How to get the dog to drink from a bottle?

[Eleonora]

My friend was not sure earlier if we could/should create a new thread about this but she would like to know if it's possible to make a dog to drink from this kind of bottle:

They sell also other kind of bottles that have this kind of cap:

My friend might be somewhere where it's difficult to pour water from a bottle into a bowl. If Lotta doesn't drink all of it, it may not be possible to pour water to anywhere from that bowl except on the floor. However, one should not to pour water on the floor. My friend might be in some public place. If my friend is for example in a bus she needs to hold a lead in her hand and she also needs to hold on to something. That's why it would also be difficult to carry a half empty bowl.

In another thread someone suggested this kind of bottle:
http://www.petsmart.com/gsi/webstor...ategoryName=100138&CatalogName=36&SKU=36-7329

Someone else suggested to use a lid. It doesn't make any difference what kind of bowl (or a lid) it is and is it attached to a bottle. It should be emptied anyway. Water cannot be poured back to a bottle because it would get dirty easily.

Then it would be easier if Lotta could drink from a bottle. My friend has seen bottles that have a straw on TV. You can pour water from those bottles by tilting them. However, she has seen those only on TV. They do sell bottles and cups that have a straw around here but they are different. You need to suck in order to get anything out of them. Dogs don't drink that way.

So, is it possible to get a dog drink from that kind of bottle like in those pictures above? Lotta doesn't want to drink from it. It doesn't help if my friend pours water from it. Does anyone have any ideas? :rofl1: In case someone suggests, my friend doesn't have any liquid that contains meat, besides she's talking about drinking pure water.

 

[Oko]

I don't think it's possible to get a dog to drink from a bottle like that without making a bit of a mess. Is it necessary for her to drink on a bus/indoors? Can she not wait til she's outside?

 

[*blackrose]

A dog isn't able to drink from a bottle like that without squirting it directly into their mouth (which is more messy than anything bowl related!). They aren't able to drink through a straw, or suck out of a bottle.

They do make bottles with a small "bowl" attached - when it isn't in use, It just snaps up to the side of the bottle, so it doesn't take up any space. You just flip the bowl "open" and squeeze the bottle for water to flow into the bowl. It's very easy to regulate the flow of water so you don't pour out too much that needs to be dumped.

And if you *do* need to dump water...dogs can wait for a drink, just like a person can. It's perfectly acceptable to wait to give the dog water just like it would be to wait until you're able to get able drink. So waiting until you are in a position to offer a drink and then dump the extra is 110% acceptable.

 

[LostAndConfused]

I have this one. It came in very hand when we had the dogs at the ocean and we could give them water.

http://www.amazon.com/OllyDog-Water-Bottle-1-Liter-Orange/dp/B00FNY76PK/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1403364841&sr=8-15&keywords=dog+travel+water+bottle

 

[BostonBanker]

And if you *do* need to dump water...dogs can wait for a drink, just like a person can. It's perfectly acceptable to wait to give the dog water just like it would be to wait until you're able to get able drink. So waiting until you are in a position to offer a drink and then dump the extra is 110% acceptable.

This is my real answer. Unless you are going to be on a bus for many hours - I'd just offer water when you get off. Dump the extra on the sidewalk/street/nearby tree.

Barring that, if I really needed something for my dogs to drink out of, I wouldn't spend my time trying to get my dogs to drink from a sports bottle. A lot of dogs (mine included) simply don't like having water squirted at them (some love it!). I'd just get a wide-mouth, leak proof container and carry water in that. Take the lid off, let the dog drink, put the lid back on.

I expect there is a reason that wouldn't work.

 

[teacuptiger]

Well, as dogs use their tongue to LAP water up (they make a bowl with their tongue and then swallow the water), it would be hard to get a dog to drink from a bottle like that. Bottles like the ones you have pictured require the water to be sucked out, or squeezed into a mouth.

Secondly, most dogs do not appreciate water being squirted at them. So unless Lotta enjoys having water squirted at her (does she play with a hose?), squeezing the water from the type of bottle you have pictured would not work.

