Paws for thought: How to enjoy nature with your dog, responsibly

Dogs are very popular pets and easily become valued members of our families. They provide immeasurable amounts of unconditional love, warmth, and companionship to many.

Aside from being regular pets, some dogs work in law enforcement, as well as assistance or therapy dogs, and are vital companions for the vision-impaired, war veterans, elderly and people with disabilities.

Conservation dogs are trained to detect invasive animal or plant species and can even act to deter predators from threatened species.

The truth is that most people love dogs! The majority also want to do the right thing by the environment too, so - can we love and protect both?

When it comes to pets and environmental harm, there has been a growing awareness and significant focus on the damage that cats do.

Every day in Australia, cats kill millions of mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs and invertebrates. Whilst the evidence is clear about feline destruction, less is known about the impact that our pooches have on the planet.

However, a recent Curtin University study points to confronting data regarding the environmental harm caused by dogs.

You might well be thinking ‘my dog doesn’t climb trees or roam around hunting in the wilderness, what are you talking about?’

Well, here are the main sobering points from the global-assessment of dog impacts reported in the study:

• Pet dogs disturb and directly harm wildlife, particularly shorebirds, even when leashed. Mammal, bird and reptile mortality rates from dog attacks range from 72 to 91%.
• Dog leash laws are flouted by dog owners more than 75% of the time.
• Dog scents, urine and faeces indicate to wildlife the ‘presence of predators’ and disrupt native animal behaviour long after dogs have left an area, and some animals completely leave areas where dogs are exercised.
• Dog waste contributes to pollution in waterways and aquatic ecosystems.
• Dog urine sometimes contains toxic levels of nitrogen, which inhibits the growth of small and young plants.
• Chemical treatments used to clean and guard dogs from fleas (and other parasites) can add toxic compounds to aquatic environments when washed off.
  

The study also found that there are over a billion pet dogs globally, and this large population size creates extensive environmental issues, that are being compounded by a lack of awareness or careless behaviours by some owners.

Additionally, the study identified barriers to sustainable pet ownership, finding that while the dog food industry plays an important role in environmental sustainability, only 12 to 16% of dog owners are willing to pay more for eco-friendly pet food, largely due to rising costs.

How to love your dog and protect nature!

The good news is that you and your dog can still enjoy being out and about safely in nature. Whilst there may be a need in some vulnerable areas for restrictive measures such as banning dogs to protect vulnerable species, dog restrictions are not a complete solution. However, dog owner awareness, education and behaviour change will go a long way to improve the environmental balance.

Now is a good time revisit some tips about getting the most from outdoor time with your furry friend, without causing negative impacts on the environment:

• Stick to parks, trails and beaches where dogs are allowed. Adelaide examples include: Belair, Onkaparinga River and Para Wirra.
  
  
• Not all National Parks allow dogs, so please check which national parks you can take your dog to, why there are restrictions, and how to be responsible when you get there.
  
  
• Always use a leash and carry a poop bag to collect faeces when walking your dog in public, including on beaches, in parks and reserves.
  
  
• If you’re looking for other options, including ‘off leash’ walks, check out the designated dog parks in your local council area and follow rules which are considerate of wildlife, other dogs, pedestrians, children’s play areas, sport and external dining spots.
  
  
• Be vigilant and mindful of vulnerable native animals. Just because it might be fun for your dog to get up close to wildlife – doesn’t mean it’s a nice experience for the native animals themselves! Stay clear of fenced areas to protect hooded plovers in sand dunes and learn tips for how to keep koalas safe from dogs.
  
  
• When your dog needs to urinate, try to encourage urination away from plants, trees and grassed areas and towards gravelled or bare dirt areas. If your dog prefers to pee on something vertical, a large tree is preferable to a small tree or shrub.
  
  
• Consider to what extent your dog needs a topical flea treatment, and if there are less toxic options, including extra washing, grooming and monitoring. Talk with your vet about what options could work best for you, your dog and the environment.
  
  
• As your budget allows, consider buying more eco-friendly dog food, even if this is an occasional way to vary your pet's diet. Eco-friendly dog food will ideally be sourced in Australia from low impact meat, or meat alternatives/plant-based proteins and will use recyclable packaging.
  
  
• If you are designing a home garden to attract native wildlife, consider focussing your habitat creation activities on the areas your dog uses less. Instead of designing a wildlife friendly garden and then working out how to keep your dog out, plan ahead to use areas like verges, side gardens, and the front yard for native landscaping to avoid your dog rumbling through your new native plants and disturbing wildlife.

Having the will to change is the first step. Always remember to be kind to yourself and your dog as you both learn new tricks. Like any behaviour change, it takes time and practice!

Like this article? Read more about 17 national parks in Adelaide where you can walk your dogor learn more about Everything you need to know about taking dogs in SA’s national parks.