No matter how brave a breed is, there are always some things all dogs are scared of. This is no different for Labradoodles. But what are Labradoodles scared of?
Labradoodles are typically scared of sudden loud noises such as thunder and fireworks. Apart from that, the fear of being left alone is also quite common in them. Their fear highly depends on how they were raised and acclimatized with their surrounding.
Every dog can have different fears based on their past experiences. For instance, my Labradoodle is scared of hair dryers because when he was a puppy, a hair dryer fell beside him and made a lot of noise. He wasn’t hurt, but he developed this fear.
Things Labradoodles are Scared of
To find out some of the most common things Labradoodles are scared of, I took it to a subreddit with over 8 million Labradoodle owners, and several Facebook groups, and listed down 10 common fears among Labradoodles.
Scared of Thunder
Being scared of thunder is very common dog behavior. A sudden and loud noise of thunder can scare your Labradoodle. The level of fear can vary.
A thunderstorm can be scary for Labradoodles, but they may get accustomed to the noise. In such cases, they may start barking instead of cowering.
For some Labradoodles, this can be a severe fear. They may try to hide in your home or even start peeing due to fear.
Try to calm your Labradoodle by talking to them. Close all the windows to minimize the sound of thunder. There are also other ways you can help your dog overcome this fear.
Scared of Fireworks
Just as with thunder, the loud noises of fireworks can be scary for a Labradoodle. Fireworks make various kinds of noises, and this can make Labradoodles bolt and run in fear.
The fear may impact some Labradoodles more than others. They may try to hide behind things or bark. They can also show destructive behavior at such times.
Try to calm your Labradoodle by sitting close to them. Close all the windows and cover them with curtains to block the sound and light.
Scared of the Vet
Just as with humans, a lot of dogs don’t like going to their doctor. In fact, so many Labradoodles are so scared that they refuse to even enter the veterinarian clinic.
The whole experience of visiting the vet can be traumatic for Labradoodles. Think about it from their perspective. The clinic has strange odors, and there are other animals and a lot of new faces. Apart from that, getting physically checked by a stranger isn’t something they like.
To stop this fear, what you can do is take your Labradoodle to a clinic purely for social visits. Ask the receptionist to give them some treats. If possible, asking the vet to just play with them would be icing on the cake.
This will make the clinic slightly less scary for your furry friend.
Scared of Strangers
Some Labradoodles are scared of strangers who appear different than what they are used to seeing, such as a person with facial hair or wearing sunglasses or a hat. This may lead to excessive barking at them.
This is usually a result of poor socialization. Every single dog should be properly socialized right from their puppyhood. Failing to do so can lead to problems such as this.
To end this fear, take your Labradoodle on walks outside more frequently. Allow strangers to give treats and play with your dog. Introducing different people in your dog’s life can help reduce this type of anxiety.
Scared of Being Left Alone
Does your Labradoodle start barking when you leave them alone in the room and don’t stop until you return? Well, the fear of being left alone or separation anxiety is also very common in dogs.
A dog facing this fear will typically bark excessively or even start chewing your furniture. Some dogs who have this problem, pee and sometimes even poop inside the house in such a situation.
There are a few things you can do to overcome your Labradoodles separation anxiety. Start by gradually leaving your Labradoodle alone for a few minutes and give them a treat if they remain calm. A kong toy with some treats inside can be a great tool for this.
You may even consider crate training your Labradoodle.
Scared of a Vacuum
Vacuum cleaners are loud and annoying. This can be quite scary for a dog, as the dog might think the vacuum is trying to attack them!
This happens mostly because your Labradoodle isn’t used to type of thing. Other reasons for this phobia can be bad past experiences.
What you can do is introduce the vacuum to your dog slowly. Try putting it in your room while it’s turned off and let your pup get used to seeing it. Then store some of their toys near the vacuum.
Gradually try putting a treat on it, before you turn it on for a few seconds and see the reaction of your Labradoodle. It might take a while, but it’ll all be worth it.
Scared of Cars
While many Labradoodles love car rides, some don’t.
They don’t even go near your car. They refuse even to enter the garage. And when you pick them up and put them in your car, they get nauseous and vomit. Does all this sound familiar?
Your Labradoodle is usually afraid of getting into a car because they have associated something terrible with it. He has perhaps had some bad experiences associated with car rides.
For instance, if you take your Labradoodle to the vet by car, this will plant a seed of fear, and he will start hating the car.
They can also become scared of cars because they feel motion sick.
To decrease this fear, try to have your dog associate good things with cars. Drive your pup to places he loves to go, such as dog parks.
Scared of Hairdryers
As we’ve seen before, the sudden loud noise from a hairdryer can easily scare a Labradoodle, even more so when they are puppies.
Labradoodles usually already don’t like bathing all that much, and if you plan on drying them with a hairdryer afterward, it can make things even worse. They may bark or run or try to attack the hairdryer out of fear.
To terminate this fear, you may want to slowly introduce a hairdryer to your dog. Place a turned-off hairdryer in front of them, and allow the dog to thoroughly inspect it. Once the dog gets used to it, try turning on the hairdryer at the lowest setting for a few seconds.
If your dog is able to remain calm, give it a treat.
Then you can gradually increase the time until the dog is comfortable with the noise of the hairdryer.
Scared of Unknown Objects
Big and unknown objects can seem like a threat to some dogs. The dogs may start barking at objects that they can’t recognize, and some pups might even attempt to chew them.
This is a very common dog behavior, and all you can really do is give them the time needed to get accustomed to the object.
Scared of Other Dogs and Animals
Labradoodles are very social and friendly dogs that love to interact with other dogs and humans as well. However, some incorrectly socialized Labradoodles might have difficulties getting along with other dogs or other pets.
They can get anxious seeing other animals, and a poorly socialized Labradoodle can start barking excessively at those animals and try to hide behind you.
To overcome this fear, you should introduce new dogs and different animals to your Labradoodle. Call all your friends and neighbors who have dogs or other animals and ask them if they might give you a friendly visit.
Final Words
The above list consists of common things Labradoodles are scared of, and your dog might have only one or two of these fears, or perhaps all of them! It usually depends on past experiences, training, and their environment.
If your dog suffers from a severe fear of anything, please contact your vet or take help from a professional dog behaviorist.
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