The 5 Best Dog Water Bottles Australia: Tested & Evaluated 2025

We’ve all been there. Stuck on a long walk with our dogs and sweating away. All of a sudden, we feel a pang of guilt that poor Fido is jogging alongside us, panting for dear life!

Fortunately, there are better solutions to give your dog water than the nearest stream or fiddly water fountain. Even your own water bottle is a little tricky for canine lips (which we’ll talk about).

A trusty dog water bottle can make sure that your dog is sufficiently hydrated on the go.

Note: It’s an essential for any dog owner, not just hikers and road trippers! Sure it’s even more vital for you to have a dog water dispenser if you’re on long journeys. But imagine you’re taking your dog to the vet, 10 mins away, and they vomit midway. A dog water bottle to keep them hydrated and refreshed is super useful in those times of need.

With so many options available in the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the best one for your furry friend. But no worries, we've got you covered! In order to eek out the best of the rest, we teamed up with canine behaviour experts, veterinarians, and doggy parents, and after several months of trial and error, were finally able to agree on the contents of this guide.

In this post, we'll provide you with all the necessary details to make an informed decision. Our expert team have researched and tested various brands to come up with a list with the necessary information that you can take note of after seeing what is available on the market.

Let's dive into the best dog water bottles Australia has to offer!

Australia's Best Dog Drink Bottles Reviewed

We have created a handy list of the best options on the Australian market today for portable dog water bottles. These are the products our team of independent experts tested out with our own dogs and loved most of all. We hope you’ll find the right solution for you and your pup!

The Zenify Dog Water Bottle is the OG collapsible, portable water dispenser that you need in your life.

This clever contraption makes it simple to release water with one hand as you walk. You simply click the button to release the water into the scoop shape end of the bottle. Your dog can easily and comfortably drink from it.

Unlike the second option, the Zenify collapsible bowl, this Zenify bottle has a generous water capacity that can store water and is made of food-grade silicone and plastic, making it perfect for dogs on the go. The larger one can hold more water, and you can easily carry it with you.

There are two sizes available. The smallest is 350 mL which works well for short to moderate walks. If you’re going on long walks and hikes, you’ll want the 550 mL model. The 550 mL model is larger in size and weight, so it’s recommended for large and extra-large breeds regardless of the length of the walks you do.

You may find that a large dog will struggle to get their snout into the smaller container, which was the case with my pupper. There isn’t a huge difference in price so the larger model may be better value for money overall.

The bottle has a silicone leak proof seal that ensures you won’t be leaving a trail of water as you walk. There are three colours available to customise for your pup: pink, white and blue.

The complete plastic design makes it simple to clean by hand too.

Overall, this is our team of independent experts' top choice for a dog water bottle for Australian pups!

We definitely appreciate the included strap, which allows for easy attachment to our bags or belt loops, making it effortless to carry. It also serves as a support whenever we are holding the bottle and letting our dogs drink from it.

Zenify also offers a cheap and cheerful alternative to the dog travel water bottle. These collapsible bowls are perfect for food and water. Though you must not mix the two during one trip. Have a separate bowl for food and water as you travel.

Although the previous option, our number one choice, and this one come from the same brand, this has different features. It is better if you want something that is multipurpose because it can be used not only as a water bowl but also as a food bowl, which is also portable and collapsible.

As the name suggests, these bowls are made of moulded BPA-free silicone that can be fully folded flat. They are super portable for that reason. I always have one in my handbag or linked to my dog’s backpack because it’s so lightweight. I also have them in different colours as there are nine colourways to choose from, with matching carabiners.

When fully unfolded, it can hold up to 400 mL of water. That’s quite the happy medium for moderately long walks.

Due to the design and materials, it’s super easy to clean. It’s quite durable too. I have managed to use mine for years.

Best of all, these bowls are so inexpensive! It’s the perfect cheap dog water dispenser for when you’re on the go.

The only con our team of puppy experts could find is that it doesn’t store water as some of the others on this list. Therefore, you would still need a source of water to pour into the bowls.

Secondly, this isn’t great for extra-large dogs. The manufacturer only recommends them for small-medium dogs. I have a Flat-Coated Retriever that gets on with them fine, as large as her snout is. That said, it’s good to refer to the measurements to check your dog can comfortably use the bowls.

We love how simple and usable this water bowl is and that we can easily clean it. Also, even if it's cheap, the quality is superb and it can last for a long time so you can definitely save more money, which is a good investment if you are looking for a budget-friendly water bowl.

The Chancci dog travel water bottle is great for short walks and small dogs. It has a decent capacity of 300 mL, but that does make it the smallest on this list.

