As the summer heat intensifies, imagine wearing a fur coat all day with only your bare feet to sweat! This isn’t some twisted summertime challenge; it’s an everyday reality for your beloved pooch. Part of responsible dog ownership is understanding that dogs tackle the scorching heat in ways entirely different from humans and knowing how to keep them cool.
This article decodes our canine companions’ unique thermoregulation, signs of heat stress, and strategies to provide them with a cool, comfortable, and joyful summer.
Understanding Heat Management in Dogs and How They Keep Cool
Dogs are homeotherms and maintain a constant body temperature ofbetween 101 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. This is higher than the average human temperature of 98.6 degrees.
Unlike humans, dogs don’t sweat all over their bodies to cool down. Here are some ways that dogs keep cool naturally:
Panting, causing moisture in their tongues, nasal passageways, and lungs to evaporate.
Relaxing on cold surfaces to enable a conductive heat exchange where their body warmth transfers to the colder surface.
Vessel expansion: In hot conditions, a dog’s blood vessels in the skin and tongue enlarge, drawing warm blood nearer to the skin surface and radiating their internal warmth.
Symptoms of Overheating in Dogs
In extreme heat, the above natural mechanisms might not be enough to keep your dog cool, leading to overheating. Overheating in dogs can manifest in several ways, including the following:
Excessive panting
Drooling
Increased/rapid heart rate
Bright red gums or tongue
Stopping or slowing down during walks
Wide, stressed eyes
How to Keep Your Dogs Happy and Safe in the Summer Heat
Here are some tips to keep your Labradoodle safe during the scorching summer:
Engage them in water activities: Labradoodles are natural swimmers and love water, so engaging them inwater activities is one of the best ways to keep them cool.
Keep them hydrated: Ensure your Labradoodle has access to plenty of fresh water.
Create a cool space: Provide a cool, shaded area for your Labradoodle to relax. If indoors, use fans or air conditioning.
Mind the time: Limit exercise to the early morning or late evening hours when the temperature is cooler.
Protect Your Dog From the Summer Heat
As a caring pet owner, your dog’s well-being is your priority. You can ensure a safe and fun-filled summer by understanding their unique heat management and recognizing signs of overheating.
If there’s one thing Labradoodles adore, it’s splashing around in the water. Born from water-loving retriever breeds, these fluffy canines see a pool, lake, or even a sprinkler, and their tails just can’t stop wagging. Keeping your Labradoodle active, especially during the sizzling months of summer, is both a joy and a must.
Swimming
Swimming is a natural first choice. Most Labradoodles are born swimmers, taking to water like ducks! But remember, safety first. Always monitor your dog while swimming, and consider a doggy life jacket for deeper waters. Local dog-friendly beaches or pools are great places to dip those paws.
Fetch in the Water
For Labradoodles who love a good game of fetch, fetch in the water is a double win. The game remains the same, but it’s even more fun with an added water element. Use floatable, highly visible toys for this activity, ensuring they can be easily found on the water’s surface.
Dock Diving
For an adventurous Labradoodle, dock diving might be the ticket. It’s a simple concept: throw a toy off a dock, and your Labradoodle jumps in after it. Start slow, ensure your dog is comfortable, and always put safety first.
Paddleboarding with Your Labradoodle
Ever tried paddleboarding with your Labradoodle? It might sound ambitious, but it can be a serene and fun experience. Start by getting your doodle used to the board on dry land. Gradually progress to shallow water. Always ensure your dog is comfortable and securely balanced before paddling out.
Sprinkler Play
Lastly, there’s nothing like a good romp through a sprinkler on a hot day. It’s an instant water park for your pup! Choose a dog-friendly sprinkler with gentle water flow, introduce your Labradoodle to it slowly, and let the fun unfold.
A Short Guide to Labradoodle Water Fun
There are plenty of ways to help your Labradoodle keep cool while having a blast this summer. These are just a few ideas to get you started. Whether it’s a day at the beach, a game of water fetch, or a simple backyard splash in the sprinkler, there are countless ways to enjoy the season with your pup. If you need more amazing Labradoodle tips, check out Texas Australian Labradoodles.
Labradoodles are known for being friendly, loyal, and intelligent. These dogs are easy to train, energetic, and have a great temperament. However, like any other dog, Labradoodles go through adolescence and may need extra attention during that time.
That’s why we have prepared this guide to help you easily navigate this stage of your pet’s development.
