Hi, while browsing this forum over the last few weeks, I've noticed a few posters who mentioned they do shiftwork/work nights and sleep days. So do I! So I was wondering, just how many of us are there on this forum, and what kind of work do y'all do? (I'm night staff in a youth rehab center) Also, when do you find time to walk/exercise your dogs? Do you go first thing in the morning when you get home, or do you go in the evenings before your shift? What about your nights off? Do you maintain your sleep schedule by staying up, or do go back to being diurnal? Do you live in an area that is relatively safe for night walking? And last, but not least: I'm sure glad to know I'm not the only one with strange hours!

Shoot! I replied to this thread and something happened and lost it all..


Anyway. I don't envy you! But I can sympathize. Not too long ago I worked noct shifts as a medical assistant caring for an elderly woman suffering from dementia. It definitely took a toll on me after awhile because I never got to see my boyfriend or spend any decent amount of time with our doggies. But after I got home and rested up, I'd spend the rest of the day with my furbabies until I was off to work again.

I guess i don't have odd hours, but i'm a Stable hand/Farm hand. I work horses all day. Mornings start at 9 with feed, after feed i take them to the pastures. While they wine and dine all day on their gorgeous hay (haha) i clean out stalls and prepare for pm chores of feed and suppliments. Then around 8:30pm, they all come in and are ready to graze some more hay and eat their grains.

I take my dogs at any time. Mostly in the afternoon/early evening. My dogs get their excersise by running, we don't take daily walks on roads or things, we run through the woods and fields which gives them plenty of excersise. Some days my chubby female acts like she's dying. Both my boxers are EXTREMELY sensitive to extreme temps, so acutally any type of walking routine doesn't really work. But they get their energy out on the field by running me in circles and i do some agility with my male who has more energy than my female.

We typically don't walk the woods at night, sometimes the fields. Where we live, there are timberwolves and large coyotes, some bears and what not. However, my boxers are both pretty prey-drive oriented (and my female will point) and so any type of threat like that could easily be averted as animals in our area aren't normally overly-aggressive/vicious. In fact, i think i enjoy the night walks under the stars more than the dogs.

And lastly... i don't have a sleep schedule. Insomnia is my disease and it works, so no complaints here.

i work at night before and go home early in the morning.. i usually walk my dog when i got home..

Yoou guys are not alone! I am currently working as a call-center agent and my shift is called "Grave Yard" I believe you know what it means. I walk my dogs with my brother in the morning after my shift. When it's my rest day, I sleep the whole day then hang out with friends at night. The place where I live is safe at night, streets are all well-lighted.

Thanks for the responses! It's so nice to know I'm not the only one who is "up in the night!" You Betcha-- it sounds like you and I keep the most similar routine: My shift is also the "graveyard shift." I prefer to walk my dog in the evenings before work (my "morning"). When I get home in the morning, the only thing on my mind is going to bed! I too live in a fairly quiet community, with a well-lit park nestled in a housing development, and Mr. Policeman cruising around, making sure I'm okay.

On my nights off I too sleep during the day, then get up and surf online, watch a movie, read, crochet, or go grocery shopping. Occasionally I can get some cleaning done, but I have a family, so I have to be quiet and let them sleep.

My husband also works hard hours-- he gets up around 2 am, and doesn't get home until 5 or 6 pm! He is a truck driver. On my nights off I'm able to pack his lunch and see him off. We only see each between getting up and going to bed, it seems. We've been living this way for about 6 years now, lol.

i use to work at night before because I used to work in a call center..that's why..

[wishbone]

I've been on night shift before and good thing I live in busy yet I can say "safe" even at night.

Originally Posted by Mydogiscute

Thanks for the responses! It's so nice to know I'm not the only one who is "up in the night!" You Betcha-- it sounds like you and I keep the most similar routine: My shift is also the "graveyard shift." I prefer to walk my dog in the evenings before work (my "morning"). When I get home in the morning, the only thing on my mind is going to bed! I too live in a fairly quiet community, with a well-lit park nestled in a housing development, and Mr. Policeman cruising around, making sure I'm okay.

On my nights off I too sleep during the day, then get up and surf online, watch a movie, read, crochet, or go grocery shopping. Occasionally I can get some cleaning done, but I have a family, so I have to be quiet and let them sleep.

My husband also works hard hours-- he gets up around 2 am, and doesn't get home until 5 or 6 pm! He is a truck driver. On my nights off I'm able to pack his lunch and see him off. We only see each between getting up and going to bed, it seems. We've been living this way for about 6 years now, lol.

Wow! I admire your husband. I heard that infidelity comes in when a wife doesn't have enough time for her husband. You two have a wonderful marriage. I have been in this shift since 2005, and I am aware that it is not healthy to stay up late for 2 years. Some medical experts said that there are risks in this kind of routine. One of those risks is breast cancer, disrupting one’s usual sleep patterns interrupts the nocturnal production of the hormone melatonin. Melatonin, is responsible for slowing down the growth of breast cancer.:???:

But I know we all enjoy the graveyard shift, aren't we?:mrgreen: