How to Get Your Dog to Drink More Water With Time Tested Tips
Water is is the basic foundation of life and dogs need it. If you want to know how to get your dog to drink more water, this blog post is the equivalent of a gushing waterfall: Full of energy and something to come back to time and again for water drinking tips.
NOTE: If your dog has increased thirst or is generally not drinking or drinking very little on a continuous basis, seek veterinary care immediately. Do not wait. This article is designed to get your dog to drink more water and how to ensure dogs are well hydrated, both at home and on the go.
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How Much Water Does a Dog Need?
There are statistics and studies galore, but the bottom line is this: Because water is the most important nutrient to a dog, clean, fresh water should be available at all times. We recently wrote a piece about how to keep dogs cool in summer, and surprisingly, getting a dog to drink more water came up in our research over and over. You aren’t alone if your dog isn’t a big water drinker, but you should be concerned.
According to the Merck Veterinary Manual 10th Edition, “Dry pet foods contain 3 to 11% water and semi-moist foods contain 25 to 35% water. As a result, dogs (and cats) consuming predominantly canned food generally drink less water than those consuming predominantly dry diets.” In response, some dog owners add water to kibble to encourage water consumption. This isn’t a good idea because plaque may more easily form on teeth and the food will soften.
Canned dog food contains more moisture, but dogs still need to consume a decent amount of water on a daily basis.
Since dogs don’t chew as humans do, as they don’t have the “side to side motion” to break food down, there are other better ways to encourage your dog to drink more water.
The folks at petMD say that as a rule of thumb, dogs should drink approximately one ounce of water per pound of body weight each day. So a 35-pound dog should consume about 35 ounces, which comes out to a little over a quart of water. Further, “dogs suffering from illnesses like kidney disease, metabolic disorders (such as diabetes), cancer and pregnant/nursing animals are at risk of becoming dehydrated more readily.”
Our dog consumes a rehydrated food diet mixed with vegetables and organic meat. As such, his food is mixed with water, but he is still a good drinker. You want your dog to consume fresh, clean water because water is needed but also because it helps to flush the kidneys and overall digestion.
When you consider that 80 percent of a dog’s body is made up of water, so you can understand why access to the clean, cool liquid is mandatory on a regular, daily basis.
Teach Your Dog the Word Drink
No matter how old your dog is or even if he is deaf, teach your dog a word associated with water. For us, the magic word is “drink.” Every time your dog takes a drink of water, say “drink” a few times in a super happy, pleasant voice the way you would if rewarding your dog for a job well done.
Whenever your dog comes into contact with the clean bowl of water, say “drink” and maybe even lightly clap. It’s a mini party that your dog knows “drink.” When my Cocker Spaniel was a puppy, he would saunter over to his water bowl, start drinking, and without scaring or startling him we would say, “drink, Dexter” or “good boy, drink Dexter.” When he was done, we would say drink again.
If you have a deaf dog, hand signals are the way to go. Here’s what the folks at Deaf Dogs Rock have to say about teaching a deaf dog hand signals. When you see your deaf dog take a drink because you nonverbally instructed him to do so, the effort is so rewarding.
In the same way you taught your dog other words, like sit, stay, food, play, etc., you will teach drink. It’s all about the association of the act with the verbal word. He drinks, you say drink.
These days when I say to my dog, “Dexter, take a drink,” the majority of the time he will (unless he is not thirsty and then I get stink eye). The key to teaching a dog to drink water by using a verbal or nonverbal cue is consistency. Pick a word or a signal and never divert from it. Everyone needs to speak dog and use the same command.
How to Get Your Dog to Drink More Water
So how can you get your dog to drink more water? Here are 12 time-tested tips, techniques, and products to get your dog drinking water and staying on the road to good health:
Change the Dog’s Water Frequently
You know that first refreshing drink of water when you are parched? It feels so good going down at just the right temperature, right? It’s not too cold and it’s nice and clean. Your dog feels the same way. Make sure the water is clean, cool, and toss that nasty Internet ice cube rumor down the drain with the old water.
Fact: In a report for ABC News, Dr. Tina Wismer, medical director at the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center, reports this is totally false.
“This is not true,” said Dr. Wismer. “Dogs do not bloat from drinking ice water on hot days… They can be given as treats or put in the water bowl. Some behaviorists even recommend freezing toys or treats in ice for dogs to chew on.”
