How to Encourage Your Dog to Drink More Water

As the weather gets warmer, it’s essential for both humans and animals to stay hydrated. While we can easily increase our water intake, encouraging dogs to drink more can sometimes be a challenge. Whether it’s during the summer months or all year round, keeping your dog hydrated is crucial for their health and wellbeing. Here are some effective tips to help your dog stay properly hydrated.

Place Water Bowls Around the Home and Garden

One simple way to encourage your dog to drink more water is to provide multiple water stations around your house and garden, but having several bowls ensures that water is always easily accessible, no matter where your dog is relaxing.
Position bowls in quiet, calm areas — avoid placing them near noisy appliances like dishwashers, which might scare your dog away from drinking.

Discover Your Dog’s Water Preferences

Some dogs prefer cool, fresh water, while others are happy drinking water that’s been standing and is closer to room temperature. Regularly refresh the water and observe whether your dog shows a preference for a particular temperature — you might be surprised how much of a difference this makes!

Choose the Right Water Bowl

The type of water bowl can have a big impact on your dog’s drinking habits:

• Avoid reflective bowls: Shiny metal bowls can sometimes put dogs off, especially if they’re startled by their reflection.
• Replace plastic bowls regularly: Plastic can absorb odours over time, which may deter your dog.
• Consider ceramic bowls: These are often more neutral in smell and feel.
• Size matters: Small dogs may find large bowls intimidating, while larger dogs might struggle with bowls that are too small.

Choosing the right water bowl can make drinking a much more enjoyable experience for your dog.

Try Running Water

Many dogs prefer to drink running water rather than still water. If you’ve ever seen your dog trying to drink from a tap, garden hose, or even a water feature, you’ll know what we mean!
Pet water fountains are now widely available and mimic the flow of a tap or stream, encouraging dogs to drink more frequently.

Add Water to Your Dog’s Food

Another easy way to increase your dog’s water intake is by adding water to their food. You can create a delicious, natural gravy by adding a little room temperature to dry kibble.

Make Hydration Fun

To make drinking more exciting, drop small pieces of fruits or vegetables like chopped carrots into the water bowl. Fishing for the tasty treats not only entertains your dog but also encourages them to drink more water in the process.

Additionally, for dogs that love playing fetch, soaking spongey toys or balls in water before a game can sneak extra hydration into playtime — and help cool them down on hot days too.

Keeping your dog hydrated doesn’t have to be difficult — with a few simple changes, you can make drinking water a natural and enjoyable part of your dog’s daily routine.

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