You’re out for a walk and take a break to give your dog some water. You’re probably one of two people. You uncap your shared water, attempt to form a bowl with your hands, and try to get him to drink as much of it as possible before it all drips through the cracks. Your dog is lucky to get a teaspoon of water. Or you lug around a bowl with you, pour some water into it, and your pup drinks about half of it, resulting in you tossing the remainder because drinking your dog’s backwash isn’t really what you consider a refreshing drink.
An easier alternative would be to bring a water bottle for dogs with a bowl built-in. Your dog will drink more water, and less will go on the ground since it’s a water bottle with dog bowl in one. No wasted water, no mess, and no extra bowl needed. Find out our top picks for the best portable dog water bottle and dog water bottle for hiking, walks, and on the go!
Winner | Runner-Up | Third Place | Best For Crates |
---|---|---|---|
Tuff Pupper | PerPets | Autodogmug | Lixit |
View on Amazon | View on Amazon | ||
Read Review |
Things To Consider
When picking a water bottle for your dog, consider your specific needs. Are you planning to use it for a walk around the block, a day at the park, or a hefty hike in the mountains? Do you have more than one dog or a dog with special needs? Durability and portability are big considerations. Some water bottles come with a carabiner you can use to attach them to backpacks, baby strollers, and more.
Whenever you are out with your pup, hydration should be a top priority. Dogs can overheat quickly, especially in hot, muggy, and humid weather. You do not want them to drink excessive water after exercise or play, as that can be dangerous. So, a portable water system is a must for any pup of any age. Dehydration is a serious issue and requires prompt treatment for the best recovery.
Winner: Tuff Pupper Water Bottle Review
This dog water bottle is the only one in our reviews made of stainless steel. It also has the largest capacity at 24oz (and a 40oz option). The silicone leaf folds up and around the water bottle to form a bowl for your dog to drink from when he’s thirsty. When your dog’s finished, the water funnels back into the bottle, and you can flip the leaf down.
It comes in four color options (blue, green, or purple) and has a one-year, 100% money-back guarantee. If you’re dissatisfied, you can get a replacement or a refund. This one does not have a carabiner, but you can purchase a Tuff Pupper PupFlask Insulated water bottle sling holder, making hands-free carrying easy and comfortable.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Bottle made of stainless steel | Doesn’t work with other bottlenecks |
BPA and lead-free | |
100% food-safe silicone | |
1-year, 100% money-back guarantee | |
Dishwasher-safe | |
Excess water returns to the bottle | |
Strap for clipping |
Price
Runner-Up: Perpets Water Bottle Review
This Perpets bottle is designed similarly to Tuff Pupper, except it’s plastic. What kept it out of our number-one spot? Excess water can’t return to the bottle, it has a slightly smaller capacity (20oz), and the bottle isn’t dishwasher safe. It only comes in one color, too. It’s still an excellent option because it works with other bottles and is reasonably priced.
Another plus is that the TIOVERY comes with a carabiner, so you can easily attach this bottle to your bike, backpack, or purse.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
BPA and lead-free | Bottle made of plastic |
100% food-safe silicone | Not dishwasher-safe |
100% satisfaction guarantee | Excess water doesn’t return to the bottle |
Silicon drinking attachment is dishwasher-safe | |
Strap for clipping | |
Works with other 30mm to 38mm bottlenecks |
Price
Third Place: Highwave AutoDogMug Review
This Highwave bottle is similar to the popular Aqua Dog Travel Water Bottle. However, I opted to include this one instead because the Aqua Dog is limited in availability. The Highwave can hold up to 20oz of water, and any leftover water returns to the bottle rather than wasting it. It also comes in a variety of color options, including pink, grey, and blue.
