Can Dogs Sense Pregnancy In Humans? What Science Says

A funny thing I see happen often on online forums is that someone will think their dog is sick, because they’re acting differently than usual. But, the vet can’t find the cause.

Often, people will suggest for the owner to see a doctor instead! This is because dogs can sense illness and even pregnancy in people, sometimes before they know themselves.

Dogs can sense pregnancy in humans, though we don’t know for sure how much they understand or what causes them to behave differently when someone in the household is pregnant. They might become clingy, protective, or even act out and misbehave more than usual.

In this article, we’ll talk about whether dogs can sense pregnancy in humans, the behavioral changes you might see, and how to make the transition of having a baby easier on your dog.

Do Dogs Get Clingy When You’re Pregnant?

Dogs can, and often do, become clingy when you’re pregnant. After noticing a change in you, they might begin to cuddle you more often, or refuse to leave your side while you’re home.

Some dogs have “their person” in the house, but will leave their side once another person in the home becomes pregnant to cling to them instead.

No one can really say for sure why dogs do this, and it’s likely different depending on the dog. Some dogs may notice you’re sick due to the pregnancy and want to provide comfort. Others might love babies, so they stay by your side when they know you’re carrying.

You know your dog best, so you might be able to make a guess at why they’ve become clingy. Who knows – maybe they even know they won’t have you to themselves after the baby comes and want to get in some quality time!

Are Dogs Protective of Their Pregnant Owners?

Some dogs can become protective of their pregnant owner. This can come with clinginess, or not.

Again, we can’t know for sure why some dogs’ protective instincts kick in when someone’s pregnant. We can only guess at what goes on in their heads.

They might see the pregnant person as vulnerable, especially if they’re sick from pregnancy or moving around less than usual.

It’s possible your dog is protecting the fetus rather than you, as well. Some dogs remain clingy and protective over the baby once they’re born, showing that maybe that’s who their behavior was geared toward.

What If My Dog is Too Protective?

Protectiveness in dogs can sometimes go awry. After all, a dog “protecting” you from others in the home isn’t the same as protecting you from a burglar!

If your dog is getting overly protective, consider hiring a professional to help address the problem before it escalates. A certified veterinary behaviorist will be best, but otherwise look for a trainer who uses force-free methods. Aversive training methods can worsen guarding and cause it to escalate to aggression.

Do Dogs Misbehave When Their Owner is Pregnant?

Not all dogs know what’s happening when someone’s pregnant or how to deal with it in a nice way, like giving extra cuddles.

Some dogs may sense a difference in their guardians and misbehave as a result. This can especially be true if your dog is getting less attention, exercise, or mental stimulation.

Ideally, others in the home should step in for the person who’s pregnant if they’re the dog’s main caretaker. Your dog still needs to be cared for, after all – and any dog who doesn’t receive enough walks or mental stimulation will start getting bored and potentially act out. They’re just looking for something to do!

But even when cared for, a dog might act out due to the change in routine. Even if the other person does everything the same, your dog might wonder why the pregnant person isn’t spending that time with them anymore. 

Or, on the flip side, your dog might be used to the pregnant person going to work every day. Maternity leave can throw them off – maybe they usually sleep while everyone’s away, and now they’re awake and missing that sleep, for instance.

How to Help a Misbehaving Dog

The first thing to remember is that your dog isn’t trying to be bad or make your life harder. This can be tough to remember, especially when having a rough pregnancy.

Put yourself in their place. Dogs thrive on routine, and your dog has likely come to expect the same things day to day. Now, things are changing. That’s incredibly stressful for a dog.

Here are some ways to help your dog, which will also help their behavior.

• Keep routines as similar as possible. Keep walks, meal times, and any other routines in your dog’s life. The pregnant person may be unable to do this, but ideally others will step up to help! You could also consider hiring a dog walker if you can afford it.
• Give them extra attention. When a dog feels insecure, sometimes all they need is a bit more love to comfort them.
• Hire help. If you don’t have someone at home to help with your dog, consider hiring someone to help walk or groom them.
• Visit the veterinarian. If your dog is normally well-behaved, it’s important to rule out changes in their health. Sometimes dogs act out due to illness or pain.
• Give it time. Sometimes, all you can do is wait for your dog’s big feelings to pass. Once they get used to the changes in their life, they might adapt and go back to the well-behaved dog they used to be.

