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Made For Big Dogs: Drinkwell Outdoor Dog Fountain.

Drinkwell Outdoor Dog Fountain

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With Sherman coming up on 9 years old and Leroy having a past with urinary issues it’s more important than ever that they are getting the water that they need to keep their bodies in top condition.

As I discussed in Tuesday’s post they should be drinking at 160 ounces on an average day.

More when they are active or when it’s super hot outside.

I’m going to be 100% honest with you. I don’t know if they really are drinking 160 ounces of water a day.

We have various size water bowls that range from 2 quarts to 4 quarts and they are always being used.

I fill them several times.

Sometimes one is empty, one is near being empty, one has slobber or chucks in it or one has been drank out of once.

I don’t measure them out. That would be way too much math for me and my head would explode.

Just from observation, I would say that Leroy is getting the correct amount of water that he needs but Sherman could be coming up short.

Sherman spends a lot of time down in the basement in the summer months but for some reason, he doesn’t drink from the water bowl that is down there even though it’s the same bowl like he has upstairs.

He will only drink from the water bowl upstairs and the water bowl outside if it is freshly filled and he’s the first one who gets to drink from it.

Leroy on the other hand drinks from any water bowl anywhere anytime.

dog fountain

So when we received the Drinkwell Outdoor Dog Fountain from PetSafe I was pretty sure it would be a hit with Leroy but I had my doubts about Sherman.

Sherman’s very picky about his water and his water bowls.

It seems that he prefers stainless steel bowls over plastic and ceramic bowls and I wasn’t sure how he would feel about the water flowing.

I was also concerned that the whole system wouldn’t be big enough for them but it clearly is.

outdoor dog fountain

I was really excited to give it a try and see how the dogs liked it if at all and to see if it would increase their water intake.

The scoop on the Drinkwell Outdoor Dog Fountain

The Drinkwell Outdoor Dog Fountain is the largest capacity dog fountain that PetSafe offers. It offers 3.5 gallons of fresh, filtered water to your dog. With its patented free-falling stream of water, pets are encouraged to drink more, and they get the cleanest, freshest-tasting water. This system is perfect for large dogs or multi-pet homes. Made with high-impact UV-resistant plastic, this durable fountain can be placed inside the home or outdoors when temperatures are above 40°F. The dual filtration system removes small particles and catches dirt, hair, and other debris that larger dogs tend to leave behind.

drinkwell outdoor dog fountain from petsafe

Key Features

  • Two 1-gallon reservoirs with handles and fill level indicator for easy refills
  • Dual filtration with activated carbon and foam filters (included)
  • Deep drinking bowl with high sides to reduce splashing and spills
  • Split water flow improves aeration and keeps water clear
  • Chew-resistant cord cover
  • Completely disassembles

Bonus Features

  • Best for large dogs or dogs who tend to spill or splash water (That’s us!)
  • Dual filtration with activated carbon and foam filters
  • Holds 3.5 gallons
  • Dishwasher safe excluding pump
  • Made of BPA-free plastic
  • For indoor or outdoor use

THE ASSEMBLY

It came in a pretty big box with minimal parts that needed to go together. My husband actually did it and not me because, while he’ll never admit, he was pretty excited to see it in action and didn’t wait for me. I think the whole assembly process took about 5 minutes.

Then we filled the 2 water holding tanks, plugged it in and the dogs had their own water fountain.

Since I didn’t think Sherman was going to be interested in the dog fountain I put him inside because he was getting in the way of me taking pictures of Leroy.

dog fountain

Leroy was a HUGE disappointed because he ignored the fountain. He wasn’t even curious. I’m pretty sure that’s because he’ll get his water wherever he wants. “What is thing suppose to do for me?”

So I let Sherman out who, to my surprise, went over to the fountain and took a ginormous drink. When he was finished he turned around and looked at me like, “Where has this been all my life. This is the best water ever.”

Then he went back to drinking.

dog drinking from dog fountain

Leroy eventually took a drink, and while he’ll never admit, I’m pretty sure he thought it was good.

MY REVIEW

So we’ve been using the fountain for a good 3 weeks now and I Iove it and here’s why:

I can go a good 4-5 days without having to refill the outside water bowl now! It’s the water bowl that just keeps on giving!

