Considering dogs can detect various forms of cancer, bedbugs, diabetes and much more, your dog must be able to sense your pregnancy. Read on to see what the experts say.
Pregnant women always ask the same question: ‘Can my dog sense I’m pregnant?’ It’s right after ‘When will we learn the baby’s gender?’ and ‘When will I feel the first kick?’ Actually, it may not be that high up on the list of questions, but it certainly comes up given dogs are an integral part of the family.
And the question almost seems like a no-brainer. Our faithful canine companions are capable of detecting the scent of various cancers, elevated blood sugar levels in diabetics, chemicals signaling seizures in epileptics, and much more. They’re also such keen observers of subtle changes in behavior and routines, how can they not know?
While there is no scientific proof on the topic or a foolproof way to know what about a woman’s pregnancy a dog may sense, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence. Just seek out the topic on online forums and websites for moms-to-be and you’ll find reports of dogs sniffing and snuggling pregnant bellies and acting more protective or clingy toward the pregnant woman of the house.
What are the signs your all-knowing furry sidekick knows you’ll be adding to your family soon?
Is it the scent of a woman’s hormones, can dogs hear the heartbeat, or are they just reacting to changes in routine, behavior and even shape? A reader of the fabulous BARK Magazine inquired on the topic in an issue from last summer, and Karen London, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Certified Pet Dog Trainer, author, BARK contributor and part of the team behind dogbehaviorblog.com (a Woof Report favorite), responded.
London, a mother of two children as well, provided a number of reasons why she’s convinced dogs are aware of pregnancy:
- Dogs can detect hormonal changes in their own species related to reproductive status and many hormonal changes are the same in our two species.
- The change in balance of many pregnant women based on changes in weight, shape, and such, should be easily detectable to a species so aware of movement and balance.
- The heartbeat and other sounds are likely detectable with contact as is the movement of the baby.
- The body temperature of women changes, and the extra heat of the belly may draws some dogs in, along with the sounds and motion.
And so we’re back to how can dogs not know! Please do share your stories and comments below – did your dog ‘know’ you were pregnant and what signs did he or she display?
The Scoop:
Many thanks to Karen London for permission to share her insightful thoughts on dogs and pregnancy. Find more of her interesting and informative articles at www.dogbehaviorblog.com and www.thebark.com.
Thank you to Michael Wills on flickr for the photo.
Here’s my own baby bump with my fur family, Ted and Larry. Are they listening to the heartbeat, protecting it or does it simply make a a good spot to lean against?
Originally published in May 2011; reviewed and updated December 2016.
My Female dog seemed to know that I was pregnant from early on…I noticed that she likes to go in the restroom with me(something that she didn’t necessarily do before pregnancy), she just always like to stay close to me, during showers, watching tv, etc…Now I am wondering if my male Bichon has started marking in the house, b/c he senses it too…We have noticed him marking over the past month, I am now currently 30 weeks and it is like we have to retrain my Male.
For some odd reason my friends dog has recently fallen in love with me . When i get there he immediatly comes to me and wants all my attention , if i ignore him he will sit infront of me and bark/whine for me to pet him or hold him. He’s normally an anti-social dog so this kinda freaked me out a bit , What is it about me that he now seems to like ?
I’ve been considering doing a test recently, and at the same time I’m wondering if I’m pregnant or not, my dog sits next to me 99% of the time recently, my cat waits outside my bedroom door if I’m in and its shut, they are both being weirdly affectionate and after reading this may go and buy a preg test! Lol. It is so weird but wonderful that pets have this sort of sense!
I’ve also been considering going to get a test. The past couple days, I’ve been feeling really ill. Smells seem to trigger my gag reflex, and I’m exhausted. Also as of the last few days, our beagle mix won’t leave me alone. She’s always pretty lovey-dovey, but normally if I’m around the house for a while, she will calm down and lay for hours in my bedroom by herself. Not lately. She’s extra-snuggly, and if I kick her off the couch she sits nearby and stares at me (It’s almost unnerving). She’s also been sticking closer to me on our evening walks.
