After 49 hours spent researching the best dog water fountains, we think PetSafe Drinkwell Seascape Ceramic Dog Water Fountain is the best for most people.
This choice is based on several criteria: brand, dimensions, color, capacity, material, water filter, filtration system, stream, adjustable flow, quiet operation, eliminates odor, dishwaher safe, BPA free, weight, and warranty, among other things.
| Product | Price | Overall Rating | Quality | Efficiency | Appearance | Durability | Value for Money | brand | dimensions | color | capacity | material | water filter | filtration system | stream | adjustable flow | quiet operation | eliminates odor | dishwaher safe | BPA free | weight | warranty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | PetSafe Drinkwell Seascape Ceramic Dog Water Fountain | Check Price | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 | PetSafe | 8 x 9.2 x 5 in | Grey, white | 70 oz | Ceramic | Carbon & foam | 2-stage | Spread | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5.2 lbs | 1 year |
| PetSafe Drinkwell 360 Stainless Steel Dog Water Fountain | Check Price | 4.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 | PetSafe | 14.6 x 14.8 x 7.5 in | Metal | 128 oz | Stainless steel | Carbon & foam | 2-stage | Five | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 4.28 lbs | 1 year |
| PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum Drinking Dog Water Fountain | Check Price | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.5 | PetSafe | 15.9 x 10.6 x 10.5 in | White | 168 oz | Plastic | Carbon | 1-stage | Single | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 4 lbs | 1 year |
 | PetSafe Drinkwell Indoor Outdoor Dog Water Fountain | Check Price | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | PetSafe | 21 x 14.1 x 12.5 in | Grey | 450 oz | Plastic | Carbon & foam | 2-stage | Single | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.5 lbs | 1 year |
 | Aurora Porcelain Ultra Quiet Dog Water Fountain | Check Price | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | Aurora | 10 x 10 x 5.5 in | White | 70 oz | Porcelain | Carbon & foam | 2-stage | Triple | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5.9 lbs | 1 year |
Having the best dog water fountain can save you time and money, while ensuring that your dog stays hydrated.
These water fountains are often more effective than bowls, and they last a lot longer, too.
Taking care of a pet is a financial commitment. You’re buying dog food or puppy food on a regular basis, and you need to keep dog treats on hand. You may use a dog crate, dog carrier, or dog gate so that they can stay safe indoors, outdoors, or while on a trip.
For going out and about, you want to have a dog water bottle on hand. Many pet parents choose between a traditional dog leash or a dog retractable leash. Your dog may carry a dog backpack, and you may want to have a dog raincoat and dog boots around in case of bad weather. If they’re a service dog, a service dog vest is also important.
Getting fun toys can be expensive. Everyone wants to have a selection of options, like a dog chew toy, any sort of fetch toys, and whatever else your dog may like. Maybe you want to train them with a dog agility tunnel or get them a dog pool for the dog days of summer.
Grooming is also important. Dog conditioner and shampoo for coat and skin care, a dog nail grinder for keeping their claws at the right length, and brushes, toothbrushes, and more can keep them in top shape.
If you’re looking to make feeding and watering your dog a simpler process, you may be looking at an automatic dog feeder as opposed to a dog bowl. Did you also know you could get an automatic dog water fountain so that they can get water when they like, too?
Selection Of The Best Dog Water Fountains
Here are the best dog water fountains for most people according to Outlinist:
Buying Guide
Height
How high off the floor is it? For many dogs, the closer to their standing height it is, the better off that they’ll be.
Many dogs will get a sore neck and back from leaning over their food or water bowls. So, getting a water fountain at an appropriate height (essentially, at your dog’s knees or higher) can help to prevent them from having arthritis or other back and neck issues from bending over.
Filter Options
Getting a dog water fountain with a filter is always your best bet. While dogs are fine drinking tap water, it’s much better for their body if there aren’t a lot of extra minerals and such in their water.
