My Pet World: Rehomed dog seems indifferent to previous owners

Cathy M. Rosenthal, Tribune Content Agency on Nov 29, 2023

Dear Cathy,

In the letter with the sloppy drinker, we have had that issue for years. We solved 90% of the problem by using a deep bucket. Drinking bowls have little water retention on the sides, so splashing and withdrawal land on the floor. The mat under the bowl may help, but only a little. With the bucket, there is no splashing and much less of a withdrawal issue.

— Dean and Bunny, Oro Valley, Arizona

Dear Dean and Bunny,

I received many letters with tips for Beverly from Juneau, Wisconsin, with the sloppy drinker. In the picture you sent, I noticed the bucket is large, wide, flared, and has handles. The handles are essential so one can pick up a water container this size for filling and cleaning, and the flared sides will likely catch more water than a regular bucket.

Marsha from Las Vegas, Nevada, suggested an extra-large washable run under the bowls and a runner where the dog leaves a water trail. Julie Doud from Winston Salem, North Carolina, suggested using a plastic-coated rubberized placemat under the water bowl and maybe "using more than one," she said. "You still have to wipe it up, but at least it's off your flooring."

Michele, from Nazareth, Pennsylvania, said, "We had a sloppy drinker, too. He seemed to drink against the far side of the bowl and left a mess, along with walking away with a mouthful of water. I read somewhere about using a glass bowl with a lid with a hole cut out of the lid. It worked! I used a regular glass bowl with a plastic lid. I cut a hole into the middle of the lid about half the circumference of the bottom of the bowl. It left about two inches of plastic around the edge of the bowl. It was a large bowl. It worked like a charm!"

Thank you to all the readers who sent in suggestions. Hopefully, Beverly can also try some of these things to see what works for her sloppy drinker.

_____

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)