I have just been told by my vet that i must leave water down for my 13week puppy overnight. I have been removing it at about 8pm as that is what my dog trainer has told me to do.  How is correct here ??

Dogs should always have free access to fresh water  - ignore the trainer, perhaps look into finding an alternative one since IMO that is dreadful advice to give any new owner and doesn't say much about their expertise in the most basic knowledge re canine care.

regards, Teri

Sounds like your trainer gave you that advice to reduce the inconvenience of toilet breaks during the night.  Puppy's health and comfort must come first, they must have fresh clean water available at all times. 

After all, you wouldn't allow yourself to become dehydrated just to reduce your toilet breaks would you? :)

At risk of being contraversial, i crate my pup overnight without water. He doesnt dart for the waterbowl in the morning, nor is he dehydrated.

We go all night without a drink, i limit my childs drink before bedtime. As long as they have access all day and early evening i dont think that is unreasonable. They understand the routine so know when they need to drink and when they cant.

I believe that dogs should always have access to water. If you are feeding dry food check on the pack, I'm certain it will always say that water should always be available. I have water bowls in every room that my dogs have access to. I wouldn't dream of limiting their water supply for my own convenience.

In response to the comment "We go all night without a drink", not many of us are eating a dry diet whereas most people's dogs are!!

I can bet there are thousands of dogs all over the country who sleep in their owners bedroom at night and there is no water bowl in there.....and they are fed dry diets.
I can understand baby puppies needing a drink at night but do adult dogs really get up all night to drink?

> that is what my dog trainer has told me to do

dogs should always always always have water available at all times!

> We go all night without a drink,

only if we are asleep and not thirsty. the weathers getting warmer at the moment and i have woken the last three nights dying for a drink and i always keep a glass of water by the bed in case of need, i wouldn't treat my dog any differently

> can understand baby puppies needing a drink at night but do adult dogs really get up all night to drink?

not all night no, but when/if they are thirsty they do.

>We go all night without a drink

I dont, I always have a drink by my bed and wake up at least once in the night with a dry mouth.  I couldnt think of anything worse than not being able to have a drink.

> I couldnt think of anything worse than not being able to have a drink.

ohh, is horrible waking up and realising you've forgotten your water and trying to work out if its worse to get up and get one or be thirsty... usually thirsty wins over the cold

>I can understand baby puppies needing a drink at night but do adult dogs really get up all night to drink?

I often hear my boys drinking in the night.

Wiltshireone

> At risk of being contraversial, i crate my pup overnight without water.

Then you are breaking official guidelines on animal welfare as set out by the RSPCA - "a constant supply of fresh water"

> They understand the routine so know when they need to drink and when they cant.

Impossible - they will only know when they 'cant' when that basic right and need for their wellbeing has been withdrawn because water is unavailable.

FTR yours is not merely a controversial view, it's a cruel practice.

Water is down at ALL times.. regardless of age..

however.. I notice the middle range dogs dont bother with water.. my oldies do drink occassionally during the night.. and the pups always drink during the night...

Bichona

> I can bet there are thousands of dogs all over the country who sleep in their owners bedroom at night and there is no water bowl in there.....and they are fed dry diets.

I think you might lose some money there.  My dogs have access all areas in my home and with that access comes water bowls in every room.  Mine sleep overnight in my bedroom and have fresh water available there always.  Pups if crated in the home or car have clip on water bowls too.  Water is the most basic life requirement for any species.

Central heating, warm weather, upset tums, infections which raise temperatures etc can all contribute to dehydration.  To not allow 24/7 access to water is cruel and neglectful.  My experience of multiple dog owning households is thankfully that the owners are responsible and ensure their pets needs are suitably catered for - which essentially includes permanent access to fresh water.

> Central heating, warm weather, upset tums, infections which raise temperatures etc can all contribute to dehydration

and it can happen quickly.

i was very angry with myself when i got up the other day and found tios water bowl empty- i'd filled it the night before but he drank the lot through the night (a pretty big bowls worth), i obviously hadn't filled it enough and it was a very warm night :( i felt so guilty that he might not have gotten water for a few hours

> but do adult dogs really get up all night to drink?

Well my old GR and Sheltie get up for a slurp, I can hear the chop slopping noises :-D

My dogs are fed a mixture of wet and dry and I still wouldn't dream of removing water at night, I also have a glass by my bed.