Why the rumors about dogs and ice cubes then? Everything you read online is not true: Surprise surprise! There are dangers associated with dogs and ice cubes and they are:
- Allowing dogs to chew ice cubes and the possibility of the cube(s) getting lodged in the dog’s throat;
- Dental damage to teeth due to chomping on ice;
Keep the water bowl clean by scrubbing it with warm soapy water every day. I use the Scrub Daddy scratch-free sponges ever since I saw them on Shark Tank and love them! You don’t want that nasty slime building up around your dog’s water bowls.
Use Fresh Filtered Or Bottled Water Free Of Chlorine And Chemicals
We live in modern times and most tap water has changed. In most parts of the United States, bottled water tastes good and is actually better for dogs. Have you heard about the water crisis in Flint, Michigan? If you wouldn’t drink the water, neither should your dog. Frankly, if you drink tap water, your dog probably shouldn’t without some form of filtration.
Around here, we have a filtration system installed on our kitchen sink and we use bottled water for ourselves and the dog.
Municipal and well water that is contaminated with bacteria or any number of nasties doesn’t discriminate and can harm your dog.
Since hard contaminants in water cannot be smelled or seen, consider testing your home water supply.
Put Multiple Water Bowls Around To Encourage Drinking
Cocker Spaniel mom, Donna Zygarlicke says, “I have a water bowl in the garage for the dogs when we are outside. My Belle lets me know very loudly if it is empty. She will move that thing around the concrete until I fill it up.”
Not all dog water bowls are created equal. We aren’t fans of plastic bowls because they are very porous, so they absorbs things, can easily get scratched, and creates a perfect environment for yukky things like mold, bacteria, and algae to form. Some dogs can even develop a sensitivity or allergy to the plastic in their bowl. Lip fold dermatitis and other oral issues are on that list, so avoid plastic.
I also get really nervous about the presence of chemicals like BPA in plastics.
Stainless steel dog water bowls like this one are durable and dishwasher safe. A lot of them have a nonskid base and are exposed to far fewer chemicals than plastic products during the manufacturing process. Consider a cute stand to keep the water and food elevated off the floor and you’ve got an adorable piece of functional furniture.
We tend to use the stainless steel water bowls for travel along with silicone collapsible water bowls, which are easy to transport. Because I like function and form, we have ceramic dog water bowls in our home. You just want to be sure the glaze used to coat the bowl doesn’t contain anything harmful like lead. I scrub daily and make sure there are no cracks.
Multiple water bowls mean multiple opportunities for the dog to consume water. I am a single dog household, but if you have a dog who roams the house all day and/or have a multiple dog household, consider spacing out multiple water bowls throughout the house (a few different rooms, floors) for easy access.
Dogs may spill the water, one dog may drink more, and you want to ensure access to water is there, especially if you aren’t. Toss old bowls out as they wear and replace with new ones. Here are some of our favorite dog water bowl selections:
Elevated Dog Water Bowls Are Functional And Fashionable
Several members in our Club Cocker: Wigglebutts Worldwide Facebook group swear by elevated water bowls. Cocker mom, Celia Anne, says her vet recommended raised water bowls and it worked for her pooch, Angus.
Elevated water bowls also are believed to decrease the risk of bloat to dogs.
Consider Purchasing a Dog Water Fountain
Dog fountains constantly circulate and filter the water, so it stays cleaner and tastes fresher. Also, running water is often more enticing to a dog, so consider an in-home dog water fountain. We had one for a number of years and then gifted it to a friend whose dog had water consumption issues. The fountain really worked for her dog! Here’s the PetSafe Drinkwell Fountain we used.
Take Water With You On the Go
Whether it’s a walk around the block, a jaunt in the neighborhood, a trek to the dog park, or a trip in the car, please on a stack of dog biscuits, please take water with you on the go. Your dog will thank you for it. I’ve been taking water with me for my dog for my entire adult life. I wish I had a dollar for every time a stranger’s dog stopped by and wanted a drink from our dog’s water bowl. I’d be rich!
One of my favorite on-the-go water containers for dogs is the Swell bottle. I love how cool it keeps the water for hours and hours on end. I’ve been using the same portable water bottle for Dexter for the past three years. If you prefer something more minimalist that has its own bowl on board, here’s a portable water bottle to try.
When we travel, we tend to take bottled water or get our favorite bottled water brand on arrival to our destination. Dogs may get stomach upset or traveler’s diarrhea, which can even lead to having a dog with colitis. Allay your fears and keep dogs healthy when traveling by not switching their water source. I never use tap water of any sort when traveling either.
