How to Train Your Dog to Drink from a Water Dispenser

Hello, Many dogs are afraid of the noises or sudden movement of the water or food that a dispenser will make while the dog is eating or drinking from it. To start, fill up the food or water dispensers main eating or drinking compartments only and not the reservoir, so that there is not extra food or water that will fall down while the dogs eat or drink. Fill up the food and water like you would with a normal bowl for at least a week, to get him used to the shape of the feeders without the scary added movement component. If needed, put a little sodium free chicken broth in the water for flavor and something like freeze dried kibble toppers crushed into powder, mixed with the dog food, then sprinkle the same none-crushed version of those treats around the bowls for your fearful dog to come eat, to get him investigating the new bowls and noticing the chicken broth and liver smells in the bowls. Replace these periodically when only the fearful dog is around (so the other dog doesn't just eat it up), for about a week until the dog is eating and drinking from the new bowls with ease. After he is used to the bowls, then put a very small amount of food or water in the reservoir to start getting him used to the movement, while continuing the extra flavor treats. Avoid spooking him by increasing what's in the reservoir slowly over a couple of weeks. If you use chicken broth, you will need to wash that bowl a couple of times a day and replace that chicken flavored water, to avoid bacterial contamination. I would leave just plain water in it overnight so its not sitting out without replacement for that many hours. During this process, make sure pup isn't getting dehydrated, offer a plain bowl of water near the gravity feeder if needed until pup is not fearful of the gravity feeder anymore. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Nov. 14, 2022

Hello Amy, First, I recommend teaching her to ring a bell to go outside - I would still work on the barking on cue, but she is going to be more likely to alert you when she needs to go outside if its with something she is more comfortable with, and she doesn't seem to be super comfortable barking. Teaching a bell: https://wagwalking.com/training/ring-a-bell-to-go-out You can also create something outside that would ring or buzz when she pushes it outside - like a doorbell but at her height, and teach her to paw at or push that with her nose - the same way you taught the bell on the inside of the home. As far as the barking though, first, you need something that can consistently trigger the barking. Check out the article linked below for details on how to teach barking on cue once you find a trigger. Finding the trigger will be the hardest part - test out door knocks, other dogs barking - like videos, howling videos, sirens - either recordings or literally go somewhere like a park that's near a hospital or fire station and see if the sirens will trigger it for her when they are close enough by. Off-key music or singing can sometimes trigger it, having someone knock on the front door loudly, or really exciting play. Pay attention to what does motivate her - since she doesn't love food, what about tug of war or fetch? You can use anything that motivates her as a reward in place of a treat, you just need to praise right when pup does the barking/howling, then give the reward right after - like a quick tug on a toy, lots of praise and pets, a short ball toss, ect... Barking video: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-to-speak You can also teach pup to bark by "capturing" when she does it on her own, like when she barks while playing you say speak and immediately give a reward and praise right after - even though she was barking on her own. For this to work you have to catch her barking a lot of times though - so I would work on trying to trigger the barking through things like sirens, door knocking, and howling dog videos first. Doggie doorbell option: https://www.chewy.com/mighty-paw-smart-bell-20-potty/dp/162572?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Mighty%20Paw&utm_term=&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8rT8BRCbARIsALWiOvT8PvcY1yd5WjVEsZMUuMMiBgkk5DmatjREU-duCxvv6bH0X9nAWU0aAgUqEALw_wcB Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Oct. 19, 2020