So. Your other options are either a lid or detachable bowl- which yes, you will have to dump the water. You can also use what BostonBanker suggested, which is a bottle with a wide mouth so that Lotta could lap the water out of it.

The issues with using a lid/detachable bowl or a wide mouthed bottle are:

1- You will have to dump excess water out of a lid or bowl UNLESS you only pour as much as you KNOW Lotta will drink. This is what I do. I do not fill the entire lid or bowl with water for my dog, only a little bit. That way, I only have to dump a few drops out of the lid or bowl after my dog is done drinking. A few drops could very easily be dumped out of a window.

2- If using a wide mouthed bottle, you will have to keep it mostly full unless Lotta has a very long tongue. Otherwise, she will only be able to get water as long as her tongue can reach it.

If you choose to use a bottle with a detachable bowl, or just use a plain old lid, you could very easily hold onto it. This way, you will not have to set it on the floor and it will not get as dirty. If you get a small enough lid, it could easily fit in a pants or jacket pocket. Most any size lid can also fit into a backpack. As you know, a bottle with a detachable bowl is a 2-in-1 and wouldn't make much difference if you had to carry it in your hands or not.

 

[Assamiea]

Maybe something like the Pet Top would be a better idea. It fits onto different types of water bottles and works much in the same way as the small pet water bottles work. It also has advice on how to get your dog to use it in the product info section.

 

[ruffiangirl]

Maybe something like the Pet Top would be a better idea. It fits onto different types of water bottles and works much in the same way as the small pet water bottles work. It also has advice on how to get your dog to use it in the product info section.

This is what I recommended when they (she) asked in another thread...

 

[Eleonora]

if you *do* need to dump water...dogs can wait for a drink, just like a person can. It's perfectly acceptable to wait to give the dog water just like it would be to wait until you're able to get able drink. So waiting until you are in a position to offer a drink and then dump the extra is 110% acceptable.

If Lotta notices that my friend is going to go away from home for a longer time with her, she gets very thirsty for some reason. It is so especially when they travel for example by a bus. My friend thinks that the only reason cannot be that Lotta has not drunk anything before they leave. There must be also other reasons. Does anyone know why Lotta gets so thirsty? Then she starts to make so much noise.

One doesn't need to suck from that kind of bottle my friend has. In theory, if Lotta would be willing to drink from it, my friend could pour a little bit at the time into Lotta's mouth. Less water would be lost than if my friend would pour it out of a bowl or from other kind of bottle. BostonBanker was not talking about a bottle.

Well, as dogs use their tongue to LAP water up...//...it would be hard to get a dog to drink from a bottle like that. Bottles like the ones you have pictured require the water to be sucked out, or squeezed into a mouth..../

/...So. Your other options are either a lid or detachable bowl- which yes, you will have to dump the water. You can also use what BostonBanker suggested, which is a bottle with a wide mouth so that Lotta could lap the water out of it.

The issues with using a lid/detachable bowl or a wide mouthed bottle are:

1- You will have to dump excess water out of a lid or bowl UNLESS you only pour as much as you KNOW Lotta will drink. This is what I do. I do not fill the entire lid or bowl with water for my dog, only a little bit. That way, I only have to dump a few drops out of the lid or bowl after my dog is done drinking. A few drops could very easily be dumped out of a window.

2- If using a wide mouthed bottle, you will have to keep it mostly full unless Lotta has a very long tongue. Otherwise, she will only be able to get water as long as her tongue can reach it.

If you choose to use a bottle with a detachable bowl, or just use a plain old lid, you could very easily hold onto it. This way, you will not have to set it on the floor and it will not get as dirty. If you get a small enough lid, it could easily fit in a pants or jacket pocket. Most any size lid can also fit into a backpack. As you know, a bottle with a detachable bowl is a 2-in-1 and wouldn't make much difference if you had to carry it in your hands or not.

