Any Ideas on how to fix this?

soft rider · 08-28-2008, 09:25 AM

My 2 Year Old German Shepherd, likes to put a paw in her drinking water while she is drinking, when it is warm out. I know she is just trying to cool herself off, but she is an indoor dog, and OHHHH what a mess she makes.

I have no idea at to what to do about this. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

blueberry · 08-28-2008, 10:07 AM

You could try building a wooden box with a hole in the top to hold the water dish. It would make it harder to tip. I tried to find some type of dog dish holder on the net , but didn't see anything. Good luck!!!!

soft rider · 08-28-2008, 10:15 AM

She dont tip it over she just puts her paw in in, but then she walks all over the house with wet/sometimes muddy feet.

But that may work if i put the bowl up higher in a box.

Thanks for the idea.

blueberry · 08-28-2008, 10:55 AM

Sure--that would work. I have seen in pet stores the dog dish holders and are set up higher for large breed dogs, so they don't have problems with their stomachs twisting.

snwflk · 08-28-2008, 11:27 AM

Put the bowl of water up higher= big dogs should have food and water accessible at shoulder height to keep them from bloating technically- but my mom's dog does the same thing either get a bigger bucket heheh.. orr put it up higher like on a box or a stump that way he cant get his paw in it.. heheh

csimmons · 09-06-2008, 09:07 PM

I also think an elevated bowl would help. I put an area rug down under my boy's bowl to catch any stray water, and just clean it often. If she wants to play in the water, buy a cheap kids wading pool for her. I bought one for $10 and put it next to the deck. My dog loves to jump in and play when it's hot.

A J · 09-07-2008, 04:13 PM

My GSD does this as well. After trying everything suggested (and several others including using a tall bucket), the water dish got moved outside. I just make sure they get out numerous times a day and always have fresh water, but it was the only way to stop ending up with a muddy sloppy mess all over my house.

Everyone seems happier - the dogs can play in their water (they have a pool too, but the water dish still gets stuff in it). Mine also like the take their toys and drop them IN the water when they drink then take the sopping wet toys out and drag water everywhere that way as well.

I haven't had any issues with them being thirsty when they are let out - in fact, they almost never go straight to the water - they head out to play and potty long before they go to the water. The only times they've headed for the water was if they were playing hard the last time they were out and didn't drink before they were let back in (the GSD never has this problem, but our Border Collie sometimes has to be forced to stop playing and take a drink - so if we don't do that, sometimes she gets thirsty).

Granted, we also have AC in the house so it's never too hot in here where if you didn't have the AC that may be an issue that needs to be addressed on hotter days, but simply letting them out more works well.

Our dogs are crated when we are gone so they don't have a water dish in there anyways, which is what prompted this idea to begin with - I figured if they were okay for that long, then they should be able to go the couple/few hours in between let-outs when we are home.

I'm much happier, and so are my towels!!!

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08-28-2008, 09:25 AM
soft rider Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: IL Posts: 654	Any Ideas on how to fix this? My 2 Year Old German Shepherd, likes to put a paw in her drinking water while she is drinking, when it is warm out. I know she is just trying to cool herself off, but she is an indoor dog, and OHHHH what a mess she makes. I have no idea at to what to do about this. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

08-28-2008, 10:07 AM
blueberry Yearling Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: great lakes area Posts: 763	You could try building a wooden box with a hole in the top to hold the water dish. It would make it harder to tip. I tried to find some type of dog dish holder on the net , but didn't see anything. Good luck!!!! __________________ Proud horse mom to: Genie the beauty queenie (3yo QH) Tess the best (5yo QH) "To err is human, to forgive is equine"

08-28-2008, 10:15 AM
soft rider Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: IL Posts: 654	She dont tip it over she just puts her paw in in, but then she walks all over the house with wet/sometimes muddy feet. But that may work if i put the bowl up higher in a box. Thanks for the idea.

08-28-2008, 10:55 AM
blueberry Yearling Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: great lakes area Posts: 763	Sure--that would work. I have seen in pet stores the dog dish holders and are set up higher for large breed dogs, so they don't have problems with their stomachs twisting. __________________ Proud horse mom to: Genie the beauty queenie (3yo QH) Tess the best (5yo QH) "To err is human, to forgive is equine"

08-28-2008, 11:27 AM
snwflk Yearling Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 607	Put the bowl of water up higher= big dogs should have food and water accessible at shoulder height to keep them from bloating technically- but my mom's dog does the same thing either get a bigger bucket heheh.. orr put it up higher like on a box or a stump that way he cant get his paw in it.. heheh __________________ Suzie Q

09-06-2008, 09:07 PM
csimmons Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: delaware Posts: 276	I also think an elevated bowl would help. I put an area rug down under my boy's bowl to catch any stray water, and just clean it often. If she wants to play in the water, buy a cheap kids wading pool for her. I bought one for $10 and put it next to the deck. My dog loves to jump in and play when it's hot.

09-07-2008, 04:13 PM
A J Greenbroke Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vallejo, CA Posts: 3,353	My GSD does this as well. After trying everything suggested (and several others including using a tall bucket), the water dish got moved outside. I just make sure they get out numerous times a day and always have fresh water, but it was the only way to stop ending up with a muddy sloppy mess all over my house. Everyone seems happier - the dogs can play in their water (they have a pool too, but the water dish still gets stuff in it). Mine also like the take their toys and drop them IN the water when they drink then take the sopping wet toys out and drag water everywhere that way as well. I haven't had any issues with them being thirsty when they are let out - in fact, they almost never go straight to the water - they head out to play and potty long before they go to the water. The only times they've headed for the water was if they were playing hard the last time they were out and didn't drink before they were let back in (the GSD never has this problem, but our Border Collie sometimes has to be forced to stop playing and take a drink - so if we don't do that, sometimes she gets thirsty). Granted, we also have AC in the house so it's never too hot in here where if you didn't have the AC that may be an issue that needs to be addressed on hotter days, but simply letting them out more works well. Our dogs are crated when we are gone so they don't have a water dish in there anyways, which is what prompted this idea to begin with - I figured if they were okay for that long, then they should be able to go the couple/few hours in between let-outs when we are home. I'm much happier, and so are my towels!!! __________________ Try not, do. Do or do not. There is no try.