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The 5 Best Dog Water Fountains For Indoors & Out

For the dog days of summer.

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Best Dog Water Fountains
Amazon
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Keeping your pet hydrated can be an uphill battle. The best dog water fountains not only provide fresh, clean water for your pet, but they may actually entice them to drink more of it throughout the day. The best options are always quiet, self-filtering, made from durable materials, and designed to minimize messes — but the right one for you and your dog will depend on the fountain’s capacity and different settings.

All of the options below have built-in filters as well as included replacements, which (in addition to the constant circulation) help to keep the water clean. That said, the amount of water will differ from unit to unit, so be sure to find one sized to be well-suited for your pet or pets. Typically, the larger the dog, the larger their bowl should be. Households with multiple pets should also opt for high-capacity units to ensure that the fountain is always full and accessible.

In a hurry? Here are the best dog water fountains:

  1. The Fan-Favorite: Veken Pet Fountain
  2. A Fountain To Track Water Intake: PETLIBRO Dockstream App Monitoring Water Fountain
  3. The Best Stainless Steel: ORSDA Stainless Steel Pet Fountain
  4. The Largest: PetSafe Drinkwell 2-Gallon Fountain
  5. The Best For Outdoors: Videosystem Dog Fountain Sprinkler

You’ll also want to consider the extra features — especially if your dog is particularly finicky. Different flow designs and built-in lights may encourage your dog to drink more, so for these dogs, the more settings, the better. Here are four of the best indoor pet fountains Amazon has to offer, all with varying capacities and settings. (If you’re looking for an outdoor fountain so your dog can drink from the hose in an extra-fun way, scroll to the bottom of this article.)

1. The Fan-Favorite Dog Water Fountain

  • Capacity: 2.8 Liters
  • Pros: Price, adjustable flow, multiple streams for multiple pets, four-stage filtration system
  • Cons: Lacks smart features

There are multiple reasons why this Veken pet fountain is a top-selling option with more than 27,000 reviews: For one, it quietly filters water with a coconut shell-activated carbon and cotton layer, ions, and a thick non-woven fabric, and then dispenses it in your choice of two different flow patterns. For another, it’s made of a BPA-free material which is durable, safe, and easy to clean. It also has a water-level window that allows you to see when you need to refill it. Finally, it attracts all different types of pets to keep them hydrated, all while costing less than $25. Get it in your choice of six colors.

One reviewer wrote: “I have [two] medium dogs that drink a lot of water. This fountain holds enough that I don't have to litter the house with water bowls when I go out for the day. They drink about half the capacity each day and I just refill with a carafe, no need to unplug.”

2. A Fountain To Track Water Intake

  • Capacity: 2.5 Liters
  • Pros: Water intake tracking, four-layer filtration, adjustable flow
  • Cons: Price

For senior dogs or dogs with health issues, it can make a lot of sense to invest in a water fountain that allows you to track their water intake. This PETLIBRO water fountain has an associated app that allows you to track how much water your dog is drinking. Whether dehydration or over-hydration is a concern, this gives you a lot of peace of mind. This water fountain also has a four-layer filtration system to remove hair, smells, or harsh metals. This operates at a whisper-quiet 23 decibels, and while the water fountain itself is wall-powered via an outlet, the water pump can operate without power in an emergency. You can set this to run continuosly or in an intermittent pattern, depending on what your dog prefers.

One reviewer wrote: “I had liked that my niece had purchased a fountain for her cat because my dog liked it anytime we went over there. I wasn't crazy about the one they had, so I researched. I found this one from PetLibro and I am happy to say it beats all expectations! It lets me know when the water is low, when to change the filter, even if there has been a long time between drinking! You will really appreciate all the time taken in to the design of this fountain.”

3. The Best Stainless Steel Dog Water Fountain

  • Capacity: 2 Liters
  • Pros: Price, stainless steel design, two flow options, triple filtration system
  • Cons: Smaller capacity, lacks smart features

Most best-selling options are made from BPA-free plastic, but if you’d prefer high-grade stainless steel, there’s the ORSDA pet fountain, which is resistant to stains, scratches, rust, and bacteria. Plus, it looks especially elevated in your home. This one has a locking-lid design to prevent messes and hide the pump, two different spouts that change the flow patterns, and six replacement filters. This model is also dishwasher-safe and comes with a free silicone mat for fuss-free cleaning.

One reviewer wrote: “I got this fountain to replace a plastic one I'd had for a couple of years. The older fountain still worked, but it had several parts to it [and was] generally a pain to keep clean. Even though the older fountain was larger and I didn't have to fill it as much, this new ORSDA Cat Water Fountain is great!”

4. The Largest Dog Water Dispenser

  • Capacity: 7.6 Liters (also available in 1.9 liters and 3.8 liters)
  • Pros: Largest capacity, adjustable flow, two-part filter, multiple sizes available
  • Cons: Price, could be too large for your space, lacks smart features

Because it holds up to 2 gallons of water at one time (or 7.6 liters), this PetSafe Drinkwell fountain is the best option for large dogs or multi-pet households. You can customize how quickly or slowly the water exits the spout, and your dog can opt to drink from the faucet-like dispenser or the bowl itself. Thanks to its BPA-free plastic construction (which is dishwasher-safe) and two-part filter (replacements included), the water stays hygienic and fresh. Plus, it is designed without hard-to-reach places so it’s easy to clean. It’s also available in two smaller sizes if you like the faucet style but don’t need such a large unit.

One reviewer wrote: “I have an 88 pound dog and 3 cats that share this water bowl and they all love it. [...] I add water when needed which is often at least once per day and I clean it once per week. It's a great convivence for me and the animals love it.”

5. The Best For Outdoors

  • Capacity: N/A
  • Pros: Non-electric design, outdoor-friendly, pedal design
  • Cons: A sprinkler, not a fountain, must have hose access

Outdoor fountains allow your dog to drink from the hose more easily while out in the yard, and the best ones contain the water until it’s ready for use. This one from Videosystem uses a pedal-like design that provides a stream of water when you or your dog press down on it, and it even comes with the Y-splitter adapter you’ll need to hook it up to your spigot. According to reviewers, it’s well-made and durable — and many pets were able to use it themselves after a few short training sessions.

One reviewer wrote: “My dog drinks a lot, a lot, a lot of water, and she loves fresh running water, [so] this helps her [stay] hydrated when we play outside.” [...] My Saint Berard learned to use it right away when she was still a puppy.”

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