My friend might also be somewhere else than in a bus where it would be difficult to use a bowl. No matter how little my friend would pour in a bowl if she should carry it half empty, it should be carried this way:
http://depositphotos.com/23222014/stock-photo-hand-holding-bowl.html?sst=300&sqc=320&sqm=7173&sq=33n3hp

My friend meant that it would be difficult to pour water. She might also be in a place where there's not even a drain.

My friend might be somewhere where it's difficult to pour water from a bottle into a bowl. If Lotta doesn't drink all of it, it may not be possible to pour water to anywhere from that bowl except on the floor. However, one should not to pour water on the floor. My friend might be in some public place. If my friend is for example in a bus she needs to hold a lead in her hand and she also needs to hold on to something. That's why it would also be difficult to carry a half empty bowl.

In another thread someone suggested this kind of bottle:
http://www.petsmart.com/gsi/webstor...ategoryName=100138&CatalogName=36&SKU=36-7329

Someone else suggested to use a lid. It doesn't make any difference what kind of bowl (or a lid) it is and is it attached to a bottle. It should be emptied anyway. Water cannot be poured back to a bottle because it would get dirty easily.

My friend meant that water would get dirty if it would be poured back to the bottle. There would be the same issue with a bowl that has a lid or with the one in the link above. Others have suggested various products but they sell only that kind of bottles for dogs here. They sell also for people the ones my friend has herself. She noticed only few days ago that it didn't show that we live in Finland. We have just added that piece of information.

You say that it's not possible to get Lotta to drink from a bottle. However, my friend has read and seen that one can get/teach dogs to do almost anything. If it's possible after all, how to get Lotta to drink from it?

So, is it possible to get a dog drink from that kind of bottle like in those pictures above? Lotta doesn't want to drink from it. It doesn't help if my friend pours water from it. Does anyone have any ideas?

Or if my friend cannot get Lotta to drink from a bottle and it's sometimes difficult to use a bowl, are there other options? What can be done if Lotta gets thirsty and it's not possible to give her water immeadeately?

 

[faustus]

Since you guys are in Finland and having difficulty finding the products people are suggesting I did some poking around and found this!

http://www.petenkoiratarvike.com/tuote/matkajuomapullo-trixie-500-ml-värilajitelm/8161300/

If you are in a place where you can't dispose of the water, like a bus, she does not need to drink until you are someplace you can dispose of the water. She will be ok going without water for that time period.

 

[Dekka]

What is all this friend business? I am a bit confused. Are you asking for someone who takes your dog? Or are you asking for yourself but kinda pretending to post for your dog? Its a bit confusing to follow.

But I agree with everyone that a dog does not need to drink in a bus.

 

[*blackrose]

If Lotta notices that my friend is going to go away from home for a longer time with her, she gets very thirsty for some reason. It is so especially when they travel for example by a bus. My friend thinks that the only reason cannot be that Lotta has not drunk anything before they leave. There must be also other reasons. Does anyone know why Lotta gets so thirsty? Then she starts to make so much noise.

Some dogs may drink when they get excited/anxious. If I have a drink in my hand and I'm in a situation where I'm uneasy, I tend to drink simply because it is something I can do, and am in control of. Even if I'm not thirsty.

There is also a *very* good chance that Lotta isn't thirsty, but is making noise because she's excited/nervous. If you offer her water, she may drink because it was offered/she is nervous and that is something in her control, but I doubt she suddenly becomes extremely thirsty simply because your friend is leaving.

One doesn't need to suck from that kind of bottle my friend has. In theory, if Lotta would be willing to drink from it, my friend could pour a little bit at the time into Lotta's mouth.

This is highly impractical, and honestly, I don't think will work. If this is what you want Lotta to do, then more power to you and best of luck teaching her - but I highly doubt anyone here is going to help you in teaching her how to do so, because it is highly impracrical. Dogs don't like having things poured into their mouths, and Lotta will likely just spit it out/let it fall out of her mouth. In theory it is a good idea...but dogs are not people and this idea, for a dog, seems rather pointless, IMO. Sorry.

