Can Labradoodles Handle Hot Weather? How To Keep them Cool

Labradoodles have different types of coats to provide them with some insulation and help them stay warm in cold weather. However, as the weather gets hotter, your Labradoodle might have some trouble handling high temperatures.

So, can Labradoodles handle hot weather? Labradoodles can’t tolerate hot weather for extended periods of time. They can’t regulate their body heat as they don’t have sweat glands. They might also have thick coats that will cause them to become overheated when the temperature is higher which will put them at risk of developing some health problems.

Keep reading to learn more about why Labradoodles get hot, how to tell when your Labradoodle is getting too hot, the risk of Labradoodles getting too hot, and how to help your Labradoodle stay cool in hot weather.

Do Labradoodles Get Hot?

Labradoodles do get hot and they can’t tolerate exposure to high temperatures for extended periods of time.

One of the reasons Labradoodles get hot is that they don’t have sweat glands which means they cannot naturally cool off or regulate their body heat the way humans do.

Another reason is that they might have thick coats that will cause them to become overheated more quickly when the temperature is high.

The dog’s coat color might also have an effect on how much it can tolerate hot weather as dogs with darker-colored coats will absorb more heat on warm days than dogs with lighter-colored coats.

What Are the Main Types of Labradoodle Coats?

There are 3 main types of Labradoodle coats that vary in length, texture, and thickness.

Let’s take a closer look at these coats and how much they can cause Labradoodles to become overheated.

Wool Coat

• It’s the shortest compared to the other types.
• It has a coarse curly texture.
• It’s very thick which means it will cause the dog to become overheated the most out of the other types.

Fleece Coat

• It’s longer than wool coats but shorter than hair coats
• It has a soft loose texture.
• It’s moderately thick so it might cause the dog to become slightly overheated.

Hair Coat

• It’s the longest compared to the other types.
• It’s has a smooth and straight texture                                                                   
• It’s also moderately thick but it will cause the dog to become overheated the least out of the other types.

What Temperature Is Considered Too Hot for Labradoodles?

According to experts a temperature of 105° F or higher is often considered to be too hot for Labradoodles.

If they were exposed to this temperature for extended periods of time, they will be at risk of developing various health problems.

If the dog’s body temperature gets higher than 105° F, some of its major organs will stop functioning.

On the other hand, the ideal temperature for Labradoodles ranges from 101 to 102.5° F.

How to Tell When Your Labradoodle Is Getting Too Hot?

As a responsible owner, you need to be able to tell when your Labradoodle is getting too hot in order to quickly cool it down and prevent it from developing any health problems.

So, let’s take a look at the common signs that will help you tell when your Labradoodle is getting too hot:

• Your dog will be whining excessively
• Your dog will be panting and drooling excessively
• Your dog will spend most of its time in areas near cool drafts or areas with more shade.
• Your dog will be extremely thirsty and constantly searching for more water
• Your dog will become severely dehydrated
• Your dog will often have trouble with urinating normally
• Your dog will have sunken eyes and dry skin, especially near its nose and paws
• Your dog will have extremely low energy levels
• Your dog will have trouble moving due to muscle tremors
• Your dog will become dizzy and disoriented
• Your dog will feel warm to the touch which might escalate to a fever

What Are the Risks of Labradoodles Getting Too Hot?

As mentioned before, prolonged exposure to hot temperatures, 105° F or higher, will cause your Labradoodle a lot of discomforts and will put it at high risk of developing some serious health problems such as heat strokes.

Heat strokes are extremely dangerous for Labradoodles and they might even become fatal if no action was taken to treat the dog and cool it down immediately.

Symptoms of heat strokes that you should watch out for include:

• Heavy breathing or panting
• Excessive swallowing and drooling
• Irregular heartbeat
• Warm body temperature which might escalate into a fever
• Dizziness and disorientation
• Nausea and vomiting
• Severe lack of energy

If you notice any of these symptoms in your Labradoodle, you need to cool it immediately and contact a vet if necessary

If you notice any of these symptoms in your Labradoodle, you need to cool it immediately and contact a veterinarian if necessary.

How to Cool Down Your Labradoodle If It Has a Heat Stroke?

Here are some of the measures you can take to cool down your Labradoodle if it’s displaying symptoms of a heat stroke:

• Move the dog to a cool area inside the house, such as near an air-conditioner or fan. You can also open the windows in the room to let in more cool air.
• Make the dog drink some water with ice cubes in it or give it some cold treats.
• Give the dog a cold bath or wipe it down with a cloth soaked in cold water.
• Monitor the dog’s behavior and take its temperature every few minutes until it starts cooling down.

