The 6 Best Dog Crate Water Bottles (With Pictures, Pros, and Cons)

Water bottles for a dog crate? Believe it or not, there are a ton of great options. Many are much easier to refill or change out than by reaching inside the crate to change a bowl. In this article, we’ll cover some of the best dog crate water bottles available today.

The Best Dog Crate Water Bottles

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Best For Small Sized Dogs

First off we have Choco Nose’s patented water bottle for dog crates. It’s sturdy, comes in a variety of cute colors, and is easy to attach and refill.

While it works great it is a bit small. This is a problem we found with a lot of water bottles.

Originally we were going to recommend this for medium-sized dogs. Instead, we recommend it only for small dogs less than 15 lbs.

We’ll review a few larger models but be warned. There aren’t a ton of huge water bottles out there. Most are really medium-sized. If you have a large dog we recommend getting two bottles of one of the larger models below.

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What We Like

• Easy to attach
• Easy to pop off and refill
• Sturdy
• Cute Colors

What We Don’t Like

• Smaller than expected
• Best for puppies and very small dogs

Best For Large Dogs

The Lixit it (“Licks It”) water bottle is a full 32 ounces. That’s the same size as your standard Nalgene you’d take hiking. It’s bigger than a lot of other models but still not huge. For 50 pound and up dogs you’ll find yourself wanted a massive 44 ouncer style 7/11 Super Gulp.

Sadly such things don’t commonly exist. For super big dogs, we recommend just getting two bottles. That way you’re not refilling them too often.

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What We Like

• Easy to refill
• Less drooling from dogs with cheek jowls (e.g. bulldogs) – This is true though of all water bottles. They drink more slowly and less sloppily so there’s less to fall out the sides of their cheeks.
• Short dog noses don’t get wet and dirty as when drinking from a bowl

What We Don’t Like

• Drips if you don’t fill it during refills (read directions carefully)
• Not as easy to attach as other models

Best for Rambunctious Dogs

This sturdy model is great for puppies and chewers. You can easily adjust its location and height.

It comes with all the perks of water bottles – no more spilled bowls of water in the crate; no more cat litter in the water bowl.

The only downside is you can’t easily screw off the top to quickly refill it.

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What We Like

• Super Sturdy
• Like all water bottles – no more puppies tipping over the water bowl
• Fun to play and chew
• works with cats and dogs
• 450 ml (15 ounces)
• No more cat litter in the water bowl (from cat pawing)
• Adjustable for small dogs

What We Don’t Like

• Can’t refill from the top – need to take the bottle off to refill

Best For Puppies and Dogs That Can’t Figure Out Ball Dispensers

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What We Like

• No ball dispenser – easier for dogs to understand
• Keeps water bowl filled automatically
• Smaller, fixed water container so there’s somewhat less spilling compared to a normal dog bowl
• Better leak protection than a hanging ball bearing based water bottle
• 17-ounce capacity (larger than most water bottle hangers).
• Use your own water bottle that’s larger – 20 ounce Mountain Dew bottles, anyone! Note, if you use a soda bottle change it often. These aren’t meant to be reused.

What We Don’t Like

• Be careful when ordering this model. They have changed the design but didn’t change the listing. If you intend to get the bottle with the cup double check before ordering. The old version was a standard upside-down ball-bearing bottle where the end was easily chewed and dented.

Beyond the few bottles mentioned above the other options seem to feel very much like copycats.

Rather than display two more bottles that are really no different than the others we want to show you two other options.

One is a no refill outdoor dog water bowl that attaches to a hose bib. The other is a set of hanging food and water bowls for crates.

Best Outdoor and No Refill Model

Please note that this model will not work in small dog crates. It’s better intended for outdoor larger crates and kennels or just for outdoor setups.

We included it because like water bottles it gives you an easy low-mess method to give water access to your dogs all day.

Plus you never need to refill it. Simply clean it out every once in a while.

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What We Like

• This one attaches to a pressurized water line – no refilling ever
• Great for outdoor water bottles
• Great for large dogs or lots of dogs
• Keeps the water cool in the summer (by refilling often)
• No issues with rust, stains, mold, or algae (do remember to clean it though!)
• Attaches to a standard outdoor hose bib

What We Don’t Like

• Still need to remember to clean the bowl. Can’t get away from this. In a way, it’s harder since it refills automatically!
• Not for small crate use
• Needs to be bolted to a wall – setup is harder than other options

Best Hanging Food and Water Bowls for Puppies

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What We Like

• Great for puppies
• Easily attaches to wire crates
• Durable
• Scratch-resistant
• Easy to clean (stainless steel)
• Comes in 8 oz or 20 oz size
• Works just as well for cats or even ferrets

What We Don’t Like

• Water still splashes but at least it’s elevated.
• Bowls can pop out of the rings – use a C -clamp for each one to hold them down

Dog Water Bottle Benefits

• Keeps short dog noses clean (they don’t get dunked and wet)
• Less drooling right after drinking (for dogs with big cheek jaws that leak water)
• Less water on the floor
• Keeps water fresher (food, flies, and other things drifting in the air don’t settle as they do in open dog bowls)
• Less evaporation (good for outdoor use or in arid western states)

Dog Water Bottle Cons

• Many drips either from the type of bottle, the angle of install, or how it’s filled
• Most are smaller than you’d want
• Need to refill more often than dog bowls
• Training required but relatively easy (see FAQ below)

FAQ

Can Dogs Drink From Water Bottles?

Definitely. Dogs can easily learn and even love to drink from water bottles. Plus you’ll enjoy some of the benefits like less water on the floor from water bowl splashing, easier to clean, and they keep short-nosed dog noses cleaner since they don’t get wet and dirty.

Will Cats Drink From a Hamster Type Bottle?

Yep. Just like dogs cats can also be trained to drink and like hamster-type bottles in their crate or carrier. You can even set these up around the house or outside.

Training with cats can be a bit difficult. Follow our steps in the training below. If all else fails keep putting peanut butter or a similar treat on the bottle tip to get your cat to understand that if they lick it water will come out.

How Do I Crate Train My Dog or Cat to Use Crate Water Bottles?

Training a dog or cat to use a new water bottle is simple. The trick is getting them to feel the water at the tip of the ball. Follow these steps to get the job done:

1. Put your pet in the crate
2. Fill the water bottle and attach
3. Get their attention
4. Tap the end of the ball on the bottle so water drips
5. If possible get them to touch the water coming out
6. Repeat till they get their ah-ha moment (“Oh this is water!)
7. Still not getting it? Put peanut butter or similar paste treat on the end so they start licking it.
8. Lick, lick, lick

How Do I Get My Crate Water Bottle to Stop Dripping?

Dripping is a common problem for all cage water bottles. Use these simple tips to stop the drip:

• Skim the instructions again. Different bottles require different filling strategies
• Fill the bottle fully to the brim with water. Carefully screw on the top. Then invert and put on the cage. Less initial airspace can help prevent drips.
• Tilt the water bottle at different angles till the dripping stops. Use wire or string to hold it in place at that angle.

How Do I Stop My Dog From Chewing On the Bottle Tip?

If your dog is chewing on the metal spigot at the end it may not be getting enough water. Check the instructions and see if you can remove one of the ball bearings inside the spout.

Some models have multiple balls to help prevent dripping. This can really slow down the flow.

Also, perhaps they haven’t learned to lick it to get water out. Try adding peanut butter to the end so they lick it. Repeat that for a few training sessions.