How does everyone deal with the mess ?

[horsepoor21]

I was just wondering how everone deals with the "lakes" of water their newfie leaves after drinking ? We only have linoleum and hard wood floors in our house .... We have to wear shoes all the time or our socks get soaked , but the wet floors are getting dangerous as they are super slick . Allie doesn't just get one room wet either , she tracks it thru the entire house . Any ideas ya might have would be appreciated , thankyou !

[lins_saving_grace]

I have a rug and several mats under Lady and Grace's bowls.  Then I follow them around the house with a spit rag.

[declanssexymama]

I'm thinking I'll just get a vinyl-backed bath mat or rug and put it under the food and water bowls.  Definitely something machine washable too.  And something big.  Very, very big.   

[Heighway]

I have the same problem as you.  Webster will either swirl the water out of the bowl with his paw, tip the water  bowl over, or.....and I have seen this, he will pick up the water bowl (with water in it) and toss it in the air.  Our kitchen is ceramic tile flooring and is dangerously SLICK.  I have a bathmat under the bowls at present, I thought I might try putting the bowls in a plastic storage box, the kind that you can slip under your bed or something.  I will let you know how that works.  The funny and cute is wearing off of this trick.!

[declanssexymama]

I also have a HUGE ceramic mixing bowl for his water bowl.  I only fill it up halfway, and the bowl itself, since it's so big, catches alot of the "runoff".  Oh yeah, and it's **heavy**.

[shangrila]

We use a vinyl-backed bathmat. It is the largest size I could find at Target.... It works perfectly for us. Before we got it, our entire kitchen was fully us spilled water puddles. Now, all of the water just splashes on to the mat and it air dries. Also, if you have problems with them actually tipping it over, I would reccomend a raised feeder, because they hold the bowls in place.

I am attaching a pic of Zoey at her food/water

[Newf Lover]

I was just wondering how everone deals with the "lakes" of water their newfie leaves after drinking ?

These rubber mats with a lip on the edge are handy and we use them for our cats.  It might work for your Newf. 

http://www.pet-dog-cat-supply-store.com/shop/index.php?page=shop/flypage&product_id=1885

If your dogs have access to the outside, you might want to get one of those Lickit nozzles and forego using water dishes.  I also agree with Shangrila that raised dog dishes are a good way to prevent messes as well.  It's also the preferred method for big dogs to eat and drink.  We have this one that also serves as a kibble storage as well.

http://www.partipoodlepetsupplies.com/ourpestradi.html

You also might want to have a rag handy in your main rooms so you can do quick wipedowns after your thirsty Newf gets a drink.  Also, doggie bibs like the one in the picture below are always nice to get.  You can put them on in the house and then you have a rag right there to wipe down their faces.  It's good to have those when you're in public as well so they don't drool all over people.  This is just one of those things that comes with Newfie ownership.  Good luck!

[2dobies]

Mine are not Newfs, but still can carry an awful lot of water around in their lips after a trip to the water bowl! I bought a thick plastic/rubber type mat from Petsmart in the shape of a BIG bone that the ceramic water bowl sits on, and it has kind of a raised up rim, or lip around it.  It helps hold water off the floor that drips out of their mouths while they are still standing at the bowl, but my 2 are notorious for drinking, then coming in and wiping their faces off on your pants leg! We keep "face rags" around in a number of locations, and I have trained Dar to come when I say "wipe your mouth" so that I can get her dried off before she gets me! Sasha still thinks its funny to sneak up on your leg or bare arm with those wet, slimy, drooling lips!  Gotta love 'em!

[NoDogNow]

Teach him to ask for his face wiped. 

That's what my cousin did with his 3 year old bulldog. From day they got her, every time she ate or drank something, she would get her face wiped with a towel that had just a hint of some weird aromatherapy oil on it.  He claims that it helps her be more calm and attentive in the house.  They keep several towels scattered around, including a couple that hang on heavy refrigerator magnets, down where she can reach them and pull them down herself.

I've seen her get a towel, take it to one of the kids, they follow her to her dish.  When she's finished, she holds her face up for a wipe, after which she invariably gives and receives kisses.

She'll even get a towel to be wiped if she feels slobbery.  She likes a clean, dry face. 

Teach him that a nice dry face gets hims kisses and lovies, and he'll carry his towel around with him, I bet. 

[hugo~monster]

hahaha!  yes the dreaded trips to the water bowl!!  well having a dog who loves water and who has a full thick THIRSTY BEARD (giants are notorious for loving water, not just for drinking but sticking their feet in or any other part if they get the chance-this means taking a dive in the water dish  ) we have a heavy ceramic bowl in the furthest corner of the kitchen for his water bowl.  that way it will take a few extra seconds fromt he time he is finishes to the time he walks back onto the living room carpet.  bowl sits on a thick rug plus i have a bath towel folding and laying infront of the rug.  that way i can grab the towel to wipe his face.  let me tell you this-it used to bug me to no end when he was a puppy and we first got him.  all the water puddles in the kitchen.  actually they were more like water trails.  sorta just trailed all over the kitchen.  and yes, if your gonna step in the kitchen you would always put your foot right into the cold water puddles!  ALWAYS! 

well we  finally have gotten used to it and it is not as bad as it used to be (actually the water puddles have gotten worse-and bigger-but we have learned that this is just one thing you gotta get used to when you have this type of dog).  when we are home (just me and hubby) with no company, its not so bad, but anybody over at the house we always try to get to hugo's wet beard before he gets to the visitor.  the first place giants go to when they finish getting a drink-your lap and (if it is summertime) your bare legs!

the towel in front of their bowls can be grabbed with your foot to mop up the water.  also keep hand towels laying around inconspicuousl y so that you can grab on a whim.  you could water outside which didnt work for us.  LOL, just wait til they start drinking out of the porcelain fountain (toilet)         

[lins_saving_grace]

I'm thinking I'll just get a vinyl-backed bath mat or rug and put it under the food and water bowls.  Definitely something machine washable too.  And something big.  Very, very big.   

Be careful with those vinyl backed mats...mildew collects under them like no one's business.

[Saintgirl]

What we have found to work is a big rubber boot mat! They are not pretty to look at, but they work!!! We used to use towels, mats, etc, but then we had a sopping wet towel or mat lying on the ground. This boot mat gets a quick dump out evertime the water gets changed and no small lakes on the floor!!!!! They are cheaper than the ones that you will buy in a petstore, and they hold more water which is a huge bonus!!!

[princessnmi]

I have a lab rott shepherd mix that LOVES water and we had this problem with her. Except she thinks no matter what size bowel we use that its a lot of fun to put your front paws in the bowl and dig. So we keep her water "tub" its a big storage tub thats big enough for her to play in and it stays outside. If she gets wet she won't come in the house until we wipe her down with a towel. The only bad thing about the tub is we have to change it pretty often cause of all the dirt she puts in it.

[Carolyn]

I use a towel by the water bowl. The worst is because I haven't let Billy put any chemical pesticides in the yard we now have hardly any grass thanks to the grubs. Anyway muddy paws is far worse than drool from the water bowl. Which some how Kiya always has the muddiest paws & always finds the drool from the water bowl to walk across the floor to create those lovely little paw marks throughout my house. So after several different ideas the best (except for the concrete patio) is to dip our little paws in water & pat with a dry towel. Snow would be a welcome break now.
Carolyn

[Kiahpyr]

My Kiah does the same thing!! I keep a towel right by the door at all times. Can't wait for snow either!