is a crop that grows without the need for pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizer. It’s a sustainable and highly efficient plant. It’s used in a variety of eco-friendly material, most notably paper, textiles, and health food. When hemp fabric is used as a dog bed cover it is very durable and resistant to abrasions/tears. It’s also resistent to mildew and sun exposure, making it great for an outdoor dog bed. Hemp softens as it ages, is a breathable fabric, and will fit your dog quite comfortably.

Another option is all natural rubber Latex. Latex is an all natural material made from “milking” a rubber tree. Latex is a thick, durable material that is about three times heavier than plastic and a great deal more dense. It holds its shape easily because of less air in the bed and because it is heavier than most other materials used as pet bed covers. This also means it’s very comfortable for your dog. It conforms to your dog’s shape and acts in a manner similar to a all natural memory foam. It’s hypo-allergenic, meaning your dog’s bed will no longer cause him or you to sneeze. It repels dust mites, mold, fungus, bacteria, and is one of the few truly washable foam materials. It’s extremely durable and can last up to thirty years, meaning you’d never have to buy another dog bed again.

Cotton is another option for those wanting to go green. Many fabrics now come in 100% all natural cotton which is still a great option for your pet. It’s soft, durable, and has a much wider spread stock than the other materials allowing for more options.

Recyclable filling is one thing a dog owner needs to watch out for when buying dog bedding. It typically contains recycled plastic. The safety of reusing plastic is still a highly debatable topic. Many say that plastic will retain bacteria more easily than it should. Other natural fibers are available for fillings, many of which are considered much safer.