Dog Training Tips for the Dog Obsessed With Water

What human or dog doesn’t love running through a water sprinkler on hot, humid days? Playing with water sprinklers can be exciting and exhausting fun for dogs, especially dogs that were bred to love water. To answer the question of whether or not dogs should play with water sprinklers: of course, dogs can play in water sprinklers, but add a couple of cues first! There are a few dogs that become obsessed with water. Let’s discuss how to prevent this behavior.

When Water Fun Turns Into Obsession

Some dogs become completely obsessed with water from a hose, lawn sprinkler or bathroom faucet. For the most part, these dogs will play endlessly for hours and never tire. But when dogs stand next to a hose, lawn sprinkler or faucet, waiting for it to be turned on, that may indicate an obsession. Some dogs take it a bit further; they become consumed with waiting for water to spray out of these devices. Some dogs refuse to eat or drink and, instead, they wait tirelessly next to a hose.

Many pet owners think it won’t happen to their dogs, but prevention is worth its weight in gold!

How to Prevent Dog Water Obsession

Before turning on spraying water, give your dog a cue that means it’s about to happen. Examples of cues are “water time,” “let’s play” or “sprinkler.” Usually, your dog will respond when you walk toward or touch the hose, which is a different type of cue than verbal, which is totally fine. Now, turn on the water and have a blast!

When it’s time to end the water session, give your dog a different cue, such as “all done” or “game is over” and turn the water off. If your dog sits next to the hose or sprinkler, just walk away and ignore your dog. The worst thing you could do is reward your dog’s cue for turning the water on. Yes, when your dog sits next to the water hose, he is basically asking you to turn it on. 🙂 If you reward this behavior, you’ll have a dog that sits next to the water hose waiting for someone to turn it back on. Yes, dogs teach us cues all the time, and we respond pretty darn quickly too. 😉

If your dog is still waiting by the hose in hopes it will turn on, call him inside for treats. Or better yet, grab a frozen food stuffed toy out of the freezer and show him the peanut butter stuffed treat. He will gladly follow you back indoors to enjoy his prize!

While this seems like a lot of work, it’s a safe way to prevent water obsession and still have loads of fun.

If It Doesn’t Get Better

If your dog refuses to eat, drink or move away from the water hose (lawn sprinkler, faucet, etc), then it’s time to get professional help. A professional dog trainer can watch your dog’s behavior and make additional suggestions. If your dog truly suffers from his obsession, which is called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a dog trainer will quickly refer you to a veterinarian board certified in animal behavior.

Have fun and stay cool this summer!

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