If you know what it feels like to be parched as a human you can at least understand why you feel like you do, as a dog it must be awful as they don't understand and would just wander looking for the bowl :(

Then you are breaking official guidelines on animal welfare as set out by the RSPCA - "a constant supply of fresh water"

They've always been hot on this as well. When I used to show and judge hamsters, originally all hamsters were shown in identical show pens that must not include any food or water. (To avoid them being identified.) Now hamsters of course sleep during the DAY, so not having water at day time is equal to a dog not having it at night. Cutting  a long story short the RSPCA made the hamster fancy change the rules and ensure that all animals at shows had both food and moisture available. (Compromise: fruit or vegetables instead of water bottle, together with biscuits.)

My dogs have access to water all day and night.  I'm constantly filling up water bowls with 7 dogs in the house lol!

>I can bet there are thousands of dogs all over the country who sleep in their owners bedroom at night and there is no water bowl in there.....and they are fed dry diets.
>I can understand baby puppies needing a drink at night but do adult dogs really get up all night to drink?

My youngest has slept in the bedroom with us since her first night.  We did have a water bowl in the bedroom for her and we got up in the night to take her out to the toilet.  Now she is an adult, the water bowl is kept on the landing.  She has a drink from it most night before she settles down to sleep and I frequently hear her slurping away at it in the middle of the night. 

So, in answer to your question...yes, some dogs do get up at night to drink.

I also keep a large bottle of fresh water in the car for us and the dogs...Their travel bowl is always filled for them even on the shortest of journeys and we have a poratble bowl & bottle for walks.  I've lost count of the number of times we've come to the rescue of other dogs whose owners haven't thought to carry water on a warm day.

I have 2 adult dogs in our bedroom and one adult dog in the lounge ( her preference) they all have access to water at all times and i have two water bowls in our bedroom i am often woken up by someone having a drink.

My old girl who, for reasons that are beyond me, has ended up sleeping in my bedroom has a water bowl.  Most nights she does not drink but a fair few she does.  Puppies, I would never deprive of water.  Their need is higher than an adult as they have more rapid metabolisms.  Surely you have noticed they eat, poo and wee more often :-)

OP perhaps listen to the vet then and ask the trainer why they suggest it.......clearly i and your trainer are wrong, I was years ago told by a trainer to remove water after 11pm as dogs don't drink in their dens at night in the wild. BUT, i appreciate they didnt eat dry food and fed from mum longer. I have a crate water bowl so may leave it in from tonight, never considered it as depriving as he sleeps all night, not a lot of room for activity in a crate.

No one wants to be called cruel :(

> I was years ago told by a trainer to remove water after 11pm as dogs don't drink in their dens at night in the wild.

the thing is wild dogs are not held in their den at night as pups are in a crate, they can go out for water if they need it

Water bowls are going out tonight... I feel a bit of a meany for not leaving any out for the past 2 weeks or so. It is amazing though as I have looked through toilet training books and alot of them say remove the water but I am with you all and the water is back. Thanks for your comments.

I always keep young puppies in a crate in my bedroom at night, no water in the crate. No reason to because they are only in the crate when sleeping.   I keep them in my bedroom because the minute I hear them stir at night I take them out of the crate and into the garden.  Back in the house it's a trip past the water bowl (can't ever remember one drinking though) and then back in the crate for the rest of the night. 

> I can understand baby puppies needing a drink at night but do adult dogs really get up all night to drink?

I've heard my dog go into the kitchen at night for a drink from his water bowl when I'm in bed (I've woken & heard him clomping into the ktichen, followed by *slurp, splash, slurp spalsh*..).

He always has fresh water down, I check that his water bowl is clean & full before I go to bed (aswell as when I get up and several times a day - the slobber collects very quickly!).

not a lot of room for activity in a crate.
But they don't have to be active to be thirsty.

You can get little bowls that fix on the side of the crate.

I have a bitch at the vet currently - dehydrated and critical.  The bill is still soaring, but I have to give her a fighting chance - it looks like I'm going to lose her.  I can't even begin to say what I think of witholding water from any animal or human.  To withhold water is cruelty.

> (I've woken & heard him clomping into the ktichen, followed by *slurp, splash, slurp spalsh*..).
>
>

Exactly!

>> We go all night without a drink
> I dont, I always have a drink by my bed

Me too!