I am not about sharing my bowls with other dogs because of virus, diseases, and bacteria. To each their own, but I don’t know what a strange dog might harbor in his mouth or saliva.
How
Exercise Your Dog To Encourage Him To Drink Water
Since dogs need daily exercise, get your dog used to moving around. If the dog isn’t panting, he isn’t losing moisture and his body may not crave water as much as a more active dog.
In the cooler months, dogs may not be exercising as much so they don’t drink as much water. A slight decrease in water intake is not a cause for concern. Regularly refusing to drink water on an ongoing basis may indicate a deeper problem, so seek veterinary care for your dog if he or she is consistently refusing water. If my dog didn’t drink water for a day, I’d be very very concerned and at the vet’s office.
When you travel with your dog or go for a walk, carry the water supply with you and every 10 or 15 minutes, offer the dog the water. Say “drink” very nicely and happily when offering the drink. If your dog drinks on the go, he will be more inclined to drink at home.
Take The Dog Outside To Urinate More Frequently
If there is one thing I have learned in being a lifelong dog parent it is this: Dogs are happier if they can pee more. Their bodies are even healthier if they can pee more. I kid you not. Think about how it feels to hold in urine. If it’s uncomfortable for you, it is certainly the same for dogs.
Knowing the amount of water your dog should drink helps you determine if your dog is drinking too little or too much. Flushing the kidneys and urinary tract is one way to keep crystals from forming and to keep dogs healthy. Take your dog out. Let him pee. Let him sniff. I do this every two to three hours at the most every day with my dog (except during the overnight).
Learn more about how to prevent a urinary tract infection in dogs.
Feed a Quality Diet
Want your dog to drink more? Feed the best food for dogs, and each dog has their own unique dietary needs just like people. There is something to be said for feeding a dog a natural, high-quality pet food, free of by-products and fillers, and appropriate to their nutritional requirements. We feed a whole food for dogs to which we add warm water from Dr. Harvey’s and ensure our dog drinks an adequate amount of water daily.
Entice Dogs To Drink With Water Additives
When all else fails, consider making the water more palatable and pleasing for the dog. When my first Cocker Spaniel fell ill with irritable bowel disease, we tried everything including adding low sodium chicken broth to her water.
Cocker Spaniel mom, Julie Anderson, says she adds organic chicken bone broth to her dog’s food, which is lower in sodium than cooking broth.
Cocker mom, Christina Haynes, adds unsalted beef broth to her dogs’ food.
Whatever you add, don’t use anything with Xylitol, sugar, or sugar substitutes. There are water additives available that claim to eliminate water in bacteria and in your dog’s mouth. I am not a big fan of these. I am old school and believe in washing water bowls and brushing teeth.
Overcoming Bad Experiences With Water Bowls
If a dog ever had his tail or paw stepped on while drinking water or someone yelled at him as he was drinking, the dog may be traumatized. I know of one dog who slipped on her kitchen floor when attempting to take a drink of water from the bowl. The solution in this case was to move the location of the water bowl.
Try putting the bowl in a new location, trying multiple bowls in various locations around the house, and rewarding the dog for good behavior when he does take a drink. Some dogs love ice cubes and others not so much.
Offering Ice Cubes and Cool Treats For Dogs
If your dog drinks too fast and you fear bloat, offering some ice cubes can be a great way to keep a dog hydrated. Just be sure the cubes aren’t too big nor too small.
Your Turn
Is your dog a good water drinker or could he or she use improvement? Do tell in the comments below.
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Great tips here Carol!
Delilah is a mad drinker. She would literally drink the entire bowl if we let her (we don’t.)
Sampson, not so much. I have a supplement I’m giving him, and I mix that into a cup of water, so I know he’s getting some liquid. They are both also fed raw, so I know they get liquid in that as well.
Fantastic on the raw and knowing they get the water there. I am one of those panic over water dog moms, too – so it’s good to hear others who keep on eye on it, too!
This is a good post cause mom said I hardly drink water. She sneaks it in my food
Lily (& Edward)
You have a very good mom!
As much as I try to lead my dog to water, he very seldom drinks when I want him to. He usually opts for drinking out of the toilet!
I have one that does that too. Apparently toilet water is better…..
Great post ! Your 8 tips can apply to kitties too, who drink very few, which can be a big problem for kitties fed dry. Purrs
Thanks and so good to see you here, Claire. I know the kitties love their water and can be difficult to drink. Happy this helps!
