Did we all get off on the wrong foot with dog poo?

As dog owners, we know the struggle all too well – the endless hunt for a poo bag and the constant reminder to clean up after our four-legged friends. But what if that small bag of dog poo wasn’t seen as just waste – but an opportunity?

As Crufts embraces sustainability, we’re beginning to look at one of the event’s biggest 'outputs' (and no, we’re not talking about rosettes) in a whole new light. Each year, around 20,000 dogs compete at Crufts, producing an estimated 47,500 bags of waste. But instead of seeing it as a problem, what if we harnessed its potential? Here’s how dog poo could be used to make a real difference…

Could dog poo help the planet?

We know it sounds a bit, well, messy - but dog poo has real potential when it comes to sustainability.  While dog waste isn’t suitable for food crops, it’s rich in nutrients that trees love. Imagine if Crufts partnered with a composting company and a tree-planting charity to turn all that ‘waste’ into woodland.
A single tree needs around half a pound of fertiliser to thrive, while the average dog produces three-quarters of a pound of waste each day. With 19,000 dogs attending Crufts, that’s a whopping 14,250 pounds of natural fertiliser – enough to plant 7,125 trees! Given how much dogs treat trees, we think it’s only fair to give something back!

The future’s bright - could Crufts guide you home?

It might sound barking mad, but did you know dog poo can power streetlights? A clever invention by Brian Harper in Malvern Hills already transforms waste into methane, fuelling a streetlamp for two hours per 10 bags deposited.

Crufts alone generates almost 50,000 bags of poo – enough to keep the lights on for over 190 days (or a full year of evenings, as that it when streetlights are more useful!). Maybe it’s time to consider rolling this idea out nationally? We think this one has legs!

From poo to performance - could Crufts win Le Mans?

And it’s not just streetlights – what if we took things up a gear? Students at the University of Warwick are developing a hydrogen-powered race car, fuelled by none other than… sewage. And while they’re working with human waste, the same principles could apply to dog poo.

Dogs produce methane-rich waste, and one study found that 68 million pounds of dog poo emits 102 pounds of methane. With an average dog producing four pounds of poo per week, Crufts could generate 76,000 pounds of potential fuel! We might not be quite ready for a dog-powered Grand Prix, but who knows what the future holds?

We know dog poo isn’t the most glamorous topic, but it turns out there’s plenty of potential hidden in those little bags we scoop up every day. From growing forests to powering our streets – and maybe even our cars – the future of dog waste is looking a whole lot greener. So, the next time you’re out on a walk with your dog, just think: their mess might just change the world.