If there’s one task we need to keep on top of as a responsible dog owner, it’s keeping our pooch well hydrated. Not only allows your pooch to remain healthy but it helps to regulate their body temperature while preventing medical problems.
That being said, no matter how many fresh water bowls you have down, you’ll find dogs usually slurp at the eleventh hour. There are some great solutions out there to keep your pup hydrated and engaged with drinking water. One of those ways is with a dog water fountain.
How Much Water Should My Dog Drink?
Just like humans, our canine companions need a daily intake of water. Just how much water depends on your dogs size, diet, age, activity level, and the weather. A general rule of thumb, is around 1-2ml per kilogram of bodyweight per hour.
Why Get A Dog Water Fountain?
Dogs generally prefer drinking moving water because of instinct dating way back to their ancestors. Way back then, dog’s drank from running water because it was safer. These days, dogs prefer running water because it’s fresh, clean, and cool.
The cascading nature of a dog water fountain, provides this for your pooch. It offers more than a steady supply of fresh water, but the movement of the water keeps it crisp and clean all-day. This means if you head out to work, the water will stay fresh throughout the day.
Water fountains also tend to come with a filtration system which improves the water quality your dog is drinking. This can make sure that the water your dog slurps is free of all pollutants and contaminants.
Not only that, but if your dog doesn’t naturally drink as much water as they should be (like ours), the novelty of a water fountain might engage them.
That’s not forgetting that getting a dog water fountain could make life more convenient for you, provided the fountain was intuitive, easy to clean, assemble etc.
How Does A Dog Water Fountain Work?
A dog water fountain typically features a container where water is stored and a motor that continuously recirculates the water through a filtration system. This keeps the water flowing and fresh.
Can Dogs Use A Cat Water Fountain?
Absolutely! Both dog and cat water fountains function the same way with similar features. The only difference is the size of the fountain, they tend to have a smaller capacity which makes them ideal for small to medium-sized dogs.
What Water Fountain Features Are Important?
When looking for a water fountain for your pooch, there’s a couple of features you’ll want to check before clicking ‘buy’.
Type: There are different types to choose from, and you should decide based on your dogs (or pets) individual needs. You may decide that all you require is a basic dog water fountains that act like a water dispenser. Or you may want something a little more comprehensive. You’ll also want to think about whether or not your fountain will be for indoor or outdoor use. There are also multi-tier fountains which are suitable for multiple pets.
Suitability: You may also need to think about whether or not it’s suitable for your dog to drink from. A senior pooch with arthritis for example, may find it more difficult to drink from a fountain that’s low on the ground or operated by a step.
Material: First up, you’ll want to make sure your dog’s water fountain is durable and long-lasting. There’s nothing worse than ordering a water fountain, only for it to break within a week. You’ll also want to make sure that the water bowl is made from non-toxic, dog-safe materials, including BPA-free plastics, ceramic or stainless steel. There’s pros and cons for all three materials. BPA-free plastic is generally lower in cost, stainless steel is undoubtedly the most durable and ceramic looks aesthetically good.
Washable: Yup, even a water fountain will require regular cleaning. Whether that’s routinely changing your fountain’s filter or giving the fountain a good rinse from time to time. If you have a Dishwasher you may find that some of these are machine washable, which is always a bonus.
Capacity: Capacity is an important feature to think about, depending on how many pets. you have in the house, how much water they should be drinking, or how much water they currently drink. You may also want to consider the size of your doggo!
Filtration: Check your dog water fountain come with filters. You may want to get a reusable filter so replacements don’t become expensive. Alternatively, you may want filters that are replaceable to ensure the filtered water is always as clean as it can be.
Fountain Settings: It’s always worth checking the water flow settings, especially if you have a dog who has a water phobia or gets nervous around certain noises, like the sound of running water (yes, this is a thing). If this is the case, the best option would be a fountain which you can change to different water flow settings.
Noise: Whether getting an indoor or outdoor fountain, you’ll want to make sure that the pump isn’t noisy or disturbing. If it’s too noisy, it may become irritating when nearby. If you’re planning on popping it next to your dog’s bed, then it can also disturb your dog’s sleep. Generally, you’ll want one with a noise level below 30dB. Read reviews for any mention of the noise level.
Aesthetics: You might want to make sure the water fountain doesn’t look out of place in the room, so this may be a consideration.
Our Favourite Dog Water Fountains
PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain
PetSafe has over 50 years experience, designing product for our pooches and pets. The Drinkwell fountain is loved by many. The large fountain holds 7.5 litres, the mid-sized fountain holds 3.7 litres, the small fountain holds 1.8 litres. While they all hold a different quantity, the rest of the build is the same.
The benefits of this water flowing gadget, is the ability to fine-tune water flow so you can manipulate the pace of the cascading water. It also has a ‘nearly silent’ circulation on the lowest setting which is great for noise sensitive pups.