The only issue with filters is that you, often, have to change them on a regular basis. Thankfully, many manufacturers do what they can to make that process simple; typically, you just need to pop out the filter’s compartment, remove the old filter, and put the new one in.
How Do You Refill the Water?
Some water fountains are going to be able to be connected to a hose, faucet, or some other type of water supply so that you don’t need to refill it yourself. But, you will still want to clean these out once in a while so no contaminants get in there.
Other options will have a water container that you can remove or open up in order to refill it. These are typically a little smaller than other fountains, and only hold a gallon or two of water.
Water Capacity
Obviously, you don’t need to worry about capacity if the fountain is connected to a water source. But, if it’s a refillable fountain with a bladder or other container, then you need to know how much it holds.
While you can find a 5 gallon dog water fountain that cycles the water from a container or bladder in and out, you need to keep the ease of refilling the water in mind. So, if you’re not worried about whether or not you can lift a 5 gallon container, you can get that. Otherwise, stick to a 1 or 2 gallon model.
Sounds and Noise Level
Dogs have very sensitive ears and any sort of noise that may be close to their ears can be really annoying to them. Because of that, some dogs don’t like water fountains because they just think they’re too loud.
The quieter that the fountain is, the better off that your dog (and you) will be. Many manufacturers use multiple techniques to make the motor quieter, including enclosing the motor in something that really muffles the sound to almost nothing. Look for quiet options as you search.
Ease of Cleaning
How easily does it come apart and go back together? Do you need to bring out a bunch of tools to make it happen, or can you actually just open a few spots, take a few pieces off and thoroughly clean it without any issue? The easier it is to assemble and disassemble, the easier it will be to deep clean it.
When cleaning, you want to find a dog-safe water fountain cleaner that you can use to scrub everything down. Be sure that you rinse it all off as best as you can, and then you can set it back up for your dog.
Ceramic
Ceramic water fountains are some of the most common options that you’ll see for dogs. These are heavy-duty products that won’t move all over the place while your dog is trying to take a drink from them.
Not only that, but ceramic is very easy to clean and very sturdy, so you can expect it to last awhile. Plus, ceramic fountains look nice, so as the owner, you are happy with the fountain, too!
Stainless Steel
If you’re looking for an affordable dog water fountain, stainless steel is another great option that is still pretty durable. Stainless steel is known for its antibacterial properties, so it just adds another layer of protection for your dog’s overall health and wellness.
Typically, these are stainless steel on the outside (the areas where your dog is drinking), but they may use other materials on the inside to protect and muffle the motor.
Plastic
Plastic is the most affordable, but it’s not always the most durable option that you can find. Plastic models can be much larger than the other two, and have more water capacity, but it’s better for smaller dogs that can’t do quite as much damage with their teeth.
If you get a plastic fountain, keep your eyes peeled for any leaking or cracks in the plastic. Also, if your dog is a chewer, you probably want to avoid plastic entirely because they’ll probably end up using it as a chew toy. Lean toward more durable materials instead.
Battery Powered or Plug-in?
If you get an automatic refilling dog water bowl, you want to know how the thing is powered. Does it have a battery inside? If so, how do you change or recharge that battery so that your dog always gets the fresh water they deserve to have?
Plug-in options are a little easier to keep up with, but they will need to be near some sort of outlet. Your best option is a hybrid (with both batteries and AC power), because then you can put it anywhere, recharge it easily, and not worry about changing a battery.
Multi-Animal Homes
Many people have more than one pet, but they’re concerned that there’s no option for a water fountain that all of their pets can drink from at the same time (if necessary).
Multi-tiered systems work great for multi-pet homes. You can also find fountains that have a large bowl area, so multiple animals can drink from it at the same time. You may even want to get two fountains (or more, depending on how many pets you have) and put them in different parts of the house.
Step-On Options
Dogs are smart, so smart that some manufacturers have developed dog operated water fountains. These have some sort of device (usually a pedal or something else that they can step on) in order to turn the fountain on.
