About the Author: Nettie Finley, the Professional Dog Trainer at MyPetDoggie. Specializing in behavior rehabilitation, Nettie leads our team with her effective training techniques. As a certified canine behaviorist, she brings transformative change to challenging behavior cases. Her experience and expertise elevate our content, providing practical, insightful training advice for our readers. Also, she loves her Cavapoo!
Hmm, so now your patience break and you finally search for how to stop dog from splashing in water bowl. I foreseen it long ago that’s why already created this blogpost to help you.
Actually, dogs have an innate likeness for water, but it seems as if you don’t like seeing your dog soaked in water, especially when he splashes water to wet the surroundings. Dogs are naughty beings and loathe boredom, and surprisingly, water fascinates them enough that they don’t hesitate for a minute to romp in puddles.
I’m sure you love seeing your dog being mischievous and active, but you can relate hard with dog parents on being exhausted from repetitively mopping the floor that their furry friends make wet by splashing in a water bowl.
Though you can’t make your dog unlove water, this guide will help you figure out how to stop the dog from splashing in the water bowl.
How To Stop Dog From Splashing In Water Bowl?
Dogs love getting attracted and splashing in a water bowl is a perfect ticket to it, it’s their common behavior too, and while it might be cute it can also lead to wet space. To stop this, you can use no-spill bowl or you can teach a “no splash” command.
Till to this date, I found 9 ways that can help you to stop your dog from splashing in water bowl such as:
Observe the Cause
There can be a lot of reasons for dogs to splash water, but what exactly is the case of your pup that can be identified if you keenly monitor your dog and his interaction with water?
Most puppies love playing in water, but some of them might outgrow their obsession with water when they become adults. However, it’s not guaranteed for every dog, because every dog is unique.
Thus, there could be several reasons like attention-grabbing technique, regulating body temperature, or playfulness for which your dog can’t control the urge to splash in a water bowl. It’s immensely important to precisely know the cause behind your dog’s splashing, so you can treat him accordingly.
Use a Different Bowl Design
We all dog parents are guilty of using those spare bowls from our kitchen for our doggies, and then complain about frequent floor mopping. Those bowls are made for us humans to use not for pups, so upgrade your dog’s lifestyle by using the specially engineered bowls for dogs that not only know the exuberance of your pup but also quench his thirst without messing up the floor. You can easily get your dog those water bowls that have made life easy for dogs and their parents.
These newly-made modern bowls are designed to address the needs of dogs. These water bowls are equipped with a floating disc that controls dogs to not enter their whole snouts in the bowl.
Thus, dry snouts save you from the disaster of tipping water on the floor. These designed bowls make your dog a slow eater, saving him from choking in return. Another benefit you get by using these designed bowls is that the water or liquid you add to it remains dust-free.
You can also invest in trendy water dispensers for your dog that encourage your dog to use its paw to access water.
This type of dispenser sets you free from water-filling responsibility. It not only helps your pup to have fresh water anytime but also lets him positively channel his energy. it’s better to use this dispenser outside like in gardens.
Heavier Bowl- A Savior
I bet you will skip the disaster of frequent floor mopping if you incorporate a heavy-duty bowl, and you’ll stop asking veteran dog parents about ‘’how to stop dogs from splashing in the water bowl?’’
Don’t go for plastic bowls as these bowls are light-weighted and appeal to dog parents with their flamboyant colors, and often confused with toys by dogs. Well, shocking news is surfacing after detailed research by Hartpury University that plastic pet dishes contain the most bacteria. So, you better avoid this material. (Source)
Heavy-duty bowls like ceramic ones are sturdier and more aesthetically appealing. These bowls are available in variety, but often proven dangerous too as it’s suspected that the material used for glazing ceramics contains toxic elements like lead and cadmium. Chances are if the bowl is poorly glazed, these toxins will leach into the water.
Thus, you can consider using a richly and intricately glazed ceramic bowl, and waste it as soon as it gets cracked. Also, to save your pet from any disease consider buying lead-free ceramics.
Provide Adequate Water Depth
If you think filling your dog’s water bowl to the brim will help him be hydrated throughout the day, trust me, it’ll be of no use.
However, the site of a water bowl like a pool excites the urge in him to put his paw in the bowl, and your clean floor soon be turned into a streamy soggy mess. Frustrating? yeah!
