As you approach your house in the car, you can already hear the sound of excited barking. You know that it’s your dog who has been waiting eagerly for hours for your return home. As soon as he sees you coming up to the door, he rushes to greet you with wet kisses and slobber all over your face. But what are his intentions when he runs to get a drink from his water bowl?
Read on to learn more about this interesting habit and to better understand how and why this behavior occurs.
Why Does My Dog Drink Water When I Get Home?
While you are gone during the day, your dog is likely lounging around and isn’t using a lot of energy. When you come home and their activity level rises, it may trigger a need for them to run to their water bowl and have a sip. This habit is fairly common and doesn’t usually indicate there is anything wrong with your pet.
Another reason your dog may drink water right when you arrive home is that they want to show you that they’re doing a good job. There may be positive reinforcement for your pet when they drink water and eat food, so they are looking to receive those rewards as you walk through the door.
Dogs may also drink water right when you arrive home because this makes them feel closer to you. Eating and drinking are rather intimate experiences, and even us humans prefer to do it with loved ones! Your dog may see this as a moment to make a connection.
One final reason why your dog may wait for you to get home to drink its water is that it feels safest when around you. When you are away, your pet must be vigilant and on its guard around strangers. When there is someone new in the house while you aren’t home, this may also affect their need to drink water upon seeing them walk through the door, because they do not yet feel comfortable with that person’s presence.
Take some time to consider why your dog drinks water when you arrive home to help better understand your pet’s behavior. As with any unusual behavior, your dog’s actions will need to be analyzed and looked at in context. If there is a specific time of day when he always drinks water, it may initially seem like the habit only appears after coming home from work or school; however, this could also mean that they are thirsty at that time of day.
If you are concerned about your dog’s drinking habits, the best thing to do is speak with a veterinarian or animal behaviorist for assistance in understanding why this happens and how it can be addressed if necessary. By taking some extra time to see what might trigger your pet’s actions when they run to get their water bowl, you can better understand what is going on and how to help them.
Why Won’t My Dog Drink Without Me?
Dogs have a strong sense of loyalty as well as a pack mentality. They like to be around their pack (their human family) and will often act differently when you are not home.
As soon as they hear your car pulling into the driveway, dogs might run to get water because of habit or simply out of excitement. This is usually done with good intention, but if your pet consistently goes after food or water right when you get home, it may be a sign of separation anxiety.
Separation anxiety is triggered when your dog feels abandoned or worried about being left alone without its pack nearby and will often result in the destruction of property as well as other harmful behaviors like urinating and defecating inside.
Can a Dog Go 8 Hours Without Water?
A dog can safely go for 6 to 10 hours without water in an indoor air-conditioned setting. It’s best to give them water in the morning when you get up before they are crated for a few hours. Then again at lunchtime and then one more time right before bedtime.
Dogs will need water more regularly if it is hotter or humid outside, especially if they are exercising hard, staying outside, or taking long walks. Since dogs don’t sweat, they are more likely to get dehydrated on hot days if they don’t drink water regularly.
Should Dogs Have Access To Water All Day?
A dog can have access to water all day if it’s in the house, but that doesn’t mean it will drink enough. It is best to leave a bowl of water out for your pet while you are away so that they can drink whenever they are thirsty. Monitor how much water your dog drinks each day to make sure they are getting enough.
Dogs might only drink at certain times every day, so if you leave water in their bowl all day long it may just get stale. It is best to have a schedule where the dog has access to fresh drinking water at specific times of the day or when it is home with you. Change your dog’s water one or two times each day to make sure it stays fresh.
How Much Water Should I Give My Dog And How Often?
It is best to make sure your pet has access to water several times a day, especially if they are going to be home alone for long periods of time or outside in the heat. Dogs who spend a lot of time outdoors can take on an entire gallon per day, while indoor dogs might only take in around half a gallon.
How Do I Get My Dog To Drink Without Me?
In general, there is nothing wrong with your dog drinking water when you’re around, unless you aren’t home for extremely long periods of time or are traveling. Since they are usually waiting for their pack leader to come home and to share this process with you, you’ll want to focus on creating a more comfortable and safe-feeling environment for them when you’re away.
As mentioned above, separation anxiety may be one reason why your dog won’t drink water without you, so this is a good area to focus on when working to improve or correct your dog’s behavior. Firstly, you’ll want to take a look at the symptoms of separation anxiety to confirm that this is the reason your pup doesn’t want to drink water when you’re away.
Signs of Separation Anxiety for Dogs
There are many ways that you can detect whether or not your dog is experiencing separation anxiety. In order to monitor these symptoms, you may want to install a camera in your home that can allow you to track your dog’s behaviors while you’re not there.
Pacing
Pacing is a major sign of separation anxiety. This behavior may be exhibited when the dog doesn’t have access to its owners, and they will most likely pace in an anxious manner while hoping for them to return soon. Dogs pace because they are looking for the owner and they want to be near them.
Chewing
Dogs who chew may also be experiencing separation anxiety. Chewing on furniture, shoes or anything else that is normally off-limits while you’re away could indicate this type of behavior in your pet. Since dogs often engage in chewing due to boredom, it’s important to look for other signs such as pacing or panting in addition to chewing.
Panting
If your dog is excessively panting when you’re away, it could be a sign that they are experiencing separation anxiety and feeling anxious about where you’ve gone. Dogs typically only start this type of behavior if the owner has been gone longer than an hour, and it could be a sign that your dog is anxious about where its owner has gone.
Excessive Barking
If you notice excessive barking while you’re away from home, this may indicate separation anxiety in your pet. Dogs will often bark excessively at random times throughout the day when they feel left alone or abandoned by their owners.
Scratching at Doors and Windows
Your dog may scratch at doors and windows if it is trying to escape, which is another sign that your pet could be suffering from separation anxiety. Dogs will often engage in this type of behavior when their owners leave the home since it’s a way for them to get attention or try and find you.
Urinating or Defecating Inside the House
If your dog doesn’t typically soil the home and you notice this type of behavior when you’re gone, it could indicate separation anxiety. Dogs will start to urinate or defecate in the house if they feel stressed, anxious, or lonely while their owner is away from them.
How To Lessen Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety
It’s important to make sure your pooch feels loved and secure when you leave the house. There are lots of ways to reduce separation anxiety by playing with your dog, giving them treats, or other rewards for positive behavior, like staying calm while left alone, and leaving music at a low volume in the background during time spent away from home.
Look for toys that can keep your dog entertained for longer periods of time, such as a Kong toy or a large bone that will take a while to finish. These treats may also make your dog thirsty and help them to decide to go take a drink from their water bowl.
A build-up of energy can also make your dog feel anxious. If they aren’t getting their energy out before you leave the house and coming back to an empty apartment or home might trigger negative behaviors like urinating or chewing furniture.
Consider hiring a dog walker during this time so that they can get exercise while you are away, or sign them up for doggy daycare if they tend to get anxious while home alone.
Many pets will start drinking more water right when their humans come back in the house because it’s a natural reaction that has nothing to do with being thirsty. Often times this is simply an expression of excitement and affection! Another consideration may be placing down water at certain times of the day, excluding when you’ll be coming home.
This can help to change their drinking schedule and can eventually condition your dog to get comfortable with drinking water while they are home alone. A dog walker or helpful neighbor can help aid this process by placing water out when you’re not there.