My friend might also be somewhere else than in a bus where it would be difficult to use a bowl. My friend meant that it would be difficult to pour water. She might also be in a place where there's not even a drain.

With a water bottle/bowl attachment, you don't have to pour water. You simply flip the bowl "open" and squeeze the bottle. You can do it all with one hand. (If that sounds too difficult, then perhaps you should practice.)

There is always a drain. There are public restrooms everywhere. Water can be disposed of there. Or a trashcan. Or dirt. Or the sidewalk. Or a tree. Or a potted plant. Or a parking lot. You don't need an actual drain to dump out water.

My friend meant that water would get dirty if it would be poured back to the bottle. There would be the same issue with a bowl that has a lid or with the one in the link above.

Dogs can drink "dirty" water. The only thing the water will be dirty from is Lotta's spit. She'll survive if you dump the water back in to bottle. It won't be "dirty". Promise.

You say that it's not possible to get Lotta to drink from a bottle. However, my friend has read and seen that one can get/teach dogs to do almost anything. If it's possible after all, how to get Lotta to drink from it?

You can teach dogs almost anything. Teaching a dog to allow you to dump water in to its mouth without making a mess is going to be next to impossible. If you want to try, more power to you. But I believe it will be pretty pointless.

What can be done if Lotta gets thirsty and it's not possible to give her water immeadeately?

Patience?

Dogs don't need to be catered to at their every whim. If Lotta is thirsty and it isn't possible to give her water, then have her wait. It isn't really that hard. If she is throwing a fit about something, I'm almost 100% sure it isn't because she doesn't have access to water at that precise moment, but has more to do with her being excited and wanting to DO something. Practice her focusing on you for small treats. Practice a sit/stay or down/stay. Give her something to do that will occupy her time and keep her focused.

And if she doesn't know how to focus on you, or sit/stay, or down/stay, then teach her at home. Go to a training class with her. Hire a private instructor that will come to your home and see her in person. Read a dog training book and do it yourself.

 

[BostonBanker]

Dekka, the friend is the dog's owner, who is autistic I believe. Just replace every "my friend" with I for easier reading, but that is the jist.

If I really cared about teaching a dog to drink from a bottle, I would plan to spend a lot of time first teaching my dog to eat/drink other things from a squirt top first. Whipped cream, spray cheese. Progress to maybe watery gravy in that kind of bottle, gradually making it more water.

But really, my dogs just wait for water. Or drink water with their spit in it.

 

[Oko]

Dogs don't care if the water is a bit dirty. I like BB's idea, why not use a Tupperware container that's leak proof? And anyway, she's probably panting because she's stressed, not thirsty.

 

[Pintage]

Dogs don't care if the water is a bit dirty. I like BB's idea, why not use a Tupperware container that's leak proof? And anyway, she's probably panting because she's stressed, not thirsty.

I think that's a good idea - or a mason jar which would be a bit more sturdy if you had to toss it in your backpack.

 

[Dekka]

Dekka, the friend is the dog's owner, who is autistic I believe. Just replace every "my friend" with I for easier reading, but that is the jist.

Thank you, that makes a lot more sense. Makes the post easier to follow!

I have a bottle that has a large ball at the top (think hamster waterers) but my guys would rather drink out of a container.

 

[JennyWin]

The last time I went on a run with my dog and tried to give him some water from a bottle like that, it did not go very well!

 

[Eleonora]

That is correct. We have a thread about it. We just put a new question about that there:

Dekka, the friend is the dog's owner, who is autistic I believe. Just replace every "my friend" with I for easier reading, but that is the jist.

If I really cared about teaching a dog to drink from a bottle, I would plan to spend a lot of time first teaching my dog to eat/drink other things from a squirt top first. Whipped cream, spray cheese. Progress to maybe watery gravy in that kind of bottle, gradually making it more water.

Are you saying that the dog would get used to it that way? So, after that the dog would allow one to squirt water into his/her mouth? Although my friend asked first how to get/teach Lotta to drink from a bottle, you can give also other suggestions.

