Why Does My Dog… Dig in Her Water Bowl?
Published on September 26, 2011
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Does your dog paw at her water bowl as if she wants to play with something inside the dish? Well, that’s most likely exactly what she’s doing — playing.
Plenty of dogs stick their feet into water — and not just domesticated canines. Wolves and other wild canids have been observed engaging in water-based play by pouncing into streams, joyfully breaking thin ice and even swatting at their own watery reflections.
So it makes sense that pets would exhibit similar behavior, right? But is it really just play?
Some people believe dogs who dig in their drinking dishes are trying to stir up and freshen the water, so it can’t hurt to replenish your pup’s water dish regularly.
Plenty of dogs stick their feet into water — and not just domesticated canines. Wolves and other wild canids have been observed engaging in water-based play by pouncing into streams, joyfully breaking thin ice and even swatting at their own watery reflections.
So it makes sense that pets would exhibit similar behavior, right? But is it really just play?
Some people believe dogs who dig in their drinking dishes are trying to stir up and freshen the water, so it can’t hurt to replenish your pup’s water dish regularly.