AIBU to think you don’t take your barking dog for a walk at 3am?

[Bellasblankexpression]

Been woke up for the second night at 3am by a barking dog on the street - when I looked out, the dog is merrily roaming up and down barking, apparently waiting for their owner who took a while leaving the house, then eventually caught up with them and walked off down the street with them.
In the meantime, the dog was barking excitedly and skipping off into the road and back while he was waiting.

AIBU to think that one, it’s a bit odd to be taking your dog for a walk in the early hours and two, if you’re going to do that at least don’t leave them barking outside until you’re ready to go?!
It makes me think said owner is up to no good, but I do have an overactive imagination!

[AdoptedBumpkin]

It seems weird to me, but some people Dr o it. At our old house there was an old lady who took her dog out at 1.30am every night.

[KarmaStar]

I used to walk my dogs at 0400hrs on earlies,but I would not be letting them out barking,your neighbour is bu and needs to keep his dog under control both with the barking and out of the road.
I'd be speaking to them.

[DarwinianMinion]

Right.

The beep may or may not be aversive/unpleasant to the dog initially.

The beep PREDICTS the unpleasant thing ie the vibration; in time, the beep becomes unpleasant to the dog even if it wasn’t initially because it becomes associated with something unpleasant. It becomes what is known as a secondary punisher. So after a while, just the beep may be enough.

The vibration is unpleasant to the dog. If it wasn’t unpleasant the dog would not seek to avoid it which is what is happening if the dog stops barking - because when it barks it gets a shock/vibration.

You can argue all day that vibration is kinder than a shock but ultimately don’t kid yourself that using punishment is somehow ok. It isn’t. There are better ways if you truly care for your dog.

[adaline]

The ones I use don't deliver shocks, they beep and then gently vibrate.

Dogs have exceptionally sensitive ears - hence why the beeping works to stop the behaviour. Would you like to have someone beep at you and send a vibration through your throat every time you spoke?

I have a very vocal breed (beagle) and I can't imagine ever thinking a collar like that would be a good idea. Aversives work because they train the dog to pair the undesirable behaviour with something unpleasant!

[DarwinianMinion]

If thé collar works, the dog finds it uncomfortable or unpleasant in some way. THATS WHY IT WORKS.

If the dog found the vibration pleasant or even neutral, the collar wouldn’t work to stop the behaviour.

[MsChnandlerBong]

DancingPyjamas, I have to know why you have 16 dogs! Genuinely curious!

[MsChnandlerBong]

Teach it the "Speak" command and then "Quiet"

Yup, that's how I've always trained mine to be quiet, and I have a breed that are known for being....intellectually challenged.

OPs walker is probably a shift worker but I agree the barking in the street at 3am is not on.

[DancingPyjamas]

Excellent. Now try it with 16 of them.
Yes, 16.

[Glentherednosedbattleostrich]

I trained mine not to bark our front in 3 days. It takes work managing behaviour but it works. Aversives are cruel. Justify it whatever way you want but yes, if you use them you're a bastard. Dogs ears are more sensitive than ours so beeps can be painful for them.

[rottiemum88]

We have a reactive dog, so frequently walk her at 4am when it's quiet (you'd be surprised how many other people/dogs we see if we leave it until 5!). However, we wouldn't just leave her to bark and wake all the neighbours. That's plain rude...

[DancingPyjamas]

Are you getting confused with the collars that deliver an electric shock?
The ones I use don't deliver shocks, they beep and then gently vibrate.
As I say, I've tested them on myself and they don't hurt in the slightest.
But hey, I'm a bastard so......

[adaline]

I stop mine barking with a combination of an electric collar and a dog whistle.

Luckily collars like that are being made illegal. It's cruel to use shock collars of any kind on your dog.

You might not care, but thankfully the law thinks differently.

[OrangeTwirl]

How do you stop a dog from barking?
I have never been able to

Teach it the "Speak" command and then "Quiet".

Do not use aversive methods like electric collars. People who haven't a clue use them because they think the shock to the dog is a quick fix. People who use shock collars are lazy, clueless and cruel.

It is much kinder to your dog for you to train it properly and, therefore, build a natural, trusting relationship with you.

[DancingPyjamas]

I have no idea if she enjoys the vibrations or not, I've not asked her.
However, what I do know is, is that it doesn't hurt her as it doesn't hurt me. ( Yes, tried it on myself before using it on her)
If putting something on my dog that doesn't harm or hurt her makes me an utter bastard, then so be it.

[Bogrod]

@DancingPyjamas - so the dog enjoys the vibration? Hmm?

If you’re going to use aversives/punishment on your dog at least educate yourself and be honest about why they work.

[ISmellBabies]

The walking at 3am could be anything, shift work, insomnia, dog having a habit of shitting on the kitchen floor at 3:30!
But the barking because they've let the dog wander out the house off lead and the owner is still pissing about inside for 5 minutes is a really shitty inconsiderate thing to do, so in that respect yanbu.

[DingDongSchadenfreudeOnHigh]

I stop mine barking with a combination of an electric collar

You utter bastard!

Really - you complete and utter bastard,

Those things are beyond cruel.

[Fraggling]

'I know quite a few people who rise early to walk their dogs.'

3am is really quite early indeed...

[WhoisitnowRalph]

I used to walk my dog at 5am because she was super aggressive, so it was better not to meet too many dogs or people if at all possible. Unfortunately she was also very vocal, especially when exploding out of the door to go out.

To avoid pissing off the immediate neighbours I had a practiced routine of making her wait at the open door for me to shove a treat in her gob, which took a bit of the manic velocity out of leaving the house and stopped the hysterical barking.

She was a little gobshite but the neighbours often said they "never heard her". Said gobshite has sadly left us now, she is terrorising everyone at the bridge. 🌈

In answer to your post though OP, the guy with the dog is being a total knobhead for letting his dog roam around barking at 4am whilst he sorts himself out. Irresponsible and lacking in any basic courtesy or consideration.

[DancingPyjamas]

They're not the prong type @Bogrod
They're the ones that beep and vibrate. Totally harmless but effective.

[Glentherednosedbattleostrich]

Bribery, bribery and more bribery! She walks beside me waiting for her treats or carries her favourite toy. Cant bark with a bloody stuffed mouse in your gob!!

I would never use any of the collars, they are very cruel and working with a dog and their natural behaviour is the way to go.

[Bogrod]

DancingPyjamas - then you shouldn’t have a dog. Electric collars are cruel.

[DancingPyjamas]

@PlanDRaccordament
I stop mine barking with a combination of an electric collar and a dog whistle.
Within a few days of use the barking stopped.

[TSSDNCOP]

Nothing pisses me off more than a barky dog.

[Bellasblankexpression]

I am a bit bonkers at 3am/4am which is probably why I decided there was shiftiness afoot.

I understand shift workers or insomniacs taking their dogs out at all hours, I just don’t understand letting him trot about the road and street unsupervised - there were still cars on the road, he was barking and growling, just didn’t seem like a sensible thing to do!