The Best Dog Poop Bags

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Picking up after dogs is a dirty business, but somebody has to do it. And when you're that somebody, you want to be armed with the best weapon you can find. I'm talking about dog poop bags. They're an essential piece of any dog owner's arsenal. Don't think they're worth the money? You're just going to use plastic grocery bags? Sure, I tried grocery bags at first – until I got poop all over my hands. Now I only use bags specially made to pick up dog poop. Bags that are thick enough to hold big poops without leaking, bags that control odor, bags that are easy to carry and use. Read on for our reviews of the best dog poop bags on the market today.

Earth Rated Dog Poop Bags

Earth Rated Dog Poop Bags

Lady Lavender

These bags can handle any dog's droppings without leaking or smelling bad, thanks to the lavender scent in each bag.
Top Pick

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Living up to its name, these poop bags come in recycled packaging so you can feel a bit better about buying hundreds of plastic bags. These bags are super strong and won’t leak, regardless of the size or consistency of your dog’s poop. Even if you pick up sticks, leaves, and other stuff on the ground, these bags won’t rip or tear. They’re very easy to pull off the roll and open, so you can move fast if you have to. These bags have a really nice lavender scent which will mask the smell of the poop inside, so you can carry full bags for the rest of the walk without gagging from the smell.

Pros

  • Leak-proof
  • Lavender scented
  • Recycled packaging

Cons

  • Not biodegradable

Downtown Pet Supply Dog Poop Bags

Downtown Pet Supply Dog Poop Bags

A Waste Disposal Dispenser

These poop bags come in a variety of colors and with a dispenser that makes them always available, as well as always effective.
Easiest To Use

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These poop bags come with a cute little dispenser, shaped like a dog bone, that clips on to your leash handle. So you’ve always got another bag when you need it, which is really convenient. The bags are perforated really well, so tearing a new one off is really easy and smooth. You won’t rip the bags accidentally when you’re separating them, which is nice. These bags are just the right size: not too small that they won’t fit all the waste, but not too big that they’re awkward to use. They’re big enough to fit all the waste with enough room left over to tie a knot at the top. The bags are thick and solid enough to hold all the dog poop in without leaking or tearing, which is their primary job.

Pros

  • Dog bone-shaped dispenser
  • Easy tear perforation

Cons

  • Lighter colors are not completely opaque

Gorilla Supply Dog Waste Bags

Gorilla Supply Dog Waste Bags

Amazing Value

Reliable bags for an affordable price, these bags come in a large quantity without sacrificing quality.
Best on a Budget

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These bags come in a box of 1,000, so they will last you a while. The affordable price may make you a little suspicious of the quality, but I can assure you, these bags do the trick. That trick is simple: to pick up and hold your dog’s poop without getting any on you. Even if you’re picking up poop off of cement, these bags are strong enough not to tear. They’re BPA-free and the rolls have no core, so there’s no waste. They come with a nifty dispenser that has a tab that holds the previous bag while you rip a new one. For dog owners who love to buy in bulk, these bags from Gorilla Supply are a great option.

Pros

  • Large quantity
  • Green
  • Comes with dispenser

Cons

  • Little smaller
  • Semi-transparent

Arm & Hammer Disposable Waste Bags

Arm & Hammer Disposable Waste Bags

Smell You Never

Using its patented odor-neutralizing technology, these bags from the venerable Arm & Hammer brand will contain bad smells and make your dog walks more enjoyable.
Most Smell-Proof

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From one of the most trusted names in household products, comes another dependable product – dog poop bags. These bags use activated baking soda as the key ingredient to neutralize odors from poop. Arm & Hammer’s odor-control fresh scent technology is one of the most effective poop-smell concealers out there. These bags are quite large so they will certainly fit everything you scoop up. And they are twice as thick as grocery bags, so they will hold everything in as well.

Pros

  • Controls odors
  • Large

Cons

  • Doesn’t come with a dispenser

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need special dog poop bags? Can’t I just use plastic grocery bags?

Grocery bags are much thinner and therefore more likely to tear or leak. Because of the handles at the top, they often don’t tie super tight, leaving space for waste to slide out. Grocery bags are also not as convenient as they don’t come in a compact roll.

How do I use dog poop bags?

When your dog poops on the ground, tear a new bag off the roll. Open the bag. Fold the bag over your hand, so it covers your hand like a glove. Grab all the poop with your bag-covered hand. Pull the edges up and the poop down, so the bag holds the poop at the bottom. Tie the bag at the top. Dispose of the bag in a safe and legal way.

Are poop bags biodegradable?

Most poop bags, including the ones reviewed here, are now made with an additive called EPI. EPI breaks down the bags faster than regular plastic bags. However, to be technically considered biodegradable by the Federal Trade Commission, a product must completely deteriorate in a landfill environment within one year’s time. We are not aware of any poop bags that meet that requirement. But as stated, EPI bags are better for the environment than regular plastic grocery bags.

 

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