The Best Water Bowls for Dogs: Healthier Hydration
Whether your dog sloshes water across the kitchen floor, barely drinks enough to stay hydrated, or turns every bowl into a splash zone… having the right water bowls for dogs makes a bigger difference than you’d think.
Here’s a roundup of the ones that actually solve the most common problems.
The Best Automatic Water Bowl for Dogs
PetSafe Drinkwell® Platinum Pet Fountain
- 🟠 Large 5-litre reservoir – ideal for single or multi-dog households
- 🟠 Free-flowing water may encourage some dogs to drink more
- 🟠 Built-in carbon filter keeps water clean and fresh-tasting
- 🟠 Quiet operation – gentle trickle, no noisy splashing
- 🟠 Dishwasher-safe parts for easy maintenance
Do you know how much water a dog should drink in a day? About 1 litre in normal conditions. In the summer, expect that to increase by 2 to 3x. As a guideline, however long you expect to be away, or not to be refilling the water bowl, dogs ought to have 50–60 mL of water per kg of body weight per day.
We have 2 Staffies, both on the heavier side averaging 25 kg, so while the 5L reservoir in the PetSafe Drinkwell® Platinum Pet Fountain seems like a hands-free approach, truth is… it’ll comfortably get you through a day with one dog, but during peak summer or in multi-dog homes, it’s not completely hands-free.
What it would do though is make it easier for the helpers to do flying visits to let them out into the garden, walk them, or just check-in to make sure all’s okay.
No extra hassle, or awkward favour to ask friends doing a good turn to top the water bowl up while they’re there.
Want to know something else? For dogs that don’t drink as much as they should, the moving water may encourage them to drink more. And since this has more of a trickling stream, it’s not one of those noisy machines that make you think you’ve left a tap running.
What’s more is moving water doesn’t go stagnant as fast, so there’s less of a chance of bacteria build-up. But, just in case, it has an activated carbon filter to keep the water clean, fresh-tasting, and odour-free.
Speaking of clean water, regular dog water bowls are best cleaned weekly. As the water in this is cycling constantly, it’s cleaner for longer, and users have commented about the cleaning being easier because it’s dishwasher safe. Run it through a dishwasher cycle when it’s time to change the filter.
Instead of weekly cleaning, the filtration system combined with the materials means you can switch from a weekly clean to a monthly clean. One less weekly chore.
Just be aware: it’s powered, so you need to keep it near a socket. And if you’ve got a dog who loves to splash or push bowls around, this one isn’t a no-spill design. For that kind of mess, you’re better off with something like the Road Refresher.
But if you’re after a solid automatic water fountain that ticks the boxes for hydration, cleanliness, and hands-off convenience, this one’s hard to beat.
The Best of the Elevated Water Bowls for Dogs
2-in-1 Raised Dog Bowl from ELS PET
- 🟠 Four adjustable heights — grow with your dog or tweak as needed
- 🟠 Easier on seniors or dogs with joint pain
- 🟠 Removable stainless bowls = simple, mess-free cleanup
Straight up, I’m not a fan of these… and I’ll tell you why. After finding green algae in the dogs water bowl, it led me down a rabbit hole that led me to learning about something much more serious: bloat.
If you haven’t already read it, I cover bloat in more depth in this post, but the short version is this… some people swear raised bowls help, others say they’re a risk. I’m still undecided, but I’d rather err on the side of caution.
That said, there are times when a raised bowl makes sense (for the dog’s sake, not ours). Dogs with joint pain, those recovering from surgery, or seniors who struggle to stoop low might find it easier to eat and drink from a bowl that’s not floor-level.
That’s why I’ve included this 2-in-1 Raised Dog Bowl from ELS PET. It’s got four adjustable heights, so you’re not locked into some sky-high setup that could make bloat more likely.
If you do go the raised bowl route, it’s better to keep it low enough that the dog still lowers their head to eat and drink… not keeping everything chest height, which can increase the risk of swallowing air. That’s the bit that can lead to GDV (gastric dilatation and volvulus).
Now, a quick word on why I wouldn’t recommend these bowls just to make our lives easier. Say you’ve got a bad back and bending down’s a struggle – fair enough. But personally, I wouldn’t want to swap dog safety for human convenience.
If that were me, I’d look for a workaround that helps me, without changing what’s best for the dogs.
Here’s what I’d try:
I’ve got a rake and shovel style pooper scooper for the garden — the Yangbaga XL Pooper Scooper. If I struggled with bending down, I’d grab a second pooper scooper (emphasis on second — not the one that’s seen garden duty!) and use that to lift bowls or shovel in kibble. If they’re on wet food, just use a smaller bowl that fits the shovel.
