Best Dog Water Bowls for Sloppy Drinkers: Why So Messy?

Dog Food

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Kaelyn Kelly-Colon

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DrinkingWater

Is your dog a huge mess maker in the kitchen? Stick of stepping in wet puddles your dog’s drinking leaves behind? If so, you may be in need of spill-proof dog bowls and mats.

Today we’re covering the best dog water bowls for sloppy drinkers.

Quick Picks: Best Water Bowls For Sloppy Drinkers

  • #1 Pick: Heyrex Torus Dog Water Bowl. This gravity-fed 64 oz capacity bowl with built-in filter prevents splashes and stops tipping. Super portable too!
  • #2 Pick: Road Refresher. This 54 oz capacity water bowl’s unique design prevent spills and messes. Great for on-the-road or at home. Design also prevents beards and long ears from getting wet.
  • #3 Pick: Neater Feeder Mess-Free Bowls This feeder set won’t stop your pup from being sloppy, but it at least contains the mess with a dual-layered design and raised front.
  • Alternative: Loving Pets Bella Spill Proof Dog Mat. This mat won’t prevent splashes, but it will keep your floor clean and can easily be rinsed off and dried after dinner time!

Continue reading for more in-depth reviews

Not sure your dog needs a special bowl or slobber rehab? Your dog might benefit from a spill proof water bowl if they:

  • Frequently dig at their water dish, creating a huge wet mess on the floor.
  • Gulp the water down so fast that they drop mouthfuls of water directly onto the floor.
  • Push the bowl with their nose while they eat, causing it to slide and spill as they drink.

Thinking about the reasons why your dog is doing what they are doing can help you engineer solutions that go beyond a new bowl – a combination of methods might be the best and most effective way to give your dog a healthier and less messy home life.

1. Heyrex Torus Dog Water Bowl

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Heyrex Torus Dog Water Bowl

Heyrex Torus Dog Water Bowl

Holds up to 2 liters of water

Gravity-fed water bowl that doesn’t require batteries or electricity

About: The Heyrex Torus Dog Water Bowl is a sleek, gravity-fed water bowl, reducing water splash and messes from your sloppy drinker. 

Features:

  • Filtered Water. Built in filter keeps water fresh and cool for your pooch.
  • Holds 2 Liters of Water. Holds up to 2 liters of water (aka half-gallon or 67 ounces).
  • Reduces Splash and Mess. Maintains a low water level that reduces splash back.
  • Gravity Fed Water. Requires no batteries or electricity – water is gravity fed.
  • Stable and Solid. Solid build resists tipping.
  • Super Portable. This dog water bowl is very convenient to take on the go!

PROS

Owners report that this bowl is practically immovable when it’s set down, as it collects the unused water around the bowl to evenly distribute some weight.

CONS

Several owners have raised concerns about the plastic used in the production of the Heyrex bowl, as it requires frequent specialty cleaning to prevent mold. Owners have also noted it’s size as being a potential issue – it’s a big one!

2. Road Refresher

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Road Refresher

Road Refresher

Best for car travel

Features a no-spill, no-slobber design with a secure lid that prevents any additional water from spilling.

About: The Road Refresher is another great dog water bowl for sloppy drinkers, keeping dogs dry and preventing water from splashing all over the floor.

Features:

  • Stop Spills. Designed to eliminate spills and pet slobber.
  • Great for Long-Eared Dogs. Keeps long ears and fur out of the drinking water, preventing them from getting wet.
  • Easy to Clean. This bowl can be taken apart for easy cleaning. 
  • Travel-Friendly. Perfect for travel and home use.
  • Slip-Free. Comes with a velcro bottom base that can be attached to carpet to stop slipping.
  • Holds 54 Ounces. This model holds 54 ounces, but they have other sizes as well.

PROS

The Slopper Stopper has gotten quite a reputation as a reliable and affordable no spill water bowl, and seems very effective in getting sloppy drinkers to slow down. It also ensures that dogs get a regular scheduled amount of water daily, which helps reinforce routines.

CONS

This bowl requires frequent refills and can be difficult to refill, as it must be turned upside down, and that can actually cause some spill in itself!

3. Neater Feeder Mess-Free Bowls

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Neater Feeder Mess Free Bowls

Neater Feeder Mess-Free Bowls

Provided raised edge to keep messes contained

This feeing station’s protective walls contain splashes and spills to keep floors dry

About: The Neater Feeder Mess-Free Bowls is a tool that doesn’t really prevent your pooch from being a messy drinker, but it at least limits the damage zone by providing a wall to stop any drips and spills from leaking onto your floor.

