How to Trick Your Dog Into Drinking Water

Co-authored by Allison Weeks and Kai Hynes

Last Updated: July 19, 2024 Fact Checked

If your dog isn’t drinking enough water, it could be for any number of reasons. Perhaps they’re young, or old, or sick, or in a place with unfamiliar water. No matter what the conditions are, there are plenty of ways you can “trick” your dog into taking in a sufficient amount of water by making it more appetizing for them. Read on for some tips on how to get your dog drinking (or eating) water so they stay healthy and hydrated!

1

Flavor your dog’s water.

Add 1–3 teaspoons (4.9–14.8 mL) of low-sodium beef or chicken stock to encourage your dog to drink water. Giving the water some meaty flavor and aroma could make it more tempting to your pup. Stick to pure meat or bone broths without too many additives, as ingredients like garlic or onions can be unhealthy for dogs. ^{[1]
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Research source} Try making a healthy bone broth at home with this recipe:
- Roast raw turkey or beef bones for 30 minutes at 350 °F (177 °C).
- Transfer to a stock pot. Add 5–6 cups (1,200–1,400 mL) water and 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) apple cider vinegar.
- Bring everything to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer for 3-4 hours.
- Scoop out whatever’s floated to the top and use immediately or freeze.
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2

Give your dog ice cubes.

Drop ice cubes in their water or hand them out as treats. Dogs tend to find cold water more enticing than room temperature water, so plop a few ice cubes into their water to cool it down. ^{[2]
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Research source} Alternatively, hand ice cubes out as treats. They can give your pooch something to chew on and hydrate them at the same time. Win-win! ^{[3]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
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- These ice cubes can be made from flavored water to make them even tastier.
- For example, frozen broth, or a mixture of peanut butter powder and water! ^{[4]
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  Research source}

3

Add water to your dog’s food.

Pour 1 cup (240 mL) water into the food bowl at meal time. It might seem gross to us, but dogs have no issue eating dry kibble floating in water. Kill two birds with one stone by mixing 1 cup (240 mL) of water into your pooch’s regularly-scheduled meals. ^{[5]
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Research source}
- Make sure the bowl is large enough for both water and food.
- You can add .5 teaspoons (2.5 mL) of coconut or salmon oil to make it tastier.
- Alternatively you could add a low sodium broth to the dry kibble.
- You can also use low-lactose milk, like goat milk, instead of water. ^{[6]
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4

Switch to wet dog food.

Convert to canned dog food or mix some into kibble. Wet dog food often has a really high moisture content that could add some extra water to your pup’s diet. Alternatively, try mixing wet dog food in with dry kibble if your dog seems to be really attached to it. ^{[7]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}
- You can also make your own wet dog food by soaking dry kibble in water and letting it absorb.

5

Feed your dog fruits and veggies.

Add applesauce, spinach, or frozen blueberries to food. People often forget that fruits and veggies are packed with water, and that many of these are safe for dogs to eat. Sneak your pup a little extra water by putting a small amount of tasty applesauce, spinach, or frozen blueberries into their kibble! ^{[8]
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Research source}
- Alternatively, put frozen blueberries in their water bowl to add flavor and coolness, as well as make fishing the berries out an activity. ^{[9]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  American Kennel Club
  The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
  Go to source}
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6

Reward your dog for drinking water.

Give them a treat or verbal praise after they drink water. Dogs tend to respond very well to positive reinforcement. Train your dog to drink water by persuading them with the promise of a treat. A head pat, belly rub, or “good boy/girl” could also do the trick. ^{[10]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}
- You don’t have to do this forever, but it could be a way to set up a routine.
- For example, you could make them drink water and get a treat after dinner so they get used to drinking water with their food.

7

Keep your dog’s water bowl clean.

Wash the bowl and fill it with fresh water once a day. Just like humans, dogs can be turned off by drinking out of dirty dishes. Stagnant water tastes bad and can develop nasty bacteria! Wash your dog’s water bowl with dish soap at least once a day and fill it back up with fresh water to keep it appetizing. ^{[11]
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- Use cold water to make it more refreshing, especially on hot days.
- Some dogs may want fresh water every few hours, too. ^{[12]
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8

Move your dog’s water bowl.

Place water near their food, bed, or other areas they frequent. Your dog might not think about drinking water unless it’s clearly visible to them. Encourage them to drink more by putting the water bowl in a part of the house that they like spending time in. ^{[13]
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- Try a few different locations over time to see what your pooch likes best.
- A change in location can also make the water bowl seem new and exciting. ^{[14]
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9

Increase the number of water bowls.

Put multiple water bowls in different areas they frequent. Sometimes dogs won’t drink water because of accessibility. For example, if the water bowl is in the kitchen, your dog might not want to walk through the entire house for a sip. Give your pup options by putting water bowls in all of their favorite parts of the house. ^{[15]
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- Try putting one next to their food, one next to their bed, and one outside.
- More bowls means more reminders to hydrate, too. ^{[16]
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10

Use a new water bowl.

Replace the bowl with one of a different size and material. It could be that the bowl itself is what’s turning your pup away from drinking water. Perhaps it’s too small, the material it’s made of is off-putting, or it’s just old and has collected unappetizing bacteria over time. ^{[17]
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Research source} Get a new bowl to serve your pooch water with these tips in mind:
- Get a bowl that’s larger than their food bowl. This can encourage them to drink as they eat.
- Stick to stainless steel or ceramic. Plastic bowls can be chewed on and develop bacteria.

11

Carry clean water around.

Bring bottled water that you can use while out of the house. Some dogs are picky about sharing water with other dogs or drinking from unfamiliar sources. To make sure your pooch always has water they’ll want to drink, carry water that’s from home or otherwise filtered when going for a long walk or traveling. ^{[18]
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- Some dogs let you pour it into their mouth, while others might prefer a bowl from home.
- This can also make drinking water new and exciting.
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12

Let your dog drink from your hands.

Scoop water into your hands and bring it directly to them. Water from a loving owner’s hands can be more approachable than a bowl. This method can also be used to bring water to a sick or otherwise immobile pup. Simply scoop up some water, bring it close to their mouth, and allow them to lap it up. ^{[19]
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Research source}
- After doing this a few times, your dog may come to enjoy drinking water on their own.

13

Install a pet fountain.

Lots of animals feel more comfortable drinking moving water over still water. A pet fountain gives your pooch’s water supply this appeal, while also preventing bacterial growth and bad tastes! ^{[20]
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Research source}

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Expert Q&A

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Question

Can I put chicken stock in my dog's water?

Allison Weeks
Dog Training Professional
Allison Weeks is a Dog Training Professional, as well as the Owner & Operator of Peticularly Perfect. With more than 12 years of experience, she specializes in dog walking, dog psychology, and dog behavior. Peticularly Perfect won the Best of Escondido business award for the pet care category in 2020 and Allison was featured as the owner of Peticularly Perfect in SD Voyager online magazine. Allison earned a Bachelor's Degree from Kaplan University.

Allison Weeks

Dog Training Professional

Expert Answer

Definitely—this is an especially helpful technique when your dog is feeling sick or dehydrated. Just make sure you're using the stock in moderation and not on a regular basis.

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How to Trick Your Dog Into Drinking Water

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