A portable dog waste collector comprised of: a telescoping arm; a handle at a first end of the telescoping arm; a receptacle at a second end of the telescoping arm, in which the receptacle forms an open-topped chamber and has a bottom surface with at least one aperture; and a disposable insert into which solid and-semi-solid dog waste can be collected. In alternate embodiments of the portable dog waste collector, the disposable insert includes a lid to prevent spillage of the dog waste and/or a strap to facilitate removal of the disposable insert, a wrist loop on the handle, and a retracting handle to allow easy retraction of the telescoping arm. Further, the disposable insert can be made of a biodegradable material, recycled plastic, or non-recycled plastic.