Drinking out of a plastic bowl.

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Ok so i just read that plastic bowls should not be used. Schulz will eat out of a stainless steel bowl but he will only drink out of a plastic one. He actually went about three days with out drinking and it made me worried so I switched to a plastic red bowl and he drinks all the time now. Am I really hurting him? And if so how can I get him to drink out of a stainless one? So those plastic auto water bowls are a bad idea??? 

Thanks!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Have you tried ceramic?

You might also look at the dull-finish stainless bowls, sometimes the reflection on the shiny ones bothers them. That may be the case with Schulz, since he doesn't mind eating his food from the stainless bowl, and of course the food would cover the bottom of the bowl so it didn't reflect.

 

[Gail and Bailey]

Sort of on the same subject.........is it really bad for dogs to drink from a hose occasionally? 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This article seems to have the best, most sensible answer to that question: http://www.motherearthnews.com/ask-our-experts/drinking-from-a-gard...

[Gail and Bailey]

Makes sense.  Thanks.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good article Karen. I don't regularly give my dogs water from the hose but occasionally I do and also from the hard plastic distributor on my spigot. But I agree that occasional use of cold water should be OK. Who would give an animal hot water anyway?

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Mine both use ceramic - can put them in the dishwasher and they look nice.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Just make sure you buy new, American-made ceramic.

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Only American made?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You need to be sure that there is no lead used in the glaze. Other countries may have laws about that like the U.S. does, but you;d have to research that. We know the U.S. has the laws, so we know those would be safe. You definitely don't want anything made in China.

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Omg! I have to go home and check their water bowl!

[Christine & Camus]

The color, or lack of color, may also be a reason for his reaction, at least it was for Camus. I know the color spectrum is different for dogs than for humans, but given some folks have color preferences when it comes to food maybe dogs do as well.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

ohgawd. one more thing to worry about!