Can Labradoodles Live Outside? Tips to Safely Leave Your Dog Outside

Labradoodles are mostly raised as inside dogs due to their social nature. However, some owners might worry about the dog making a mess inside the house or they might not have enough space to keep it which leads them to consider leaving their dogs outside.

So, can Labradoodles live outside? Labradoodles can’t live outside. They can’t tolerate being separated from their owners for too long and their coats might not provide enough insulation against extreme temperatures which puts them at risk of developing some health problems. They might stay outside for a short time if some protective measures were taken.

Keep reading to learn more about whether Labradoodles are outside dogs or inside dogs, how long you can leave them outside, the risks of leaving them outside for too long, and the protective measures you can take to safely leave them outside.

Are Labradoodles Outside Dogs?

labradoodle outside in the snow to answer can labradoodles live outside

Some owners consider letting their Labradoodles stay outside to prevent them from making too much of a mess inside the house or because they don’t have enough space to keep their dog inside.

However, Labradoodles are not outside dogs. You can easily tell that if you have spent a few minutes with one; these are not dogs that are meant to sleep outside, these are pets that are meant to cuddle with us on our couches.

It’s highly unadvised to leave them outside for long periods of time or to let them sleep outside.

The main reason they are raised as inside dogs is their social nature as they love being around others and won’t tolerate being separated from their owners for too long. It’s even difficult to leave Labradoodles alone inside the house let alone outside.

Another reason they are raised as inside dogs is that they might have thin hair or fleece coats that won’t provide enough insulation against extreme temperatures which puts them at risk of developing some health problems.

You can leave your dog outside temporarily for only short periods of time, but you need to take some protective measures to keep it safe.

How Long Can You Leave Your Labradoodles Outside?

When they’re puppies, Labradoodles can be left outside for no longer than 2 hours. However, when they’re adults, they can be left alone for about 4 to 6 hours.

The exact amount of time you can leave your Labradoodle will vary from one dog to another depending on some factors like:

The level of attachment and dependency between the dog and its owner
The kind of coat the dog has and how much insulation it can provide against extreme temperature
The dog’s age and overall health
The weather conditions

What Are the Risks of Leaving Your Labradoodle Outside?

There are various risks to leaving your Labradoodle outside for a long time without taking protective measures.

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

The Dog Might Get Too Cold

Labradoodles might have hair or fleece coats that tend to be too thin to provide sufficient insulation against cold temperatures.

So, if you leave your dog outside for a long time, it might get too cold which will put it at risk of developing various health problems including the flu, frostbite, and hypothermia.

You can tell that your Labradoodle is getting too cold by observing its behavior when it’s outside. Here are some of the common signs you should watch out for:

Your dog will be excessively trembling and shivering
Your dog will start barking or whining loudly for no apparent reason
Your dog will keep pacing and lifting its paws off the ground
Your dog will be trying to come inside the house
Your dog will spend most of its time in warm areas with more sun
Your dog will have extremely low energy levels and an increased appetite

If you notice that your dog is getting too cold when it’s outside, it’s highly recommended to bring it inside the house immediately to warm it up by wrapping it in blankets and applying heated pads on its body.

You can learn how cold is too cold for Labradoodles here where I also discuss how to know if your Labradoodle is getting too cold and what to do if they are.

The Dog Might Get Too Hot

Labradoodles can’t regulate their body heat as well as can because they don’t have sweat glands. They might also have wool coats which tend to be thick causing them to become overheated when the temperature is hot.

So, if you leave your dog outside for a long time, it might get too hot which will put it at risk of developing some health problems such as severe dehydration, heatstroke, and dried skin.

You can tell that your Labradoodle is getting too hot by observing its behavior when it’s outside. Here are some of the common signs you should watch out for:

Your dog will be excessively panting and drooling
Your dog will stick to areas with shade where the temperature might be cooler
Your dog will be constantly thirsty due to severe dehydration
Your dog will have frequent trouble with urination
Your dog will have dry skin, especially in areas like its ears, nose, and paws
Your dog will suffer from a severe lack of energy
Your dog will often get dizzy and suffer from muscle tremors
Your dog will often be feverish and disoriented

If you notice that your dog is getting too hot when it’s outside, it’s highly recommended to bring it inside the house immediately to cool it up by wiping it down with a wet towel and making it drink lots of cold water.

However, you must never give your dog water with ice in it if they are too hot as this can lead to them going into shock. Just cool water should be enough for them to cool down.

The Dog Might Developed Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is a condition where dogs get extremely attached and dependent on their owners.

Due to their social nature, Labradoodles tend to form strong bonds with their owners. If they were separated from their owners and left outside for too long, they are highly likely to develop separation anxiety which will cause them to display some destructive behaviors.

Here are some of the signs you should watch for to determine if your Labradoodle has developed separation anxiety

Your dog will keep following you around and refuse to be separated from you for any amount of time
Your dog will try to run away or follow you when it notices that you’re leaving it or if it was left alone for any amount of time
Your dog will start barking and whining loudly whenever it notices that you’re leaving or if it was left alone for any amount of time
Your dog will start displaying some destructive behaviors when it’s left alone for some time such as chewing on objects, scratching harshly at the floor, digging holes at the ground, and having more accidents despite being potty-trained.
Your dog will start running fast and jumping on top of you when you come back after leaving it for some time.

