Best Dog Drinking Fountain (Jan 2023 Update)

I have had mine for two years and have done well. The pump is starting to go out and it is leaking from somewhere now. The worst thing about this product is the interior design. It is impossible to clean in the nooks and crannies and there is nothing that keeps the gunk from clogging up the pump. It does run quietly, and it has lasted two years. I quit using the filters because I could no longer find them at the store. I am looking for a replacement. Everyone says about the same things about all of them. Hard to clean. Pumps fail. Noisy. So, I am not sure which way to jump. I will probably go with this one again since the cats are used to the design. I have one with kidney issues, and he drinks from it all the time.5catsonly

I have used Drinkwell Fountains for almost 18 yrs. This one really fit better our spacing, usually on a bathroom vanity. I think people give it a bad rap. I have experienced leaking with the unit as others have. I chalk that up to user error and plain paying attention as to how to re-assemble the product. Our current unit I have had for about 4 yrs. I need a new motor as mine is becoming tired. This is ok to… mechanical things just wear out. Thank you very much for this product.Tauphey

Hi, I’ve been reading all of the negative reviews on this product and i gotta stand up for this product. So many people are quick to give a product a bad review when people don’t bother to read the directions, try to find something on YouTube, or contact the company for help. REGARDING CUSTOMER SERVICE: Granted, this product needs to have a “how to put the fountain together step by step” and “possible issues if you don’t do this or that” type of troubleshooting video like they did for cleaning the pump. And that’s the company’s fault. Seeing this many bad reviews over the same issues should have prompted them to put out some videos. And the fact that they haven’t put one out to address this on this webpage or their support page, is a lack of customer service on their part because their support page for this fountain is actually non existent. But don’t diss the product because YOU couldn’t figure it out. Email the company for failing to help you figure it out. CARE: If you read the instructions and follow them, you won’t come up with any leaking or pump issues. I have the cord slack in the main water chamber, I place the silicon plug in tightly while dry after cleaning, I run the cord thru the hole on the bottom so it’s not being cut by the plastic or tilting the fountain it’s self. I thoroughly clean the fountain parts and especially the pump parts with the drink well brush set using soap and water. I take the pump apart like in the video. And replace the carbon filter at least once a month. The instructions say weekly and to clean weekly but I forget so sometimes it will be closer to cleaning between 1-3 months. LEAKAGE: I’ve cleaned and assembled this fountain for 3 years without any leakage issues or pump issues from the fountain it’s self. I’ve had leakage issues 2 times… both my fault. One time I over filled the bowl and top when I plugged it back in after cleaning. 2nd time I forgot to loosen the cord because I was cleaning the cord and I had moved the silicon plug so it spilled. But as with any pet, you should ALWAYS use a plastic feeding mat with a lip in case of spills. So yes, this may leak… but it’s probably your fault or your playful cat because I thought the same thing at first until I saw him having fun with the fountain. SOUND: Sound wise, you won’t hear the pump unless it’s low on water, then it will make a very loud suction sound. But as with all fountains you will hear the spill, which can be a bit loud based on the flow you set and it splashing, I think it sounds like a table top fountain, it’s definitely not a quiet bubbling sound. So if you’re looking for something super quiet, keep looking. FINAL THOUGHTS: I absolutely LOVE this fountain!!! Yes, it’s a pain to figure out the first time how to put it together so it doesn’t leak, but once you get the hang of it, it’s easy to use and it will last a long time. You may have to replace the pump at some point since it’s running 24/7, but that’s less than a $10 fix. It’s the perfect price point for a person on a low budget like me. There aren’t many pet companies that are willing to offer quality products at a budget friendly price, so if you take care of it, it will take care of your fur baby.Monkeyslippers

I really wanted to like this unit for the size capacity and the price but 2 hours after purchasing I returned it. First, this comes with a usb plug only and no one wall plug. I guess for the low cost that’s something you can understand and maybe be fine with but I wasn’t. Also, I don’t like that you can’t see the water level at all.Victoriajean25

I bought this for half price on clearance. It was easy to set up and my puppy loved it! However, the pump only lasted 2 weeks before going out. We even made sure it always had water when plugged in so the pump wouldn’t burn out. Not worth the money or the hassle of trying to return.Vanessa

Our fountain quit working after just a couple months. We are so bummed because we loved the concept and it took the doggies a while to get use to it.BobbiinAZ

