Would you judge me for this? Be honest please!

[Biggestandbrighteststar]

Hi! Just looking for some honest opinions on whether I’m acting weirdly and if you would judge me for this!

I’ve had family dogs before as a child, but im in my early 20s and my dog is my first dog that’s actually been mine IYSWIM. I’m a bit of an obsessed dog mum who spends the majority of my time with my dog and making sure she’s ok. But I’m getting better haha.

anyway, my dog is a large breed double coated dog who really, really struggles with hot weather. We can usually get away with walking very early and very late but with the heatwave recently they have been miserable even with that and even walking at 6am has been too hot for them.

however, I’ve found a good window between 2-4 where it’s perfectly cool enough for them. So we have been going to bed at 10, then walking from 2-4, then going back to bed and sleeping until the morning. I can be extremely flexible with my work (I don’t work 9-5 for example) and I’m feeling fine with the routine. I’m still getting enough sleep I’ve just rejigged my day to accommodate it all and it works.

I don’t particularly like being out in the middle of the night but my dog absolutely adores it so I take a torch, charged phone etc. During the day she gets to plod around the house and chill in her pool but it means she also gets exercise too.

i briefly mentioned it to some friends who snorted, rolled their eyes and said I’m being ridiculous walking about during the night and that it’s unsafe and I’m being selfish disrupting my dogs sleep. But she was so depressed not being able to be walked and this solution works for us both. But I don’t know if me being an obsessed slightly neurotic first time dog mum is clouding my judgement and I’m being silly? Just to clarify I wouldn’t judge others for not doing this, it’s just something that works well for me and my dog

I think you’re doing what works for you and is best for your fur baby. I used to walk my furbaby boy at 4am. Never had a problem. Carry on what your doing.

Not unreasonable to do what youth doing, but I do think it’s cruel to have a dog like that in this country.

Absolutely do what's right for you!!! I'd do the same but I have a cat! I'm obsessed with her. Ignore your dicky friends.

As someone who has literally slept in a barn for a weekend to nurse a sick kid goat and who takes adult goats out for Sunday walks so they can have a change of scenery , you'll get no judgement from me😂
If it works for you then don't worry about what others say

Seen some posts on FB talking about people dogs pass getting burnt on the hot pavements so I would show your friends the pictures of the poor dogs with their burnt paes6snd then see what they have to say about it afterwards!!!

This 😂

Also this 😂

I would say to the person who said 23 is fine for most dogs…that would absolutely not be ok for my long haired Collie to run about in so not sure where the “fact” behind that statement came from.

high five to you for getting out of bed at that time… both Rosie (furbaby) and I are both lazy bitches in bed snuggles together on top of the covers at that time 😂!

last irrelevant point…I like all normal dog owners will always pick up her poop and have a poo bag in everything I own. Though what I do that people on MN won’t like is that she never gets walked on her leash, she has no interest in other dogs or people…The worst she has ever done is give a v excited child to see/play with her a big slobbery kiss that I’m not sorry about that x

It's a Golden Retriever!!!!! Not some dog breed originating from North Pole.

Mmm... scotland, and their ancestors originated in flatcoat retrievers who themselves came from dogs used on the pretty nippy canadian coast, including Newfoundlands (well the dogs that became that breed anyway).

So yes, not well adapted to hot weather, and we've selectively bred for more and longer coat since then...

I would think you were insane and risk getting attacked or raped. I also think you have no idea what hot weather is. I'm not in the UK, it's winter where I am atm in the Southern Hemisphere, and 23 degrees celsius is cold. We're wrapped up in jumpers with that degrees. Ironically it's currently 23 degrees (expected to get down to frost-creating 6 tonight) as I speak and this morning I had the split cycle aircon heater blasting. We walk dogs here in summer (which can average 37 degrees) with zero problems. Vets here have no issue with it but they recommend if it's too hot on the road/footpath for your bare feet, it's too hot for your dogs paws and to not walk them then. 23 degrees should be fine, you don't want to go much lower than that though as dog could get a cold/pneumonia. It's batshit thinking 23 is 'hot' or a 'heatwave'. You don't know what an actual heatwave is. Golden Retrievers go on walks here in 30 deg to mid 30s with ease and no problems at all, so if your dog can't cope with such cold/mild weather as 23 deg, something much serious is going wrong with her. Don't cut her fur, she will get a cold in this weather. Not for the reasons of 'sunburn' (what sun? There is no sun in the UK).

