How To Stop Dog Digging In Water Bowl

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Why Dogs Put Their Paws In Their Water Bowl

Why Dogs Put Their Paws In Their H2o Bowl

Introduction

Dogs need water to live and as a responsible pet owner you work hard to ensure he always has admission to a fresh bowl of H2o. While he appreciates the water, he may put his paws in his bowl, which of course creates a mess and decreases the amount he tin really eat. While inexplainable and perhaps frustrating, the behavior is quite common. His reasons for playing in the bowl may vary, and each reason has an easy plenty solution. Accept heart that the behavior will not go on forever and your pup can be trained that h2o bowls are for his oral fissure, non his paws.

The Root of the Behavior

Y'all come habitation from walking your canis familiaris and he runs to the h2o bowl. After a few laps, he and then puts his paws right into the bowl. Was information technology hot outside? In that location is a adept chance his paws are hot and he knows the water volition absurd them off. He does non care that he will then drink from that same water that his feet were but in; that might fifty-fifty be a bonus for him. All he cares well-nigh is that he has to cool down. Given the type of basin you have and where it is placed, he might be pawing at the water because he sees something in the bowl. He could exist pawing at his own reflection, ripples or bubbles made from him drinking, or even an object that may have plant its way into the bowl. He may simply be playing in the h2o considering he is bored or because he loves water. A large number of breeds are water-loving, so if you accept a Retriever of any kind, a Newfoundland, a Poodle, a Portuguese or Castilian Water Dog, a Lagotto Romagnolo, an Irish or American Water Spaniel, a Barbet, an Otter Hound, or a Boykin Spaniel there is a neat adventure his paws are in the h2o considering he but cannot help amusing himself with water.

Some dogs prefer moving water, as if they are drinking from a stream, then they put their paws in the basin to get the still water to move. It does not register that in splashing in the bowl to get the h2o to move, he is making a mess. Dogs also take any attending as reinforcement of beliefs. If the first time he put his paws in the basin yous laughed because you idea information technology was cute, he took that as a sign to practise it again considering y'all paid attention. If you lot yelled and said 'no, end', he took that attention equally a good sign and will likely put his paws in the bowl to get your attention again. Finally, your dog may be putting his paws in his h2o bowl because he cannot help himself and he feels a compulsion to practise so. Getting his paws moisture makes a connection to his sense of sound, sight, touch, and even taste. He may have a compulsion to splash in all water forms, or in all bowls. If you have worked with him and made changes to cease the behavior and information technology continues, there is a good gamble he is struggling with a compulsion to splash.

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Encouraging the Behavior

A hot domestic dog needs to cool off. If you continue finding your pup's paws in the water bowl after long walks when it is warm out, consider giving him his h2o exterior where he tin make a mess. Even meliorate, find a kiddie pool that is hard plastic that he tin can splash around in. Avoid the inflatable kind that will changeless popular the infinitesimal he gets a claw or tooth anywhere nigh it. A kiddie pool can also help with a dog that is bored and a domestic dog that is a h2o lover. A domestic dog putting his paws in the water basin because he is playing with his reflection is cute, but can certainly cause a mess. If your bowl is metal, try switching to a ceramic or heavy BPA gratuitous plastic that will subtract the chances of him seeing double. You can likewise put his water in a spill proof container. Putting his paws in the h2o for amusement gives you several options other than the kiddie pool. Longer walks, training sessions, and food release toys such every bit the Kong will all provide him with plenty stimulation that he will not feel the need to play in his h2o at the stop of the day. A pet water fountain, which will provide fresh moving h2o, is one fashion to stop your dog from putting his water in his basin. He will be and then excited to take the moving h2o come up from the magical spout, it will not fifty-fifty occur to him to splash about.

Paws in the bowl for attention does require more than a bowl change, only is completely within your control. Begin past ignoring the behavior. If the splashing continues, provide less water in the basin so that he cannot make as much of a large mess or a big deal with the water that is in the bowl. Before he puts his paws in, praise him for his skilful beliefs, shower him with attention and even offer a care for. The minute he puts his paws in the h2o, stop the attending and leave the room. If his splashing persists, discuss with a trainer alternative methods to eliminate the behavior. Do not withhold water from your dog as information technology is essential to his health. If you have tried everything else to no avail, or inherently feel he is suffering from a compulsion, speak to your vet most options to help him. It is important to accost compulsive behavior as soon equally possible as it can generalize into other situations and become more of an consequence for your furry friend.

Determination

Dogs put their paws in the water basin because they are hot, bored, reacting to a reflection, looking for attention, prefer moving water, are compulsive, or but because they are puppies. Giving them other ways to absurd off, lots of toys for stimulation, proper preparation, and culling bowls and water fountains can eliminate his need to splash in his bowl. If all efforts seem to fail, speak with a trainer and your veterinarian to eliminate any chances your are unintentionally rewarding the behavior or dealing with a compulsion.

Past a Black Lab lover Zoe Byer

Published: 03/07/2018, edited: 01/30/2020