Understanding Labradoodles’ Adolescence
Labradoodles’ adolescent traits usually start at eight months and continue until they are around 12 months. You should understand the signs that signal adolescence, including stubbornness, moodiness, restlessness, and a short attention span. As a pet parent, you must learn to manage and handle these traits.
Give your Labradoodle plenty of exercises
Your teenage Labradoodle will have a high energy supply and will likely spend more time awake. This is a perfect opportunity to engage them inplenty of exercises and brain games. Exercising will give them an outlet to burn off their energy, which can help them avoid destructive behavior, which is typical in adolescence.
Consistent Training
Adolescence is a great time totrain your Labradoodle in new tricks and behaviors. Consistent training will help your dog channel its energy and focus, which is particularly important during adolescence.
Positive reinforcement training techniques that involve reward-based systems are widely successful with Labradoodles. It is better to start training early in their adolescence, as their minds tend to be more receptive, but it is never too late.
Socializing
Labradoodles are social animals, requiring socialization to be comfortable in different environments, particularly during adolescence. Expose them to different dogs, people, and sights.
Early socialization will help them develop their personalities positively, build their confidence, and be more adaptable to new environments. Dog parks, doggy daycare, and puppy playdates are great ways to encourage your Labradoodle’s socialization.
Teething
While your Labradoodle will have most of its teeth, teething isn’t over during adolescence. They will be in a secondary chewing phase, so you should give them chew toys. However, the chew toys should be tougher than usual since their jaws will be stronger.
Final Thoughts
These tips on surviving a Labradoodle’s adolescence will help you through this stage and ensure your dog grows into a well-behaved and friendly dog. If you’re interested in owning a Labradoodle, consider getting one fromTexas Australian Labradoodles. We specialize in breeding healthy, happy, and genetically stable Labradoodles, so you can be sure you are getting the best pet for your family.
4 Tips for Managing Your Labradoodle’s Separation Anxiety
Labradoodles love spending time with people. However, that love can sometimes lead to separation anxiety when they’re left alone for too long. Whether you’re leaving for a family vacation or an extended day at work, your loyal companion could have a strong reaction. Here are four tips for managing your Labradoodle’s separation anxiety:
Identify the Signs
Some common signs of separation anxiety in dogs include digging and scratching at doors in an attempt to follow or chase after their owner, destructive chewing of furniture or other household items, howling, barking, and whining. If already house-trained, Australian Labradoodle puppies that are suffering from separation anxiety may also urinate or defecate indoors.
Teach Your Puppy to be Bored
Although most puppies get into trouble when they are bored, at times it is OK for him to just hang and do nothing. Your puppy does not have to be going 24/7. Supervised boredom can help your puppy learn to stay calm and not get into trouble. You also don’t have to give your puppy attention all the time. If your puppy learns that napping or calmly watching his environment are OK and he learns to keep himself occupied with his chews and toys while you are there, he will know how to keep himself busy without getting into trouble when you have to leave him alone.
Be Calm When Leaving and Coming Home
When you’re off to work in the morning, don’t make a fuss about leaving. If your dog starts to panic and pace around you, ignore them have a base command that he can always go back to, like sit. You can teach your dog that when he is anxious, excited, scared, etc., all he has to do is sit to calm down and regain his composure. You can take a few minutes to hug your dog and let him know he is a good boy until you feel his body relax. You can then go on with your preparations as before knowing that your pet feels more at ease than before. The same goes for when you come back home. You can also try ignoring them and see which one works better. Ignoring your pet e them for the first few minutes may work for some pets but probably not all. This way you have two approaches to try and see which one is more effective. While it may be difficult to not give them attention, this simple exercise will help your dog calm down over time.
Use Treats to Your Advantage
When you have to leave them alone, giving your pup a high-value treat when you return home each time you leave them alone is another good way for your dog to associate your departure with something positive. Only reserve that treat for when you’re leaving for an extended period. A common example of a high-value treat is a puzzle toy that’s filled with peanut butter or chunks of boiled chicken breast.
Leave Them Exhausted
Although the Dogs, especially young Australian Labradoodle puppiesare calm by nature, younger puppies tend to have more energy than older dogs. That have a lot of energy that they needs to be use up otherwise, your dog may start acting out. This lack of exercise can manifest itself through the same symptoms of separation anxiety listed above, including urinating or defecating indoors and destructively chewing at furniture. Run with your Labradoodle, or bring them to a dog park Taking your Labradoodle for a short walk or playing a short game of fetch so that they can play and will help your puppy discharge some of that excess energy in a positive way use up their energy.