It's a Golden Retriever! I live in a country with more hot days than the UK and plenty of people have them here with no issues.

Wtf??? We have Old English Sheepdogs in Australia and they cope. If anything, Golden Retrievers would be cold in the UK.

Cannot deny it’s a lot lol however, if it works and your ok with that routine go with it after all I’m assuming it’s just through the summer!

What is unreasonable is getting a dog breed that is entirely unsuitable for the climate that you live in. It’s extremely cruel to expect an animal with fur that has evolved for a cold climate to live somewhere hot. It would be like expecting you to spend all day in your warmest winter coat.

Why did you get this breed?

For the 99th time - it's a Golden Retriever!!! There are plenty of them in countries with hotter weather than the UK. What is wrong with you all??? So many people carrying on as though the UK is the hottest place in the world.

I used to get up at 4am for this reason until our dogs were old enough not to need an energetic walk. Stood me in good stead for being up all night with DS lol.

Can't have dogs now but I say do whatever makes you happy or yappy perhaps.

I can't see a problem. It's your life and the main thing is that your dog is happy The only concern I have is safety. It's worth investing in a personal alarm and spray and add to your keyring. I bought these items for my granddaughter when she began uni and living away from home. You can't be too careful. Another thing is, as your dog is double-coated, a visit to a dog groomer would be worth it. They have a wonderful piece of equipment that gently blasts the fur which removes the under coat. Have fun with your pooch!

You are doing what suits you and your pet.

Dogs are like humans, in that they will get uncomfortably hot if the temperature is significantly above what they are normally adjusted to. So it doesn't matter if there are hypothetical Golden Retrievers living in Timbuktu or Mexico who are perfectly fine in temperatures of 27 degrees and above: these are not actually the dog we are talking about on this thread, and therefore irrelevant.

I'd say carry on if you feel safe, but try to edge the walks more towards early morning as soon as you can. What you're doing is commendable, but the sooner you can get back to walking your dog in daylight hours,the safer you'll be. I'm full of sympathy, though ... got a dog here waking me up at stupid O'clock every morning because she's hot and it's light and she doesn't know what to do with herself. Your dog is very lucky to having such a loving, caring owner as yourself.

Dog mum 😭

My only thought was that if it goes on too long the dog will miss out on socialising with other dogs, and that would create a problem later on when she gets to meet them again. However, you mitigated that when you took her out earlier when it was cooler.
I'm concerned that you may be spending too much time with your dog and setting her up for separation anxiety.

I think you sound absolutely animal crackers - but in the very best way possible and I’d love to be your best friend! People who put their dogs first are winners in my book - regardless of what anyone else thinks!!!

Now I’ve realised this dog is a golden retriever I get the unsafe comments!
I’d happily walk my double coated guard breed at 2am because I’d feel very safe.I wouldn’t with with a golden retriever as they are possibly the friendliest breed on the planet!

My dogs very thick double coat is very clever as built for Siberian extreme heat , extreme cold. The golden retriever has a different type of double coat.

Anyone who suggests shaving is incorrect as that is the worst thing you can do.

Also as to the suggestion it won’t be meeting dogs. Dogs should not meet strange dogs full stop. They are man’s best friend not other dogs best friends. That’s extreme where dog owners go wrong. It’s not a problem they just need to be neutral to dogs and humans.

Personally I’d walk at 20/21 degrees max about 7/8 in morning.

Argh, the 'I live in a hot country with my big hairy dog and he is fine at temps far higher than the UK is now' comments.

Yes. Your dog is acclimated to those temps and will not have produced the amount of undercoat a dog from colder climates has.

A dog here in generally cold damp Britain, has not and is not.

What are you talking about?

It's a golden retriever, not some kind of Mountain Dog bred to live outside in Russia