To use this device, you must apply constant pressure with a firm squeeze to the bottle for the water to fill the bowl. So, if you have difficulty squeezing a bottle, you may want to select a different product.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
BPA free | Bottle made of plastic (the one I tried had a very strong plastic odor) |
Safe to use with food | Doesn’t say whether it’s lead-free or not |
Dishwasher-safe | No guarantee |
Excess water returns to the bottle | Doesn’t work with other bottlenecks |
Strap for clipping | Must squeeze to fill up |
Made in the USA |
Price
Best For Crate Mount: Lixit Review
I didn’t include this bottle in the comparison table because its purpose is different from other water bottles in this article. This Lixit bottle can be mounted on the inside or outside of a crate. If you don’t want to mount it, you can purchase a water bottle stand. The bottle is available in multiple sizes so that you can select the best one according to your dog’s stature. If your dog is notorious for flipping its water dish over, this is a good option.
Price
- Starts at: $8.99
Best Dog Water Bottles Comparison Table
The table below compares all of the water bottles I’ve reviewed in this article except for the Lixit bottle, which is not a travel bottle.
1st: Tuff Pupper | 2nd: TIOVERY | 3rd: Highwave | LumoLeaf | M&MKPET | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $26.96 | $14.99 | Check Amazon for availability | $24.99 | Check Amazon for availability |
Capacity | 24oz | 20oz | 20oz | 20oz | 12oz |
Bottle Material | Stainless Steel | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic |
BPA-Free | |||||
Lead-Free | |||||
100% Food Safe Silicone | No Silicone, But It Is Food Safe | ||||
Guarantee | 1-year, 100% Money-Back Guarantee | 100% Satisfaction Guarantee | |||
Dishwasher Safe | Only Silicone | ||||
Excess Water Returns To Bottle | |||||
Strap For Clipping | Aluminum Buckle | ||||
Made In The USA | |||||
Connects To Other Bottles | 35mm to 36 mm Necks | 30mm & 38mm Necks |
LumoLeaf Water Bottle Review
LumoLeaf is almost identical to Perpets (our number two pick), except this 20oz bottle may not be lead-free and doesn’t have a satisfaction guarantee. On the positive side, both the bottle and silicone are dishwasher safe, so you may opt for this one if you want an easier clean-up. And unlike the Perpets, it comes in three color options (grey, green, and teal).
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
BPA free | Bottle made of plastic |
100% food-safe silicone | Doesn’t say whether it’s lead-free or not |
Dishwasher-safe | No guarantee |
Aluminum buckle for clipping | Excess water doesn’t return to the bottle |
Works with other 30mm and 38mm bottlenecks | |
Made in the USA |
Price
M&MKPET Water Bottle Review
This is the smallest bottle in this article, holding only 12oz or 19oz of water, which may be good or bad depending on how compact you want your bottle. It might be a good pick for a dog water bottle for walking since it’s so small and has a strap to carry it. None of it is dishwasher safe, so you’ll need to hand wash it all.
Its design is different than the others in this article. Water dispenses into the bowl when you hold the bottle horizontally and press the button. The bowl doesn’t fold up like the leaf designs for other bottles. It comes in teal and pink.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
BPA-free and lead-free | Bottle made of plastic |
100% food-safe silicone | Not dishwasher-safe |
Excess water returns to the bottle | No guarantee |
Strap for clipping | Doesn’t work with other bottlenecks |
Price
- Starts at: Check Amazon for availability
What Should I Bring On A Hike With My Dog?
If you plan to go on an adventure with your dog, a portable dog water bottle isn’t the only thing you’ll need to have on hand for him. This article has a list of all the items you’ll need when you go camping or hiking with your dog.
Keeping Your Dog Cool In The Heat
There are a few things you can do to keep your pup cool when outside playing in the heat. Along with keeping water readily available, it is helpful to carry an umbrella to provide shady relief from the sun. Using sunscreen to prevent sunburn and dog booties to protect paw pads from hot sidewalks are also quite helpful. We also answer the question of if dogs can eat ice cubes or ice cream to cool off.
Why Trust Canine Journal?
Kimberly has written about various dog-related topics, such as pet insurance, health conditions, treats, training, and more. She hunted down the best dog water bottles with the best performance, durability, and the lowest price. She consulted with other Canine Journal members to glean their personal experiences using water bottles for their dogs. Kimberly spent over 10 hours researching and writing this article.