A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World
Updated on Apr. 23, 2024
If your dog drinks too fast, plays in his water, or makes a mess, our pet expert explains how no-spill water bowls address drinking problems.
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You love your dog, but not dealing with their occasional messes. It goes beyond cleaning up waste with poop bags, wiping muddy paws and removing stains on furniture. You’re probably also wiping up the puddles that come with canines lapping at the water bowl.
Don’t blame Fido for his sloppy drinking habits. His long tongue bends backwards into a ladle shape, to scoop water one dipper at a time. The splashy process means water gets drawn up into the mouth as the tongue retracts. Your dog closes his mouth to grab the splash, but lots of wet escapes. Thankfully, there’s a solution that I recommend as a pet expert: a no-spill dog water bowl.
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The Road Refresher No-Spill Slobber Stopper from Prestige Pets offers style with function in mind. Made from durable lightweight propylene in a pewter color, the bowl addresses slobber potential, over-drinking (some dogs over-indulge), and stability with the three-stack design. The outer bowl reservoir has a Velcro non-skid base that prevents scooting and tipping over. Inside, a floating disk allows a measured amount of water to flow up through its openings. A black tapered lip over the top helps reduce slobber and splash.
The design prevents dogs from face-dunking, as well as keeps floppy ears out of the bowl. With two sizes to choose from, every size dog can get a drink without fur getting wet. The special non-skid base makes the Road Refresher a great choice for travel with your dog in the car.
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The Petmate No Spill Bowl offers a basic but effective design and a price everyone can afford. A gray cover slips over the top of the heavier blue base, creating a deep reservoir for the water but a small area for the dog’s muzzle to fit through and drink. That helps keep ears out of the water bowl and reduces the dripping that comes with full face dunking. Made of heavy-duty plastic, the bowl portion should last for years with proper care. For taking care of shed fur, the ChomChom roller helps a bunch.
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I love stainless steel products, and the Slopper Stopper Dripless Water Bowl gets rave reviews from dog owners of giant breeds and bearded pooches. The stainless steel base holds a full gallon of water, and the top lid design keeps ears clean. A gasket fits the pieces together to allow water to flow into the drinking reservoir. Yes, this bowl costs more than others, but it will last longer and, according to reviews, works better than other products. It comes in five sizes to accommodate virtually any size dog. Check sizing to best fit smaller dogs, or the water mess won’t be reduced. P.S. The new Yeti dog bowl is another excellent stainless steel pick.
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Made from food-grade silicone, the Kurgo Splash Free Wander Water Bowl has a tilted shape that keeps the water level, even when perched on a car seat. The bowl comes in two bright colors: red or blue. The curved tapered lip at the top helps contain the splash to keep 24 ounces of water in the bowl rather than outside. These bowls double to hold food, so you can feed your pup on the road, then rinse out the bowl for a water break. It’s dishwasher safe, flexible and collapsable for easy packing for your road trip with Fido. It also rides well in the Pet Rover Pet Stroller. If you need something that stores water to bring on the road, try this highly-rated portable dog water bottle.
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Some dogs gulp too much water at one time and end up getting sick. Hot weather increases this likelihood in all dogs, and drinking too much can lead to water intoxication, as it dilutes the sodium in the blood, which prompts water to flow into the cells—even brain cells. This can lead to death. Slowing down water gulpers helps control the danger. Many dogs also deposit dust or leftover food in the water as they drink. The Upsky Slow Water Feeder Dog Bowl slows down gulpers and keeps debris out of the water.
A large square reservoir made of thermoplastic holds 35 ounces of water, about a daily intake amount for most dogs. Inside, a floating cover (in gray, blue or pink) controls access to the water, with a fixed rim holding the three pieces together. The floating cover keeps dogs from gulping and slows down the drinking process. It also prevents bearded dogs from getting their faces sopping wet.
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Here’s a very different option featuring standard-looking stainless steel bowls in a contained elevated feeder station. The Neater Feeder Deluxe for Dogs comes in seven colors, three sizes, and two bowl styles. The elevated plastic surround catches and contains dropped food, and spilled water drains through openings into a reservoir in the base. You can choose plain bowls or slow feeder bowls with raised bottoms to address gulping. The plastic frame has an option for extended legs to raise the level of the bowls. All parts of the Neater Feeder are dishwasher safe. Worried your dog might not like change? Drop a few organic dog treats into the food bowls to persuade him to change allegiance.
While all dogs use the same drinking technique, some have breed differences or quirky behaviors that influence which no-spill dog water bowl works best. None will eliminate all the mess, but they do help control the spillage.
You’ll find three basic categories: no-spill bowls, no-splash bowls and no-tip bowls, all with the goal of controlling liquid chaos. Some bowls also control drinking speed for dogs that gulp too fast and then vomit. Depending on your dog, you may also need to focus on non-chewable bowls, because some dogs turn bowls into chew toys. Here are a few factors to keep in mind as you shop.
Some chew-aholic dogs, like my first German Shepherd, even chew up a stainless steel bowl. Every dog is different, so match your no-spill dog water bowl to your pet’s needs. Dogs with flat muzzles, like Bulldogs, need wide, shallow bowls. Pointy-nosed dogs like Collies do well with narrower openings. Also, dogs with long furry ears or canine beards need smaller bowls that keep their ears from dragging in the water.
As a certified animal behavior consultant and dog owner, I know our pets can and will make a mess. While there’s no denying that fact, there are products we can use to prevent spills and stains. I’ve written over 4,000 articles, many of which revolve around finding the best products for your pet based on my expertise. From touring as the national spokesperson for Purina Kitten Chow “Lifetime of Love” and the Cat Chow “Way of Life” to publishing more than 35 books about pet care, I have years of practical experience with pets to inform my expert advice.
Our search for the best dog water bowls to prevent spills started as any one of our articles would—with a healthy amount of research. Scouring the web for recommendations from big box stores, online reviewers and fellow writers, we created an initial list. From there, we looked for bowls that could be easily cleaned, were made with quality materials, didn’t cost an arm and a leg and were (of course) spill-proof while not being too ugly.
Dog owners should clean and change their pet’s water bowl daily. This prevents bacteria growth, keeping the water clean and drinkable and your dog safe and healthy.
Just as larger dogs need more food, they also need more water. To figure out how much water your pup should be consuming daily, multiply their weight in pounds by one ounce. For example, 50-pound dogs must drink at least 50 fluid ounces.
If you own two or more dogs, they can share the same water bowl if both dogs are healthy. However, if a dog is territorial over food, separate water bowls may be the way to go.
Elevated food and water bowls are a great solution for pets with neck pain, larger dogs and senior citizens. However, every pet has different needs, and elevated bowls can actually cause digestive issues in certain dogs. (They also may cause more spills, but there are elevated no-spill dog bowls that do both.) If you’re unsure what’s best for your pup, consult your vet before taking the plunge.
