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 have a double coated dog, who is suffering in the heat, so have started taking out early morning, but that's at 5-6am, where I am south east, it's approx 14 at that time.
As she is getting a bit older now, 10 going on 11, that one hour walk is enough.

Its a 10 min road walk to the park, so I always take water, have the park walk, give water, then take the 10 min road walk back. They seem fine with that.
I read that you shouldnt clip a double coated dog, as the coat is both a cold and heat protector. As she is mainly an English setter, I just clip excess fur/feathering from her chest and backside area.
She chooses to sit in the back garden most of the evening, and has a cool mat in the day.
I would worry about safety at the time you go out in the morning, would the dogs protect you, if they had to?

Well obviously...but my neighbours walk their dog at 6am on a weekend...it is a very barky dog and wakes us all up. I find it incredibly selfish. I'd be even more pissed off if it was at 2am. Yes you can do lots of things but if it disturbs others, it's inconsiderate.

Is this true? How interesting. I had no idea.

Obviously yes if it's barking then that's not ok. Otherwise there's no issue.

If you want to run your life round a dog thats up to you. But I dont blame your friends for thinking its a bit bonkers.

Didnt know how its selfish the dog likes it-you dont mind whats it got to do wit anyoe else

i think its refreshing to read about someone actually does a sensible thing for their dog unlike the stories about leaving them in a car and walking on hot pavements

Personally, I think this (& you) are absolutely wonderful. Totally devoted to your dog is what the world needs more of.

In the current world of surrendering your pets for the shittiest reasons (obviously imo) this is just lovely.

that is one lucky dog!

I was out at 6 am this morning, walked the dog for an hour in the lovely cool fresh morning, hardly anyone about. He had a second hour walk with DH around 9pm. Far more comfortable for him (and us). He's hot and he 's a short-haired dog.

Have you considered getting your dog clipped for summer?

You sound like a lovely dog owner! ❤it would make me laugh how dedicated you are to walk at night but not in a judgey way. I think it's sweet.

Just do what you want. It hurts no one else.

Wouldn't judge you for one second.

My last dog, rest in peace Bob (😍) I used to be up at half four to walk him for 90 minutes before I went to work. He didn't need 90 minutes, but I enjoyed it, he enjoyed it, it wasn't a hardship, it was fun! I just went to bed early!

You do what works for you. You like doing it, you love your dog, crack on. Fucks sake, its your life!

Wake you up leaving and coming home? Do you think she’s the tin man?

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

Shit. Wait until you find out about milkmen. And teens on scooters. And, yanno...life 😂

As long as you feel safe I don't see the problem.
It might also be worth while to get your dog some puzzle toys or a snuffle mat to mentally stimulate her when a walk isn't possible. My vet recommended them for my dog who was bored after surgery but couldn't go for a walk for a little while and they did the job of tiring her out.

I have a nervous dog so I enjoyed walking her around 11 pm and 5 am when there were hardly any people around. That is until I witnessed a young man mugging a woman which included a lot of shouting and giving her a good beating. I was with the woman until the police arrived (hours letter), what I found more interesting is that there was a lot of shouting from the guy, the woman and myself trying to get the man to stop, despite being in the middle of a well to die residential area nobody openned the door to help even as she was lying on the pavement and the thug was gone. The “I don’t want to get involved” is unfortunately a great act of cowardice very very prevalent in the country.

For a long time I was scared of walking my dog as I was afraid the thug recognised the dog and therefore myself as a witness. Nowadays I am not afraid to be identified as a witness, I am afraid that with this incident I realised I am vulnerable on my own in the middle of the night so no, no walks between 10 pm and 7am just in case. I can assure you nobody will even turn a light on if you have a problem in the middle of the night.

I would be mildly amused but completely supportive of you doing whatever works for you and your pet.

We can always rely on you, can't we hun.

Don't see a problem with this! I do judge dog owners who drag their creatures out when it's hot and it's the middle of the day. I can feel the heat of the pavement through my shoes, it must be unbearable for any animal. 😟

Well to do not well to die… but probably both are correct 😕

I see someone has already mentioned the Second Sleep concept. Worked for people in the past. Here's a BBC article about it.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220107-the-lost-medieval-habit-of-biphasic-sleep

One short Google tells me that this is not at all what Vets Now say. It suggests that particular breeds are more at risk and suggests that a gentle walk might be okay but the overall message is to walk all dogs in temperatures under 19° to avoid heatstroke.

If OP says her dog is visibly uncomfortable why are you so insistent she walk it?

I absolutely wouldn’t as it’s not safe. I live in a hot US state and my dog skips walks during heatwaves or goes out before 8am but I wouldn’t be out in the middle of the night in the dark.

Personally I think you’re being ridiculous. Dogs can handle a bit of heat no problem. I have a large double coated dog who prefers to go out first thing, but can easily handle late morning when necessary. Just bring water, let them drink and wet their underside and paws with it. Going out in the middle of the night means your dog won’t have the pleasure of interacting with other people and dogs because no one else in their right mind would be out at that hour!

23 is most definitely not fine for most dogs!

OP - I take my doggie @ 5am. If it’s safe to walk at 2-4 am where you are, why not?

YABU IMO, but each to their own. This hotter weather seems unlikely to go away so get ready for several years of this.

Dog mum is ick. You are not its mum - you took the dog away from its mum in fact, no? So I find that distasteful.