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

Have you considered having her coat clipped really short? My friend has an Old English Sheepdog and as soon as the weather gets hot she has her clipped (apart from her fringe which she needs to protect her eyes) and she loves it.

I often walk mine at 1am on my own

Thank you so much for this (and everyone else!!!) I feel a lot better after posting, think I just needed some reassurance that I wasn’t disturbing my dogs sleep unnecessarily and being silly!

thank you very much everyone :-)

I'd definitely judge you for calling yourself a "dog mum"!! But not for walking your dog at 2am. That sounds like a good idea so long as you feel safe.

I had a double coated dog-and I used to get her stripped regularly. Does that work for your dog's breed?

she’s as short as she can safely be without being at risk of sunburn etc :( but a great tip for anyone else who might be reading and in a similar situation! 👍🏻

I understand but really hope you're being sensible, ie: personal alarm/ no headphones etc

Totally mad but if it works for you and your dog then go for it.

My pair (also double coated and not keen on the heat) were walked at 6am this morning

Bless you! You're thinking of your dogs comfort (which is what I would do). Hats off to you!

No I wouldn't judge you. I judge the people walking their dogs at 2pm on boiling pavements but not someone like you who is doing their best. I don't really see what there is to judge tbh - even if people think it's a bit much it's not impacting them. People do things every day that I wouldn't do but I don't judge them for it (eg get drunk, go for a run, spend money on cars etc etc etc)

Great to see an owner really considering their pet's comfort. The number of dogs that Ive seen out on lunchtime walks near me is just ridiculous. They all have their tongues out and look quite uncomfortable but the owners keep going like there's nothing wrong

You’re a wonderful dog mum. And there is nothing wrong with that phrase. I’m a dog mum and a human mum 🤷🏻‍♀️

No I wouldn’t. I judge people more for walking dogs on boiling afternoons! I have a rescue pug so understand. Sometimes I wish I could put him in the fridge!

Personally I would feel unsafe but obviously you don’t so that’s your choice to make. It would generally be cooler at 4am than 2am so I think I’d opt for a super early wake rather than the disrupted night but again, your call. As long as you aren’t letting your dog bark near residential areas and not picking up her poo then I don’t think it impacts others.

I live in a country where it’s not uncommon to be over 20 degrees in the winter, have never heard of heat stroke warnings for dogs at those temperatures, however I don’t own a dog so perhaps I’m just not aware.

I'd only judge soemone for being cruel to an animal (or not picking its S H 1 T up).
If it works for you it works-if dog is a large breed then you're safer anyway.
I too have a huge large double coated dog. I don't walk her until later on but I still worry about being judged as, as you say it's still in the 20s sometimes. I just test the pavement and make sure I walk her in places where she can easily cool down (I am near a country park with a lot of streams and ponds).
She doesn't suffer too much though. Compared to my partner's dogs the heat really doesn't seem to bother her so much. If my dog was really miserable in the heat I'd not do it.

I would, yep, ours are not so big and hairy so 6am and 11pm is fine, but at 9 here it was still 27 outside and the ground radiates back quite a bit of heat.

Clipping is not quite the solution people seem to think - whilst it will allow a dog to cool faster once they stop moving and go somewhere cool, it will NOT keep a dog cool whilst it is moving around, or in a hot environment/in direct sunlight.

It can mean they get burnt too!

Wearing fewer layers for humans is great, we sweat, we need air to our skin for that to evaporate to cool us down.

Dogs don't sweat, so removing insulative protection from direct sunlight is not automatically helpful.

Not all dogs have a coat that does insulate well and help them though and some have coats that are stupidly heavy, produce way too much fluffy thermal underwear, and they do need help, but that may be better provided for many by thorough grooming and sensible management, stopping them running around in the heat, keeping them to cooler rooms and surfaces.

You’ve solved a problem. It’s not as if you have to get up 4 hours later. You live your dog, she was miserable. You’ve found a way around it.

I sympathise with both of you because I have a breed that’s hopeless in the heat but but she’s small, so I wouldn’t feel as safe as you being out in the middle of the night.

Your friends can roll their eyes all they like but these hot spells don’t last long and it’s more than worth the sacrifice (if it even is that yo you) to keep your dog happy and healthy.

What a lovely thing to do for your dog! Please stay safe though, get yourself an alarm and don't wear earphones. Your dog is lucky to have such a dedicated owner 😊

I take mine to the woods btw, but she’s still a bit hot and not everyone has a wood with a stream running through it nearby.

Totally crazy but also totally fine. I often join my cat for his nighttime hunts as he is very anxious and feels safer with me there. When he was an indoor cat, we also made time for play almost every evening whilst I worked a 14 hour day at a startup. My Dh is dog mad and sometimes video calls the dog.

Selfish disrupting your sleep to walk your dog at a time that's cool enough for them and they can sleep through the day 🤔that's a strange opinion from your friends.

Sound like being completely selfless to me and putting the dogs needs first.

I wouldn't judge you but I'd be hugely pissed off if you woke me up leaving and coming home or if your dog barked in the street.

People are allowed to leave their homes whenever they like

Well I think you sound like a great mum to be so considerate. You will know your dog and her temperament in heat. I work in a kennels, anything above 23 they are playpen only in the afternoon being sprayed to keep them cool, wet towels on floors etc.

I had a st Bernard last week, biggest I've seen and he struggled so much bless him.

I need to know the breed though....

If you're awake why not? I get up before first light and walk my dogs because of the heat. It's lovely out there.

My dogs have a paddling pool which they lie in during the day, in the shade. It's only a couple of inches deep but they love it.

Fair play to you, showing real dedication! My friend has recently got back from Australia and they were getting up at 3 am to start exercising the horses for 4 am. If it works for you then crack on, I have another friend who would definitely do it if it was the only time her dogs were happy being walked.