Dogs are likely to react to their owner's pregnancy in one of two ways: becoming more protective or affectionate, or showing no change at all, according to experts and pet owners. While dogs cannot understand pregnancy as humans do, their acute sense of smell allows them to detect hormonal changes long before a baby bump appears.
How Dogs Detect Pregnancy
The American Kennel Club states it is impossible to know exactly when a dog first detects pregnancy, but their remarkable sense of smell can pick up on hormonal changes early on. Dogs may not understand why their owner smells different, but they recognise that something has changed.
Behaviourist Russell Hartstein noted: "Dogs are highly sensitive and intimate in studying behaviour and subtle movements." However, individual reactions vary widely.
Protective and Clingy Reactions
Many owners report their dogs becoming more protective or clingy during pregnancy. Veterinarian Dr Rachel Barrack explained: "Many pregnant people report that their dogs are more affectionate or protective during their pregnancy. It's likely due to the scent and your hormones, as well as possible changes in your mood."
One woman shared on Reddit that her family's Vizsla changed demeanour within weeks of her pregnancy: "If we were playing sports with my siblings, and he sensed things were getting too intense, he'd bark and run over to check on me." Another owner said her dogs became hyper-vigilant on walks while pregnant, but behaved normally when someone else held the lead.
Indifferent Reactions
Not all dogs become bodyguards. Some owners say their pets barely acknowledged the pregnancy. One Reddit user wrote: "Absolutely nothing at all. Thought she was going to react to my belly but nothing." Another joked about their Shiba Inu: "I am 25 weeks and my Shiba Inu can't care less. Super aloof breed I think?"
Clingy Behaviour as a Sign
For others, the biggest giveaway is sudden clinginess. One owner described: "My dog has gotten so clingy recently. He's always needed a lot of attention but recently he's just constantly all over me." She added that her dog cried at the bathroom door until she came out, concluding: "I feel like he knows something is up and he's worried about it." Another owner summed it up as "Sentient Velcro," noting her dogs were obsessed with her and the bump even before her positive test.