If the symptoms of the heatstroke do not go away or become more severe despite your efforts to cool the dog down, then you need to take your dog to a veterinarian for a more effective treatment

How to Help Your Labradoodle Stay Cool in the Summer?

There are some measures you can take to help your Labradoodle stay cool when the weather gets hot in the summer.

So, let’s break down these measures in more detail:

Prepare a Cool Place for Your Dog to Sleep or Rest

You need to prepare a cool place where the dog can sleep or rest on days with hot weather.

To that, it’s recommended to place the dog’s crate or bed in a cool area in the house near open windows, an air-conditioner, or a fan.

You can also wrap an ice pack in a towel and place it in the dog’s bedding to help it cool it even more.

Make Sure Your Dog Is Drinking Enough Water

Your dog will be more likely to become dehydrated when the weather gets too hot which might lead it to develop some uncomfortable health such as dry skin, cracked paws, infections, as well as frequent difficulties with urination.

So, you need to make sure that your dog is drinking enough water to help it stay sufficiently hydrated.

To that, you need to place the dog’s water bowl in a location that the dog can easily see and access. You also need to make sure that the water temperature remains cool by adding some ice cubes throughout the day.

Avoid Letting Your Dog Spend Too Much Time Outside

Most dogs enjoy playing outside in the summer. However, it’s not recommended to let your dog spend too much time outside when the weather gets too hot.

Instead, it’s best to play with your dog indoors so that it wouldn’t be at risk of becoming overheated or having a heat stroke.

If you do not have enough space and still want to take your dog outside on a hot day, it’s recommended to keep to shaded areas and avoid doing any strenuous activities. You can also take the dog swimming as this will help it stay cool.

Trim Your Dog’s Coat

Having a thick, long coat will cause your dog to become overheated more quickly when the temperature gets hot.

So, it’s highly recommended to trim your dog’s coat in the summer to make it more breathable and help the dog stay cool on days with hot weather. It will also help keep your dog’s coat clean and prevent it from becoming severely tangled.

Prepare Some Frozen Treats for Your Dog

You can prepare some frozen treats to give to the dog as a reward for good behavior on hot days or to cool the dog off quickly if it becomes overheated.

Here’s a simple recipe you can follow to make some frozen treats that your dog will love:

The Ingredients Needed

• 4 cups of plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons of peanut butter or honey
• 3 ripe bananas

The Preparation Steps

• Peel and mash the bananas
• Add the mashed bananas along with the rest of the ingredients to a mixing bowl or a food processer
• Mix or blend all the ingredients until there are no lumps
• Pour the mixture into any mold of a size and shape that you prefer
• Put the mold in the freezer and leave it overnight
• Take the mold out and pop out the frozen treats to give to your dog
• You can store the rest of the treats in the freezer and take them out whenever needed.

Other Safety Tips to Protect Your Labradoodle in Hot Weather

• Never leave your dog alone in a car on extremely hot days as the temperature inside the car will rapidly increase which will put your dog in severe danger. Make sure there’s always someone in the car with the dog and leave the windows cracked open or turn the AC on.
• Make sure to apply sunscreen to your dog’s nose, muzzle and paws before going outside on a sunny day. That is because extended exposure to direct sunlight will put the dog at risk of getting sunburned or developing other dangerous skin problems.
• Avoid talking your dog on walks on roads with blacktop or dark asphalt on extremely hot days as the ground tends to absorb too much head which could lead your dog’s paws to become severely burned.
• Avoid exercising your dog outside or letting it do any strenuous activities on extremely hot days as this will cause the dog to become overheated quickly and put it at risk of having a heat stroke.
• Make sure to watch your dog closely during summer to determine if it’s getting too hot or if it’s developing any health problems, so you can quickly warm it up or take it to a veterinarian.

Related Questions

How to Tell the Type of Coat Your Labradoodle Will Have?

You can tell the type of coat your Labradoodle will have through a DNA test to determine if its parents are carrying the genes responsible for curly coats or the genes responsible for straight coats. You can also tell by inspecting the hair in the area around its muzzle as excess hair indicates a curly coat.

How Often Should You Trim Your Labradoodle’s Coat?

You should trim your Labradoodle’s coat once every 1 or 2 months. It mainly depends on the type of coat your Labradoodle has as thicker and curlier coats tend to be more prone to tangling than thinner and straighter coats which means they will need to be trimmed more often.

Can Labradoodles Live Outside in Summer?

Labradoodles cannot live outside in summer as their coat might be too thick causing them to become overheated quickly. They will also be at risk of getting sunburned or suffering from a heat stroke. They might be able to stay outside for a short time if you take some protective measures.

Helpful Resources 

Beat the heat: How to keep your dog cool in summer

How to keep dogs cool in the summer heat

How To Keep Dogs Cool In Summer: 10 Easy Tips

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