My cat before i baught this would always drink from.the fiocet because it was like a fountain would never drink out of regular bowls until i found this product.marianne.p

Fountain was very easy to assemble (i watched a video on youtube). It runs silently, with a very pleasing quiet water tinkle. Most importantly, my cat likes to drink from it, and spends a fair bit of time just sopitting nearby, watching it. One note: it is big, too big to have in my wee kitchen, so I have installed it in the bathroomTrinitygirl

I really tried to make this fountain work for my needs. I have 3 large dogs that chewed the plastic off of the last fountain, so i was looking for a ceramic fountain that holds a lot of water. This fountain leaks if my dog touches it, and it makes noise when it is 1/2 way full. It was so awful that i had to return it. Very sadMelissa26

I've had this fountain for six months. One of my cats has idiopathic urinary crystals, and was a VERY fussy drinker. Both my cats love this fountain and it has dramatically improved their water intake (solving the problem with the crystals). The noise is minimal if put together properly and kept topped up. The 24hr filtering keeps the cats and me happy. Minimal cleaning required. I'd definitely recommend this product. I'm considering upgrading to the fancier looking ceramic fountain one day (but this does the job perfectly well). The only downside is the ongoing expense of the filters themselves.ChanieAndNinja

It's the perfect size and an awesome little teardrop / yin-yang design. It took the cats a little to get used to it because the motor makes a bit of noise, but now they all love it – and are not begging to have the kitchen or bath sink turned on all the time! When the water level gets a little low (not really that low), it starts making more noise. Just fill it just about over-the-full-line – and the noise goes away! ONE TIP: I put water in it the first time and let it run – and they wouldn't drink it. I dumped that water and rinsed it out, then refilled it – and they were all over it. I think the dust or particles from the original circulation into the filter caused the water to taste funny to them. One quick rinse and new water did the trick!MJK415

Very easy to assemble, nice and quiet pump. Good size bowl, easy to keep clean,great value for money. My cats drink much more with this model than a previous fountain we were using, much easier to obtain the replacement filters for this mode as well. Very happy cats, and that makes me a very happy cat Mummy!!!!nevl3

Was very disappointed in the overall design of the watering bowl. In my opinion it was not worth what it cost. The pump was very small and inadequate, not properly filtering the water as advertised. And yes, I was keeping the water changed and the bowl cleaned as often as I had to do so with a regular unfiltered water bowl. The pump lasted 3 weeks and I had to return the system. I will say that I was very satisfied with the return process. Absolutely no complaints there.wwred104

Historically, we have always used a bowl. After looking around and reading reviews I decided to try this bowl. I went with the big max as we have 4 cats and occasionally a dog visitor. Initially the cats were spooked and were afraid. I had kept the original water bowl set up. Over a couple days they adjusted and now this is the one they use 99% of the time. The original is still available, but is rarely used. I also like the idea of no corners and plan on cleaning it once a month when the filter is changed. I highly recommend this product.Hypatia

I have one of these fountains, the original model style, which doesn't look much different from the one pictured here. I, too, have always found it difficult to clean, and the filters actually created a yucky mess, and really didn't help at all to keep water clean. So I stopped using the filters years ago. Never found the "reservoir" to be of any value, other than to create suction so the water would draw up properly to flow down the silent chute! Removed the top years ago, too, so my senior cat could drink more easily, from where the water flows up (where the filter originally was). Remove the the filters and the top, this is a much more practical product without them. Put the reservoir in place (empty) before you turn the unit on after refilling it. With four cats, I clean it once every 5-10 days, and add water regularly. This the second one I've owned, after replacing the inside motor once; when that one stopped working, I bought a whole new fountain. The other part that now needs replacing is the plug because the short wire has a loose connection inside of it. Hopefully, I can get that from PetMate. I also agree that it is difficult to find a "silent" fountain like this model, where the water flows directly down a slope instead of pouring out of the top and hitting a slope or the water below it. There are some on the market, about $20 – $30 more expensive than this one.BambooDragon

