Do you let your doodle drink from the common water bowl at the dog park?

[Pat & "Tucker"]

Everyone is being very kind by bringing a gallon jug of water to the dog park to fill the water bowl (s).  I do not like Tucker drinking from it at all but it is very difficult to keep him away.  I bring my own bottle of water and offer it frequently hoping he will stay away from the bowls  One dog had a big slobber hanging from his mouth! Gross.There must have been at least 15 dogs drinking from one bowl. Does anyone every wash it-I wonder.  What do you all think?  It really isn't a healthy thing in my mind. 

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

Both dog parks that I have gone to have community dog dishes for the dogs to drink out of. One supplies water, even for swimming pools for the dogs in the spring/summer time (Bethlehem dog park), and the other park you bring your own water but there are dog bowls for them to share (Nazareth). At Bethlehem dog park I have seen dogs pee in the pools, or the water is so muddy other dogs will try and drink it. Where the water source is, to the side of it is a non removeable container which holds nothing but dirty slimmy water. I don't allow my dogs near it. I always recommend bringing a travel dog dish and gallon of water for your dogs. I have noticed for the most part...the dog owners who clean up after their dogs are very good at cleaning out the drinking bowls before allowing their dogs to drink. I have three dogs at home, and their water gets changed 4xs a day along with cleaning food dishes 2xs a day.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I no longer go to dog parks for a number of reasons. The last time I went to one, and left hurriedly, was when an owner told me that her dog had diarrhea. So I think drinking from communal bowls in a dog park is not a good idea. However, I think we could get a little too fastidious about cleaning drinking bowls for dogs who do not have compromised immunity. Cleaning a bowl once a day at home should certainly be enough. After all, as my son says,these are dogs and they drink from puddles if you let them.

[Julie B.]

Sharing water is one way to transmit giardia from one dog to another. I don't let mine drink out of public water bowls primarily because I don't want them to get it but lately with my puppy it is so she won't infect another dog because she has been fighting giardia since I brought her home!!

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

I take my own water bowl for my pack at the park. I either use my own water or the people water fountain to fill their bowl and then offer them the water away from the other dogs. I guess I am lucky that the boys are persnickety about wanting fresh water all the time.