My Dog Makes a Mess Drinking Water: 4 Vet-Approved Tips to Stop It

If you find that the area around your dog bowl is always splashed with water, it can be quite a frustrating problem. The unique way that dogs ingest water makes it more likely for them to make a huge mess while drinking, even when they aren’t trying to!

The good news is that you can help keep the area around your dog’s bowl as dry as possible with a few preventative measures.

Before You Start

Cleaning the water off the floor every time your dog drinks from their water bowl can be irritating. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to keep the area around their water bowl nice and dry.

However, if your dog suddenly makes more of a mess while drinking, examine their mouth closely to see if they have an injury. A broken tooth, laceration, or infection may be making it difficult for them to drink. It’s best to contact your vet for an examination if you’re concerned, even if their mouth looks normal.

The 4 Tips to Stop Your Dog From Making a Mess Drinking Water

1. Use an Elevated Water Bowl

An elevated water bowl can change the angle at which your dog drinks, potentially leading to less mess. When compared to drinking off of the floor, elevated water bowls create a more horizontal plane when drinking to help reduce drops from spilling back out. Just be sure that your elevated water bowl isn’t easily tipped over as this can, of course, lead to more of a mess.

2. Use an Absorbent Mat

Sometimes, despite your and your pup’s best efforts, they make a bit of a mess. Instead of heading over with a towel or mop each time, consider getting an absorbent mat that can soak up some of the water and at least prevent slippery puddles that could be a fall hazard.

3. Fill the Dish With Less Water

Leaving more empty space in a water bowl can decrease the amount that gets slopped over the sides. This may be an especially helpful solution if your dog is making a mess by sticking their face too far into the water bowl. It’s less helpful if they’re simply making a mess from the lapping process.

Keep in mind that less water in a bowl means you’ll need to fill it up more often, which is why we recommend finding a deeper water bowl to help offset this problem.

4. Use a Bowl With a Unique Design

It doesn’t take much searching to find water dishes that can help your dog keep their excess water in their bowl. Shallow bowls with small diameters are not suitable for messy drinkers, so instead, look for wider, deeper options.

It’s best to examine the size of your dog’s muzzle and match it with an appropriate water bowl. For instance, a Greyhound might not need a bowl as wide as one that is more suitable for a Mastiff.

What to Do If Your Dog Is Pawing at Their Water

Sometimes, when your dog makes a mess when drinking water, it has less to do with drinking and more to do with playing with the water! If that is the case with your dog, there are a few things you can do to help them kick the habit.

Start by elevating the dog bowl. This makes it harder for them to paw at the bowl and to spill water when actively drinking!

Next, use a non-reflective and heavy bowl. It may be less appealing for your dog to paw at the water, and it helps ensure that it doesn’t do anything interesting when your dog does start pawing at it.

Finally, ensure that the water is clean and that you’re meeting your pup’s exercise needs. A dog that is pawing at their water may be doing so to burn off extra energy or to provide themselves with mental stimulation.

Final Thoughts

Nobody wants to deal with dog water on the floor all the time. Each pup presents challenges when it comes to their habits and behavior, but the good news is that no matter the reason for your dog's water mess, there’s something you can do about it. We hope that these tips will keep your floor clean and satisfy your favorite pup!

Featured Image Credit: Ksenia Raykova, Shutterstock