I suppose for the price, I shouldn't have expected much, because it is the lowest price for a fountain I've seen so far. I had been looking for a fountain that bubbled up the water fairly well, not just to entice my kitties to drink (they love flowing water) but also to provide some healthy negative ions and moisture to the air. My apartment gets super dry in the winter and every bit helps. However, this is meant just for kitties, so I suppose the flow of the water, which is very light, is good for them because splashing would probably just deter them from drinking. So flow aside, I would have to also say that the catch basin is very shallow, and even the minimal flow from the top will spill over front bottom edge if you fill the water right to the top. Also, the basin is very low to ground, I would have preferred something taller. The components come apart fairly easily for cleaning and are quite easy to put back together, which you only need to do about once a week, and the reservoir comes out very easy for a quick top-up. Overall I would say it's acceptable and does the job for which it was intended, and is fine for kitties, however my recommendation would be to spend a little extra money and get something that's taller, has a bigger basin, and a better flow.bc713

I bought this because we were having a problem with our cat splashing the water in her water bowl to the point of getting everything completely soaked. She would then go in her litter box and leave clay and paw prints all over the house. This frustrated me to all ends! I researched online on why cats do this and saw that they like to see water movement and as most people know most cats likes drinking out of a water faucet. So I read the reviews on this fountain and liked what I read. I figured for under $30 I would take a chance. I am no sorry! This has made my life so much simpler that I wish I had bought this sooner! She has only tried to put her paws in it once. Since then she has not. I turned it sideways on a mat and she can easily drink from the fountain part now and she will just sit and watch it besides. You can tell when it needs more water…gets louder. So far it has done the trick and I am so happy! Beats cleaning out a water dish several times a day! Every three or four day I will rinse and add new water.Luvs2ride

This is a perfect addition to our backyard. our pups get thirsty out back when they are playing and though they are welcome to drink inside, it's nice to know they can quench their thirst outside as well. This holds a LOT of water! It's wonderful, has a soft tinkling noise (almost like a fountain), and provides ample water for our two dogs. The water does still need to be changed often outside, even with a filter and all, it can still get gross!Anonymous

We’ve had our fountain for 10+ years. We keep it indoors, and completely clean it once a month. It takes my husband and I about 15 minutes to clean when we work together. Little pieces have broken off, and crusty in places, but it keeps on keeping on. Our bichons and cats love it. The ONLY thing I’d like is the coarse filter to be sold separately.KBichons

Got mine about 4 months ago and initially, I thought all my problems were over. I have two very large dogs and 2 cats. I was hesitant, at first cause it's not stainless steel (plastics harbor bacteria), but I really wanted the really large size, so I got it. Right off the bat, placing the reservoirs into the unit, was a pain in the butt! Water all over the place! Then, I tore it all down to clean it after about a month and the sponge filter inside the bowl had all this slimy gross stuff all over it and inside the sponge holes. It was REALLY gross. BUT, I endured and cleaned it all out. After another month, I tried cleaning it out again, but I just couldn't deal with putting my hands on the sponge, so I threw it away. Now, the pump won't work. Now I have to buy another, smaller, stainless steel fountain for another $100!! With no reservoir!!Another$100

This is good for daily water system, but not good if pet owners are looking for a water system for a 2-3 day aways from home. The water is stagnant, it isn’t circulating. It’s like filling up a large bowl of water and letting it sit all day and night. Besides water stagnitation, the water gets warm and multi-pet slobbers get inside the water. My opinion, grab a large bowl and fill with water, which is what this product is.Ryan33

We needed a waterer that wouldn't tip over easily. Despite it being left out of the description, this tank DOES lock into the base. That's a critical design piece for us, because this tank is for our pet goose. Geese never look down when they walk so he plows over his water tank and if it doesn't lock into the base he knocks it over, spilling the whole tank. This one you have to set into the base and twist, which locks it in while depressing a button to release the water. So even if he managed to knock the tank off, no water will spill because the button would release. We love it! Do wish there was some type of indention or handle designed into the tank to make it easier to maneuver, that's my only complaint. Some people fuss about the cheap, thin plastic in the tank–it's less than $20. I highly recommend it.Brandy

Just what we needed for our two big dogs for the patio. 3 gallons is convenient, and this is so much better than having to constantly wash and refill bowls. A good purchase.lwebbr

It's a neat gadget and if the flower is adjusted right it will make a nice splashing sound in the background, but I haven't seen a cat drink from it yet. Maybe they do when I'm not looking, but I think it may be too small for them to get to the water without getting splashed by the fountain. I used to set out cafeteria trays filled with water to catch fleas and discovered the cats loved to drink from the large shallow trays more than the deep bowls. I may drill a hole in a large plastic plate and put that on top and see if it helps.Randal