You might be able to prevent your dog from developing separation anxiety by socializing and training it properly when it’s young as they will teach it some boundaries and help it adapt to staying alone without becoming destructive.

The Dog Might Get Stolen or Try to Run Away

If your backyard is not secure enough, intruders will be able to walk in on your property which puts your Labradoodle at high risk of getting stolen.

Your dog might also try to run away or follow you if it notices that you’re leaving the property, especially if it has developed separation anxiety.

Staying outside also puts your dog at risk of getting attacked by predators like coyotes or wolves if you live in a rural area, and there is also the risk of other garden animals like snakes which can (and do) bite dogs that get a little too curious and too close to them.

The Dog Might Get into Fights with Other Dogs

Even if your Labradoodle was socialized and trained, it can still be very territorial and might feel threatened around other dogs.

So, if you leave your dog outside for too long, it’s likely to become aggressive and might get into fights with other dogs.

You can tell when your Labradoodle is becoming aggressive or about to get into a fight by looking out for some signs such as:

Your dog will be baring and grinding its teeth.
Your dog will be barking and growling at other dogs
Your dog will be avoiding direct eye contact with you
Your dog will be pulling back its ears until they’re flat against its head
Your dog will keep its tail raised rigidly while rapidly moving it back and forth.

If you notice that your dog is becoming aggressive or that it’s about to get into a fight with another dog, you need to get inside to get away from the other dog and try to calm it down as much as possible.

How to Safely Leave Your Labradoodle Outside?

Sometimes you might have to leave your Labradoodle outside temporarily, so you need to take some measures to ensure that your dog will be safe and comfortable

Here are the measures you can take to safely leave your Labradoodle outside

Prepare a Shelter for Your Dog to Stay in While It’s Outside

Your dog needs to have a safe shelter, such as a dog house or a kennel, where it can stay and rest while it’s outside.

When preparing an outdoor shelter for your dog, you need to keep a few things in mind such as:

The shelter should be big enough to fit your dog comfortably so it wouldn’t feel confined. You can also put some of the dog’s favorite toys inside so it wouldn’t feel isolated or bored.
The shelter should be placed in a shaded area away from direct sunlight to avoid overheating the dog when the weather gets hot.
The shelter should have sufficient insulation to keep the dog warm when the weather gets cold. You can also add multiple layers of bedding, thermal blankets, and heated pads to make it even warmer.

This last point is crucial, because most dog houses, especially wooden ones, provide much less isolation than we actually give them credit for. There was a vet who actually stayed in one to experimentally show how much isolation it provides, and the results were truly shocking. Here is the video, it’s highly recommended that you watch it:

https://youtu.be/uK27edLsZow

How Cold Does It Get in a Dog House? Dr. Ernie Ward (https://youtu.be/uK27edLsZow)

You can learn how to insulate your dog’s house in this article on do labradors get cold at night here.

Avoid Leaving Your Dog Unsupervised While It’s Outside

Avoid leaving your dog unsupervised for a long time while it’s outside as it might accidentally injure itself, get into a fight with other dogs, try to run away, or get stolen.

If your dog has developed separation anxiety, it might also start displaying some destructive behaviors which could escalate to aggression. You can learn more about Labradoodle aggression here.

Instead of leaving your dog with no supervision, there are some alternatives you can consider.

You can watch over your dog through the window or go outside to keep it company from time to time throughout the day. If you won’t be at home, you can ask a close friend or dog-sitter to take care of your dog while you’re gone.

Provide Your Dog with Enough Food and Water While It’s Outside

Your dog needs to have enough food and water while it’s outside, especially if it’s going to be alone for some time.

If the dog gets too hungry or thirsty, it will start displaying some destructive behaviors which could escalate to aggression. It might also develop some health problems.

So, make sure that the dog’s food and water bowls are sufficiently filled. They also should be placed in a location that the dog can easily access.

You can also get your dog a water fountain and an automatic food dispenser and they will automatically provide your dog with food and water for much longer than the bowls, which means you will need to do re-fill runs much less often.

Dress Your Dog in Warm Clothes Before Leaving It Outside in Cold Weather

If you must leave your dog outside in cold weather, make sure to dress it in warm clothes, such as jackets and boots, to provide enough insulation against cold temperatures.

When choosing your dog’s clothes, you need to keep a few things in mind such as:

They should be made of durable, water-proof, and wind-proof materials
They should have multiple layers to prevent any rain or wind from getting through to the dog’s skin.
They should cover the dog’s belly completely and other sensitive areas like its neck and ears
They should be secure on the dog’s body but still fit comfortably to avoid restricting the dog’s movement.

Install a Secure Fence Around Your Property

You need to install a fence around your property to secure it. This should protect your dog from getting stolen by intruders as well as prevent it from running away or getting into fights with other dogs.

When installing a fence, make sure that it’s tall enough so your dog or any intruders wouldn’t be able to jump over it. Also, make sure that’s made from durable material so that it wouldn’t be easy to bite or cut through.