Managing your Labradoodle’s separation anxiety will require consistent effort and patience. You can also learn more about this topic from Texas Australian Labradoodles.
Australian Labradoodle owners invest a lot of time and energy into their pets. Bathing, feeding, walking, playing, and training all demand time, energy, and money. We make every effort to ensure Fido is healthy and happy, even in the middle of the night if need be. One potential cause for concern is if your Labradoodle suddenly changes eating habits or stops eating completely. We’ve explained a few possible scenarios for why your labradoodle may not be eating, below.
You’re Changing Foods Too Often or Using the “Wrong” Food
The Australian Labradoodles tend to be grazers or social eaters. Dogs are different from humans and are happy to eat the same food everyday day. They do not need to have their food changed. Giving the same food consistently minimizes the risk of indigestion problems and possible diarrhea. Do not introduce new foods. Stick to something that your puppy has been eating since puppyhood.
Digestive Issues
Like humans, dogs do not want to eat if they have a tummy ache. Watch your puppy for digestive issues, such as tummy rumbling, passing gas, diarrhea or occasional throw up. If you notice a change in your puppy’s behavior or an alarming change in his eating habits (skipping a meal now and then is not bad but going without food for days or vomiting after meals is not), have your vet check him out. An animal may stop eating if the digestive tract has blockage, which can be determined by a veterinarian. Talk with your vet if you believe something (like part of a toy or a sock) could be stuck in your dog’s stomach.
Dental Disease
A sore mouth can make eating painful or even impossible. To minimize long term dental complications, teach your puppy tolerance for tooth brushing. Daily brushing will allow you to inspect your puppy’s mouth and gums. You can usually detect a cut or a scrape in the mouth or reddened gums during your puppy’s routine dental care. If your Labradoodle shows signs of pain in a certain area, this could be the cause for your pet’s inability to eat. Routine vet dental care is an imperative tool to keep our dog healthy and happy for a long time. It is also a way to keep heart disease and long term organ damage at bay.
Other Illnesses
Aging labradoodles might not feel inclined to eat but age-related appetite loss doesn’t necessarily mean there are other medical issues. Occasionally, however, a loss of appetite can be the result of a serious illness. Some explanations can include liver disease, cancer, kidney failure, or another kind of infection. If you are concerned for your dog, you should always make an appointment to get your dog checked and to run some general labs that could help identify health problems.
In Short
Labradoodle owners demonstrate a deep level of caring for their pets. When Fido is sick or having other issues, owners can take comfort in knowing what is causing the ailment. If your labradoodle is not eating, this guide can help you understand some possible causes and may give you a few tips to determine the best way to return your pet to his best health in no time.
Lucky you! You chose a good one from that litter of Labradoodle puppies, and now you’re home with the little guy or gal. You want to be a responsible pet owner from the start, so schedule that first vet visit right away.
Catching health issues and getting started on a lifelong schedule of preventive care is so important.
Ideally, you have already established a good relationship with a veterinarian. You may well have made the appointment as soon as you knew about your new arrival. Here are some things to cover on that first visit.
Making The Vet Visit Stress Free
Your pup will go through quite a lot of changes in those first days and weeks away from mom and its littermates. But a well-bred pup will adjust quickly to its new home and family.
Crates are the safest way to transport a dog, and the ride to the vet will be less stressful if the pup is accustomed to resting quietly in one. It’s safer in the office, too. It can be chaotic there and it’s better to be cautious around other dogs.
Positive reinforcement goes a long way in dog training, so take a few tasty treats to reward the pup for good behavior and to distract him or her from scary situations.
What to Talk About With Your Vet
Here are some topics to bring to the vet’s attention and some questions to ask.
A good breeder like Texas Australian Labradoodles will supply you with a medical record of any vaccinations, wormings, and medical care received. Make a copy for your vet’s records.
Plan to continue the routine vaccination schedule and exams. Catch up if needed.
Get a thorough physical exam and fecal exam.
Start a parasite control program.
Ask about microchipping.
Discuss breed specific health issues.
Make a plan for socializing and training your new pup.
Talk about spaying/neutering, including risks, and the proper time to do so.
If you plan to breed, talk about that, too.
Final Thoughts
Your veterinarian will be involved in your pet’s life for many years. Make it a happy association for both parties by being proactive about your dog’s health.