It’s also easy to refill with no fandangos or frills, just remove the reservoir and top it up. It comes with two filters. The foam filter protects the pump by catching hair and debris, and the carbon filter removes odours for fresher, cleaner water. Both filters should be replaced every 1-2 months.
The fountain is made from BPA plastic, and has been carefully thought out from design to ensure it can be easily cleaned. It’s also worth noting that the bowl can be popped in the dishwasher.
HoneyGuaridan 6L Dog Water Drinking Fountain
This dog water fountain holds up to 6 litres of water, which is perfect for all dogs, even those on the medium to large size. One of the features this fountain prides itself on is having a super quiet pump which has been measured around 30dB. So this fountain is perfect for pooches who have noise sensitivities, or for those planning to have it a regularly used living space.
Another benefit of this fountain, is its low power consumption, which is a consideration that tends to be looked over! Water fountains are to be used all day, every day, so you can relax knowing it isn’t going to tot up your electricity bill.
The bowl itself is made of ABS materials and is fully transparent which has its benefits of knowing when to refill when water is running low.
When it comes to filtering, this one has a quadruple filtration system. The replacements for these can get a little costly, but at least you know your dog is getting the very best water! The filter is a plastic shell to catch hairs and debris, the second is a PP cotton filter to catch dirt and food residue. As with most water fountains it also comes with an activated carbon to keep the water fresh and a filtration sponge around the pump to remove dirt.
Dog Mate Large Fresh Water Drinking Fountain
The Dog Mate water fountain is good for dogs of all shapes and sizes. It holds up to 6 litres of water, and it provides multi-height drinking levels so your dog can either drink from the top or the bottom. This can be particularly beneficial for houses with multiple pets.
The fountain also comes with an isolated pump system (I.P.S) which means that the operation of pumping water becomes a super quiet operation. This fountain is good for dogs with noise sensitivities.
When it comes to filters, this fountain comes with a 3-stage filtration system. The replaceable filter is polymer carbon, which needs to be replaced every month (or every other week if it’s being used for multiple pets). The other two ‘stages’ are plastic parts which are there to prevent dirt and debris from getting into the main filter.
Overall, the fountain is easy to clean, and the bowls can be washed in the dishwasher.
WEGOLIMME Pet Drinking Water Fountain
Fancy something a little more high-tech and modern? Then the Wegolimme provides a unique alternative with its smart LED lights. When water is low, the light turns red and the water pump turns itself off. During the evenings the water fountain turns blue to help your dog find their way to the water. This is a great option, however the capacity is 3 litres which is best suited to small-medium dogs.
The fountain itself comes in four different colours, each made with BPA free plastic, which is both long-lasting, and environmentally friendly. It has two different water flow settings, including waterfall and gentle flow. The 360° multi-directional streams helps to aerate the water for added oxygen. The pump itself is probably the quietest of all the fountains, measured below 20dB.
When it comes to the filtration, the filters used you are provided with are composed of a cotton layer, activated carbon and ion exchange resin. These replaceable filters effectively providing a triple filtration system in one, without the added extra filters. The fountain comes with 5 replacement filters to get the ball rolling.
Zeus H2EAU Dog Water Drinking Fountain
This tail-wagging fountain has been created especially for larger, older dogs or dogs with arthritis, muscle and joint problems. That being said, it’s suitable for all dogs and it’s been designed with them in mind.
This fountain has an elevated design to help all dogs (and cats) to get a better drinking position. The large surface area allows adds extra oxygenation making the water super fresh. Like all the fountains, the water continues to circulate and is taken through a multi-stage filtration system. The filters are quite small, but effective at picking up debris and keeping the water clean.
Encouraging your pet to drink more water helps ensure proper kidney function. Elevated design provides better drinking position Multi-Stage Filtration absorbs water impurities (replacement filters available, sold separately) Large surface area for greater oxygenation Increased water-to-air surface area adds oxygen for fresher, tastier water. Re-circulating flow eliminates stale, stagnant water. Suitable for multiple pets. Also suitable for cats.
It’s also been heavily mentioned through reviews that this is one of the quietest on the market, which is always good to know!
Petmate Pet Waterer
Looking for something a little lower cost? Perhaps a dispenser so you can all catch up around the latest gossip with your pooch while working from home? The Petmate water dispenser is a great alternative to some of these fancy fountains.
It’s not a ‘fountain’ so to speak. It doesn’t have any pump or system to sprout out water, it’s entirely powered by gravity. The bowl where the water is released, is wide enough to cater for dogs of all shapes and sizes. The water slowly releases itself, so you’re not constantly topping it up.
Unlike other dispensers on the market, this one comes with its own antimicrobial protection and filter system. The antimicrobial protection means that it prevents mold from growing in the base. It comes with a carbon filter to keep the water clean, making sure no harmful pathogens are in the water. This filter is completely replaceable.
Do You Have A Dog Water Fountain?
What fountain do you have at home? Perhaps this guide has inspired you to get one for your pooch? Let us know in the comments below.
