The Best Dog Water Bowl to Keep Your Dog Cool and Well Hydrated

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Here are the best dog water bowl we’ll be covering:

Finding the Best Dog Water Bowl for You and Your Dog

We may not be in the “dog days” of summer just yet, but we’re certainly headed in that general direction! If your dog is going to spending a lot of time outdoors or if you’re worried about the temperature heating up inside your home, you’ll want to make sure that they’re getting plenty of water to keep them feeling cool, calm, and collected.

In general, you should look for a dog bowl that’s non-slip and holds enough water to meet your dog’s needs. Make sure the opening is large enough that they can easily reach the water, especially if your dog has a flat or shallow face.

You may also want to look for a dog bowl that’s easy to clean. As a general rule, you should probably wash your dog’s water bowl every few days and change the water about as regularly. As a result, finding a dog bowl that’s dishwasher friendly or easy to wash off can be a huge help for saving time in your busy schedule.

Finally, look for a water bowl that fits you and your lifestyle. This could mean finding a bowl that fills up automatically or a bowl with a built-in filter!

Our recommend for the best dog water bowl

Again, the best dog water bowl is one that fits your lifestyle and your dog’s behavior. There are tons of great options available on the market today, but we’ve narrowed it down to six of our favorite water bowls to suit just about every dog family out there!

Road Refresher No Spill Water Bowl

The Road Refresher No Spill Water Bowl is a simple, no-nonsense dog bowl that gets the job done no matter where you are. Made from a sturdy polypropylene blend that holds up to any punishment your dog can dish out, the base of this bowl is treated with a non-slip coating that holds it in place throughout even the most aggressive water drinking doggy habits.

Pros: lightweight build and construction makes it a great fit for drinking on the go, solid materials make for a sturdy bowl, non-slip coating prevents dogs from making a mess, easy to clean, dismantles for an easier cleaning process, discourages splashing and prevents your dog from flipping their bowl while they drink

Cons: if your dog likes to chew things up, they may be able to dismantle the bowl after sustained periods of wear and tear, since the easy-clean features can make the bowl susceptible to breaking down

Perfect for: dogs who make a mess while drinking (or owners who have to clean up after them)

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PetSafe Stainless Steel Water Fountain

Our first PetSafe option on this list, the PetSafe Stainless Steel Water Fountain is every bit as pretty as it is functional. The constant circulation of water throughout the fountain ensures that your dog’s drink won’t stagnate or get stale while sitting in place, and the solid construction means that it still holds up well under the attentions of an eager or exceptionally thirsty dog!

Pros: easy access, fountain feature prevents dogs from drinking too quickly, stainless steel for a quick and easy clean, great option for dogs with shallow muzzles, since the fountain lets them get closer to the stream of water, fountain also oxygenates water as it flows through the circuits

Cons: if you have hard water at your home, you’ll need to be extra careful while cleaning, as you may start to notice calcium or salt buildups around the pipes or multiple fountain mouths

Perfect for: picky drinkers, dogs who don’t like water that’ been sitting out all day, dogs who drink too quickly, brachycephalic dogs

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PetSafe Pet Gravity Water Station

The second great offering from PetSafe, the PetSafe Pet Gravity Water Station is an automatic water dispenser that helps control the pace of your dog’s water consumption. 

Made of pressure-treated black and white plastic, the Gravity Water Station makes sure that your dog is getting the hydration that they need in a safe, healthy, and measured way, even when you’re not home to oversee it!

Pros: sturdy construction, measured water dispersal, disassembles for an easy clean, stainless steel bowl is both sanitary and hygienic, steady dispersal means that you won’t have to wake up in the middle of the night to refill your dog’s water bowl, choice of tank sizes makes for a more adjustable fit for your dog

Cons: when you refill the water dispenser, make sure you twist the top part of the tank instead of accidentally twisting off the bottom part and spilling water everywhere

Perfect for: dogs who tend to drink too much or too quickly, dogs who like to knock over their water bowls

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Yeti Boomer 8 Dog Bowl

 Don’t let the name fool you—the Yeti Boomer 8 Dog Bowl is as classic and stylish as it is practical and functional. Made of stainless steel with a non-slip bottom, this water bowl is great for drinking on the go, or just for locking things down around the home. It’s hardworking, durable, and more than tough enough to keep up with you and your dog.

