It can be frustrating to discover your dog’s water bowl
tipped over and a large puddle on the floor. Why do some
dogs tip over their water bowl? The answer will vary from
pup to pup.
Some dogs genuinely delight in playing with water and will
consider the water bowl a toy. This is especially true if
you have an energetic pup in the house. The best solution
may be to offer outdoor water activities that are more
tempting than a water bowl. Many dogs love playing in pet
pools, for example.
Another reason your dog may flip their water bowl is that
the bowl isn’t appropriate for their size. Large dogs may
accidentally flip their bowl when bending down to drink,
while smaller dogs may struggle with an overly large bowl.
You may want to consider offering a raised bowl to taller
dogs and a smaller bowl closer to the floor for small dogs.
Finally, some dogs are simply energetic drinkers. They may
accidentally flip their bowl in their excitement for a drink
or while waiting for their food. In these situations,
behavioral training may be a good solution. Cue your dog to
sit before they are fed so they don’t dance around their
food and water dishes.