Dog Pet Water Fountain API Doggie Fountain
CUSTOMER REVIEW
The water fountain was well packaged and arrived in prime condition.
It worked well at first installation but then my destructo puppy did his best to destroy it and wedged it under a bunch of gravel and boards! After a couple of days where the fountain would intermittently not turn off completely, I wedged a 11/16"x 1.25" spring I had from a previous project in one of the bumps under the pedal. Problem solved.
Took me a bit to make it work where I needed the water. I used drinking water safe hose covered in tube insulation slid into water pipe. This was necessary as it sits in the sun and the heat will burst the hose- not to mention destructo pup will eat an unprotected water hose. I then anchored a scrap board (2"x12"x36") about a foot inside the pen with cement pads (75lbs ea) and used deck screws through the anchor holes to keep the fountain in place so it is Jasper proof (so far).
No special training other than showing one puppy how to use it and letting them figure it out as they investigated it after they splash out their morning 5 gallon bucket fill up. Over the last week I have caught 2 dogs using the fountain but as soon as they hear me they leave it so no pics. More telling is that no one is screaming for a water refill in the evening or mobbing the bucket in the morning although I have switched from filling the bucket 4 X a day to once in the morning - dropping one fill up every other day until I just do the morning refill. Jasper gouged the enamel so we will have to see if it rusts.
We have tried buckets, which get slimy and have to be scrubbed constantly plus the dogs splash the water out. We have used Lixit waterers, which work well until the screw backs out and leaves it constantly dripping. We replaced Lixit waterers with pig waterers that are more durable, but some of the dogs can't manage the harder pressure to trigger the water flow. The Doggie Fountain is simple for them to learn and solves the slimy empty bucket problem and allows them to play in the water while their interest holds. I will buy another Doggie Fountain to put in a water station when I renovate the front yard. Fantastic product!
UPDATE
We had a small dog visit us that was not heavy enough to make the spring compress even when I put his entire body on the pedal! So I took the spring out, but the problem of not shutting off resumed. So I went back under with a 1/2 "x1 1/2" x .041" spring but it didn't turn off properly, the second 1 1/2" spring from the pack wedged under the other side did the trick. I think they each have a 6.84 lb working load. One under each side of the pedal provided enough push to keep the pedal up but enough give so that 18 lb Ziggy could operate the fountain. The original spring would probably work with even lighter dogs but got bent during destructo pup's remodeling job.
I'm still finding that leaving them to teach each other works within days. I'm still filling the bucket every morning as we have had some visitors but as always destructo pup empties the bucket and then it is learn by example or experimentation as the new guys want water and know there was some there a bit ago. All the dogs that have learned it quickly are inquisitive and explore new things or are diggers, dogs that use their paws a lot.
Destructo pup has covered the fountain while digging a nearby hole. I hosed the mud out of the fountain and the springs stayed attached even though all I have done was slide them onto the inside of the bumps underneath and give them a half turn to catch the bottom of the spring under the plate. No other attachment and they aren't moving. The trick with the board under the cement pavers is working well. Jasper has not been able to move the assembly but I've had to add surrounding boards to deal with muddy ground.
I'm going to remodel the area making a 4x4 deck area with drainage gravel underneath (that will water a couple of trees in the run) and 3' poles driven in every 4" around the edge so Jasper doesn't dig under everything. Cattle panels are being laid along the fence line to keep him from digging out there also. I'm adding windchimes, multi levels, ramps and tunnels in the puppy run in addition to the kong & other toys to give them some play structures. Despite summer heat these youngsters are seldom still and over the week I've seen them frequently break off and use the fountain. Interestingly Jasper doesn't stand and play in the water like he does with the bucket. Due to this puppy run remodel the front yard has been delayed but I still intend to install 2 more of these fountains for the adult dogs. I am locating them near trees that wouldn't survive our desert heat without supplemental watering. I'm going to keep with anchoring them to a small deck to counter inquisitive dogs and insulate the pipes for summer heat. I will update once I know how the set up responds to freezing weather. It isn't intended for freezing weather so ...
Still loving this fountain.
2nd UPDATE
Destructo Dog may have killed this fountain or it may need to be made with sturdier parts. The fountain no longer gives a good stream when the pedal is stepped on or shuts off when they step off. It is just giving a steady dribble of water. This concept has been the best solution so far so I am going to see if I can repair it with Jasper proof parts.
So, love the concept but needs sturdier execution.