I recommend you add enough water so that your dog’s snout doesn’t drip after he drinks water, and neither should the water level be so low that he has to protrude his mouth at an uncomfortable level.
Adequate water level willn’t excite him enough if he puts his paw in the bowl, and he will stop it eventually.
Offer Regular Exercise and Mental Stimulation
Your dog needs regular physical exercise and mental stimulation to stay fit. Dogs are usually hyperactive beings, and if you don’t provide them enough room to play and interact, their health will deteriorate, and so will their habits.
I suggest you offer regular exercise to your dog by making him go on a walk with you. Let him explore dog parks too, and keep them busy in interactive mentally stimulating games because it slows down the aging process in dogs.
Moreover, when he is channeling his innate energy to such exercises, he’ll refrain from getting frustrated over his water bowl and will be able to differentiate it from the toys he has fun with.
Establish a Routine
Routine is what makes or breaks your dog’s lifestyle. You should let your pup explore, but he needs to follow discipline to be your obedient kid.
A blunder, dog parents subconsciously commit is that they contradict their own rules that adversely affect their dog’s learning.
Thus, when your dog follows a routine in developing the habit of drinking water too, he’ll learn to behave well around his water bowl.
Be all eyes on your dog, and don’t follow a cliche routine for your dog, because every dog is different, and your dog has his own water needs as per his body requirement.
Use a Splash Guard and Mat
A splash mat is an important dog accessory that helps you to stop your dog from splashing in the water. Splash mats are usually made of rubber material, and act as a great water absorber, and don’t let water overflow. Moreover, it holds the water bowl tightly, and dogs can’t tilt their water bowls easily.
Thus, if you use this splash mat for your dog too, there’s less chance that your dog messes things up.
Redirect the Behavior and Reinforcement
Redirecting your dog’s behavior is important when he tries to splash in a water bowl. Redirecting behavior doesn’t mean completely blocking or rebuking him, it means diverting their attention to something more interesting.
Suppose your dog puts his paw in a water bowl, and instead of chastising him, you divert his attention with funny noises or introducing his favorite toy.
When he’s completely invested in his toy, subtly remove the water bowl from his sight. He’ll learn to refrain from messing up with the water bowl eventually.
However, consistency brings the fruit of managing habits. Positive reinforcement is quite necessary to make your dog learn new things and to make him continually follow what you have taught him already.
Thus, if you surprise your dog with a treat every time he acts right, he’ll build his cognition as there’s always a chance to achieve a reward. That’s how your boy will learn to stop misbehaving around the water bowl.
Seek Professional Help if Needed
If you’re continually putting in efforts, but you see no positive results, please don’t get mad at your pup. There might be some issue with him that only a vet or a dog trainer can understand.
Thus, take your furry companion to professionals, so they can extend help in light of the latest research and studies. Always remember that seeking professional health for your dog isn’t your failure, but a sign that you’re seriously invested in the matter, putting effort into it.
Why Is My Puppy Digging in His Water Bowl?
It’ll be so naive of you if you believe there exist only one or two reasons that can make a puppy dig in a water bowl. There could be plenty of reasons why your dog digs in his water bowl.
Playful Behavior
If your dog’s digging in the water bowl makes you worried, please keep calm. He might be doing it for fun. Pups love water, and sometimes, vibrant colors like blue excite them.
They can confuse the water bowl with some toys, and show their affection by making fun of them. Many dogs show this behavior, and trainers suggest tips to help your dog to behave nicely.
Thermoregulating Bodies
Lemme break it to you that dogs don’t sweat like us humans. Their mechanism depends mostly on panting. Dog’s skin doesn’t help in heat loss because they don’t have sweat glands in his skin. Mostly, the dog’s sweat gland is found in the tongue and paws. Thus, when he digs in the water bowl, he wants to normalize his temperature as heat loss from the dog’s paws to water by conduction phenomena.
Attention Seeking Behavior
Dogs are naughty and mischievous, when they feel like their parents aren’t giving them the limelight they try to get attention by adopting weird behavior. For that reason, they often start digging in their water bowls. You can either choose to attend your dog then or later when you’ll be free for him.
Boredom or Excess Energy
Puppies are water balls that often can’t keep calm. When they’re bored and don’t have an intriguing way to channel their energy they start digging in their water bowls. For your dog, splashing water isn’t less than a workout.
