Hey Brent: Great Idea for only one dog! I know how labs do there water thing. Used to have three of them. I now have four dogs. OK so I am not the brightest bulb on the tree. Just have a hard time saying no to people that want me to give a poor dog a home.
My female lab used to get both front paws in the bowl and dig till she got all the water out She is 11 now and still acts like a puppy most of the time.
Her son, complete opposite you hardly ever know he is around unless you say Squirrel, Coon, Groundhog or possum. Say one of those 4 words you better have the back door open because he is finding a way outside.
Other than that you hardly ever see him, unless you go look in the crate