Should I say something about their gorgeous new puppy?

They must be a bit thick if they don't realise that a dog barking at 5am is disturbing the neighbours.

They won't do anything about it until somebody complains.

Lots of good suggestions here about how to broach the subject with them. I agree with those who say it needs to be stopped before it becomes a habit. And btw getting up at 5am is one thing, disturbing neighbours at that time is quite another. They probably don't realise and will want to stop disturbing people so you'll be doing them a favour

Phoenix - I don't want to raise the ante here but - for various reasons I know a number of cockerpoos. I'll confess to owning one. They often like the sound of their own voice and as has been said, barking can become a habit. They are a mix of two very high energy dogs, poodles are very bright and like to bark. Some are crossed with working cockers, Very bright, high energy and need a job.
I do hope your neighbours get involved in good quality training asap ??

How will they know its a problem unless you tell them?

Id talk to them about it , compliment the puppy on its gorgeousness, off to puppy sit( if you like that sort of thing) and go from there.

I wouldn't be offended if it was my dog , Id rather know.

I wouldn't talk to the neighbours about it. Herein lies the path to neighbourly discord! Be honest with them while saying what a lovely dog it is and see if they can do anything to stop the barking eg take the dog out on a lead for a walk. Good luck!

It's a puppy. Give it time.

If he is a NEW puppy he will surely grow out of it anyway?

Same here! Been on the go 3 hours plus!

Thanks for the replies.

Apparently they always get up at 5am, even before they got the dog!

I would have a word with them in as friendly a manner as I could. I would also ask my neighbours either side if they'd been disturbed too. "Myself and others" may carry a little more weight and make her realise.
I couldn't leave my dog barking for a long perid it would really pee me off never mind the neighbours

Sorry, forgot to answer. Yes I think you should say something, maybe offering an idea of how to stop him barking.

Luckygirl, so what is so odd about getting up at 5.00? Getting back to Stanley, maybe he needs to go out at that time to relieve himself. Ok, he may bark when he first goes out but perhaps his owners could get him in again straight afterwards. Perhaps they could put his lead on to take him into the garden then take him in again. I agree that his current behaviour could become a habit if not nipped in the bud. (There are a couple of collies who live a few doors away. Every night around 10.15 they are let out for a final wee. One of them barks maybe three times then all is quiet, you could set your clock by him. Always picture him haring down the garden ready to ward off any uninvited cats).

It sounds like you have a really friendly relationship with your neighbours so will want to go carefully so as not to spoil that. However, I do think it's unreasonable for a dog to be barking continuously at that time in the morning.

I think you should say something, perhaps starting by saying that you feel embarrassed and upset to have to mention it because they are such great neighbours and you don't want to upset them.

(I'm sure there must be advice on the internet about how to train a dog out of the behaviour.)

Dawn breaks around 4.30 am in our neck of the woods and our dogs start pacing about to be let out. Occasionally they rush out with a bark as though to chase away anything which has been visiting the garden over night. It becomes a bit of a ritual, even at weekends when we would prefer to have a lie in, but the dogs can't be expected to know on which days we go to work and on which days we don't.
What I am trying to say is that if it is bothering you, then you should try to mention it now before the puppy gets set in his ways. It will be harder to stop the barking if he has been allowed to do it over a period of time, it's a sort of learned behaviour.

After they have let it out to do its morning business, do they let it back in again or have they gone back to bed and left it outside barking?

It is very odd that the neighbours get up at 5am. Have they always done this or do they perhaps do it because the dog is scratching to go out? Lovely though the dog and the owners might be, you cannot be woken at 5 every morning, so I do not think you have any choice but to hold a conversation with them. If they are the nice people you believe them to be, then hopefully they will be concerned that you are being woken.

Ear plugs???

Have any other neighbours commented?

if it was my neighbour i would go and have a nice word with them about allowing their dog to bark so much at that time in the morning, it is very inconsiderate of them , surely they cant think everyone is up at that time of the day.