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

What you're doing sounds right for your and for your dog so I think it's great.

Haven't read all the replies so apologies if it's been mentioned already, but you could also consider a cooling vest/jacket for her to help her be more comfortable during the day. Or a cooling mat for your home.

If you feel safe then that’s the main thing. Personally there’s no way on earth I’d go out alone in the middle of the night where I live. Our dogs get walked late evening around 9pm

If I was up at those sorts of times (insomnia kicked in) and the door was open my staffie would take himself off outside and lay in the grass for ages. It was much cooler for him then being indoors.
So taking yours who you know doesn't like the heat sounds like a good idea, whatever works for you. It's not like its a forever thing, it's going to be a few months whilst it's hot. Just please keep safe and at least tell some you trust what you do and where you go walking just in case.

I get one lie in a week and last week I was woken at 6am by my neighbours dog barking. I've never heard a dog so loud...it's really yappy. Its really inconsiderate.

I’m happy to compromise her meeting other dogs and people if it means she doesn’t get heatstroke! She’s so miserable at these temperatures that she wouldn’t enjoy it anyway!

Are you in the Uk, op? Apologies if you’ve already said this. But if you are, then the temp at 6am really shouldn’t be an issue for a healthy dog. Might your dog have an underlying issue? Are they like this in Spring and autumn when the temp during the day is similar to the early morning temp in sumner? Def look at getting a cooling jacket.

Should have known better than to post without including a picture of the lady herself!

meet 2 year old Custard (custard cream!) 😊

and please excuse the black parts in her teeth- they are brushed regularly and are not there usually- she has just eaten 2 brown dog biscuits for sitting for the photo and it stuck to her teeth!

My only concern would be safety, but if you're walking about with a big dog then that probably helps.

Who cares what people think, live your life and do what works for you and your dog.

Dogs aren't Mono-phasic sleepers so you're not disrupting their sleep at all

I'd still think you're nuts 😂😂

If I knew you in rl I'd laugh and tell you I think you're mad, good-naturedly. I would however be mortified if I knew I'd upset you by saying this. Don't care so much about what people think. If you're safe and it works for you, so be it

I wouldn’t feel safe at that time even with a dog. Could you walk early morning when its light? 6am?

My only concern was that you’d be murdered walking about in the middle of the night, but if it works for you, then great.

Do the people who are accusing you of disturbing your dogs sleep actually own dogs themselves? Do they know how dogs work?

Utterly pointless history time. Evidence suggests that you're actually following a sleeping pattern that was once the norm for humans. Pre 15th century it was very normal to go to bed at nightfall, sleep for 4 hours or so, get up and be active and do stuff in the night, then go back to sleep until sunrise.

So you do you, humans weren't specifically built to have precisely 8 hours uninterrupted sleep, we've just adapted that way to fit around modern life. If you're not exhausted and it's working for you (and you're safe out walking at piss take o'clock!) then I say have at it. Happy Dog, Happy owner, who cares what anyone else thinks?

"You shouldn't shave a dog that has a double coat" has been debunked: https://theeducatedgroomer.com/shaving-double-coated-breeds/

Provided your doggo doesn't start barking outside, YANBU.

Although I worry, if they can't handle 6am or 9pm now, well 3am will be that hot when we get a real heatwave like we did last year.

I don't have that problem, I have a little dog daughter (yes daughter) who hates walks, she runs and hides whenever a walk is mentioned, she is much happier to go out and exercise in the garden.

I think it's a bit ridiculous in the sense that this "heatwave" isn't exactly Sicily in August, you know? It's not 42C outside, it's just pretty hot, and your dog should be fine walking at 9pm. Having said that you aren't hurting anybody and if both you and your dog are enjoying yourselves I don't see the issue

I think it's very thoughtful to take your dog out at that time, and I really like being up in the middle of the night. However I think you're bonkers to go out on your own with a dog in terms of safety and nothing would make me consider setting foot out of my house alone late at night.

Your friends are unreasonable - "disrupting her sleep"....

As if dog's have a problem with insomnia!

But at 9pm it’s still above 23 degrees and she’s at risk of heatstroke. It can be really dangerous for certain dogs and she is clearly miserable with it!

You sound like a lovely person who cares about the wellbeing of her dog who is gorgeous BTW.

You sound like a wonderful dog owner. You’re dog is very lucky to have someone that cares so much.

If it works, then who cares.

My old boy had cushings and one of the side effects was insomnia. We regularly had a bimble round the block in the early hours when he couldn’t sleep. I was always surprised by how many other dog walkers were out at that time.

We used to wander down to the beach and watch the sunrise in the summer and then come back and he’d finally fall asleep for a few hours. The sleep deprivation was worse than when my kids were babies, but I love those memories with him

I think you are a wonderful dog mum! You've found a way that works best for both of you. It's not doing anyone else any harm. Go ahead and live your life in the way you want to. Your fur baby is lucky to have you and I bet she has the most wonderful life!
(I also refer to myself as my dog's mum and he is my baby and I don't care what anyone else thinks!

It’s sweet that you are so considerate towards your dog. But if you were my friend or daughter I would just worry about your safety, a female being out walking a dog at 2am would stand out. I walk my dog alone over fields and quiet country lanes and at times I feel pretty vulnerable, but that’s in daylight hours. Never in a million years could I do it at the times of day you do. Anything could happen and it would be hours before anyone could raise any alarm because it would be at least 4 hours before anyone was up. Do you let someone know where/when you’re going?