Hi there, I am new to the forum site, and have a generalised health question.

I have a 10 week old sharpei puppy. He's thriving, growing, full of life and energy... But not drinking water unless it is mixed into his food. In the 2 weeks I have had him I've not seen him take so much as a sip. I spoke to the vet about this, and he is not concerned as he is peeing normally and regularly and seems to be getting enough fluid through his food.

Just wanted to know other peoples experiences of this.

Thanks.

Is it possible he is drinking when you are not watching him?  Our dogs often have a good gulp when they are passing the water bowls, but don't necessarily stop long.  He is obviously getting enough.  Mine also really like ice cold water from the fridge.  You could try giving him a bowl of this.  Also try adding a small amount of milk to the water - a nice treat for mine!

Sometimes puppies are put off by the dish it is served in and sometimes it is just the water that smells strange. Try serving only rain or distilled water (boiled and cooled will do) and put it is a different sort of dish, not one that will shine too much, the same as the food bowl may work of an old cooking pot or a bucket.

just add a drop of goats milk to the water I find they prefer a ceramic bowl rather than a stainless steel bowl.

Funnily enough mine prefers plastic bowls to stainless steel.

If your adding water to his food then he's getting all the water he needs, but I would still leave a bowl of water down.. I know when I soggy up the puppy food with water they never really drank there water at all till they were on complete dry food... You could also try ice cubes mine love these they think there treats lol :)

Mine won't touch there water in the morning till its fresh and cold- can't really blame them ...

> You could also try ice cubes mine love these they think there treats lol

mine to, though just to crunch, not in their water

> Mine won't touch there water in the morning till its fresh and cold- can't really blame them ...

Bet it does not stop them from making a dash for the muddy puddle though, strange creatures dogs.

>> Mine won't touch there water in the morning till its fresh and cold- can't really blame them ...
> Bet it does not stop them from making a dash for the muddy puddle though, strange creatures dogs.

lol, doesn't it do your head in!!!

My pup will only drink out of his bowl if it's fresh, cold water, but if he sees a dirty muddy puddle he'll lap it up. Both my dogs also have this habbit of licking rain water off of everything in the garden ie, the plastic chairs and even the patio!!
Strange creatures :)

Just because everyone is saying so thought I'd put in my two cents and it is that mine prefer lukewarm, stale water.  Third dog now that does and all the cats.  Actually, hot water today in our +30C temps, as they all make a beeline for the outdoor water bucket to drink before I change it.

When ours are ill they do not seem to want water so we add a little milk to cloud the surface and they lap it up. Ditto puddles, they also will not drink from a metal bowl?????

I have ours in a staniless steel bowl- they seem to like it, before that I just used a 4liter icecream pale. Their dog food is also in a stainless steel bowl and one in a plastic bowl I got from Alpo (yup don't feed that anymore eeeew)