It really does filter out the debris. There’s no grass, food particles or dead bugs.The only thing I have noticed is that it doesn’t filter out all the slobber and I’m trying to figure out why. Maybe someone can answer that for me. It’s no biggie, I just scoop the slobber out and it’s more like foamy slobber not icky slobber and I think that’s because the constant water flow keeps it moving and not hanging out in one spot.

dog fountain

The water stays pretty cold. Even though it’s summer, the water, to my surprise is staying pretty cool and I’m assuming this is again because the water keeps filtering and is not going stagnate. See tips below to keep water cool in summer months.

It’s recommended to change the filter every few weeks based on debris and they’re super easy to change. Refill filters are $7.99 for a 3 pack.

 

I do think the Drinkwell Outdoor Dog Fountain has increased Sherman’s water intake. I see him drinking from this more often than he ever drank from the stainless steel bowl that was outside. A few times he has even asked if to go outside just to get a drink even though he has a water bowl right downstairs with him!

Since the fountain has to be plugged in I am wondering how much my electric bill will go up. I keep it running all day but shut it off overnight.  I’m thinking since I’m filling bowls up less that the small increases in my electric bill will be washed out by the small decrease in my water bill 😉

TIPS:

  • For outdoor fountains it’s best to place the fountain in a covered area and out of direct sunlight. By keeping the fountain in shady spot, the water will stay cooler for your pet.
  • This pro tip comes from Jodi at Kol’s Notes who is dog fountain veteran. Fill the two reservoirs half full and pop them in the freezer overnight. Then, in the morning, fill them the rest of the way and put them back on the fountain. As the ice melts and the dogs drink, the fountain will refill with cold water. GENIUS!
  • The charcoal filter should be changed every 1-2 weeks when being used outside. It can be rinsed out with water in between changes. Charcoal filters remove bad tastes and odors from the water.
  • The foam filter should be replaced every 4-8 weeks, depending on the location of the fountain and the number of pets using it. This foam filter can also be rinsed between cleanings. Foam filters collect hair and debris before it reaches the pump. It also helps maintain the fountain’s flow rate. (Needs to be changed more often with Newfoundlands due to slobber)
  • Filters are an added feature of the fountain and they do not have to be used for operation but they do help keep the water cleaner and fresher and extend the life of your fountain.

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Jan K

Monday 13th of July 2015

We have an indoor fountain and love it. Luke is the only one that drinks out of it consistently though, but he has a thing for water anyway. Because it has to be plugged in we couldn't put it where their normal bowl is, and if we could I'm sure the girls would use it too. This outdoor one looks great, but I'm not sure we'd have a place to put it where it could be under cover and out of the sun too, and have access to electricity as well. I don't think our indoor one has affected our electric bill at all.

Cathy Armato

Sunday 12th of July 2015

This looks like a really cool fountain, I can't believe you can go days w/out having to refill it! I'm glad the boys like it Love & Biscuits, Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

Earl Lover

Sunday 12th of July 2015

This looks like a cool invention.

sumskersandearlskers13.blogspot.com

Jen

Sunday 12th of July 2015

I thought it was pretty nifty :)

Liz Dranow

Sunday 12th of July 2015

Very nifty! And very timely for us - when Abby went in for her first chemo treatment last week, she was apparently a bit dehydrated, and I've been doing the same thing about guessing whether she's drinking enough. I'm definitely going to have to check this out!

Jen

Sunday 12th of July 2015

I hope Abby is feeling better soon! I wonder if this would be a good fit for her?

Paved by Paw Prints

Saturday 11th of July 2015

I've never heard of a water fountain for dogs but it looks like a great product, especially for multi pet homes. We have two water bowls, one plastic and one stainless steel. For some reason, Cody doesn't like drinking out of the stainless steel as much as the plastic one - I can't figure out why. We have the problem of grass and dead bugs in our water bowls too. I'm having to constantly empty, clean and refill the bowls. A product like this would make it so much easier! I'm glad your dogs like it and thank you for an honest review!

Jen

Sunday 12th of July 2015

I hear you on the bugs and grass! We get so much of that too! My dogs are the opposite of Cody, they normally don't like drinking out of plastic bowls which is why I was concerned about this one but they love it, thankfully!

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