Lack of Proper Training
Dogs love imitation, and sometimes, they’re not trained about how to behave around water bowls exclusively. Thus, their uncultured behavior upsets you, but I advise you to worry less and work on him. If you work persistently, and train your dog to be gentle with water bowls, he’ll eventually recover from this problem.
Medical Condition
If your dog gets into an internal problem that you can’t comprehend, he behaves quirky. If your dog is digging in his water bowl, and you feel like all the above reasons are ruled out for your dog, and after attending him with care, he’s not changing his behavior, it’s a sign that you should book him a vet’s appointment. A professional trainer or vet can help you diagnose the issue, and extend help to resolve it.
How Do I Train My Dog to Drink Water Without Making a Mess?
Training your dog to drink water without making a mess isn’t less than a tough nut to crack. But, don’t worry, we’ll get you all covered here.
Suitable Water Bowl
Every water bowl isn’t suitable for every dog. If your pup faces a challenge in drinking water properly, get him a new one that should be suitable for his body size. Moreover, a heavy-duty anti-slip bowl should be preferred. However, if the bowl has a raised platform, it will help reduce dripping from the dog’s mouth and make his drinking posture better.
Teach the Commands
To regulate the phenomenon of drinking water by dogs, you need to make your furry friend learn the following commands ‘wait’ and ‘Stay’’. You can make him follow the commands with positive reinforcement.
Establish a Drinking Routine
Consistency is the secret behind ensuring your dog learns new stuff. Your dog will not learn to drink water neatly within an hour. You need to be persistent with the routine you’ll make your dog follow. The fruit of patience is always sweet, so with time passing, your pup will grow from being a messy drinker to a neat fellow.
Calm Behavior and Gentle Cue
Endorse calm behavior while interacting with your dog, especially when introducing water to him. He, naturally, can be excited to see water, but your continuous and repetitive calm behavior will surely help him out. Moreover, if you add a gentle cue while allowing your dog to quench his thirst from the water bowl, it’ll help you install the controlled drinking phenomenon in him. It’s also a sign for the dog to not mess with the water bowl in the absence of his owner.
Monitor Excessive Splashing
If splashing is occasional, you may ignore it, but if your pup seems comfortable developing a habit of playing with water bowls, and not taking the drinking phenomenon into serious consideration, you need to monitor your puppies’ water activity and refrain him from developing splashing habits by redirecting his behavior.
Reward Your Dog
Dogs love rewards and treats as much as they love water. However, their excitement for water can be controlled by introducing the technique of positive reinforcement. These steps if followed help your dog to learn to drink water without creating a wading pool.
Common Question Regarding this:
How do i stop my dog from being a messy drinker?
Make your dog use a modern water bowl that has a ‘floating disc’ to make him a calm drinker, and teach him to follow the ‘’wait’’ command. Establish his water drinking routine as per his lifestyle, and discourage splashing in the water bowl by redirecting behavior. Don’t forget to reward him, if he follows your ‘’water rules’’.
Why do puppies paw at their water bowl?
There could be many reasons, but most of the time puppies paw at their water bowl because they want to cool off their body temperature after an outdoor activity. They may be doing it for fun and pups have sensor paws, so the ripples produced in water instigate a sensory tickle in them.
Should i leave a water bowl for my puppy?
Yes, leave a water bowl without giving it a second thought! Puppies are active beings, and they need water the most. Dehydration can cause severe health problems. Please keep an adequate level of water in the water bowl, and place it in the most suitable place as per your pup’s need.
How much water should a dog drink in 24 hours?
There are many factors on which the daily water intake of a dog depends like his diet plan, the weather conditions he’s living in, his lifestyle, and body weight. Just like humans, if dogs do more strenuous activity, they’ll need more water comparatively. Hot weather urges them to drink more water, and if their food is homemade, they generally consume less water. However, ideally, a dog should consume 1 ounce of fluid per body weight.
Ending Note
If your dog splashes in a water bowl, there’s nothing to worry about but still it can sometime make you fustrated with wet surface. You can make your dog gentle with the water bowl and can teach him to not come in contact with water without your permission by positive reinforcement, and following redirecting behavior techniques. This will keep your dog’s surroundings clean, tidy, and dry, and you’ll be liberated from the responsibility of multiple time mopping of your dog’s surroundings.