Features:

  • Double trays. Two layers of trays allow for dripping water to stay off your floor. 
  • Easy cleaning. Removable pieces allow for quick and easy clean-up.
  • Raised Dishes. Raised dishes can be helpful for dogs with arthritis or other joint issues.
  • Six colors. Comes in six different colors and styles to match your kitchen or your dog’s eating area. It also comes in three different sizes to match your dog’s eating and drinking capacity.

PROS

Owners adore this feeder, reporting that it does a great job keeping water and food spills off of the floor and your dog’s feeding area only! Owners also like the look and design of the holder.

CONS

While owners report that the plastic frame of this unit is high-quality, at least one owner notes that the stainless steel bowls rusted after just a month of use – owners may have to be ready to purchase substitute bowl inserts.

4. Ray Allen Buddy Bowl

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Ray Allen Buddy Bowl - Spill Proof Dog Water Bowl (44oz Black)

Ray Allen Buddy Bowl

A great travel bowl

This dog water bowl for sloppy drinkers reduces messy water trails and spills

About: The Ray Allen Buddy Bowl is a water bowl for messy drinkers with a snap-on lid design that forces dogs to push their whole snout down into the funnel in order to lap up water. This prevents mess and slows dogs down from drinking too fast.

Features:

  • Keeps Fur Dry. The snap-on lid design keeps fur dry, but since it’s removable, also makes for easy cleaning.
  • Great for Travel. This dripless water bowl is great to travel with.
  • No More Mess. This dog water bowl for sloppy drinkers reduces messy water trails and spills.
  • Prevents Choking. Bowl design slows down enthusiastic drinkers to prevent choking
  • Hold 64 Oz. This bowl can hold 64 oz of water.

PROS

Owners note that this bowl slowed down drinkers and put a stop to wet, messy floors!

CONS

If your dog is a chewer, the plastic design of this bowl may be too enticing to deny.

5. Loving Pets Bella Spill Proof Mat For Dogs

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Loving Pets Bella Spill-Proof Pet Mat for Dogs, Small, Black

Loving Pets Bella Spill Proof Mat For Dogs

A floor mat for keeping spills contained

This bone-shaped mat won’t stop your dog from spilling, but will keep water off the floors and just on the mat

About: The Loving Pets Bella Spill Proof Dog Mat is a piece of plastic that sits under your dog’s bowls, taking the brunt of the mess when your dog get’s carried away eating or drinking.

Features:

  • Multiple Colors and Sizes. Comes in several sizes and colors for your choosing.
  • Safe. Non-toxic and BPA free.
  • Prevents Splashes. This food and water mat has a raised lip, which prevents splashing and retains spills from overflowing.
  • Slip-Proof. The skid feed prevent your dog from slipping and sliding the bowls around the kitchen.

PROS

This isn’t just a great bowl for sloppy drinkers, but sloppy eaters, too! Owners report that messy puppies are well-contained by this thick and easy to clean mat.

CONS

his bowl doesn’t solve the problem of messy drinking, but it’s a way to contain it. It’s good if you don’t have the money to invest in a specialized bowl for your sloppy drinker, but owners report it is less effective than the bowls listed below.

So, Why Does My Dog Dig At The Dish?

If your dog is digging at the water dish, this can be reflective of your dog’s needs – they might be bored, overheated, or looking for cool running water.

Sometimes, stirring the bowl helps it to taste cooler; other times, your dog is just playing with his or her reflection. This is important to consider because if he’s looking for cool water, he may be overheating without you realizing it. If the digging is a symptom of your dog’s boredom, he may find another destructive outlet.

Just purchasing a spill proof bowl may not be enough of a solution if your pup has external needs that need to be taken care of.

If you suspect your pup is overheating, grab a puppy friendly pool and keep it halfway full in your yard, giving your dog the option to cool himself off when he needs to. Sometimes, keeping your dog cool can stop the sloppy drinking and digging at the bowl altogether.

best water bowls for messy drinkers

If your dog is running hot, other strategies to cool him down include:

  • Grabbing a cooling dog bed. Some dog beds are designed with cooling gels that activate when your dog lies down in the material – they’re great for hot pooches! Elevated mesh beds can also cool your dog off, especially if he hangs around outside a lot. Raised mesh beds provide better air circulation to keep temps low for your pup.
  • Try a cooling dog vest. Cooling dog vests feature a similar design to cooling beds, but you strap the cooling gel material to your dog, rather than having a cooling mat your pup needs to lie on.

Another option is to consider a running pet fountain – it keeps the water cool and fresh, which is way more appetizing to anyone – dogs not excluded!