Not a favorite toy, but it's still around after a week so that means something. They like to carry it around, but no tug-of-war yet. The head has already been ripped open, and it doesn't look like that was too hard to do. I don't regret buying this toy, but, because of the price and level of play, I probably won't buy it againAnaH

We loved this at first. But after three months it started slowing down and the stream of water got shorter and shorter until it was just a bubble of water coming out. The electrical cord connector is super touchy as well – if it gets knocked or turned it will shut off. After four months it’s now a toss-up whether I can get it to turn on at all. I tried contacting the company off their website, they directed me to another contact point who has never responded after two attempts.Erin

It worked for about a week. Then water leaked all over the floor. Cleaned it, emptied it, and started all over. Same thing happened about a week later. Tried again…same thing. Will be returning it.Julie

This fountain is the best one we ever had! It's wide enough for my Boston Terrier to drink out of without making a mess and holds about 3 days worth of water. I try to clean it once a week to keep it from getting gunky and so far its been great! My dog loves it and drinks way more water than she did with just a bowl! Highly recommend!lucy

Ça fait beaucoup de bruit. L'eau s'évapore vite. On peut en remettre facilement par-dessus le couvercle. Ce qui est pratique. Mais à surveiller deux fois par jour surtout l'été.KitKat

Güzel basit ve işlevsel bir ürün. Hafiften bir sesi var, akvaryum kadar. Açıklamada sokakta kullanılır deyince pilli herhalde diye düşündüm ama elektriğe bağımlısınız. Siz evde yokken elektrik kesilse hayvan susuz kalır😱 Yedek su koymak şart. En azından durağan ve yosun, bakteri taşımayan bir su içiyor hayvancağız o kısmı en güzeli😄 Tavsiye edilir.Umut

I’ve had this dispenser for around a year. When I was washing it in the sink, I think the water was just a little too hot for the bottle to handle. It warms the opening of the bottle. Wasn’t able to get the lid back on right after that. I wish they sold a replacement bottle. The lid is only four dollars out of the bottle messes up. You have to buy a whole new system which isn’t cheap. Please sell a replacement bottle.USMC5831

I am sad to write this, but my China built waterer works better than this USA made product. Bought two from COSTCO and quickly noticed the water bottle was thin on one side and thick on the other. Of course, once inverted the thin section just collapses from the suction created by the upside down bottle. This company needs to rethink their manufacturing to better check for correct bottle wall thickness so it doesn't "implode." I'm better off making my own using a proven 2.5G water bottle available at any grocer. This is not a random occurrence. But twice occurring on two separate waterers.Moonraker

** Pro tip ** put the bowl on the bottle like a lid, then flip it sideway to place on the floor! Be extra careful that you don't twist the two, because only a 1/4 turn can pop the bottle off the bowl during this process. We have 3 dogs and this is a godsend. I used to be constantly refilling multiple bowls in the house. With this, I can fill it and it lasts more than a couple days! Truly terrific!HappyMom

We have not used this very long yet, but it is made of very thin, lightweight plastic and metal, so may present problems of being easily tipped over. So far it works great at dispensing water, however.PegWill

The plastic bottle is thin and clear, not thick and blue tinted like it appears in the picture and like other waterers I have purchased. Otherwise, it works fine so far. I just hope it doesn't crack the first time some one accidentally drops the bottle.K0732

Love, love, love! She was afraid of it at first, but caught on quickly. It's the perfect size. A larger bottle would be difficult to navigate filling and turning upside down. It stays clean and I only rinse and refill twice a week for my 35 pound dog.matt-mom

I purchased this for my four month old kitten to incite him to drink more water. We both absolutely love it, he drinks significantly more than before. The fountain part of this bowl is subtle enough that it doesn't frighten him, and I was impressed at how quiet the motor is. It's also nice that this bowl allows for a "normal" bowl function at the same time. I definitely think you should try this if you have pets!tori.s

Nice ceramic fountain, a lot of parts for assembly…everything has to fit together just right. Must have patience to assemble My cat hasn’t used it yet but I’m sure she’d like it as well.**update** My cat uses the fountain, drinks from both the water fall and pooled water area. Nice, quiets fountain however on the second cleaning the motor stopped working 🙁Amanda