I've tried putting a plastic mat (the kind for shoes) under our water bowl. But I swear they get a big mouthful and then run across the house with dribbling. Maybe it's a marker for them to find their way back.

 

I have tried that, too, but a number of the dogs we have had do exactly as you said yours do, including the boy I have now. I swear he fills his mouth with water and walks away dribbling, as you said. I think you've hit it--it's their trail!

Susan

 

I thought my last GSD was a sloppy drinker buy my pup Linus makes her look like an amateur. He doesn't close his mouth after drinking and slops it everywhere. Worse yet, he still likes to dig in his water bowl.

We got two of these waterhog mats. I may have the wrong size linked below, however.

Waterhog Indoor Doormat, Leaf Pattern 21" x 32": Waterhog Doormats | Free Shipping at L.L.Bean

I highly recommend them. They hold 1.5 gallons of water. We bought 2 to prevent them from molding. We swap them out and let one dry before reusing it.

 

I thought my last GSD was a sloppy drinker buy my pup Linus makes her look like an amateur. He doesn't close his mouth after drinking and slops it everywhere. Worse yet, he still likes to dig in his water bowl.

We got two of these waterhog mats. I may have the wrong size linked below, however.

Waterhog Indoor Doormat, Leaf Pattern 21" x 32": Waterhog Doormats | Free Shipping at L.L.Bean

I highly recommend them. They hold 1.5 gallons of water. We bought 2 to prevent them from molding. We swap them out and let one dry before reusing it.

Looks like a excellent mat, a bit pricy. Are they machine washable?

 

Akivah, my gsd/malamute likes to Bob for apples as he drinks. He literally dives his nose midway (almost to his eyes) and then up, licking and drinking the whole time. Causes little sunamis to occur in the water bowl. I have a rubber mat with a plastic bin housing the 'drip proof' water container and still have to wipe the floor.. He thinks it's loads of fun (thankfully I never had to deal with a constant bowl digger)

 

4 out of 6 of mine do this. They dribble away then here comes Robyn with her dirty paws and now we have mud I have a plastic mat under the bowl and I have a mop near by. In the summer I keep the bowl outside. Sometimes instead of water I give them ice cubes and it's less messy. Midnite, Brennan and Batman like to put the balls in there and then squeeze the water out, which is usually on me. I find their balls in the bowl all the time.

 

I had that problem too, plus, Jazz liked to tip over the bowl. Solved the tipping over fun finally by buying the 2.5 gallon water dispenser. It's too heavy for her to manipulate plus she's losing interest in doing that as she is nearing 1 year old thankfully. The bowl is quite deep so much less splashing & dribbling outside the bowl. I've also added one of those Cuisinart dish drying mats under it. Works great so far.

 

I had that problem too, plus, Jazz liked to tip over the bowl. Solved the tipping over fun finally by buying the 2.5 gallon water dispenser. It's too heavy for her to manipulate plus she's losing interest in doing that as she is nearing 1 year old thankfully. The bowl is quite deep so much less splashing & dribbling outside the bowl. I've also added one of those Cuisinart dish drying mats under it. Works great so far.

When I go to the grocery store tomorrow I will pick them up some drying mats. I will let you know how it goes.

 

Boy, I thought my boy was bad.. Must run in the 'family'! Water from one end of the kitchen to the other, but his new thing, paws go into the kibble bowl while eating.. Food and water on floor now..

 

I thought about shopping for a "mat" to put under the water bowl, but quickly realized I would actually need hallway runners fanning out in every possible direction, lol.

Just pulled out my tape measure, and realized that I live with a constant 11' slip-and-fall risk radius on my tiled floors, lol!

For your MIL's safety, I would recommend finding an out of the way place for your water dispenser that will prevent any combination of dribbling and slick flooring. Somewhere several feet clear of your MIL's path.

 

I have it in the best possible place. I was going to put it in the Landry room except the second fridge is in there and even has more foot traffic then the breakfast area. I tried putting a boot tray under the water dish, and that would fill up by the end of the day, plus the water would still splash over the side. I have gotten wet a couple of times draining the boot tray into the sink!

 

My GSD Shasta has a horrible issue with drinking too. She gets way more water on the floor than she actually drinks, and she drinks ALOT. Luckily we have a small, concrete floored "mud room" that we have moved her food and water bowl to. When she wants to drink/eat we have to close her in the room until she's done, otherwise she leaves a trail of water/drool all the way thru the kitchen to the bedroom. She also does the same thing with her food, leaves a trail where ever she goes. It's gotten worse with age. I have a plastic boot tray that I keep her food and water bowls on and it helps a little but she's such an antsy dog she takes a mouthful then has to look around and drops most of whatever is in her mouth on the floor.

 

I fill Gingers food bowl twice a day. After I fill it she will grab a few bites and take it to the other room to eat it. Then she will go back to the food bowl and eat the whole thing! Not sure why she does this.

 

I have a neater feeder and it catches a LOT of water mess.

www.neaterfeeder.com

It's pretty ugly but it works so I'm happy with it. I put one of those cheap rubber back rugs under it and it really cuts down on the lakes on the floor. Doesn't stop the drippy lips though lol.

 

I have a neater feeder and it catches a LOT of water mess.

www.neaterfeeder.com

It's pretty ugly but it works so I'm happy with it. I put one of those cheap rubber back rugs under it and it really cuts down on the lakes on the floor. Doesn't stop the drippy lips though lol.

Wish I had purchased the large neater feeder in the first place. My food bowl is elevated but no sides. I just purchased a 2.5 Gallon water station for Ginger because she would run out of water in her 16 once water bowl, and she would help herself by biting into a water bottle! (Has done that twice!)

 

Last winter was very snowy here. I bought a muddy paws rug from Petsmart, it's got long thick loops. It was $20. Soaks up a lot of water next to the water bowl, liked it at the door too. It's kinda cheap, the loops are unraveling, but I've washed it several times, too. Worth the price. However, it apparently is a fun "baptism" thing for him, he feels the need to douse us after every drink, dribbling all the way.

 

Last winter was very snowy here. I bought a muddy paws rug from Petsmart, it's got long thick loops. It was $20. Soaks up a lot of water next to the water bowl, liked it at the door too. It's kinda cheap, the loops are unraveling, but I've washed it several times, too. Worth the price. However, it apparently is a fun "baptism" thing for him, he feels the need to douse us after every drink, dribbling all the way.

I found it on the Petco website and Amazon for $15.00, seems to be the right size.