I’ve been reading No Free Refills about packaging issues in fast food, and wondering about my own pet gift basket issues. Most people who took our survey thought that dog shampoo was a critical component of a Welcome Home gift basket, purchased on the adoption of a new dog. And, in my personal experience with Mia, the absolute first thing we did when taking her home from the shelter was give her a bath as she was coated in urine. And there are arguments using dog shampoos with essential oils to repel fleas and ticks and  rather than human shampoo or dish washing liquid. So I’m sold on dog soap.

Dog shampoos come in solid bars with little wrapping except a slip of paper and in plastic bottles in liquid form. The bar is much harder to use, especially to work up a lather, and might be especially hard with a dog unused to baths. But the liquid soap comes in a bottle, which may or may not be recyclable, depending on where you live. So we have usability issues that bring us to liquid soap, but packaging issues that bring us to bar soap.

Any helpful thoughts?