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Food Bowls and Water Bottle

8K views 19 replies 11 participants last post by  Jackie from Concrete, WA 
#1 ·
Hi all,

This site is SUCH a valuable resource. I appreciate everyone's help as I shop for my new puppy!

Ok.. on to my question:

I have seen a few people talk about buying bowls that sit in a stand. Won't my dog be too small for that? Why do I want that?

My breeder sells water bottles. Her puppies use the bottles instead of a bowl. Do I want this? Is there any downside? I like the idea of the water always being clean.

Thanks!
Jennifer
 
#2 ·
I don't know about the bowl sitting in a stand thing. I don't have one of those. I do have a waterfall bowl, in which the water is filtered. The dogs use this the least out of the three bowls we have. One is just a regular ceramic soup bowl, and the other is a plastic bowl. I had tried to get rid of the plastic one because I was concerned about bacteria, but the dogs like it the most and my husband didn't let me win that battle.

As for the water bottle, I tried that option when we brought Raffy home, but it didn't work out so well. He wasn't all that interested in it because he was already used to bowls. Also, despite the product advertising saying it was no drip, it still dripped more than I wanted to deal with. That said, it is the best option to avoid facial staining. If your pup is already used to one and you can set it up so it doesn't drip and ruin your flooring, to me it's the preferable option.
 
#5 ·
The stand I use for the bottle in my office has a little bowl under the bottle to catch any drips. :)

We have one of the filtered fountain water bowls too, and my older two (and the cat!) really like this the best. The PROBLEM is Miss Pandemonium, who decided to start chewing on the cord. Fortunately, she didn't hurt herself, but THAT bowl has been repaired and put away until she's past the sharky stage! :laugh:
 
#3 ·
I've always heard of the bowls in a stand being used for larger breeds so they don't have to reach so much to get their food and water. If there are ways the stand benefits small breeds, I'd love to hear it.

As far as the water bottle goes, we only used one when Mario was a puppy and using an ex-pen so that he didn't create a mess with his water when he was alone at home. It didn't cause any issues with dripping, and it kept the water clean which is nice, especially with a new puppy to worry about (you'll probably feel like a new parent obsessing over their firstborn). The stands for the bottles are a bit of an eye sore, so as soon as he graduated from his pen, the water bottle left. We've never had problems with staining using a dish (scratch that; Mario's picky and only drinks water out of a cup or from the tap if we're feeling extra generous), and his muzzle is quite light.

Since our new little guy will be very white around the muzzle, we might test the water bottle again, just to avoid any potential discoloration.
 
#6 ·
I've always heard of the bowls in a stand being used for larger breeds so they don't have to reach so much to get their food and water. If there are ways the stand benefits small breeds, I'd love to hear it.

As far as the water bottle goes, we only used one when Mario was a puppy and using an ex-pen so that he didn't create a mess with his water when he was alone at home. It didn't cause any issues with dripping, and it kept the water clean which is nice, especially with a new puppy to worry about (you'll probably feel like a new parent obsessing over their firstborn). The stands for the bottles are a bit of an eye sore, so as soon as he graduated from his pen, the water bottle left. We've never had problems with staining using a dish (scratch that; Mario's picky and only drinks water out of a cup or from the tap if we're feeling extra generous), and his muzzle is quite light.

Since our new little guy will be very white around the muzzle, we might test the water bottle again, just to avoid any potential discoloration.
Oh! Poke around on the internet... You can find BEAUTIFUL hand made wooden bottle stands. That's what I have in my office! ;)
 
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#4 ·
Yes, you are right. There is no need for a stand for food bowls for Havanese.

And yes, they easily learn to use bottles. I have a water bowl with a reservoir in the kitchen, because, with three, they go through a lot of water. But in my office, where they spend a lot of time with me, they have a water bottle. I also use water bottles in crates.
 
#7 ·
Ricky uses a small, stainless steel bowl for his food with no stand. At each of his meals, we play the "find it" game with his bowl. We hide it in a different place each time and he has to figure out how to find his food with doggie logic, smell, and hunting instincts. He loves this game. It is interesting to see his little mind thinking through the puzzle. We could not do this with a bowl in a stand.

When we first brought Ricky home we watered him with a bottle which he used at the breeders. After he got settled in to his forever home, we gave him the option of water bottle or water bowl. He much preferred the water bowl and that is all he uses now. The one downside to a water bowl is sometimes it results in a wet beard. We replace his water 2 or 3 times daily with fresh filtered water from our Britta. We don't hide his water, it is always at the same location every day.

Ricky's Popi
 
#8 ·
I use two small stainless steel bowls for food and water. I like to hide Emmie's food dish around my place, which she always finds; clever girl! She also loves sticking her face in her little water dish so I try to dry her off with a towel periodically but if I don't it is not a big deal since her face is black, so no noticeable beard staining.
 
#9 ·
here's some tips on water and food bowls.
Others frequently neglect to properly maintain a dog’s water bowl. They allow the water bowl to become dangerously polluted with germs from the dog’s own mouth.

This hazardous situation is caused by using a water bowl that’s too small for the animal’s size. Or by allowing the water level in that bowl to become too low.

This can concentrate the germ population to a level high enough to cause disease.

And it can be aggravated by forgetting to wipe away the slimy, germ-laden “biofilm” from inside the water bowl — at least once each day.

The Bottom Line

The following recommendations can help ensure your dog stays adequately hydrated at all times…
1.Use an oversize bowl and fill it with fresh drinking water

2.Change all water at least twice each day

3.Wipe away any biofilm from inside the bowl

4.Keep water bowls as clean as you keep your own glassware
 
#10 ·
I use a stand for Willow's food bowl basically because it is what I used for my corgi. It's seems to work fine and is the correct height for Willow. I was using both a water bowl and a water bottle with the little spout that they lap at to get the water. She would use both but seemed to prefer the bottle. I have since removed the bowl and now use only the bottle only because I am trying to control saliva staining on her face and people have posted that the bottle helps keep her beard dry. It isn't easy to clean inside though.
 
#13 ·
yeah that biofilm occurs in half a day. Don't need any urinary infections here. >:)
 
#14 ·
We have a Pioneer Ceramic Pet Water Fountain in the kitchen since we have 4 dogs. We have a Lixit glass water bottle in a stand in the foyer and in Rexy expens, at home and at the office. The water in the fountain gets refreshed frequently because the dogs drink throughout the day. I like the water bottles because it prevents the spilling of water bowls by bouncy puppies.
 
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