Expecting a baby is a very exciting time for the whole family – and I repeat, the whole family.

Since you’ve clicked on this post, you’ve likely noticed some changes in your dog’s behavior since becoming pregnant.

Your dog may be more clingy than usual and prefer to be by your side at all times.

Dogs are very observant and emotional pets that are very sensitive to changes around them.

As highly social and domestic animals, dogs are amazing at picking up the smallest disturbances in their familiar environment.

And what is the biggest change that can happen to you from the growth of a complete human being inside your womb?

Keep reading to find out whether or not dogs can catch a pregnancy and how this affects their behavior.

In short, dogs can become more clingy when you are pregnant, however, every dog is different and there is no guarantee that your dog will react in any way.

Signs that your dog knows you are pregnant
Pregnancy usually comes with a lot of changes in your body and your daily routine.

Every dog reacts differently to these changes, and while many will not change their behavior drastically, others may experience one or more of the following signs.

tact

An increase in affectionate behavior is most commonly seen in dogs who live with their pregnant owner.

They can become very clingy and may refuse to leave your side.

Following you to the bathroom may become a new habit (if it isn’t already).

Some dogs begin to caress their owner and try to comfort him, especially during rough patches.

While this is completely normal and understandable behavior, it can also turn into protection which I’ll talk about more below.

Sometimes, pregnant women simply see their dogs as clingier because they spend more time cozying up on the couch by themselves.

If you put yourself at ease more often, your dog may benefit from this.

protection

Being overprotective is completely normal and it’s nice to see your dog have your back as you become more vulnerable.

Your dog may start barking a lot and may become more alert in general.

However, some dogs take their job too seriously which can lead to problems.

It can be difficult to deal with preventing family members from getting close to you or interacting with you.

Territorial behavior can involve aggression which will certainly be a sign that your dog is not handling changes well.

Although this sounds very scary, most dogs just need some help adjusting to the changes.

nervousness

Dogs can definitely react negatively to changes in their daily routine and environment.

As I mentioned before, clinging is just one sign your dog can show when you’re pregnant.

Pregnancy comes with a lot of discomfort and when you feel unwell, it is not likely to affect your dog’s behavior and well-being.

A 2019 study showed that dogs can reverse their owners’ stress levels.

Our results show that long-term stress hormone levels were in sync between dogs and humans, two different species that share daily lives. This cannot be explained by physical activity or the amount of training.

Long-term stress levels in dogs and their owners are synchronized
An owner’s depression and anxiety can have similar effects on dogs which can lead to nervousness, fear, or other behaviors.

Fear can also come with aggression that can be directed toward the owner and/or other people.

Destruction

It is not uncommon for dogs to become destructive in times of uncertainty.

So if your dog suddenly starts chewing on furniture or tearing up the toilet paper, this could be a sign that your dog is feeling pregnant.

Your dog may also have accidents indoors even though he was trained as a puppy.

Once the new routine is established with the child, these symptoms should subside for the most part.

Do dogs know you’re pregnant?

Anecdotally, many women confirm that dogs know when you’re pregnant and scientifically they can even be able to smell the hormonal changes going on inside your body.

During pregnancy, your body goes through a host of hormones.

Along with estrogen, progesterone, prolactin, oxytocin, and relaxin, your body also produces human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) which is unique to pregnancy.

Dogs have a much better sense of smell than we do and can smell any subtle changes in our bodies.

For example, dogs are able to detect high levels of stress in humans.

The results indicate that physiological processes associated with the acute stress response produce changes in the VOCs released from the breath and/or perspiration that are detectable for dogs.

Dogs can distinguish between a human baseline and the scent of a stressful situation
Body odor usually changes when you’re pregnant and can get stronger, so there’s no reason not to think dogs can sense when you’re pregnant.

However, just because your dog can internalize the changes does not mean that he understands that you are pregnant.

There is no way for us to know if your dog is aware that this pregnancy will result in a baby he lives with after 9 months.

Besides the smell, other changes may be happening in your body or life that your dog may be aware of.

During pregnancy, you may experience a lot of discomforts which can lead to you and your dog acting differently.

When you are sick, your dog may want to spend more time with you to provide some relief.

This may also mean that your daily routine changes and the length and/or frequency of walking may vary from day to day.

Dogs are very sensitive to changes in routine, and while some of them don’t bother, others may not get used to their new lives easily.

Dogs can sense action

There is no scientific evidence to suggest that dogs can feel childbirth, however, they may notice hormonal changes in your body just before birth and may become more clingy and protective.

Several women have reported that their dogs act differently even a few days before giving birth.

This is most likely due to subtle changes in hormones that affect your scent.

Dogs can sense upcoming seizures, insulin levels, and even cancer, so the belief that dogs can sense labor isn’t far-fetched.

As you approach labor, contractions can leave you walking unusually or force you into more comfortable positions that your dog is not used to.

You may also start to groan or get a little more agitated which just adds to the whole picture.

Any changes can cause anxiety in your dog and he can tell that something is going on.