Do you let your dog drink water when out?

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TurtleToo

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Do you let your dogs drink water from rivers, canals, etc when out? Obviously on a warm day I carry water with me but when it's not warm it's a bit of a nuisance to carry bottled water for three dogs that they don't really want. They prefer 'dirty' water from puddles and rivers than nice clean home water, so I tend to not let them drink from 'dirty' sources. I just worry about toxins in water, etc but are these not such a big worry in a large body as they'll be diluted?
 
I'm ashamed to say that yes, I do. They get whatever's going . . . puddles (in the forest), lakes, streams/rivers and then they get a good drink with fresh water when we get back home/back to the car/yard. If we lived in a more urban environment I wouldn't let them drink from puddles b/c of the worries of things like oil, anti-freeze and brake fluid . . . but I must say that as they are regularly wormed I see no issue with them drinking mucky rural water. They seem healthy enough.

I do, though, draw the line at truly stagnant, stinky water - there's a lake near us that I won't let the dogs swim in, much less drink in the summer when the algae is really in bloom and it doesn't smell so fresh.

P
 
I'd be interested in replies to this as I always worry about this too. My dog seems to find the most dirty water he can when we are out and happily laps it up. I always pull him back from anything stagnant or too manky. Running water is supposed to be lower risk isn't it, but even that could have some pollutants? If I'm not sure I usually let him wet his mouth and have a quick draught but stop him taking so much it could do him any harm.
 
Not puddles but rivers and streams of course, within reason, dogs eat and drink loads of stinky stuff every day and don't keel over. I carry water for the car crate and have a sports bottle in a backpack if we are going to be somewhere away from water (which is unsual).
 
Mine don't give me much choice. I do streams and rivers, Quila prefers a puddle to her water bowl!! I carry water if we're going for a day out (like to a fair) but otherwise I have a bottle and bowl in the car and they get offered that but drink on the way round if they want.
 
Reservoirs; not during the hot weather due to the algae, the local ford, no, because the council put up a warning sign after dogs became ill. Otherwise, they drink from running streams and dirty puddles and also at dog friendly pubs, shops and parks with water supplied.
 
rivers, streams = yes, nice fresh clean looking loch = yes. Im wary of some still waters though due to blue/green algae, we were at one the other day and there was a sign up warning about it. Puddles round agricultural areas = no but up the top of a mountain somewhere = yes.

random bowls of water left by well meaning people for communal use by joe-public-dog (e.g. outside pet shops, at shows etc) NO!! :eek:
 
My main walk is along the riverside so, yes they do. The IWS will wade out up to his belly, drinking as he goes. The 2 ESS both stand on the edge and drink. I dont let them do puddles if I can help it but its impossible to avoid the river. My biggest problem at the moment is trying to avoid the discarded food and general rubbish left by the weekend walkers/campers/picnicers who all pop up as if by magic the minute the sun comes out. Only this morning Alfie springer was scoffing a half eaten KFC :(
 
I let mine drink from streams ponds, cattle troughs etc unless algae or stagnant. He will drink puddles too. I always have fresh water in car/home and back pack if walking away from water source.
He won't actually drink from communal water bowls fussy dog! Looks like it may poison him.
All our family dogs have done the same and non died of poisoning or before there time so i don't plan to stop they are designed to eat rotten gross things and not be ill.
 
Also worried about Lepto so puddles generally not unless it has just rained but running water (streams, rivers etc) yes, generally.

Although if we're going to be out for more than an hour or so I take water with us anyway generally.
 
Dont have much choice, although they have a solid leave command, if they're out of sight, there are puddles, who knows? They like a roll round in whatever water is available. Bear especially likes a quick dip in the old cow trough in the woods. :eek:
 
My dog will quite happily drink out a stream or puddle but if we are somewhere that puts a bowl of water out for dogs she won't touch it!!

And if we are at someone's house that has dogs she won't drink out of their bowl either. She will only drink out of the hose pipe (which she does at the yard), a bottle or the shower!!
 
We never take out water for our dogs when we go walking (walks generally not longer than an hour) most walks involve water of some kind, and you can bet if you don't think there's any water on the walk, they will find some to get filthy in!

The older dog likes drinking out of rainwater filled old plant pots etc at my parents house, he's such a tramp, he much prefers the taste of wild water than tap water.
 
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