Unlike the permanent open container that the Zenify water bottle has, the Chancci model slides up to reveal the water container. You then press the button to release the water. The contraption will absorb any water that your dog doesn’t drink in one sitting.

Inside lies a carbon filter to purify the water before your dog drinks it. It also has a strong silicone seal to ensure it’s completely leak proof.

There are three cool colours available: pink, blue and green. Each are slim, lightweight and easy to clean.

The cons would be the size. Similar to our number two option by Zenify, this is another option that isn’t suitable for extra-large breeds. Likewise, for the size and capacity, the Zenify model in our number one spot is probably better value for money. However, if you want the complete collapsible technology and pocket-sized water bottle, this is the option for you!

We chose this as our third option because of its carbon-filter feature. It does a great job of filtering out chlorine and other contaminants, and the water stays clean for a very long time. Even after a long trek, our pet can still drink clean water.

For the hikers out there, this one is for you! The petnf dog water bottle is easy to use, small and ergonomically designed.

We like this one for hikers because of its compact nature and relatively large capacity. It can hold up to 520 mL which is a good amount for how small it is. Compare this to our number two and three choices and you can see how great it is for hikes. The top cap reverses to become a little drinking bowl. It’s wide enough to allow easy access for your dog to drink freely.

And as we said, compared to the previous brand, Chancci, which can only carry around 300 mL of water, this water bottle has a larger capacity that is good if you and your dog are going for a long walk or hike and would need more water to be hydrated.

You can clearly see the amount of water you have left in the container. It also has measurement tick marks if you want a guestimate of how much water is left at any given time.

There’s no magic button here. To release the water, you simply squeeze the amount you want. It appears in the foldable silicone cup. This means that if your dog doesn’t finish the water, however, it won’t go back into the bottle. The Zenify and Chancci models are therefore slightly cleaner in their execution.

Another con to consider is the cost. It’s a little pricey for this category of product. But overall, it’s a trusty travel companion that is ideal for long walks and hikes!

Every member of our team of independent experts like how the brand was able to maintain the water bottle being lightweight and compact design even if it holds more water than the first three options.

Also, we appreciate how the top rotating buckle is watertight to prevent backflow. This secures the cleanliness of the remaining water inside the bottle.

Our final option is slightly more on the eco-friendly side. So far we have been reviewing mostly plastic and silicone dog water bottles. They aren’t the worst thing in the world but of course, won’t biodegrade. They are also energy-consuming to create. So this stainless steel dog water bottle provides an eco-alternative.

The stainless-steel bottle is a regular water container. You then have a green silicone cap that flips up for your dog to drink from. It’s great that this silicone drinking container is so large. It ensures that many dog breeds of all different sizes can drink from it comfortably.

We chose this as our fifth option because out of all the water bottles on this list, it has the largest capacity at 600 mL. This dog drink bottle is perfect if you are planning to go on long journeys and challenging hikes with your canine companion because it can store more water for your dog.

It’s worth noting that, unlike the Zenify and Chancci models, there is no hydraulic action that will retrieve any water that your dog doesn’t drink. Therefore, it may be a little messier, like the petnf at number four.

The stainless steel and larger size make this product heavier than the previous products on this list. The final con is that you can’t see when the water is emptying. With the plastic bottles, you can see through to the water level inside. Stainless steel covers completely, so you’ll have to measure by weight to see when you need to refill.

However, with the Split Peas HydraTED water bottle, you get a good value for money eco-friendly travel water bottle for dogs that will last you a long time!

We at Gentle Dog Trainers support sustainable brands, which is why we included this option on our best list of water bottles. If you like to buy products that are beneficial for your dogs and for our environment, our team of independent experts recommend this one for you.

Also, the drinking silicone container is perfect for all dog sizes because of its huge capacity since not all brands have this size. Any dog can comfortably drink from it, which makes it a better option if you have a large breed of dog.

Can You Use A Human Water Bottle To Water Your Dog?

This is a great question. It could make sense to bring your human water bottle out with you and share it with your thirsty pup. What could be wrong with that? Well…

Ease of use

Observe your dog taking a slurp of some water. They drink in a very different way from humans. I’m not a scientist so bear with me. But the way humans drink water is more of a traction mechanism. We use suction to promote the flow of water from the container and into our mouths. Dogs employ more of a “lapping” motion to drink water. If you watch a dog drinking in slow motion, it almost looks like they are eating the water. (1)

 It’s fascinating!

Anyway, because of the very different way that we drink, your water bottle is basically useless. A dog needs a wide-ish surface to drink from.

Hygiene

Okay, so you may not put a human water bottle on your dog’s lips. You can just spill the water onto the floor, right? Right...but you risk the water picking up all kinds of nasty particles and bacteria from the ground that your dog is now ingesting.

