To ask if this makes me a bad dog owner?

[RogerThatOver]

I'm a lone parent to 5 children - including a newborn - and I have 3 dogs and run my own business. I walk my dogs for at least an hour in the afternoon and usually half hour in the evening, too. Is it unreasonable to stay upstairs from 9.30, once the DC in bed? I'm up again at 6.30. My friend said it's unfair to leave the dogs for so long, but realistically even if I sat downstairs with them they'd be sleeping. I want to work from the comfort and warmth of my bed but am prepared to be told I'm being unfair on my dogs.

If I go to bed earlier my dog will come sleep in the bed until oh goes to bed I’m only have one dog though who likes company. She slept in bed all night last night tough as oh fell asleep downstairs!
Your dogs have each other for company so not as bad.

My two are asleep on the sofa by about 9, and would happily sleep through until 8-9 the next morning if we left them there, so I wouldn’t worry about it. They sound well exercised and happy :)

My dog takes himself off into the kitchen about that time. If his humans are up past what he thinks is a reasonable time, he'll wander between said human and the stairs sighing meaningfully until you get up and go to bed

Ours does exactly the same: she retires around 9.30 and will come and stare pointedly at any humans still up, then sigh and leave us to our folly.

I have to physically drag mine out for a late wee around 9pm at night, and he sleeps next to our bed happily from around 10pm to 6.30am. They'd let you know if they weren't happy.

Yanbu. Our dogs take themselves off to bed around 7.30! Your dogs have each other, they don't need you to be available 24/7.

No problem at all. 9.30 is 'bedtime' - my dog naturally goes to bed at about 10ish.

My dog used to go to bed at 9pm. If we were up after that, he´d come into the living room, look tired, sigh and then wander back to his bed.

Not unreasonable at all.

I work from home and am frequently working very late at night. Sometimes my dog stays with me and sleeps but very often he sighs and takes himself to bed.

Bloodyhell are you superwoman?? Lucky dogs I say x

Surely it makes no difference if you are upstairs or downstairs as long as you are available for them if they are distressed or wants out or whatever. My dog hardly ever hangs out where we are. She likes a peaceful spot to snooze in the evening and is more than content to go to her bed when we go no matter what the time. Most mornings she can't be arsed to get off her bed to come say hello. She is one lazy lab.

The dogs have eachother for company

YANBU.
That's normal hours in bed for our dog, who sleeps in his bed next to ours after going out to the garden for his last wee.
Around 9 pm, he starts giving us the Collie Stare, which means that it's nearly time to start getting ready for bed.
The dog is in charge, and tells us what to do.

My two have their last walk whilst I read to our children. Then once our kids go to bed, our pups join me in bed. Dh potters about later and let's them out before coming to bed. However if its cold/ wet/windy/ snowing they will look outside with disgust then come back to bed 😂.

Mine takes herself off to bed by then, I usually have to drag her out for a last wee before bed but she’s rarely interested in going

YANBU. They sound like happy, well looked after dogs.

It's fine Sweet. Massive dog lover here, this time will pass, and you'll all be sitting down stairs again. Sounds like you are balancing everything very well. Congratulations on your little baby. 💐

The beauty of dogs is that they adapt (happily) to your lifestyle as long as their needs are met (food water excercise and love etc). My dog goes to bed about 8.30 and gets up every hour to wander in and check I'm alive and then goes back to bed until I let her out last thing.

Our dog has bedtime at 8-30 each night. Last walk,last wee, lights out. Doesn’t get up til 7 next morning. If we disturb his sleep he’s most huffy and sighs.

They would be barking and fetching you if they weren't happy. Some people have odd ideas about dogs, not all dogs want human company 24/7.

I suspect it is projected from their own fears of being alone.

YOU ARE A SINGLE MOTHER OF FIVE KIDS! While everyone is entitled to an opinion, they really should think before they share them.... Are the dogs healthy? YES! Are they showing signs of distress? NO! Is your house a total tip? (Mine is, and I am a SAHM, have a brilliant partner, only three kids and only one dog - who is shedding.).
You keep on doing what you're doing and you will shortly receive the MUMSNET MEDAL! You are a superhero and your friend is a twit.

YABVVU unreasonable not to show us pictures of said dogs!

My dog has beds on the landing, in our room, and the full run of the living room, she frequently chooses to sleep in a different room to the rest of us, I don't think she's damaged by this....your friend is a prat!

I've got to say I AM IN AWE OF YOU!
I have one dog, one child and a very parttime job and frequently feel like there aren't enough hours in the day.
If I had 5 kids, inc a newborn, 3 dogs and a business, I'd be on the crack and gin by now!

Bloody hell woman, I tip my hat to you.

Wow it really does sound like your doing an amazing job.

The dogs seem to be getting the excersise they need and they seem happy. Dogs do adapt really well to most living conditions but if there was a problem you would soon know about it.

I think your doing a great job 🙂