Okay, so obviously trying to photograph an ant failing to cross the chalked line is kind of impossible to do with a still image, but I promise you, the hack works! The ants crawl right up to the line then immediately bounce back and scurry away. To see it in action, watch Dr. Christman's TikTok video demo.
If your pet likes to spend time with you outside, then there's no reason not to incorporate this step when setting up their outdoor water station. Chalk is inexpensive and doesn't expire, so you don't have to worry about it being a money guzzler. I'd recommend drawing your shape bigger than mine so your dog can physically stand within the circle. You can also colour a few dots around the bowl as extra precaution. Besides my art skills needing some work, I was pleasantly content with how it turned out.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography/ Emily Weaver