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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you judge me for this? Be honest please!

370 replies

Biggestandbrighteststar · 16/06/2023 22:36

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

OP posts:
bonfirebash · 17/06/2023 00:20

1offnamechange · 16/06/2023 22:50

Fine if it works for you. Personally I would prefer either going to bed later or getting up earlier than a disrupted sleep - but for 100s of years that was the normal sleep pattern for the majority of people - they would have an early sleep, wake up for an hour or two in the middle of the night and have a chat, smoke, pray, snack, go visit neighbours or have sex, then go back to sleep for a few more hours. It only started changing around the time of the industrial revolution due to increased lighting during the dark (gas and then electric streetlamps) and factory shift patterns.

That's my natural sleep pattern, I actually sleep much better doing that! Doesn't really fit in with working but if I'm off work I revert to it

TiaraBoo · 17/06/2023 00:22

I wouldn’t judge you because I’d be asleep!
You just have to find the best solution that fits you but if I was your friend I’d worry about you being out at night but I wouldn’t think the dog would have any problems.

If I’ve missed getting out really early, I drive to the woods as it’s so much cooler under the trees. Just in case that’s an option for you.

MonumentalLentil · 17/06/2023 00:23

Biggestandbrighteststar · 16/06/2023 22:47

I didn’t mean to do that, not sure why I did! She’s definitely a girl, lol

Show quote history

You have been brainwashed by all the weirdness that has taken over.

Wish I had a dog to walk tonight, it's boiling in my bedroom and cool outside.

Cheeserollanyone · 17/06/2023 00:23

Your an amazing dog mum. Xx❤

Somethingneedstochange78 · 17/06/2023 00:27

You actually aren't supposed to shave dogs coats. It keeps them warm in the winter and cool in the summer and protects them from the sun. A trim is fine though but dog expert's advise against shaving them.

MonumentalLentil · 17/06/2023 00:31

TedMullins · 16/06/2023 23:06

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!

Some years ago I took in a very old cat. It was horrendously hot and he wasn't in great health. He found a cool floor and happened to be near the spare freezer so I put it on and opened the door for him to lie in front of, which he did.

XenoBitch · 17/06/2023 00:31

YANBU it is what works for you and your dog. Everyone else can fuck off. It is not like you are insisting any of the people making judgey comments to walk with you at silly AM.
I hope this hot spell breaks soon. My dog hates it too.

Happenchance · 17/06/2023 00:33

Somethingneedstochange78 · 17/06/2023 00:27

You actually aren't supposed to shave dogs coats. It keeps them warm in the winter and cool in the summer and protects them from the sun. A trim is fine though but dog expert's advise against shaving them.

This is a myth. A dog's coat can't defy the laws of physics. It will keep them warm in both winter and summer.

olympicsrock · 17/06/2023 00:36

Bonkers …. Sorry

ALongHardWinter · 17/06/2023 00:36

Whatever works for you! You sound like a lovely doggy mum.

Happenchance · 17/06/2023 00:37

Cherrypies · 16/06/2023 23:22

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?

"I read that you shouldnt clip a double coated dog, as the coat is both a cold and heat protector." This is a myth. Shave away!

theeducatedgroomer.com/shaving-double-coated-breeds/

Stompythedinosaur · 17/06/2023 00:37

I think it's fine, whatever works for you. You aren't hurting anyone.

Thisisabsolutelyfine · 17/06/2023 00:41

the only issue here is safety. That’s not safe.

Eyesofdisarray · 17/06/2023 00:44

Whatever works for both of you. She's lovely 😍 and there's nothing wrong with "dog mum" either

whiskyinthejaro · 17/06/2023 00:50

I remember seeing people doing late dog walks eons ago - back when I was a spring chicken and often walked home with friends after a night out on the town. I really didn't think anything much of it at all, and I definitely saw people out dog-walking after midnight, and probably a fair bit after - on quite a few occasions. If it works for you and your pet that's great.

Coffeeandcards · 17/06/2023 00:59

Yes, I would judge you I’m afraid.

But, really… so what? You don’t know me so who cares? 😁

Lolaandbehold · 17/06/2023 01:06

Wouldn’t be for me but as they say these days, you do you.

Branleuse · 17/06/2023 01:15

Cant you get your dog clippered for the summer? Surely it will get above 20 in your house

SixOClock · 17/06/2023 01:22

Good idea. She may not be as bored if you play scent games and teach her some tricks though, on the days you don't want to get up.

Asiatoyork · 17/06/2023 01:31

Your dog is so cute!!

I’d think you were crazy, but in a nice way. As long as your doggo isn’t barky and loud then sounds like it works for you both.

I had no idea that dogs were so intolerant of heat in general. Can they really not cope with temps above 23 degrees?

BoldandBright · 17/06/2023 01:35

It’s not really anyone elses business when you walk your dog, start your day or go to bed so even if some friends do think its a bit weird its not having any effect on them.
If you and your dog are both happy with the arrangement then other peoples opinions are irrelevant.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 17/06/2023 01:39

You're a responsible dog owner who thinks about their needs
I do the same

gillefc82 · 17/06/2023 01:47

If it works for you and Custard then go for it. Provided you aren’t disturbing the neighbours at that hour and both you and the dog aren’t suffering any ill effects from disrupted sleep, you are doing nothing wrong.

I have two dogs, a 7.5 yr old Belgian Malinois called Fiona and an almost 18 month old Kangal called Stanley. Both are double coated, but both of them are still doing zoomies round the garden and rough housing with each other whenever they’ve been let out for the toilet 🙄. Honestly, I think I’m struggling more with the heat than they are!!

As active breeds that don’t get much out of a simple lead walk round the block, we always book a dog field so they can have a good run. That said, last weekend (and all this week), the owner has closed the field between 12-6pm, so we’ve struggled to get them in and they’ve had to make do with a walk when it’s cooler at night.

MysteryBelle · 17/06/2023 02:21

It seems unsafe for you to be out at that hour, I would go on the walks at 6am, or better yet, 5am-7am. I do feel for the dog getting hot and uncomfortable but 5 am is a good compromise.

MysteryBelle · 17/06/2023 02:23

Oh and yes, get your dog closely clipped for the summer, problem solved. A buzz cut if you will. We did that for our springer.

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