Why is my dog suddenly drinking from puddles on the patio rather than from his water bowl?

[Pagwatch]

Any ideas?
He is asking to go out, walking past his water bowl en route, drinking the mucky leaf strewn water and coming bak in again.

[1MitchellMum]

Just make sure there's no oak leaves in there - that can be poisonous

[FiscalCliffRocksThisTown]

They love fresh rain water more than our chlorinated stuff! And don't mind about ingesting a bit of mud!

[Pagwatch]

Oh, ok.
We have no oaks so that's not a worry.
It's just a new behaviour from an oldish dog so I thought I'd check.
Thank you very much.

[Bowlersarm]

Mine prefer drinking from the bird bath when they can, rather than their nice clean water in their nice clean water bowls. Someone told me it's because there are minerals in rainwater, but I've jus googled and it doesn't seem to be the case.

Shame he can't tell you...

I didn't know that about oak leaves. We have several oak trees in our garden.

[beingagoodmumishard]

Our pup is the same. Tried various water bowls but he prefers licking the patio or plants. Assume when this wet weather finally goes away (or we all float away) he will have to accept his water bowl. Was advised to add water to his food to ensure he is getting enough to drink

[sooperdooper]

Ours does this, daft animal will happily drink from shy old muddy puddle or plant pot, but only from his water bowl when it's just been changed, weirdo

[littlewhitebag]

Mine loves water from the lid of a plastic box that sits in our garden or out the plant pots or birdbath. Strange creatures.

[Judyandherdreamofhorses]

Dog drinks out of (and bathes in) anything and everything - you have to be careful of puddles on the road as they can be dangerous.

Cat will only drink out of a crystal whiskey tumbler (seriously), a particular bath toy placed in the bath, or the toilet...have to remember to put the lid down.

[Slebmum]

Mine drinks from his bowl about 2% of the time, of that - current favourite is the groove on the lid of the kids' paddling pool. We need to get that Tartar prevention stuff you put in the water bowl into him but I know it will be a complete waste of £19!