What to Do When Your Dog Digs in the Water Bowl

Sick of finding little puddles around the bowl?
For a lot of owners, the real worry isn’t the splashing — it’s the damage it can do. A few water droplets landing in the same spot over and over is all it takes for laminate to swell or for skirting boards, carpets, or rugs to start discolouring.

If your dog digs in the water bowl, it’s not usually mischief. Most of the time, it’s a sign of boredom, heat, play, or simply an unsteady bowl that keeps sliding away from them. The good news? Once you understand why they’re doing it, it’s surprisingly easy to cut down the splashing and protect your floors.

Why Dogs Dig at Their Water Bowls

I always thought digging was something dogs saved for the garden, so seeing it happen at a water bowl caught me off guard. As it turns out, there are a few surprisingly ordinary reasons behind it.

Here’s what I found:

1. They’re Bored or Under-Stimulated 

A bored pup might chase their tail, but a bored Staffy takes it up a notch. We keep a basket of tough nylon toys rotating indoors for days when the weather ruins a proper walk.

Without something engaging to focus on, the water bowl becomes a bit of entertainment — especially in the crate, where only a handful of tough, durable toys are truly safe for unsupervised play. 

2. They Want Your Attention 

Not going to lie, watching a puppy bounce around after a mop can be funny… until they realise that’s how to get you to bring it out.

If they tip the bowl and you rush over — whether you laugh, tut, or say their name — it still counts as attention. And if it works once, they’ll try it again. 

3. They’re Trying to Cool Down 

Some dogs splash to cool off. Breeds like Huskies and Bulldogs especially struggle with heat. 

Our black-and-white Staffy’s the same. On a hot sunny day, he’d rather be at the back of the crate in the comfort of shade, while his brother’s flat on his back sunbathing, paws to the clouds.  

4. Light or Shadows Are Triggering Them 

This one’s sneaky. Stainless steel bowls can reflect overhead lights or shadows, and some dogs go into “chase mode” trying to catch the shimmer. 

Switching to a non-reflective bowl can stop this almost instantly. 

5. They Prefer Moving Water 

Still water bores some dogs. If yours happily drinks from garden puddles but ignores the indoor bowl, they may simply prefer movement.

One of ours does it. Fresh water every morning… yet he’ll still whine to get into the garden for a drink from the bowl out there instead.

A dog water fountain can really help, especially for smaller or less heavy-headed dogs — constantly moving water stays fresher and reduces bacteria buildup between cleans. 

6. It’s a Puppy Phase (Learning Through Play) 

Puppies go through splashy, experimental stages. It’s not always boredom — a lot of it is exploration with their paws.

If it feels like they’re getting worked up or struggling to settle, that’s your sign to redirect them into something structured, like a short training session or some scentwork. 

👉 Here’s how to help your pup calm down 

7. The Bowl Is Sliding and They’re Trying to Pull It Back 

With my two, the “digging” started because the bowl kept sliding forward on the kitchen floor. Staffies are heavy-headed, so as pups they’d nudge the bowl without meaning to, then paw at it as if they were trying to pull it back. 

It would end up pushed just under the cupboard doors — not out of reach, but far enough that they had to press their heads against the units to drink. Switching to a non-slip, weighted bowl stopped the sliding completely, and the pawing behaviour disappeared almost overnight. 

How to Keep the Floor Dry (Without Constant Mopping)

Once you know why your dog is digging, you can match the fix to the cause. These are the options that make the biggest difference.

Once you know the “why,” you can work on a fix.

Switch to a No-Spill or Weighted Bowl

Best for: sliding bowls, enthusiastic drinkers, bored pawing

Bowl movement = bigger mess. A non-slip or weighted bowl stops it travelling across the floor, which removes half the temptation to paw at it. No-spill designs like the Road Refresh Prestige, remove temptation completely.

Try a Water Fountain

Best for: dogs who prefer moving water

If they love puddles but ignore the indoor bowl, a fountain gives them the motion they’re seeking — without the splashing.

Move the Bowl Out of Direct Light

Best for: dogs chasing reflections or shadows

Metal bowls can catch overhead light and create flickers dogs try to “hunt.” A shaded area or matte ceramic bowl removes that trigger instantly.

Increase Enrichment on Low-Activity Days

Best for: boredom or crate rest

Scatter feeding, puzzle toys, or rotating a basket of safe indoor toys helps keep their brain busy so the bowl doesn’t become the entertainment.

Stuck on ideas? See these all-weather exercises (and games) for dogs. 

Stay Neutral (for Attention-Seeking Splashers)

Best for: puppies or high-energy dogs wanting a reaction

Even eye contact can reward the behaviour. Cleaning up calmly once they’ve moved away works better than reacting to the splash.

If Mats and Runners Don’t Work, Don’t Feel Bad — They Usually Don’t

We tried the classic fixes — a plastic pet-food mat and even a cheap hallway runner — hoping a different surface would stop the sliding.

Both moved just as easily as the bowl itself. Without sticky backing, the whole setup still slid forward… and just added one more thing to clean.

Change the Bowl Location (Our Fix)

Best for: protecting flooring and preventing water damage

What finally worked for us was moving the water bowl out of the kitchen entirely. We put it in the hallway where the flooring is a vinyl-type material — far cheaper to replace if it ever does get damaged.

It also happens to be near the front door, and the natural airflow from opening and closing the door keeps the water cooler for longer.

This one change alone stopped the bowl creeping under the cupboard doors and cut down on splash-related mess massively.

Use a Mat or Tray with a Raised Lip

Best for: protecting floor edges from repeated drips

A waterproof mat with a raised edge catches splashes before they seep into laminate, lift LVT edges, or leave marks on carpets.

When to Call a Pro

Most of the time, digging or pawing at the water bowl is harmless and completely behavioural. But if the habit suddenly appears out of nowhere, gets more intense, or comes with other changes, it’s worth checking in with your vet or a qualified behaviourist.

Here are the signs that deserve a closer look:

• It’s a new or escalating behaviour, especially in an adult or senior dog.
• They’re at the bowl a lot but not actually drinking, or their thirst has noticeably changed.
• They seem restless, confused, or “not themselves” around the same time.
• They’re licking or favouring a paw, which can hint at discomfort or a nail/skin issue.
• The pawing is repetitive and hard to interrupt, almost like a compulsion.

In these cases, the bowl behaviour could be just the visible tip of something else going on. A quick chat with a pro can rule out anything medical and point you in the right direction.

And, as always, trust your gut — you know your dog better than any checklist.

Final Thoughts

If you’re dealing with constant puddles, you’re definitely not alone. It’s messy, it’s inconvenient, and it’s one of those behaviours that can feel bigger than it really is.

But most of the time, it’s not mischief — it’s just your dog trying to meet a need. Sometimes it’s boredom, sometimes it’s heat, sometimes it’s simply their way of interacting with the world.

The good news is that once you’ve worked out why they’re splashing, it’s usually easy to make things calmer again.

A small tweak to the setup — especially switching to one of the better suited water bowls for dogs — can protect your floors, cut down the mess, and keep your home much calmer.