Preparing Your Dog for the New Addition

Raising a dog and baby at the same time can be difficult, especially if you haven’t done it before. Here are some ways to make the process go more smoothly for you and your dog:

Make lifestyle changes slowly

If you spend all day doting on your dog now, they’re going to have a hard time adjusting when you split your time to focus on the new baby. They might also resent the baby as the reason they aren’t getting the attention they want. Instead, start spending less time with your dog while you’re pregnant. I’m not suggesting less walks or neglecting your dog’s needs – just getting them used to your attention not always being focused on them.

Where possible, don’t change their routine

Some changes will need to be made, either temporarily while you recover or permanently due to the baby’s arrival. However, your dog still needs to be cared for properly! This means sticking to their daily walks, feeding them every day, and grooming them as needed. 

Desensitize your dog to baby sounds and smells

A baby crying can be very stressful to a dog! I know my last pup would get very upset hearing babies crying, even though he’d never lived with one.

It can also be very attention-grabbing for your dog, and they might go overboard getting in your baby’s face to find the source of the sound or in an attempt to help.

One way to desensitize your dog to this is to play the sound of a baby crying on your phone or computer for them to hear before the baby comes home. This way, it won’t be brand new.

You can also do this with smells to a certain point. Let your dog smell the lotion you’ll use on your baby–you can even put it on yourself or a blanket so they can smell it regularly.

This can be especially helpful for sniffy dogs who might crowd the baby otherwise!

Work on training and socialization

Your dog should know basic manners before meeting your baby, as this will keep everyone safe. You don’t want them jumping on you while the baby is in your arms, for instance.

Some things to work on include:

• Not jumping on people
• Greeting people calmly
• “Place” command that teaches them to go to a bed or spot in the house to calm down
• “Leave it” command in case you need your dog to ignore the baby (if they’re getting over-excited about meeting them, for instance)

Mental enrichment can temporarily replace physical exercise

It’s understandable not to walk your dog the day you come home with your baby, or even while you’re in the hospital. If you don’t have anyone to step in for you, prepare some enrichment activities for the days you can’t go on walks or have as much play time as usual. These can include puzzle toys, frozen KONG toys, lick matts, and even homemade dog enrichment games. You’ll want the activity to be difficult enough to keep your dog occupied and tire out their brain, but not so difficult that they give up!

Leash your dog during the first introduction

Some dogs get very excited around babies and don’t quite know their own size, or how to be gentle. They’ll likely be very curious when you bring the baby home and want to see them right away!

Keeping them on a leash can stop them from jumping up, which could hurt the baby. It can also stop them from crowding the baby and doing too much sniffing!

Of course, you want your dog to meet your baby so that they know what’s happening and you can begin the process of teaching them to coexist peacefully.

Constantly berating your dog for getting too close or not allowing them to interact at all can confuse your dog and make them associate the baby with your scolding, which doesn’t set up a good relationship for the two of them!

But, you also want to make sure introductions are done safely. Keep your dog on a leash and watch their body language. If they’re fearful, you might have to take the process more slowly and let them warm up to the baby. Don’t force your dog to interact if they’re not interested!

Can Dogs Sense Labor?

Dogs may sense that you’re in or nearing labor due to the changes in your body and scent. You might notice changes in their behavior as a result, even if they haven’t acted differently earlier in the pregnancy.

If you have Braxton-Hicks contractions or go into labor at home, your dog might grow concerned since they can tell you’re in pain.

Can Dogs Sense Miscarriage?

Dogs can most likely sense miscarriage as well as pregnancy. There are many changes in a pregnant person’s body, including hormones, scents, and the way someone looks and moves while pregnant.

Of course, their body also changes after a miscarriage in these same ways. Dogs can sense this and, if they understood the person was pregnant, might understand what’s happening.

Your dog might also notice that people in the home are sad about the miscarriage. Picking up on these feelings might cause them to become extra clingy to provide comfort, or they might try to engage you in play to cheer you up.

Up Next

• Can Dogs See Ghosts or Spirits, What Does Science Say?
• Do Dogs Have a Sense of Time, Really?
• Can Dogs Smell Fear?

The photo featured at the top of this post is © eva_blanco/Shutterstock.com