This was a very interesting read! I’ve never thought about having to get my dog to drink more water. I always just assumed he drank as much as he needed.
Yes, one never knows how much a dog is consuming water wise until you start to monitor. Thanks for coming by!
Oh wow. We don’t have dogs, so I didn’t know you’d ever need to actually encourage them to drink water like that. Thanks for the great info.
Indeed some animals are hard to get to drink water.
these are all great tips to keeping a dog hydrated! I never really knew about ‘how much’ water a dog should drink, thanks for that info, I’ll keep that in mind when I get a dog… And I love how easy products make it to take with when you’re on the go with pets!
Yes, I love those portable bottles. I even got a S’well bottle for myself.
Sally thankfully drinks a good amount of water but I do like the idea of the fountain I might have to get her one.
Dogs and cats love free flowing water so that would be a fab investment for Sally 😉
This post is so important. I noticed when I go to the park with my dogs, 90% of people don’t bring water for their dogs. You can see the dogs panting and wanting a drink. I’m so glad you also mentioned changing your dog’s water frequently. That’s another thing I see when I visit friends. They seldom change the water and figure if there is water left in the bowl, that’s efficient. Great tips, Carol.
That is sad that people do not bring water for their dogs. I am glad that you are on top of it, Jacqui.
We wouldn’t have thought to take water to dog parks if out somewhere else because all of the d0g parks around us have constant feed water troughs. Good to know when we are traveling.
Happy to help!
Our dog drinks a ton, which I feel is due to him being on medication. He could really benefit from one of those handy fountains.
I guess saying it is to say to drink but to them would be positive reinforcement. That’s a good idea.
Toby does drink his water well thankfully! When he was trying a new food, I had to add water to it too, so he was getting some extra that way! These are such cute dog bowls 🙂
Wow, I don’t have a dog so I never gave this much thought. I know my cat always looks for clean water and when he is anxious or not feeling well he drinks alot!
These are great ways to get your dog to drink more. It is so important in the heat that they stay hydrated.
This is such an important post as the weather is getting warmer. My daughter has a collapsible water bowl. She takes it everywhere for the dogs.
Isn’t it fab for portability?
I have no idea how much my dog is supposed to drink, so thank you!!!! I think he isn’t getting enough now!
I am glad this helped.
These are great tips. My sister in law just got a new puppy so I can’t wait to share this with her!
Oh good – so happy to help
I don’t have a problem with getting gym dog to drink more water. My problem is that when she thinks the bowl is empty she drags it all over the house and gets whatever water is left in the bowl everywhere! LOL!!
OMD hahahaha cute
Great ways. I will forward this post to my sister for she has a puppy named Pochi that doesn’t really eat and drink much. I hope this could help her get Pochi drink more.
So happy to help
Most of a dog’s body is comprised of water. Adequate water ingestion and hydration is important for them to maintain proper circulation, as well as the health of organs and tissues, including the heart, brain, liver, kidneys, lung, intestines and pancreas.
Indeed
We always carry a dog bowl with water whenever we go on long walks or car rides just so our sweet pup is taken care of. Other than that, my vet told me not to worry about how much water she drinks.
You are a great dog parent to take water for her!
These are great tips! I have a 4 pound Yorkie and she absolutely loves water. I still found this helpful, because now I think she may need a couple of more bowls throughout the house.
I am so happy this helped. I am a bit of a water snob and so I give my pooch filtered water and have 2 bowls out for him.
Our Lyla is a good drinker but I do make sure she is not drinking so much as to raise a worry for her health. She once was drinking far too much water and she was actually ill. We had that taken care of for her of course.
Having a clean bowl is so important they do get slimy and gross! I don’t want my baby drinking out of a dirty bowl.
A great article and made me feel better about Lyla’s water consumption and peeing 🙂
You just made our day!
Aww, your pooch is too cute! I always find my son drinks more water if I refill his glass every half an hour or so. He really hates water that’s gone warm and I think dogs will be the same 🙂
Louise x
A lot of people believe that dog’s drink what they need but in fact they drink what they are given and sometimes they’re aren’t big fans of what we give them!
This is awesome information for any dog owner. I love the doggy bowls show here I will have to check these out. The ice cube thing is something that I always feared with my dog so I would make a slush for him in the summer months. Thanks for sharing the information.
I had no idea how much water they are supposed to have. These are great tips. The doggie bowls are so cute.
The water fountain is a great idea for dogs. I would get one if I were a pet owner.
These are all some great tips. I don’t have any dogs though. I just have three cats. It’s very important to make sure they always get enough water.
