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Pregnancy brings about a lot of big changes, and not just for you! If you’re pregnant and you’re also a dog parent, you might be noticing some changes in your dog.
You might have heard that some dogs act out when their owner is pregnant.
It’s quite normal for your dog to act different around you now that you’re expecting. But why is that?
Here are all the answers you’re looking for.
Table of Contents
How do dogs react when you’re pregnant?
If you are expecting, that’s a really exciting time! Bringing a new life into the world is an incredible thing.
But if you have a dog, you may have noticed some odd changes in his behavior. This might be pretty confusing. After all, it’s not like you can tell your dog that a baby’s coming!
So why do dogs act out so much around a pregnant owner?
If your dog is acting out, you might be pretty annoyed and frustrated. You might also be a little bit worried.
After all, if your dog’s behavior is different while you’re pregnant, you might well wonder how he’ll act when the baby arrives.
There are a few things that your dog might do that can be confusing when you’re pregnant. He might be clingier, for instance. For some information on clinginess in dogs, check out these related articles:
Of course, becoming clingy isn’t the only thing that might happen with your dog. You might some see other changes too.
Let’s get into it.
Do dogs behave differently when their owner is pregnant?
This question is a bit challenging to answer because no two dogs are the same.
Some dogs don’t really act differently when their owner is pregnant. But others do notice, and you might see some changes in their behavior!
Every dog is different, though. Some dogs are more easily able to adjust to pregnancy than others.
If your dog senses that you’re pregnant, then there are a few changes you might notice. As I mentioned earlier, some dogs become very clingy. Other dogs can become very protective of you. This might seem sweet, but if this progresses to reactivity, it can mean trouble for you and your dog.
Other dogs react to their owner’s pregnancy by acting out. Your dog might not like the changes that are happening.
He might notice that you’re spending less time with him. If that’s the case, he’s probably not going to be happy!
Dogs thrive on routine, and so everything that throws off their schedule might make them a little uncomfortable.
Preparing for a baby takes up a lot of time, and that’s time you used to be able to spend with your dog. To show you that they’re not happy with the way thing have changed since thier owner became pregnant, dogs might start to act out more.
You might notice him becoming more destructive when he didn’t used to be. He might also urinate in places he shouldn’t.
If your dog is acting out, here are a few articles that might help:
- Why Is My Dog Whining So Much All of a Sudden At Night?
- Why Does My Dog Bite My Sleeves?
- Why Is My Dog Barking at Nothing?
Can a dog sense a baby in the womb?
Your dog started acting out once you got pregnant. But how can he know that you’re pregnant? Dogs don’t speak English, so there’s no way to just tell him that you’re having a baby.
But still, it might seem like your dog knows somehow! Some dogs certainly act out more when their owner’s pregnant. So how can that be?
Dogs have an extremely sensitive sense of smell. Your dog can smell things that you can’t see, hear, or be aware of at all. Your dog’s nose is his strongest sense, and it’s how he gets around in the world.
When you become pregnant, your body goes through some big hormonal changes. And those changes can cause a change in the way that you smell. While you wouldn’t be able to detect it, your dog’s powerful nose certainly can.
However, your dog may not necessarily understand the reason for the change in your smell. He might not realize it’s because you’re pregnant. For example, our scent also changes when we’re sick.
All he knows is that you smell different for some reason, and that can be pretty confusing for him!
Myths about dog and pregnancy
The fact that your dog can smell that you’re pregnant might sound like a myth on its own! But it’s true that your dog is able to sense the hormonal changes going on in your body.
However, there are quite a few myths about dogs and pregnancy that aren’t true.
For example, many people believe that if their dog is protective of them during their pregnancy, the dog will be protective of the baby too. But that isn’t necessarily the case.
The thing is that dogs don’t really know that their owners are pregnant. They just know something about their owners is changing, and that can make them feel protective!
But your baby is a different person altogether, and your dog might not feel protective. He’s had no way to bond with your little one yet!
Another myth some people believe is that if they have a certain breed, the dog will need to be rehomed. But as long as you are keeping up with training, your baby should be safe around your dog. Just make sure you never leave them alone together unsupervised—whatever their breed.
You also won’t need to necessarily prevent your dog from sleeping in your bedroom with you while the baby’s there. All you may need to do is start crate training your dog. Want to crate train but not sure where to start? Here’s how to crate train a dog easily in 13 steps.
When it comes to dogs and pregnancy and bringing a baby home, the most important thing is to introduce the dog and baby to each other slowly. Be patient, don’t push anybody past their limits, and keep on top of your dog’s training.
Do dogs act out when their owner is pregnant?
Many dogs are able to sense a change in their humans, even if they don’t necessarily realize that these changes are caused by pregnancy. Your dog might also experience some changes in behavior because of this.
There are lots of reasons why dogs might start to act out or behave differently when their owner is pregnant. Your dog might actually realize that you are pregnant and become more protective of you.
