[yorkietalkjilly]

Sadly, there are usually no quick fixes for unwanted behavior but here are some things to try.

You might make him a splash-proof water bowl out of a tupperware dish with the lid on. Cut a small hole out just large enough to get the tongue and part of the muzzle into and keep the water level fairly high so he can easily reach it. You can buy splash-proof bowls but mostly they are very large, weighted with a small hole right in the center of the lid - not very small-dog friendly.

For a few days, you probably will want to control the water resource. He's guarding it as a resource and to gain some power and in time will likely start to guard food and toys. Just keep the water bowl up and out of sight but set it down when the dogs are panting after being outside, rough play, etc. and once an hour and allow them to drink, then take it up. You can teach your little resource-guarder to sit before you put the water down. This shows him and the other dogs that you have the control and say over this resource and they must perform a certain behavior that you request of them before they gain access to it. Once they have had their fill of the water - and be sure that each dog gets his turn each time - take it back up.

I would do this for about two weeks. Yes, it is a pain but you have to gain control for a while and show your little splasher/hoarder who owns the bowl and controls the water supply. This should take some of the power out of the bowl and be about long enough to break him of the habit of splashing.

When you re-introduce the old bowl, use several bowls spaced out all over so he can't control them all but if the splashing starts back, you will have to go back to the splash-proof bowl or simply stand besides him when he drinks, then take it up.

Also, teach him not to splash. Sit a bowl of water in the floor and when he goes up to it and splashes rather than drink, say "uh oh" as a marker, place your hand between the dog and the bowl and say "Back - back". If the dog doesn't do it on his own, gently use your hand(gently - if you push he will think you are playing and start romping) to push him back and treat him. Repeat about 5 times and that's it. Gently praise him but not in any excited way - you want calm around the water bowl. Take up the water and redo the training session a little later. Eventually, the dog will learn that as soon as he starts to splash in water, he will be stopped and told to go back and rewarded for that. He will eventually learn from the impulse to splash that the better thing to do is to back up and wait for his treat. Later, after he's learned to do this trick well 100% but time passes and he forgets(dogs forget things just as humans do), you can use the word "no" if you want as a form of discipline or just keep up the "uh oh" and then "back - back" to back him off. Occasionally, give him a treat for complying - even when he is 5 years old.

Start him on one of the free Nothing In Life Is Free programs that you can find on Google and get him under better control by teaching him that you are the pack leader and he must listen to and mind you. Also, start your dog on obedience training and get him used to doing what you say without question. After a few months of daily training, you will have a very happy and well-behaved little pet who is easily controlled with just the words "no" or "uh oh" or even just a look! Obedience training is the easiest way of all to make a great pet out of a rambunctious dog!!!