If your pet spends a lot of time indoors or alone without active stimulation, the digging could be a way of entertaining himself. If your dog seems to be bored, more mental and physical stimulation can be introduced in the form of extra walks, more play time, or treat-dispensing dog toys to keep your pup entertained.

Why Does My Dog Gulp The Water Quickly & Push The Bowl Around?

If your dog is gulping the water and pushing the bowl around, he’s just plain excited! He may also simply be trying to escape the heat, as mentioned above.

Some dogs have different drinking styles that make them much messier than others. In this video, one owner records different dogs drinking in slow motion to determine why her own dog is messy… with a fun unexpected (or maybe very expected, for the owner) ending!

Regardless of why your pup makes a mess, a spill proof bowl can provide a helpful solution by itself or in conjunction with other techniques. In addition to stopping sloppy drinkers, these bowls will slow down dogs who gulp down water. Gulping water quickly can cause dogs to hiccup (that’s right, dogs can hiccup too) or even vomit up water!

We’re going to take a look at some of the best selling dog water bowls for sloppy drinkers on the market, and see how they deal with messy drinking dogs with genius engineering and design.

Best Dog Water Bowl For Sloppy Drinkers: Final Recap

These dog bowls (and mat) all do a great job at stopping your sloppy drinking dog from making huge mess, but which one is right for your dog?

If your dog is just a bit messy around his bowl, the Loving Pets Spill-Proof Mat might be all that you need.

While the Road Refresher performs well, some owners find themselves needing to refill water often (with both those designers requiring tipping the bowl over). If you’re home and can refill the bowl easily, no problem! These bowls are also very easy to take apart and clean, plus they’re quite travel-friendly.

The Heyrex Water Bowl holds the most water, with a whopping 67 ounces, so if you know your dog drinks a ton of water, this one may be the choice for you! However, this bowl does need to be cleaned manually, and is fairly large, which might make it more difficult to take on the road.

Tell us about your messy drinker – how do you contain your dog’s mess? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Also, owners with slobbery drinkers might also find themselves with pooches who gobble down their food too. Food gobbling can be quite dangerous and can potentially lead to deadly bloat. However, there are certain bowls that can help – see our list of the best slow feeder dog bowls if you’ve got a kibble gulper on your hands!

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Written by

Kaelyn Kelly-Colon

Kaelyn Kelly-Colon is a content writer who loves dogs almost as much as their cat, who thinks he’s a dog.

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  1. Barb Avatar
    Barb

    6 month old golden retriever is a messy drinker. Dribbles wherever he goes after getting a drink. Tried using a mat but he rolls the mat up and Carrie’s it around.

  2. Sheila Avatar
    Sheila

    My 10 month old poodle splashes the water from the bowl with her paws and won’t stop until the water is all on the floor. Does anyone know if this bowl would stop this habit

  3. Lisa Holcombe Avatar
    Lisa Holcombe

    I need assistance with finding a water bowl for my dog’s very large crate. The bars are about an inch wide and I am having trouble finding a metal bowl (that he won’t chew) and that will attach to the side. Do you have any recommendations? Thank you.

    1. Ben Team Avatar

      Hey, Lisa. That’s a tough one, and we’re not familiar with a metal bowl that would work the way you need it to.
      If you have the crate space available, you may want to just consider switching to a ceramic bowl (like this one). I’m a big fan of ceramic bowls for dogs, and they should hold up for years.
      Best of luck!

  4. Laura Ryals Avatar
    Laura Ryals

    My dog dumps his water bowl right after we fill it in the outdoor pen so he goes all day with no water when we’re gone; I need a bowl that cannot be tipped over!

  5. L. L. Avatar
    L. L.

    I have tried everything for my Lab! A large Tray under her self contained water bowl and towels under the tray, and still water splashes everywhere, I have even tried those water absorbent mats plus towels, but she is so messy I have to change them every 2 days! I really don’t know what to do???

    1. ConniConni barger Avatar
      ConniConni barger

      I have same problem? What did you do?

  6. Tim Avatar
    Tim

    Road refreshened has to be turned upside down to refill?? how the hell do you refill it?? You can just pour water through the opening and the flotation part would float up in few seconds. As easy as a normal bowl

  7. Jean Stinnett Avatar
    Jean Stinnett

    We rescue Cane Corsos. Of all breeds we’ve had, they are the sloppiest drinkers ever. Not only does the water go outside of the bowl, it splashes all over and they sling water throughout the kitchen. The mat helps a bit but it cannot contain all the water. Corsos need a raised bowl to prevent bloat. Some of it is the curse of the breed. We love them anyway in spite of the lines of water everywhere! Lol Any ideas?

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