My ppm started smelling around my belly when I first conceived.. She doesn’t do it now, she just cuddles close and gets more jealous than normal when my mother in laws dog wants my attention.. My mother in laws dog did the same thing Sammy(my dog) did when I became pregnant she stuck her nose in my belly button and started jumpin around afterwards.. I can’t wait to find out how they react when the babies actually here cause both pups are about two years old and haven’t encountered pregnancy yet.
I am 3 months pregnant and my old dog has been driving me crazy! He won’t leave me alone, he has to follow me everywhere and is constantly anxious. He clacks his teeth at me (which he does when he is stressed) and is always trying to mouth my hands. He starts whimpering if I leave the room and he is just in general really high strung, when usually he is an extremely mellow dog. I feel guilty because his anxiety is so high I almost just want to avoid him now. The behavior definitely started about the time that I got a positive pregnancy test and has merely been getting worse as I get further along.
Ever since I found out I was pregnant my dogs will not stay in a room without me and if I get up in the middle of the night hes right there behind me. I cant even go to the bathroom without him going in there with me. I cant even lock him in a room to get away from him without him finding a way out and a way to me and he constantly has to have his head on my belly.
We have 3 dogs, the 2 boys were mine and the female was my boyfriend’s before we even met. The boys could care less about my pregnancy, but the female (3year old German Shepherd) at first would put her nose on my belly and take really deep breaths, as if to get the scent. Then she started following me everywhere! Finally she now refuses to leave the bedroom at night and has taken to sleeping on the floor on my side of the bed when before she would sleep dowstairs where it is cooler. The changes have been so dramatic in her level of protectiveness over me and her being more loving than before that she has to know & Im only 12 weeks.
just this morning when I’m on my way to work, my neighbor’s dog just follow me until I crossed the street. Weird as I called it since I haven’t had any interactions with dog since I got pregnant.. the dog just follow me as if he is my “Bodyguard”. So sweet dog.
I found out I was pregnant 5 days ago, after being a few days late starting my period. I am only about 4 and a half weeks but yesterday I was around my fiancé’s dog for the first time since I found out. As soon as I say down he immediately stuck his nose to my belly and started sniffing. He was right by my side the entire night, it’s unbelievable how he could pick up on something that I’m barely starting to notice.
I have had my dog for over a year now and now that I’m pregnant, she hangs around me more often. At first, she use to avoid me and cling to the men in the house ,but now she is always laying with me and not moving lol. I think she knows
This is my second pregnancy this year, as we lost one early on. In both pregnancies, I found out around 3 wks along, my only clues being breast tenderness and overly-attentive dogs (My 2 boys are very affectionate, but during a pregnancy for me, theyre extremely protective and OVERLY affectionate). After the loss, the dogs seemed to be depressed. When I got pregnant a couple mos. later, they perked right back up, and again became very attentive. I am now 18 wks along, and my 2 male dogs literally fight and race to get to me first when I sit down. They enjoy snuggling their ears up to my belly. When the baby moves, they will look up at me with knowing eyes. When my husband and 7 year old roughhouse, the dogs barricade me from them. If anyone the dogs are unfamiliar with is around, both of my boys tend to barricade them from me as well, standing between us during conversation, etc. I find it quite touching that they are sharing such a deep connection already with my unborn child.
I just found out yesterday that I’m 4 1/2 Weeks pregnant and the night before I found out my male doberman just had to have his head on my tummy so I guess he knew before I did he did something really cool after I found out and realized why he had his head there….I was laying on the bed with him and he moved his head away from my tummy then immediately placed his paw over it he’s such a sweet boy.
My Sadie seems more loving and will keep her head against my belly when I move it there to have her hear the heart beat and movement. My Chevy will not come near me as much but when he does he smells my belly and especially my right nipple where it’s the most itchy. He’s been a bit nippy because he was ran over on Jan 1 by a car and had emergency surgery, maybe that’s why he’s more distant than ever. He know’s he can nip at any twinge of pain.