The AKC guideline is about 1 oz of water per pound of body weight per day. A 40 lb dog: about 5 cups. Measure what you pour in the morning and what's left at night for three days.

Press a finger on the gum above a tooth. Pink should come back within two seconds. Slow return or sticky, dry gums are a reason to call the vet.

Still water warms up, collects hair and gets a slippery film on plastic. If you'd hesitate to drink it, so do they. Refresh twice a day or keep it moving.

Some dogs avoid water that sits right next to their food. A second bowl in a different room often gets used more than the first.

Older dogs on dry kibble get very little moisture from meals. A splash of warm water on the food is the easiest win there is.

If your dog drinks from the shower, a dripping tap or a puddle but ignores the bowl, they prefer moving water. That's what a fountain is for.

Write down roughly how much they drink. If it drops for more than a few days, or suddenly rises a lot, tell your vet. Both are signals worth checking.