Pros: simple, very easy to clean, no sharp parts or breakable attachments that could present a choking hazard for your dog, stainless steel construction for a durable bowl, dishwasher friendly, puncture resistant and rust resistant, non-slip ring on bottom of bowl prevents slipping or sliding during aggressive eating or drinking

Cons: rust resistant doesn’t mean rust proof, so keep an eye on the inside of the bowl in particular and make sure you’re drying it well after each use to keep it clean

Perfect for: sloppy drinkers, dogs who spend a lot of time outdoors and need a bowl that can keep up with them

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Bergan Automatic Waterer

Another automatic waterer for dog lovers who can’t always keep an eye on the water bowl, the Bergan Automatic Waterer actually attaches to a hose fixture or waterline to make sure that your dog gets plenty of hydration throughout the day. The design is simple and unassuming, but if you’re worried about your dog’s bowl running out, then this is probably the bowl for you.

Pros: attaches to water line for easy refill and no-stress hydration throughout the day, water dispenser ensures that your dog still isn’t drinking too much at one time, heavy construction means that the bowl is durable enough to hold up to the wear and tear of everyday use, saves you the time it takes to constantly go out and refill

Cons: if your dog doesn’t drink a lot of water, the water in the bowl may stagnate and start to attract bugs, dirt, etc

Perfect for: outdoor dogs, dogs who drink a lot during the day, dogs that constantly need their bowl refilled 

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Critter Concepts Water Dispenser

If you want a dog bowl that can adapt to any new situation, the Critter Concepts Water Dispenser is a great option. The wheeled base lets you move it around to keep up with your dog, and the 5-gallon tank holds plenty of water for long hot days. Check out their thermal cover for the tank if you’re worried about keeping your dog’s water cold.

Pros: seriously heavy-duty build, meant to take lots of punishment, bowl is easy to detach and clean, automatic water dispenser measures out a healthy amount of water throughout the day, wheeled base makes the tank easy to move around your house or yard, high quality food-grade plastic keeps the water safe and clean

Cons: if you’re using this bowl outside, the water inside the tank can heat up pretty quickly, and the best way of preventing that (the thermal cover) is sold separately from the main unit

Perfect for: households with multiple dogs, dogs who spend a lot of time outdoors

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When it comes to our four-legged friends, a lot of us may have lingering questions surrounding their hydration, health, and well-being. Some of these more common questions include:

How much water should my dog drink?

As a general rule, your dog should be drinking around one ounce of fluid per pound of body weight. In other words, if your dog weighs about fifty pounds, they should be drinking around fifty ounces of water per day.

This number may change depending on the weather. On cold days, your dog may not be feeling quite as thirsty, and you may find them drinking a few extra ounces on days when the temperature starts to rise. This is normal, and isn’t really a cause for concern unless you notice that they’re drinking enough water to make them sick.

How many times a day should I give my dog water?

How often you refill your dog’s bowl may depend on their daily habits, but you should be able to get away with topping it off once every day. If your water bowl is large enough to meet your dog’s needs, you shouldn’t have to spend all day worrying about the water level.

If you’ve just switched up their diet, however, you may find yourself refilling that bowl more often than before. Dogs on a dry food diet tend to drink more water than dogs that are on a wet kibble or raw food diet, so just keep that in mind.

How do I stop my dog from drinking too much water?

Water intoxication can be a real problem, and increased thirst can be a sign of an underlying health condition. Check with your vet to make sure that your dog’s increased thirst isn’t a symptom of some serious disorder before you try to curb their water-drinking habits.

If your dog is drinking too much out of compulsion or habit, consider getting a self-filling water bowl that dispenses your dog’s recommended amount of water slowly over the course of several hours. This will keep them from inhaling all their water at once and then going back to the bowl throughout the day.

Is it okay to leave my dog’s water out all day?

Short answer: yes, probably. Longer answer: it depends! If you’re worried about particulate matter falling into your dog’s bowl, you may not want to leave it uncovered or exposed. Try putting the bowl in a covered area or even indoors, if you’re worried about your dog ingesting something they shouldn’t.

Other than that, however, it should be perfectly safe to leave your dog’s water bowl out all day. Not only will it save you the trouble of constantly fetching the bowl, but it will also help your dog to know where to go for a nice, cool drink of water.

Is distilled water safe for my dog to drink? What about other types of water?

Distilled water can be fine for your dog in small amounts, but too much more, and it may start getting dangerous. Because distilled water lacks some of the essential minerals that dogs need, it’s generally not a good idea to make distilled water or purified water their main source of fluids.

Alkaline water still packs plenty of minerals to help your dog’s overall health. Filtered water generally leaves some of those minerals in as well, so it’s usually safe. As far as temperatures go, your dog may not like cold water, but it most likely won’t cause any health problems.