Some dogs may drink when they get excited/anxious..../

/....There is also a *very* good chance that Lotta isn't thirsty, but is making noise because she's excited/nervous. If you offer her water, she may drink because it was offered/she is nervous and that is something in her control, but I doubt she suddenly becomes extremely thirsty simply because your friend is leaving..../

/....Dogs don't need to be catered to at their every whim. If Lotta is thirsty and it isn't possible to give her water, then have her wait. It isn't really that hard. If she is throwing a fit about something, I'm almost 100% sure it isn't because she doesn't have access to water at that precise moment, but has more to do with her being excited and wanting to DO something.

Lotta doesn't become that thirsty when they go only for a walk, but if they travel somewhere she do become very very thirsty. Then Lotta makes also other noises besides barking and she also pants. My friend is saying that then it sounds and seems like Lotta's throat would become extremely dry. My friend has sometimes gotten so thirsty herself that her throat has became sore... Many dogs don't become very thirsty but why does Lotta become so thirsty?

If Lotta notices that my friend is going to go away from home for a longer time with her, she gets very thirsty for some reason. It is so especially when they travel for example by a bus. My friend thinks that the only reason cannot be that Lotta has not drunk anything before they leave. There must be also other reasons. Does anyone know why Lotta gets so thirsty? Then she starts to make so much noise..../

/....My friend meant that water would get dirty if it would be poured back to the bottle. There would be the same issue with a bowl that has a lid

If one puts something to drink into a bottle and carries it with her/him, it starts to taste bad at some point.

We told that they do sell those kind of bottles here. We linked one although that store is not in Finland. (My friend had that link on her computer) There would be the same problem with it than if my friend would use a seperate bowl. Both of them should be emptied.

With a water bottle/bowl attachment, you don't have to pour water. You simply flip the bowl "open" and squeeze the bottle. You can do it all with one hand. (If that sounds too difficult, then perhaps you should practice.)

There is always a drain. There are public restrooms everywhere. Water can be disposed of there. Or a trashcan. Or dirt. Or the sidewalk. Or a tree. Or a potted plant. Or a parking lot. You don't need an actual drain to dump out water.

In many places there are not even public restrooms and if there are, one might not be allowed to take dogs there. No matter where my friend would be, it could be difficult to pour water. If she can give Lotta water there, when they get out of there, my friend might have hands full of other things.

My friend might also be somewhere else than in a bus where it would be difficult to use a bowl. No matter how little my friend would pour in a bowl if she should carry it half empty, it should be carried this way:
http://depositphotos.com/23222014/stock-photo-hand-holding-bowl.html?sst=300&sqc=320&sqm=7173&sq=33n3hp

/....Or if my friend cannot get Lotta to drink from a bottle and it's sometimes difficult to use a bowl, are there other options? What can be done if Lotta gets thirsty and it's not possible to give her water immeadeately?

So, if Lotta gets very thirsty, how she would get used to be without drinking for a little longer? What can be done so that Lotta's throat will not become so dry? One cannot just ask the dog to drink something before they go.

 

[Sekah]

Adult dogs cannot suck from a bottle simply because they don't have lips the same way people do. You can spray the water into their mouths and, at best, they will try to lap it up. It's inevitable that some sort of mess will be created.

I suspect she gets thirsty after a bus ride due to anxiety associated to the travel.

 

[Maxy24]

I have a travel water bowl like this:

It's flexible so I just pour water into it, let the dog drink, then squish the bowl into a point and pour the water back into the bottle. So long as your aims good (or you have a bottle with a wide enough neck) there is no mess. If a dog is really thirsty they won't care if the water is a little dirty. All it's dirty with is their own spit.

You can teach a dog to drink from a water bottle that you squeeze into their mouth but you can't teach them not to drip and dibble all over the place.


We have a dog at work who has to drink out of a crate water bottle like this:

so that might be another option, the dog just licks the tip. But if she's anxious she might not want to drink out of it.