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| Top picks for portable pet water containers for your dog. By Kim Salerno |
Those who know me know that I am constantly on the go, and that I love to bring my dogs with me everywhere possible. My pups are pretty easygoing and fun to be around, and it really doesn’t take much to make them happy. But there are things I can’t do without when I travel places and one of those is a portable water container.
A good portable pet water container is really important during the summer months, especially if, like me, you are frequently outdoors with your pets. Water isn’t always abundantly available in parks and on hiking trails, and when there is a water source, it isn’t always clean.
Finding the perfect container isn’t as obvious as people might think. Water bottles aren’t designed for those who don’t have lips that can pucker just right, and they create a lot of spillage and waste. And traditional dog bowls aren’t easy to carry, and they don’t fit well in hiking backpacks!
Fortunately, there are products out there that make it easy to provide portable water for your pooch, no matter where you are. Here are my top five picks, in no particular order:
Pet Top
This little gadget is a life-saver. It’s basically a specially designed top that screws on to the top of a standard water bottle. It provides a slow stream of water for your dog that’s easy to lick up, with no mess or waste. It’s really easy to use – just turn it to start and stop the flow. It even features two different speeds of water flow, which you can easily control with the turn of a wrist.
The Pet Top is small enough to put in your pocket or slip into your hiking bag. I have tried it with a number of different bottles, and it has worked with all of them. One tip: always stop and start the water flow with the bottle upside-down.
Kurgo Wander Pail
Not only is the Wander Pail easy to transport, it’s tremendously practical. It’s really two bowls in one; the pail makes up one of the bowls, and a smaller removable bowl fits neatly inside the pail. This means that you can pack food in one of the bowls, and have the other bowl ready to go for water in a single, easy-to-carry container. I like to attach it onto my backpack with a carabiner.
The Wander Pail is made out of stain-proof and rust-proof metal, so it’s highly durable. I particularly love the fact that it’s dishwasher-safe, which makes it really easy to clean. The lid screws on securely, so you don’t have to worry about food spillage.
One thing to keep in mind with this product is that the lids are made to keep food contained, but not necessarily liquids. That means this isn’t the best vehicle for transporting water. But it is a true space-saver, and a really handy way to bring both a water bowl and a food bowl wherever you go.
Hands-Free Hipster
This is a great product – useful whether you’re taking a short walk in the park or a long hike in the woods. It’s a bit like a dog-walking utility belt – it’s designed to circle around your waist like a fanny pack, and features storage pockets for keys, your cell phone, or other necessities. The best thing about the Hands-Free Hipster is that the leash attaches to a D-ring in the center, leaving your hands free. But what makes this a go-to product for water transport is its mesh bag, which is a good size for carrying a water bottle. I use it to carry a water bottle on hikes with my dogs, and I use the Pet Top on the water bottle so that they have easy access to fresh water.
Outward Hound Port-a-Bowl
This bowl is a convenient choice for a few reasons. First, it’s made of fabric, so it’s collapsible and can easily be tucked into a duffel bag or purse. Second, it really is very well-made and very durable. I have used it for years and it has always maintained its shape, even after being stuffed away in tight places. You wouldn’t think to look at it that it would easily stand upright, but it really does. It’s bottom-heavy, and doesn’t tip, lean or spill water.
The Outward Hound Port-a-Bowl is good product for hiking, camping, or even car rides as you can just fill it up at each stop, dump out the excess, fold it up and move along. It dries quickly, and it can also be used to store food.
Gulpy Water Bottle
The Gulpy Water Bottle is one of those ideas that’s so simple, yet so smart, that you wish you had thought of it. The bottle features a plastic fold-up trough. When your dog is thirsty, simply flip the trough down, squeeze water into it, and voila, your dog has a handy dog friendly drinking fountain. You can bring it along anywhere and refill it as needed. The trough can be adjusted to different angles so that it fits different doggie heights and face shapes.
Hydration is incredibly important to the health of your pet, and these products make access to water easy, which is why I recommend them. They can all be found here . . . try them out and let me know what you think!