# A toilet for dogs (to drink out of) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 6, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-toilet-for-dogs-to-drink-out-of/633865 "2012-09-06T16:30:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-toilet-for-dogs-to-drink-out-of/633865/1 "2012-09-06T16:30:14Z")
My dog, after 10 years of complete obedience, has started drinking out of the toilet. In a way, I get it - the toilet water is consistently cool, and it’s always fresh, unlike his water bowl which I need to empty and refill every day because of all the slobber and food bits that he gets in it. Then I thought, wouldn’t it be great if I had installed a second, smaller toilet just for him to drink out of? It wouldn’t necessarily have to be shaped like a toilet or hold nearly as much water, but I could flush it 2 or 3 times a day to refresh the water in it. My dog would probably prefer it, and I wouldn’t have to trundle to and from the sink every day balancing a sloppy, sloshy water bowl full of dog slobber. If such a thing could be invented that could be installed in-line with an existing sink or toilet, would anyone else buy one? Or does it already exist? ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-toilet-for-dogs-to-drink-out-of/633865/2 "2012-09-06T17:07:01Z")
Here’s [instructions](http://www.instructables.com/id/Self-filling-water-bowl/?ALLSTEPS) on how to make one, although plumbed into an outdoor hose. Less toilet, more bowl with valve. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-toilet-for-dogs-to-drink-out-of/633865/3 "2012-09-06T17:12:06Z")
I found a commercial product that was essentially that for $40 – outdoor bowl, hooked up to a hose with a float to shut it off, and a drain plug in the bottom. Not quite what I’m looking for, though. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-toilet-for-dogs-to-drink-out-of/633865/4 "2012-09-06T17:16:39Z")
find a dish with a cover for transfer. or place the dish in a larger bowl or dish pan for transfer. or pour the old water at the feeding location into a bowl for transfer. add an ice cube to the dish a few times during the day. more plumbing is more leak potential. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-toilet-for-dogs-to-drink-out-of/633865/5 "2012-09-06T18:12:41Z")
If you’re looking at improving the water in his bowl look at aerated fountain type dog bowls but if you really want plumbing feed stores would have automatic fill bowls for horses that would probably work. ---
**Author:** ![Vicullum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/6de8d8/32.png) [@Vicullum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicullum)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-toilet-for-dogs-to-drink-out-of/633865/6 "2012-09-06T18:48:57Z")
It’s not just dogs that do this. My family once owned a _cat_ that would drink out of the toilet. I think my mom still has a picture of him standing on the floor with his forepaws in the bowl, looking back towards the camera with a guilty look on his face. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-toilet-for-dogs-to-drink-out-of/633865/7 "2012-09-06T18:57:32Z")
[A solution](http://www.do2learn.com/picturecards/images/imageschedule/toiletlid_down_l.gif). It’s not rare for cats to drink from the toilet, hence the above. The dog would if he could reach it.