Training Your Pet ~ Tips and Tricks to Use

IMPORTANT: Before leaving your pet alone with the water bottle you must make sure your pet will use it and that the water bottle is working properly.

Keep in mind the old saying: You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.

The same could be said for any animal. Animals don’t normally drink unless they are thirsty, so do not be discouraged if your pet does not immediately drink from the water bottle. The success of your pet using the water bottle is totally dependent upon your patience and training skills.

Always be positive and gentle with your pet when introducing a new system. We suggest introducing and training your pet to the water bottle during a time frame (usually two days or more) when you will be at home to watch and observe them to ensure your pet consumes an adequate amount of water and that they have become accustomed to using it. Repeat the Tips and Tricks frequently during the training period to ensure that your pet has a positive feeling when using the water bottle. You can also use the Tips and Tricks periodically after your pet is trained to reinforce the positive feelings your pet associates with the water bottle.

Water Bottle ~ Tips and Tricks

Before attempting to train your pet to the water bottle give the pet a chance to get familiar with the bottle on its terms.

Animals are very sensitive to smells so *wash the bottle to remove any chemicals used in the manufacturing process and all smells lingering on it. Then rub the bottle on your arm to transfer your smell to it. Your scent will be a smell the pet is familiar and comfortable with already.

Put your stand in the same location or near where your pet’s current water supply is. Leave the current water supply next to the stand or use as the drip bowl but only put a little water in the bowl.

Before filling the bottle with water, rub a little tuna, liverwurst, cheese, peanut butter or any of your pet’s favorite food around the outside near the tip of the drinking tube, being careful **not to get any food particles inside the tip.

Present your pet with the bottle or just lay it on the floor and let them sniff it and get used to it, again on their terms. They will smell the food and attempt to lick it off. Using your fingertip, gently move the balls several times so your pet can become accustomed to hearing it. Again rub a favorite food around the outside and present it to your pet, again letting them sniff it and try to lick the food off so they will get used to it. Then fill the bottle with water and insert it into the stand again rubbing a favorite food around the outside.

Gently let your pet know it is there and watch and monitor to see how it responds.

Always be positive and gentle with your pet when introducing a new system. Please, do not try to force your pet to drink as this will only produce negative feelings and defeat your purpose. At some of the animal trade shows I have attended I have seen some pet owners grab their pet and push the pet’s face up to the drinking spout and tell it to drink. This is wrong and stupid on the part of the pet owner. Your pet must be given time to get familiar with the new system.

Rub your pets favorite food on the drinking tube spout several times during the day and training period to encourage and ensure that your pet knows this is his/her new water source and to reinforce the positive feelings your pet associates with the water bottle.

Another method for training your pet is to take a favorite food such as tuna water or chicken broth and freeze it into ice cubes. Fill your water bottle with water and insert it into the stand. Then place the frozen cube on the top of the water bottle. As the ice cube melts, it will run down the outside of the bottle and drinking tube attracting your pet, which will encourage your pet to lick the drinking tube.

Important: Remember to always keep a close watch on the water level to make sure your pet is drinking and consuming the liquid they need. Refill the bottle with fresh water as needed or each day.

*See FAQ

**Note: Food particles can become lodged inside preventing ball movement. If the balls cannot turn freely or if they are not down in the correct position your pet will not be able to get ANY WATER.


Food Bowl ~ Tips and Tricks

Some pets are very sensitive to odors so make sure that you wash your pet’s new food bowl to remove any odors it may have on it.

Then using the same guidelines as listed above of using your pet’s favorite foods should do the trick. You can rub the favorite food on the inside of the bowl before adding your pet’s food or mix some of it with your pet’s food.

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