> I have water bowls in every room that my dogs have access to.

As it should be.

> I can bet there are thousands of dogs all over the country who sleep in their owners bedroom at night and there is no water bowl in there

And there must be thousands like me with a dog on the bed, and a water bowl in the bedroom, that I hear them using.

> FTR yours is not merely a controversial view, it's a cruel practice.

Thanks Teri - as you can see - this thread has really hit me, when I have a dog on a drip that sounds as if she won't make it. 

Slightly off topic, but has anyone ever noticed any of their dogs not being keen on tap water and preferring either bottled or rain. My BC will only drink tap if she absolutely has too, she will hunt out puddles or I by bottled for her :-D

> Water bowls are going out tonight...

I am so glad to hear this Fazza.  I have just seen dehydration at its worst, and the vets have just phoned to tell me not to get my hopes up.

> not being keen on tap water

I had to feed bottled for months during the floods here when we just didn't have water (for bathing either - everybody whiffed!)

Since then I have found bottled seems to reduce yellowing of the teeth.  Trouble is, they get really fussy, and turn their noses up now if it isn't Evian.  :-)

> warm weather, upset tums, infections which raise temperatures etc can all contribute to dehydration

This is the exact situation that my girl is in.  There was never a time that she didn't have access to water, but due to the above, and her only being small, she has been hit in the most devastating way, and its heart breaking.

I'm also with all the others on leaving water down for a pup or dog, even my children have a glass of water at the side of the bed, I know I often wake up for a little sip in the night.  If you sleep heavily then I guess you wouldn't drink water, but if you or they wake up, very often pups and dogs like to have a little drink, you can never know when anyone or anything may get the inkling or need of a drink so it should always just be available.

When pups are left with no water, they just don't have a choice and would have to grin and bare it, but it doesn't mean that occassionally they may need/want a little drink.

> Trouble is, they get really fussy, and turn their noses up now if it isn't Evian.  :-)

Fortunately my girls palate is not quite so refined and she will drink any bottled water, oh and thinking of you and sending best wishes for your poorly one.

> I have a bitch at the vet currently

Jean

My best wishes for the quick recovery of your precious girl.

Hello Fazza,

~ Welcome to the Forum ~

Perhaps you might want to print this link off and hand it to your trainer...
The Kennel club - Good Citizen scheme which are the three training tests responsible owners take with their dogs :)

You will see clearly point one (under a dogs needs) states : 1. Water - A dog needs a constant supply of clean drinking water.

Hope this helps.

Jean,

Warmest wishes, my heart and thoughts go out to you today for your girl, I'm so sorry to hear this and will have everything crossed in hope for you xx

> Slightly off topic, but has anyone ever noticed any of their dogs not being keen on tap water and preferring either bottled or rain

Yes, it drives me nuts!!! Buster would much rather walk around licking rain water off the patio than have his fresh tap water (his bowl is cleaned seveal times a day, so it's not a manky water bowl that disgusts him!). When we had the snow, Buster was licking the snow so much he was getting a sore chin :(  I had to take him in the garden on a lead to stop him licking the snow! He likes ice-lollies in the summer so I think he thought the whole world had turnded into an ice-lolly!
I had a bowl of tap-water in the garden, but that never won over rain water, so I started to leave an empty bowl in the garden to collect rain water, but Buster will still prefer to lick the patio rather than drink rain water out of a bowl

> I have just seen dehydration at its worst, and the vets have just phoned to tell me not to get my hopes up.

I'm so sorry. I hope your girl pulls through.
Thinking of you and sending lots of luck & get well wishes to your girl.
xxx

Sounds very like Rosie my BC, I also leave a bowl in the garden for rain collecting, she's also a snow eater and drinks out of any odd garden container rather than the dogs water bowl.
Funny creatures :)

I guess my dog is just unusual then, he never wakes in the night to drink, never even gets off the bed. Every night I always wonder why on earth i'm putting clean water in the bowl as it's never touched.  He does drink a lot in the day.......but never once he's settled to sleep at night.

Jean I'm keeping everything crossed for your girl.

> I have a bitch at the vet currently

I'm very sorry to hear this. I do so hope your girl will pull through.

You're absolutely right about the water bowls. I'm quite fanatical about ours and have water bowls in all rooms the dogues have access to, and outdoors. And I'm forever filling them up too with nice fresh water. Why take any chances.