Dog Dish = Irresistable

[quantumleap]

It's been forever since I've posted on this part of the boards, but I suspect someone on here may have a solution to a new challenge in our house. DD is 14 months old, and suddenly completely entranced by the dog's water dish. Everything goes in there, her hands, her food, her toys, books, etc, etc, or she ends up essntially swimming in it. It's not life or death, certainly, but it's driving me a little batty!
How can I keep her out of the dog's dish?! We already just put away the food dish once the dog has eaten (more essential safety-wise, I think. The dog may do well with raw meat, but I don't think the toddler has quite the same gut set up!). There's got to be a solution, but I can't quite come up with it. It seems like anything that keeps the water accessible to the dog also keeps the water accessible to the kid. The dog *could* get over a baby gate quite easily, but I've never seen her even show an interest in doing so! Not sure I'm up to tackling a big training session with her, but would be willing to try if that the best option. Ideas?
Thanks so much.

[lifeguard]

Some people have suggested before to put the water dish in the bathtub. With our set up it doesn't work for us so I only put the water dish down when ds is not in the kitchen. We have a baby gate on the kitchen & the dogs will often opt to stay in the kitchen away from ds.

I can't wait until he outgrows this stage - I get him all dressed & ready to go outside & turn my back for a second & he is soaked. With the cold here it means I have to take him upstairs & completely change him. Ugh!

[ouesi]

Okay, don't laugh...
Both my twins drove me nuts with the doggy water bowl also - it was hands, feet, sit in it, the works. But my biggest thing was they kept sticking their faces in it just like the dogs! Especially DD. Finally one day I asked DD if she wanted to drink her water like the doggies, which of course she did - so I gave her her very own water bowl - with clean, non slobbery water, that we kept on the counter, and she would tell me whenever she wanted to drink out of it. Sure enough it kept her out of the dogs' water, and the novelty wore off soon enough and she was back to water from a cup in no time

[nd_deadhead]

Dogs don't need access to water 24/7. If you put the water dish down during meals and naps, when dd is confined, your dog will figure out that he needs to drink then. Depending on how smart your dog is, if you leave the bowl empty the dog might flip it over or bring it to you (or sit next to it and whine) when he's thirsty.

[quantumleap]

Originally Posted by nd_deadhead

Dogs don't need access to water 24/7. If you put the water dish down during meals and naps, when dd is confined, your dog will figure out that he needs to drink then. Depending on how smart your dog is, if you leave the bowl empty the dog might flip it over or bring it to you (or sit next to it and whine) when he's thirsty.

Dunh. Our dog is a former working dog, from the (sled dog) racing yard I used to work in. We always tried to keep their water buckets full in the summer, but in the winter they got watered after runs and with meals. For some reason, once we got this dog into the house, I felt like she had to have access all the time. I still think it's probably nicer to have water out all the time, but you're totally right, she can cope with a few limitations during the day, at least until dd finds a new "forbidden" object to pursue! Thanks!

[Arduinna]

Our dogs water is outside, they go to the door if they want a drink and I let them out.