What I Look For In A Dog Water Bottle

So hopefully I have convinced you that your dog deserves better than being uncomfortably splashed by your 2-litre water bottle. And now you need to know the kind of bottle you may be looking for and how best to narrow down the right choice from our list above for your pup. Our team of independent experts share their insights on the topic.

Capacity

The amount of water your dog needs depends on their size, breed and age. In general terms, a puppy needs less water.

This raises to about sixty millilitres per kilo of bodyweight for adult dogs.

That’s on a regular day with regular activity levels. Now imagine how dehydrated your dog may get during long hikes. The capacity of your dog water bottle needs to make sense for what you’re buying it for.

Naturally, you’ll want a higher capacity if you do long walks quite often. However, the downside is that these are bulkier to carry.

Alternatively, smaller dog drinking bottles may be perfectly fine for small dogs, puppies and those who take regular walks daily. 

Weight & Shape

The whole point of a dog drink bottle is to be easy to carry. You want it to feel easy to cart around on long hikes, walks or even in your handbag for emergencies.

The weight and shape will largely dictate how portable it is for you specifically.

For example, the walks I do with my dogs are quite long. So I take a lightweight backpack with me with supplies. Those are poop bags, treats, water, a first aid kit and a dog water bottle. So I need a relatively compact water bottle. But it doesn’t need to be tiny.

However, if you do short walks around the block, you may prefer a fully collapsible design that fits in your pocket, handbag or ties to your dog’s leash.

The shape factors into this too. My backpack can carry a normal bottle shape without any issues. This is more complex in a glove compartment of a car or a small handbag. Think about what you want the water bottle for and where it will be stored most of the time.

Pro Tip: It’s a good idea to have different water bottles for different situations. A larger capacity, heavier bottle would work better for hiking. A smaller, fully collapsible water bowl or bottle is better for everyday walks and short trips.

Materials

Materials come into play because of two defining factors - durability and sustainability.

Durable materials like silicone, plastic and stainless steel are all common when looking for dog water bottles. You can count on stainless steel to be the hardiest. It’ll take being dropped multiple times and never bending out of shape.

The durability of the plastic and silicone bottles on the market can only be judged by reviewers. See what people have to say about the durability of the materials before you make a purchase.

Likewise, do you want to purchase more plastic? This is a completely personal choice of course. Reusable plastic products are certainly better than disposable plastic products. That said, if you want an eco-friendlier option, stainless steel is probably the better way to go. However, bear in mind that stainless steel bottles are much heavier than plastic ones.

Ease of Use

Our team of experts say you need to ask yourself a few questions before determining if your chosen water bottle is easy to use. If the water bottle you choose stores water, how do you refill it? Is it easy to refill?

Can you see when the water is emptying and needs a refill? These are all operational, ease of use questions we asked ourselves during our testing phase.

Another side to this is cleaning. How easy is it to clean? Can you put it in the dishwasher or hand wash only?

Most dog water bottles are hand wash only because of the silicone seals. They can degrade in the high temperatures of dishwashers. So then the question becomes how easy is it to hand wash? Nice rounded water containers without any stubborn corners are the easiest to clean.

My Final Verdict

Overall, our panel of pros wholeheartedly agree that the Zenify products never disappoint. Whether you want the cheap and cheerful dog bowl that can carry both food and water or the cleverly designed, leak proof water bottle, these two products are suitable for dogs of all kinds. You would also be supporting an Australia-based brand - Zenify Pets. I now own both of these products and so can attest to how good they are.

Alternatively, if you want something a little more eco-friendly but still versatile and good value, we think the Split Peas HydraTED water bottle is great too. It’ll suit any dog breed for any situation.

No matter which dog water bottle you choose, it's vital to keep your pup hydrated while out and about. We hope this information helps you make an informed decision and keeps your furry friend happy and healthy on your next walk.

References

1. Greene, S. December 18, 2015. “Fluid dynamics on four legs: The brilliance of how dogs drink”. LA Times. Retrieved November 27, 2023. https://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-how-dogs-drink-20151215-story.html
2. Reisen, J. September 21, 2021. “Is Your Puppy Drinking Enough Water?”. American Kennel Club. Retrieved November 27, 2023.  https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/puppy-drinking-enough-water/
   
3. “How Much Water Should a Dog Drink?” August 21, 2021. PetMD. Retrieved November 27, 2023. https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_dg_the_importance_of_water
   
4. Wooten, S. December 11, 2019. “Excessive Thirst in Dogs: Common Causes & When to See the Vet”. Hill’s Pet. Retrieved November 27, 2023. https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/healthcare/excessive-thirst-in-dogs