“Stand still, he’s drinking water!” some of you (if not most) said this when you saw your dog finally drinking water! Don’t breathe; don’t move until he drinks enough. Some dogs just seem as if they forget to drink water, and we do our best to make sure they are well-hydrated. One option, some say, is the water fountain. It’s a dog water bowl with an electric pump that keeps the water circulating and cool. It gives a dog a cool stream of running water. But is it genuinely helpful, and does it cause more trouble than good?

Water Fountain Benefits

Let’s start with the good side. It does seem perfect to have something that mimics a natural stream, making our dogs feel as close to nature as possible. But, if you’ve seen a dog outside, you’ll notice they would drink water from a muddy puddle even though you’re offering them a nice bowl with fresh water. Dogs do silly things, but it does seem plausible that they are more likely to drink water from a water fountain than a regular bowl. It’s not a rule. Every dog is unique, and some will prefer a water fountain and others will stay away from it. But, the good side is:

• Continuous cool water stream
• Bigger capacity
• Built-in filtration (less cleaning)
• Closer to natural sources of water

Objectively looking, it does improve water quality, and if a dog finds it fun, it helps keep the dog hydrated. A lot of dogs are drawn to it and try the stream coming down out of curiosity and because it looks fun to do so. All this is beneficial to making sure a dog gets enough water every day. 

What Are The Water Fountain Cons?

Every coin has two sides, and we can’t be objective unless we talk about the cons as well. Some might argue how a chemically filtered mechanical bowl can be better than a dog simply drinking water from a regular bowl. And they’ve got a point. We want to get our dogs closer to nature by giving them a mechanical-operating device that uses chemical compounds to purify the water. There are other cons to consider too:

• Most water fountains are made of plastic, and plastic accumulates bacteria 
• Some water fountains have wires which increases the safety risks
• Not all water fountains are easy to reassemble after cleaning
• The bigger the dog, the bigger the fountain which can be a problem if you have more than one dog and a small apartment
• They produce noise

The last con is quite important if you have a noise-sensitive dog. Depending on the manufacturer, the sound the water fountain makes can be pretty loud. However, in most cases, it’s a low hum they produce, and most dogs don’t mind it. 

Are Water Fountains Necessary?

Truth be told, water fountains are not necessary. Even when it comes to helping your dog drink more water, it’s not a proven fact. There are no studies that show water fountains make dogs drink more water. It just works for some dogs. Also, be aware that some dogs will start drinking more water, but after some time, they’ll go back to their old habits. 

Water fountains are not necessary

Personally, I am always for a regular dog bowl, as long as it is not plastic and as long as I change the water often and keep everything clean. There are other ways to keep our dogs hydrated if they truly don’t drink enough water. We can add wet food to their meals, ice cubes, and frozen fruit safe for dogs inside a cube, so they’ll have to melt the ice first to get to the treat. Watermelon is a good source of water. 

You can keep your dog hydrated by giving him wet food, ice cubes, and fruits inside ice cubes, or ask a vet to prescribe some oral electrolyte solutions in severe cases

How Much Does A Water Fountain Cost?

The price depends on the material, functions, and size. The bigger the fountain is, the higher the price. Generally speaking, plastic, wired water fountains are the cheapest. On the other hand, wireless stainless steel water fountains are the most expensive. You can see some examples below. The stainless steel water fountain we showed is around $90, and the plastic one is $20.

Final Thoughts

The bottom line is it doesn’t hurt to try. If you think your dog will benefit from it and it will help him drink more water, go for it! Water fountains have helped some people and their dogs. They say their dogs love the fountain and often drink water from it. They say they have no problems whatsoever. On the other hand, you will hear people say how it was a waste of money and space. Their dogs were uninterested and some were even scared of it. The good thing is that most are not that expensive. So, even if you do buy one and it turns out it’s no use, it’s not a lot of money spent. You can always give it away to a dog rescue center or sell it online.

Read Next: Dog Bowls – Which One To Choose?

Cover Photo by Anna Stampfli