The Best Dog Water Bowls

What to Look For

There are plenty of options for dog water bowls, so how did we choose the best ones? In curating this list, we looked at the following: water capacity, spill reduction, and cleanability. Perhaps the easiest bowl to clean is Hydrapeak’s nonslip bowl. It features a classic design with no frills, just solid construction. It does not, however, include a way to prevent water spillage. That’s where something like Upsky’s no-spill water bowl comes in handy. Using a clever floating lid, it only allows a certain amount of water out at a time and has a recessed drinking area that prevents water from spilling over the edges. Keep reading to get something better than your average dog water bowl.

Upsky No-Spill Dog Water Bowl

No splashing, only drinking

This ingenious water bowl keeps your floors dry and your dogs hydrated, with a sealed lid that slowly lowers as the bowl is emptied.

Best Overall

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Dogs aren’t known for their delicate drinking style. That’s why we love this no-spill water bowl for dogs from Upsky. It uses a floating cover that only lets dogs drink a bit of water at a time. It’s a clever design that prevents splashing and keeps dust, dirt, and fur from falling into the water. Because of this, you can trust that this bowl keeps the water clean and healthy. We adore the small pawprint hole, which makes this bowl a charming addition to any home.

Pros:

• Because it slows down drinking, this will last longer than a similar-sized bowl without the floating cover. Less water is spilled, and the dog is not able to drink as much in one sitting.
• The grips on the bottom keep this from sliding around the floor, even when used by rowdy pups.

Cons:

• The floating cover sometimes gets water trapped inside and requires emptying to clean.

The Slopper Stopper Dripless Water Bowl

The new watering hole

With its receessed pocket, this water bowl prevents water from spilling over the edges so that your floors stay dry.

Runner Up

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Aptly named, the Slopper Stopper halts messy drinkers in their tracks. Pups that love to slosh water while they drink will find their shenanigans disrupted. This bowl has a lid with an indentation that only allows a little bit of water out. Your fur baby can drink all they want, and the drinking cavity automatically refills. This lid also keeps fur and dust out of the water, leading to happier, healthier pups and less cleaning on your end. Speaking of which, this stainless steel bowl is also quick to clean.

Pros:

• This bowl doesn’t tip over easily. For dogs that like to paw at their water bowl, this means less spillage as well.
• Because of the stainless steel insulation, you can keep the water in this bowl cold all day with some ice cubes. The cubes won’t get accidentally swallowed, thanks to the lid.

Cons:

• The setup could be a bit more intuitive for our liking. We recommend double-checking to make sure the seals are all tight.

Hydrapeak Premium Insulated Stainless Steel Dog Bowl

Solid and sturdy

This all-metal dog bowl features durable, rust-proof construction, and it works for water or food.

Best Stainless Steel

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This is the water bowl to last a lifetime. Made from stainless steel, this bowl was constructed with sturdiness in mind. Its rubber feet are outstanding in their ability to grip the floor, keeping the bowl in place. The high-quality stainless steel stays clean and rinses quickly when changing — and it won’t rust over time, either. It has a simple, elegant design that’s sturdy and dependable. Fido will be drinking from this bowl for many years to come.

Pros:

• The gripping power of this bowl benefits from its heaviness. As a heavy bowl, it stays put better than flimsier water bowls.
• If your dog prefers cold water, this keeps it insulated. It’s perfect for hot days when your dog needs to cool off with some refreshing water.

Cons:

• Without a lid, there’s nothing to prevent spills from sloshing dogs.

The PetFusion Gravity Water Feeder

Clever and convenient

This dog bowl uses a large water tank to automatically refill itself over time.

Best Capacity

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Constantly refilling the water bowl gets old after a while. With this water-dispensing bowl, you can sit back and let gravity do the work. Most dog bowls hold a fraction of a gallon or a gallon at most, but this bowl from PetFusion stores more than double that amount at 2.5 gallons. If you need to leave the fur babies home alone for a while, you can be sure they have plenty of water. You can also monitor the level due to the fully translucent water dispenser, so you’ll always know when it’s getting empty. Cats and dogs alike love drinking from this water bowl, and it refills itself — what’s not to like?

Pros:

• There is a locking mechanism where the dispenser meets the bowl. This keeps water from leaking if the dispenser gets bumped and holds the dispenser firmly in place.
• It’s hard to knock this dispenser down, even when full and the center of gravity is at its highest. It would take a determined dog to push this bowl over.

Cons:

• If your dog is skittish, the air bubbles when the bowl refills itself may spook them.

LIDLOK Elevated Slow Water Feeder Dog Bowl

Easy on tired joints

This bowl makes it easy for your furry friend to drink without straining their neck.

Best For Older Dogs

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While they might not be able to tell us directly, dogs experience neck and joint stiffness just as we do. That’s why we like this elevated dog bowl from LIDLOK. It keeps the bowl raised above the floor, so Fido doesn’t have to bend as much to drink. If you have an elderly dog, this might help to reduce pain and make it easier for them to drink. Thanks to the floating funnel, this keeps the water level just high enough for your dog to slurp up water without splashing it all over the floor. As the water level lowers in the bowl, the funnel lid lowers with it.

Pros:

• This keeps dogs from drinking too fast. If your dog is prone to burping or throwing up water while hydrating, this bowl is a great solution.
• With considerable weight, this water bowl won’t be tipping over anytime soon. Even when the bowl is elevated, the design keeps the center of gravity low.

Cons:

• This water bowl can be a bit harder to clean than others.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I clean my dog’s water bowl?

Ideally, you should clean your dog’s water bowl with soap and water at least once a week. This keeps harmful bacteria or mold from accumulating. It also doesn’t hurt to rinse away any fur or debris every couple of days or so.

Is steel or plastic better for dog water bowls?

Stainless steel bowls generally stay cleaner and reduce the chance of harmful plastics seeping into the water. However, with proper maintenance, a plastic bowl can stay just as clean. With both steel and plastic bowls, you’ll want to rinse them often.

About the Author

Dave's dog Fiona might be a tiny Yorkie, but she has a big personality. She's playful and kind of crazy, but she's sweet, shy, and protective, too. Dave has learned a lot from raising Fiona, and now he wants to share his knowledge of dog parenting with the rest of the world to help provide happy, healthy lifestyles for our furry friends.

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