Dog Poop Bag Container (new Design 2023)

This is a quick and easy project but if you have a dog, something you'll value day after day. It's made from 100% repurposed parts so you can feel good about yourself whilst making it ;-)

As a newly-minted dog owner, I quickly got fed up with carrying used dog poop bags around during our daily dog walks. I also didn't want to fall into the temptation of leaving them by the path 'to pick up on my way back' ... as if!

This container can be hung from a belt or kept inside a larger bag without fear of squishing (not a nice concept!). The internal screw lid keeps the contents (and their odour) locked in and it can be emptied easily (and washed) at the end of the walk. As a bonus, the cloth container is long enough in my case to store spare poop bags underneath the screw-top container.

It is most suitable for smallish dogs - 'mine' is a 10kg (22lb) Border Terrier called Badger who regularly does three poops on his morning walk. This design will probably need scaling up for larger dogs!

The supplies listed below are suggestions of course and I'd expect you'll have to source equivalents - [Edit 2023]: Since writing this Instructable, the Delta Airlines bag wore out (the zip fell off) so I've been forced to find another type of container. What I'm now using is a draw-string container sold with waterproof pants (used for fell-walking etc). This is actually better than the old Delta bag as it's big enough to store spare bags, wet wipes etc., there's no zip to break and it's much easier to sew the strap onto. I've also got more than one of them, so replacement won't be an issue!

I've updated this Instructable accordingly.

To make the container:

A cylindrical cloth container big enough to snugly fit the screw top container - in my case a draw-string webbing bag sold containing waterproof pants. Mine is 20cm (8 inch) x 10cm (4 inch) [Length x diameter]

A 'D' ring from an old handbag.

1" wide webbing strap (polypropylene) - available on eBay etc.

An empty screw-top container (eg) a 'Cillit Bang' powder container. Mine is 11cm (4.3 inch) x 9cm (3.5 inch) [Length x diameter].

A robust sewing needle and button thread (or, better still, a sewing machine).

To make the belt hanger:

17cm length of 4cm wide polypropylene webbing strap.

5cm length of sew-on (not adhesive) hook & loop strip ('velcro')

'Lobster' Clip from an old handbag.

Sewing thread plus sewing machine or sewing needle.

Cut two 15 cm lengths of the webbing strip. Loop one length through the 'D' ring about 3cm and sew across the strip to fix the 'D' ring in place (If you've got a sewing machine, use a zig-zag stitch and double it up).

Using double threaded button thread (double the strength per stitch!), hand sew the strip across the seam of the cloth container and about a quarter the way down from the top (see photo). As the webbing bag is a little thin, provide some re-enforcement by positioning the other 15cm length of webbing strip on the inside of the container and sew through both. Fold the bottom 2cm of the strips under themselves when sewing this part. This fixes it to the strongest part of the cloth container and allows the container to hang pointing upwards.

If you've got a sewing machine, do the same using a zig zag stitch.

Once you're finished sewing, put the screw-top container into the cloth container.

Fold one edge of the webbing strap over about 8mm and sew down its length (see photo).

Repeat for the other edge.

Sew the loop strip on one end of the strap.

Flip the strap over and sew the hook strip on the other end of the strap.

Thread the sewn strap through the 'Lobster' clip and fold it as shown.

That's it!