If you have a dog that is easily trained, a step-on option is great. It provides them with fresh water, saves energy (since it’s not always on), and can save water (since they’re only stepping on it when they want a drink). It may not be a good choice for a dog that likes to play in water, though, because they may see it as a toy.
Gravity Options
Sometimes, the power of gravity is enough to get your dog the fresh water that they deserve to have. These usually consist of a large container that holds the water, and then a bowl that it goes down into. As your dog drinks, gravity pulls more water from the container into the bowl.
You will need to refill the container when it’s empty. The best gravity water bowl usually has a high capacity (a gallon or more) and can easily be filled and refilled as necessary.
Indoor or Outdoor?
Where do you plan on using it? Indoor models have much fewer requirements than outdoor ones. Indoor models depend more on what your dog is like; outdoor ones are more about the environment.
Look for weather-proof materials and labels that list “for outdoor use” when you’re looking for an outdoor water fountain for your dog. That way, you can know that it’ll last outside and not break due to weather or use.
Appearance
Water fountains for dogs are primarily for the dog, but you can find a lot of models and styles that look really nice. They serve two purposes – decoration and water supply, and everyone wins.
The best water fountain shouldn’t be an eyesore; it should be useful for your dog while also looking nice and not clashing with whatever else is in the room where the fountain is located.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a dog need a water fountain?
They don’t necessarily, but if you want to be sure that they always have fresh water, it’s not a bad idea to have the best pet water dispenser available for their drinking needs.
Water fountains have a lot of great benefits, including providing your dog with constantly moving water, so they are more likely to drink it (their instinct is to avoid standing water because of potential bacteria). It also saves you a lot of time so that you don’t have to keep filling the water bowl constantly.
Do I have to worry about water freezing outside?
If you get something like an outdoor step-on dog water fountain with a hose, you still need to make sure that the water doesn’t freeze. Just because the water moves – or has the ability to do so – doesn’t mean it won’t freeze. So matter what, you need to keep an eye on it.
Some of the constantly moving water options will have a heat mechanism inside so that the water doesn’t freeze, but it’s not a “for certain” feature.
What about long-haired dogs? Do they have problems drinking?
It won’t be any different than the struggles they may have when drinking from an ordinary bowl. Their long hair may get stuck in it from time to time – just be sure to brush around their face regularly and dry it off when you notice.
Clean out the water fountain regularly as well. Their hair could get caught in the bowl, filter, or other mechanisms, so the less hair that gets in there, the better.
How long does a water fountain last?
If you buy an automatic dog water fountain, you want it to last – that makes sense because it’s an investment, and costs a lot more than a standard bowl. Most of the good ones can last 5 to 10 years if cleaned regularly.
If longevity is a concern for you, then consider looking for an option that comes with an extended warranty. Many water fountains (like most electronic devices) will have a 1-3 year warranty with them, and then you can pay a little bit to extend it.
Do I need to find a special fountain for my older or disabled dog?
If you have an older dog or a disabled dog, consider looking for an elevated dog water fountain or one that has multiple tiers they can drink from. These can help your dog to drink from it without requiring them to bend completely over to do so.
The best dog water fountain will have multiple options to choose from or they have some sort of stand or stool you can set them on so that any dog can drink easily.
Sources
- Dog Water Fountains & Automatic Dog Waterers, Petco
- Bring Back the Water Fountain, The EPA Blog, Mar 26, 2012
- Are drinking fountains safe to drink out of?, Science in Our World, Sep 17, 2015
- Treat Your Pets Like Family, FoodSafety.gov, Jul 15, 2014
- Drinking fountain, Wikipedia
- Top 10 Dog Water Fountains of 2018, Ezvid Wiki, Oct 12, 2018
- The best water fountain for cats and dogs, Engadget, Apr 29, 2018
- The Best Water Fountain for Cats and Dogs, The Wirecutter, Nov 1, 2017
- Dog Water Fountains, eBay
- Pet Drinking Fountain, Target
Pin this article now!
