# Gross or not - Dog drinking from regular fountain at park **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 18, 2010, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071 "2010-07-18T00:43:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071/41 "2010-07-18T19:20:16Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > Not particulalry gross. This might be hard to believe, but I’ve actually had a dog lick me right on the face before. This is exactly why I don’t think it’s gross. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071/42 "2010-07-19T04:29:50Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > Right now we’re at 35% thinking it’s gross. Even if that doesn’t constitute a majority, wouldn’t it bother you a little that watering your dog this way would gross out 35% of the public? It wouldn’t bother me. I’m not responsible for other people’s irrational phobias. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071/43 "2010-07-19T04:37:52Z")
I used to play baseball, and we used public fountains all the time. If you are squeamish, you “wash” the fountainhead with your hand while it is running, that’s all. Nowadays, I’m surprised anybody cares about or even drinks public water anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071/44 "2010-07-19T04:38:46Z")
> [@chizzuk](#): > > Gross. Dogs drool, slobber, and lick way more than the average human and I have a horrible aversion to saliva. As in, I sometimes have to get an entirely new glass of water halfway through because I don’t like how the rim looks where my mouth touched it. Yes, there may be something wrong with me. Totally read this in a Niles Crane voice. I said not gross because his lips aren’t touching the nozzle and most people aren’t touching their lips to the nozzle either. They’re just drinking the spray. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071/45 "2010-07-19T04:39:06Z")
I won’t let dogs lick me on the face, after seeing what they’ll eat, but I still don’t think it’s any more gross than anything else that happens to an outdoor public drinking fountain. As an aside, one of the parks around here has an actual doggie drinking fountain. Or rather, a dual-species one. The drain from the human part of the fountain flows into an open basin at ground level with an overflow drain on it. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071/46 "2010-07-19T04:49:47Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I won’t let dogs lick me on the face, after seeing what they’ll eat, but I still don’t think it’s any more gross than anything else that happens to an outdoor public drinking fountain. Or any less gross. The nasty kids and shitting birds are gross too. But the OP was about dogs specifically. In any case, I don’t feel that strongly about it, and would drink from a festering dogmouth, birdass, and kidwhizz contaminated public fountain if I were thirsty enough. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071/47 "2010-07-19T04:52:38Z")
Let me get this straight – you see bird shit on a fountain – and you still drink out of it? ---
**Author:** ![CutterJohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@CutterJohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CutterJohn)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071/48 "2010-07-19T05:16:35Z")
even if the dog licks the spigot, it wouldn’t matter. Those things are designed such that its very hard to touch a part that the water touches… there is a little recessed hole, so unless the dog is licking all over it when the water isn’t running, all the parts that water actually contacts are going to remain unspoiled. Plus, well, I just don’t care. I gave my dog licks of ice cream and licked right after him. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071/49 "2010-07-19T05:24:08Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Let me get this straight – you see bird shit on a fountain – and you still drink out of it? The bird didn’t shit in the water spout, so why not drink it? ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071/50 "2010-07-19T05:55:41Z")
You must have a very careful dog. The ones I’ve known well don’t have the dexterity to intentionally miss the fountain part itself, nor would they try to do so. And if I saw your dog at the fountain, I’d not assume that it’s the exception. Gross. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071/51 "2010-07-19T10:49:06Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Birds shit on that fountain. Dogs are fine. Yup. And I bet wild animals and stray cats climb all over that thing looking for water, too. That being said, it strikes me as being a really inefficient way to get water to your dog. Seconding the recommendation for a portable water bowl. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071/52 "2010-07-19T11:10:38Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Or any less gross. The nasty kids and shitting birds are gross too. But the OP was about dogs specifically. Yea, the fountain possibly being dirty in general doesn’t make what the OP is letting his dog do less gross. People letting dogs lick their faces is gross, too, but it’s your face. It’s not your fountain, though, and it’s easy to leave it for the people as it’s intended and bring a water bottle for your dog, or bring along a [collapsible bowl](http://www.rei.com/product/759618)as people have suggested. I wouldn’t run around accosting people about it, since it’s not likely to kill anyone or anything, but it’s not something I would do. I wouldn’t rinse a cut or wash my hands in the fountain either. It might not contaminate anyone, but that’s not why the fountain is there. ---
**Author:** ![Gustav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@Gustav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gustav)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071/53 "2010-07-19T11:59:40Z")
This really depends on the size and direction of the arc. In my experience these water fountains vary wildly, from glorious 40cm rainbows of water to piddly little mushroom shapes that hardly get off the ground. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071/54 "2010-07-19T14:27:06Z")
If I push the button on the fountain all the way, the arc goes clear to the opposite side of the bowl. The bowl is maybe a foot in diameter. It’s a good arc. Some of the drops of water striking the opposite side of the bowl splash out of the bowl opposite the fountainhead. There’s another fountain elsewhere in the park where the arc clears the opposite side of the bowl and all the water ends up on the ground instead of in the drain if you push the button all the way. If the fountain had just a trickle of water where the dog would have to lick the fountainhead to get any, I wouldn’t let the dog drink like that. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071/55 "2010-07-19T14:30:19Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > That being said, it strikes me as being a really inefficient way to get water to your dog. What’s inefficient about it? Walk up to fountain. Dog puts paws up on rim of fountain bowl. I push button. Dog drinks. We walk away. No need to fuss with extra equipment. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071/56 "2010-07-19T14:33:31Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > What’s inefficient about it? Walk up to fountain. Dog puts feet up on rim of fountain bowl. I push button. Dog drinks. We walk away. No need to fuss with extra equipment. My assumption was that the dog can get more water in from lapping out of a bowl, versus whatever is drooled/sprayed/missed from a waterspout. My experience with trying to “water” dogs using a low-flow hose’s water led me to believe that dogs might either lose a lot of water and thus take a while to drink, or not get enough water but feel the impatience of the owner and stop. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071/57 "2010-07-19T14:36:48Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > My assumption was that the dog can get more water in from lapping out of a bowl, versus whatever is drooled/sprayed/missed from a waterspout. My experience with trying to “water” dogs using a low-flow hose’s water led me to believe that dogs might either lose a lot of water and thus take a while to drink, or not get enough water but feel the impatience of the owner and stop. I see. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071/58 "2010-07-19T17:29:24Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Let me get this straight – you see bird shit on a fountain – and you still drink out of it? After the first couple of tastes it can get to be quite a rush. Seriously- not if the pigeonpoo is directly on the spout, obviously. That would be just as gross as dogslobber. . ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071/59 "2010-07-19T18:22:56Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I don’t see why a dog potentially licking the spigot would be grosser than a human doing it. It’s the licking-of-one’s-anus habit. > [@pravnik](#): > > Not particulalry gross. This might be hard to believe, but I’ve actually had a dog lick me right on the face before. True, but I wash my face once in a while too. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071/60 "2010-07-19T20:41:47Z")
I probably shouldn’t talk, as I let my cats lick my face and such, and they climb on the table/counter. But as others have said – it’s a public fountain. I wouldn’t let my pets drink out of it. I don’t know how clean YOUR dog is. Irrational? Maybe. But I don’t think it’s all that polite to have your dog drink out of a public fountain. What the fuck is wrong with bringing a bowl? (My mother works in an elementary school. She sees kids washing their hands in the school drinking fountains on occassion. Once she yelled at a girl for washing her _retainer_ in said fountain.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gross-or-not-dog-drinking-from-regular-fountain-at-park/547071.md?page=4)