Remember, as sweet as this might seem, this behavior can actually cause future problems. If your dog starts getting overly protective of you, he might start becoming reactive in certain situations.
If you’re dealing with an overly protective dog that guards you, make sure to check out this article for some help: Why Does My Dog Guard Me?
Another reason why your dog might start acting out is because he’s not getting the attention he’s used to anymore.
Preparing for the arrival of a baby takes up a lot of time. You need to set up the nursery, buy everything your baby needs, go to appointments, and endless other things.
And that might take up a lot of the time that you used to spend with your dog! Your dog might not be happy with that, and could start acting out.
Essentially, your dog is feeling a little jealous. Do your best to spend the time that you need to with him. There are lots of great things that you can do together.
Check out these articles for a few ideas:
- 21 Fun Things to Do with Your Dog at Home
- 10 Brain Games for Dogs to Play at Home
- 11 Tips to Tire Out a Dog (Quickly)
Mental stimulation can also be a wonderful training tool if used correctly. Check out Braintrainingfordogs to learn how to train your dog to be the best dog he can be by using mental stimulation! Or have a look at Dogpackr’s review first to see if it’s a fit for you and your dog!
Do dogs get clingy when you’re pregnant?
Some dogs don’t seem to react much to pregnancy. They continue on like everything is the same.
Other dogs really seem to notice that something is different!
Even if dogs don’t necessarily understand what’s going on in your body, they do sense that something has changed. These changes might make your dog feel a little bit worried!
You might find that your dog is sticking to your side more than ever. That could be because he’s feeling a little worried about you. He’s trying to stay close to you to make sure that you’re okay.
Clinginess can seem cute at first, but it might get old pretty fast. After all, having to constantly avoid tripping on your dog, especially while you’re pregnant, gets pretty annoying!
If you are dealing with a super clingy dog, there are ways that you can help him. Take a look at these articles for a few tips and tricks on dealing with clinginess in dogs:
Do dogs get anxious when their owner is pregnant?
Have you noticed your dog getting more anxious now that you’re pregnant? There are a lot of changes that come with pregnancy. Your dog can smell the hormonal changes going on in your body.
The fact that you suddenly smell different can throw him off! He might start acting anxious because he doesn’t understand what exactly is going on.
Changes in your own behavior now that you’re pregnant could also cause some anxiety and stress in your dog.
You might be moving things around or spending less time with him, which could worry him.
You may also be spending more time away from the house as you go to birth classes and doctor’s appointments. Being away from your dog more frequently could trigger some feelings of separation anxiety.
If you are dealing with separation anxiety in your dog, there are a few ways you can help him.
Make sure to take a look at these related articles for some help:
Related questions to whether dogs act out when their owner is pregnant?
We’ve talked a lot about dogs and human pregnancy, but you might still have a few questions. Here are some answers!
Can dogs sense labor?
If you’ve gone through labor and you’ve noticed your dog acting different, you might be wondering if it’s because your dog can sense it.
Dogs are super intuitive animals, and can pick up on a lot of things. But can dogs actually sense labor? The answer isn’t so clear-cut.
Your dog may not be able to sense labor, exactly. But he can probably detect when you’re feeling uncomfortable. When you go into labor, you might notice your dog staying pretty close to you.
Most likely, it’s because he can tell that something is going on with you, and he’s feeling worried about you!
My dog is avoiding me during pregnancy, is that normal?
You’ve probably heard stories about dogs getting super protective and clingy when their owners are pregnant. But what if your dog starts avoiding you?
Different dogs react to things in different ways. While some dogs react to major changes like pregnancy by getting clingier, some will go in the opposite direction.
Your dog can probably tell that something is different with you. And the way he deals with these confusing changes might be to avoid you! You can help him adjust by making sure to keep making quality time to spend with him.
How do dogs act when they are pregnant?
If your dog is pregnant, you might notice a few signs. You might see a change in your dog’s appetite, for example, and your dog might seem more tired than usual.
There could be some changes in your dog’s behavior as well. For example, some pregnant dogs try to keep to themselves more than they used to. On the other hand, you might find that your dog is clingier.
It’s important to make sure that you spay or neuter your dog if you are not a professional breeder. For more information on this, check out this article: What Is the Best Age to Neuter or Spay a Dog?
Dog and pregnancy risk
As long as you are smart about it, there is very little risk in being pregnant or having a newborn baby around a dog.
The most important thing is to help your dog adjust to the changes. Never leave your newborn and dog together unsupervised, and remember to keep up with your dog’s training as much as possible.
Conclusion
Having a baby is an exciting time. But if you also have a dog, you might be confused at the changes your dog is showing.
Your dog might need some time to adjust to your pregnancy, and to the baby once it’s born. But stay patient, keep training, and your dog and baby will be best friends in no time.