Never thought of a dog water fountain. That’s a great idea. Will tell my parents about it.
I lol’d at let the dogs pee more. Yeah I am sure thats important look as a human I feel better when I urinate and get rid of waste I know dogs will too they shouldnt hold it in all day.
I liked your note about keeping the bowl clean and changing water often. This is so true and an absolute must for your pet’s health. Bacteria starts to grow after their first lap of water!
Very good reminder. Oddly I have always big breed dogs, Rotties, German Shepard’s etc and they were all good with drinking water, they were super active and liked to drink water.
These are really helpful tips. I will try them with my little puppy. Thanks a lot 🙂
Thanks for this informative post. Dog owners should pay attention to how much water their dog drinks. If their dog drinks unusually more or less than its normal volume of water, it can be signs of being unwell.
Drinking a lot of water is really important for dog as well as for human and all living beings. Especially this question is vital in summer when there is a danger of a heat stroke. To avoid it we and out dogs should drink a lot of water. Thank you for the useful post.
Thanks for the great suggestions. I have a middle-aged Cavalier who just won’t drink much water. Now that I have started increasing the water she gets with her food mix, she really doesn’t drink. I’m going to try flavoring the water first and see how that goes. The puppy and the kitties drink the water like crazy!
I never thought about teaching them to “drink” on demand. I might give this a try! (The collies love drinking water though, so this isn’t something we usually worry about.)
I am so grateful I taught him this. It works like a charm most times. He’s a good drinker, but it is always good to let him know he needs water. Oh and I associated it with a hand signal, too 😉 Keep me posted on hos it goes!
I took my dogs to the beach this morning, and they refused to have more than a few sips, I’m not sure why. I always pack hydrating fruits and veggies like apples and carrots to help with this, and sometimes even mush the treats into the water to get them interested. Or, I’ll dip my fingers in their water and wet their chins/nose so they lick – anything to get some water inside them on a hot morning!
With Kismet’s tongue water also means keeping his tongue moist. When he will not drink I mix fresh water, a few pieces of kibble, and a little bit of 100% pumpkin and he slurps it right down!
We have a standard poodle puppy (49 lbs currently) that we restrict her water intake because she is a “Mad drinker” (as another reply stated about their dog). If we put out a gallon of water she would try and drink the entire gallon. Amazingly enough she has gotten 3 UTI’s that we are addressing with our vets on changing her diet (this is the first dog we have bought the expensive non-filler foods and having more issues than ever before! Go figure!)
It is suggested to give a dog “flavored water”. What can be used to flavor water other than salty broth/low salt broth?
Thank you for an AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL website that is full of helpful tips/stories!
My older standard poodle has too much protein in her urine. I noticed she is not drinking as much as she used to. I am changing water more often and washing bowl more often, but she still only drinks about twice a day. I have reverse osmosis water and usually put some ice in it. I have her on a lower protein diet, but the lack of drinking worries me. She gets a mix of high quality kibble, canned and raw food.
Have you tried a water fountain like the ones from PetSafe, Roberta? Dogs like the sound of running water and may be more inclined to drink more.
Hi, thank you so much for the information. What natural food diet do you use for your dog? I’ve been trying to find the perfect balance, but feel it still effects her Ph. Would love a good recommendation. Thank you!
We like Dr Harveys and the Honest Kitchen.
Water is truly an imperative part of our lives. Not just for us but for our pets as well. Technology has been a great savior when it comes to meeting our requirements and thus we have a brand new people and pet water dispenser that allows our pet to have access to varied temperature water. It’s a must-have appliance and now it even works best for our pets as well. Thanks for the information provided.
My dogs used to give me a hard time about drinking enough water, especially one of them in particular. I got creative and started buying bone broth to add to their water and they won’t stop drinking now. There are many great products on the market like Buster’s Brew bone broth tea, Ossio broth, and others. Try one of those and you’ll never turn back.
Thanks for your great advice we bought for Sadie the Dog Water Fountain. and she has taken to it a like a fish to water
My 8 month old Havanese won’t drink water but will eat ice from outside. How can I get him interested in water again?
Thank for sharing this article. Very interesting.
thanks for the information
We give our pup bone broth, it’s a great way to get him some hydration and nutrients with a taste he loves! Echo Bone Beverage and in the beef flavour is our favourite. They even sell it at our favourite restaurant in NYC so he gets to have something while we eat 🙂 Anyone having troubles getting their dog to drink should give it a go!!!