It’s not fancy… but it’s a simple workaround. And I’d try that first before swapping to ELS PET’s dual raised feeder. (Just something to think about).
Best No-Spill Water Bowl for Dogs
Road Refresher Prestige
- 🟠 Stops spills and splashes with its smart floating lid
- 🟠 Stable, non-slip design means fewer messes and less stress
- 🟠 Perfect for travel or crates as it won’t tip over on the move
- 🟠 Removable stainless bowls — simple, mess-free cleanup
If you’ve got a messy drinker, hardwood floors, and/or electronics anywhere near the water bowl… you’re probably already hunting for something spill-resistant. Or maybe you’re just sick of stepping in puddles every time your dog takes a drink.
(Nothing worse than taking wet shoes off at the door after a rainy walk, only to step into a fresh puddle of spilt water).
The Road Refresher Prestige is one of the most practical no-spill bowls out there. I found it after digging through reviews, travel blogs, crate setup guides… you name it. And while there are heavier (or even prettier bowls around), this one wins because it handles real-life mess in multiple situations.
So if you’re asking how to stop your dog from spilling the water bowl, here’s what makes this one work:
- Floating lid: Covers most of the water surface, so your dog only laps up small amounts at a time. No more splashing, sloshing, or waterfall mouths.
- Tapered shape + non-slip base: Even if your dog paws or nudges the bowl, it’s less likely to tip or scoot.
- Great for travel or crates: Customer reviews say the low, stable shape fits neatly in car footwells or crate corners. That’s where most other bowls fail… one sharp turn and they’re empty.
If your dog keeps spilling the water bowl, or they’re the kind that drinks like they’ve been lost in the desert, this can genuinely help. It’s not just for neat freaks. It’s a smart choice for anyone with laminate or hardwood flooring (lowers risk of warping), shared living spaces (no housemate drama), or multi-pet homes where spills affect more than just the culprit.
Is it pretty? Not especially (IMO). But it’s designed to work as a no-spill dog water bowl. And when you’re dealing with a dog spilling water when drinking every single day, “works” starts to sound really good.
Bonus: The Road Refresher Is Also One of the Best Water Bowls for Dogs Outside
If it weren’t for the fact I wrote about the green algae in dog water bowl saga, I’d never have believed the absolute carnage it can cause. In the summer, our two would rather zoom around the garden than think about water… And then collapse in the hottest patch of sun for a quick snooze, recharging for round two.
Without a water bowl out there, hydration would be an afterthought.
Our garden’s pretty big, so we used to stick a plain stainless bowl out there… no rubber base, no splash guard, nothing fancy. It does the job most of the time. But I know it wouldn’t hold up in a more compact space, where one clumsy nudge would topple it instantly.
That’s where the Road Refresher Prestige really stands out. While it’s known as a great no-spill bowl indoors, it also works brilliantly outside during the day.
The floating lid limits surface exposure, which means fewer bugs, less debris, and birds can’t treat it like a birdbath. The shallow access makes it harder for anything but the dog to get in.
And because it’s durable and portable, you can bring it out during the day and take it back in when you’re done — no need to buy a second “garden bowl.”
We’ve done that. At one point we had so many bowls (indoors, outdoors, backups) that half a shelf in the kitchen cupboard was just dog dishes. That’s likely what led to the algae problem: too many bowls, less refilling, and water that sat too long. Laziness was not the answer. We learned that lesson the hard way.
Now I go for multifunctional wherever I can. Less stuff. More refills. Cleaner water. That’s exactly why the Road Refresher fits. It works inside and out, and does the job wherever the dogs decide to flop next.
Quick Summary: Choosing the Best Water Bowl for Your Dog
- Think health first: avoid bowls that encourage stagnant water or swallowing air… those can lead to health issues.
- Match the bowl to your dog: no-spill bowls help messy drinkers and protect floors; elevated bowls suit seniors or dogs with joint pain—but keep the height low. Automatic fountains encourage hydration and reduce refilling.
- Keep it practical: consider cleaning ease, stability, and where you’ll use it—indoors, crates, travel, or outside.
- Listen to your dog: what works for one might not for another (watch their drinking habits and adjust as needed).
Final Thoughts:
Water bowls for dogs seem basic… until they’re not. Whether you want spill control, extra hydration, or just something that makes life easier, the right bowl does more than hold water—it supports your dog’s health (and your sanity). Hope this helped narrow things down.
These bowls are a game changer for keeping my floors dry.
Great stuff. Which one do you use?