[jaimebpa1]

Right now i don't leave water for Olive in her crate. I'm home with her almost always so she usually has access to water. When I do leave her in her crate it's either for 30 minutes while I do the school run or at most 3 hours for errands. I leave her 3 hours maybe 3 times a week. I've felt ok leaving her for 3 hours without water because like I said I am with her the rest of the day. I think i'm going to start leaving her for 4 hours this week so should i start giving her water in her crate? I won't be gone 4 hours every day. Maybe once a week or maybe not even once a week. I'm kind of nervous about leaving her with water because she hasn't had an accident in her crate yet. I always give her water right before i leave and when she gets out of the crate she doesn't even go for water. So I don't think she's thirsty while i'm gone.

So my questions are

Do you leave water in the crate for your dog? If you do or don't how long are you gone for?

Should i leave a little bit of water so she doesn't drink too much?

 

[Eddie]

I always left water in the crate during the day but he was never left very long, though I tended to remove his water bowl from around 9 at night and he was fine til 6.30/7 in the morning so I dont imagine it would be a problem unless it was very hot or she had been eating something to make her very thirsty.

 

[Bodger]

I leave water in Bodger's crate day and night. I like him to have access to fresh water at all times.

 

[jaimebpa1]

Thanks! I'll have to go out and buy a bowl that clips on. I left a bowl in there today and she just knocked it over. I don't leave her with things to eat in her crate. Just a pig ear to chew on which she never does! It's the same one that has always been in there and it's still untouched. We recorded her once and she went right to sleep and slept the whole time. I bet she won't even drink the water I put in there!

I don't think I'll give her water overnight. I've always had my dogs sleep in my room with me and none of them have had access to food or water after i go to bed.

 

[Bodger]

Like you I don't leave food in Bodger's crate or chews because I like to be around when he is eating in case he has a problem. I do leave selected toys that I feel are safe - a good quality chew toy, that sort of thing.

I'm not sure Bodger drinks much at night but he is downstairs so I don't know, it's just something we have always done but I know many people don't.

 

[MillieDog]

Yes leave water in the crate, especially with it getting warmer.

I used just a heavy glazed stone type bowl, smallish size. To stop it being knocked over, place it in the back corner away from the door. When its left by the door they do have a tendancy to hang by the door and knock their bowl over.

 

[janee]

I crate trianed both of my dogs and never left water in the crate because it just got knocked over, my 2 were both left for 5 hours a day and slept in it over night, and they both did just fine, they had water available the rest of the time.

 

[2ndhandgal]

I have not used crates but prefer my dogs to have access to water at all times. I hate to be thirsty and not able to get a drink and don't see why my dog should feel like that.

Molly sleeps upstairs with me and whilst I do not have a bowl in the bedroom I will be sorting one out at some point as she has got me up before now to go down for a drink.

When one of my last dogs was ill and slept by my bed I used to regularly wake in the night when I heard him stir and sort a drink out for him.

 

[Scarlett]

Scarlett always has water in her crate, and we have done it this way since we brought her home. I don't fill the bowl up (because it has a tendency to get spilled all over if I do ) but it is usually about half full. Sometimes when I come home all of the water is still in the bowl, sometimes she drinks it, and sometimes it is all over the floor lol But I like making sure that she has water if she needs it. Like you, we didn't leave her for long periods of time (and still don't really), but still left water for her. She only ever once had an accident in her crate once, and I believe it was because she had an upset stomach.

 

[tessybear]

I have always put water in my dog's crates. I couldn't bear for them to be thirsty and unable to get to water just to avoid a small puddle. Why would they drink anyway if they weren't thirsty? I have a bowl that is attached to the bars so it never spills.

 

[sharplesfamily]

I use a normal dog bowl with water in it (a heavy one that can't get knocked over) and whenever she is in there she ALWAYS has it. I don't believe dogs should be left without water, especially now it's getting warmer. Saying that, I don't think she's ever had any at night!

 

[strof51]

My dogs have water 24/7. And for the crate I use coop bowls, the clamp on ones are best.

http://www.pet-supermarket.co.uk/productlist.asp?SearchString=coop bowl