Do Dogs Know When People Are Pregnant?

• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

Dogs are acutely observant and, thanks to their sensitive noses and strong hearing, they may pick up on things that go unnoticed by humans. But just how far does canine intuition go? Can dogs sense pregnancy in humans?

While it’s unclear whether dogs can truly detect or understand human pregnancy, they’re primed to notice the changes to their routine and environment that precede the arrival of a new baby. Experts suggest dogs may even sense some of the physiological and psychological changes associated with pregnancy.

To help you find out if and how your dog knows you’re expecting, we’ve consulted Dr. Nell Ostermeier, a licensed vet who specializes in integrative therapies. We’ll also explain how to help your dog adjust to your growing family.

Signs Your Dog Senses a Pregnancy

According to Dr. Ostermeier, “There really is no specific indication with scientific proof to say if a dog is ‘sensing’ a pregnancy.”

Some dogs might start acting differently when you’re expecting. But since our dogs can’t explain themselves to us, we can only observe that behavior and make educated guesses. How and why a dog’s behavior changes when a pet parent is pregnant, suggests Dr. Ostermeier, may vary depending on the dog’s personality and the strength of the dog-human bond.

Here are some common canine behavioral changes you may notice during your pregnancy.

Increased curiosity

“Dogs have a much greater sense of smell than people,” says Dr. Ostermeier, “so, it’s possible that they might notice a different odor.”

You might find that your dog seems eager to explore the new furniture and baby supplies appearing in the house. They may spend more time sniffing or licking you as well, perhaps sensing the hormonal changes associated with pregnancy.

Changes in attention or affection

Many pregnant pet parents report their dogs becoming more attentive or affectionate during the pregnancy, sometimes to the point of clinginess. Your dog might start following you around the house or want to sleep as close to you as possible. In other cases, however, pregnant people have observed the opposite—their dog becoming hesitant or standoffish.

Increased protectiveness

When a pet parent is pregnant, some dogs take attentiveness a step further into protectiveness. Expectant mothers have reported their otherwise friendly dogs suddenly growling or barking at people—particularly strangers. Your dog might exhibit increased reactivity on walks or become reluctant to let you out of their sight.

Agitation or anxiety

Anxiety-prone dogs may find pregnancy-related changes to their routine and environment stressful or overwhelming. Some dogs become nervous and withdrawn, while others become stressed or develop aggressive behavior. If your dog feels their claim on space, resources, or attention is threatened, they might exhibit territorial urine marking around the house or chew on items intended for the baby.

What Is Your Dog Reacting To?

While there’s no scientific proof that dogs understand human pregnancy, evidence suggests dogs may be able to sense certain changes that occur when a pet parent is pregnant. That includes physiological changes like fluctuating hormone levels or physical changes in body shape.

However, Dr. Ostermeier suggests, “It is more likely that [a dog] will notice a change in the behaviors and moods of their owner and the family that often go along with pregnancy.” She adds that “dogs also notice changes in furniture, household arrangement, and new routines.”

Here’s what changes a dog might be able to detect during pregnancy.

Body changes

Hormones shift a lot over the course of pregnancy, and certain hormones—like human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG)—are only produced during pregnancy. The result can be a change in body odor.

You and your partner may not notice it, but your dog might. “Dogs have a much greater sense of smell than people,” says Dr. Ostermeier, “with some estimations between 10,000 to 100,000 times better than humans.”

Pregnancy can also change the scent of your urine, thanks to hormonal shifts, dietary changes, or prenatal vitamins. It’s not wild to think your dog might pick up on that. After all, studies have shown dogs are capable of sensing specific cancer biomarkers in urine and detecting abnormal blood sugar levels in diabetic patients.

Finally, there are external physical changes to consider. Some are obvious to even human eyes, like the growing baby bump. As the pregnancy progresses and starts to affect mobility, your dog might pick up on shifts in their pet parent’s movements or gait as well.

Stress and mood

Growing your family is exciting, but the preparations and the pregnancy itself are bound to be stressful at times. And dogs can definitely pick up on their pet parents’ stress.

Some evidence suggests that dogs can actually smell stress on humans. In one study, dogs were tested on their ability to detect stress-related changes to breath and sweat odor. The dogs in the study exhibited an average accuracy of 93.7%.

Dogs are experts at reading body language, too. Your dog can pick up on the facial expressions, vocal changes, and behavioral changes that accompany strong emotions. Research shows that not only are dogs able to detect distress, but they will often exhibit empathic-like responses. This might explain why some dogs become extra attentive or affectionate when they sense a pet parent’s pregnancy.

Environmental changes

“Dogs are very routine-oriented,” says Dr. Ostermeier, “and it’s nearly impossible not to change your routine or theirs during pregnancy.” Your dog might not understand why things are changing, but they may pick up on details like shorter walks, less playtime, or irregular mealtimes. And it will be hard to miss the physical changes to their environment.

For example, you might rearrange the furniture to accommodate a crib. Or you make certain spaces off-limits to your dog. There’s all the unfamiliar scents to contend with, too. Depending on your dog’s personality, they might greet such changes with curiosity or even enthusiasm. Some dogs, however, may find their sense of security threatened by all the adjustments.

Can dogs sense a heartbeat?

It’s possible to detect a regular heartbeat by ultrasound around six weeks after conception and by doppler (fetal echocardiogram) as early as 12 weeks. With a stethoscope, a baby’s heartbeat is usually detectable between the 18th and 20th week of pregnancy. If your partner were to place their ear against your pregnant belly, however, they would be unlikely to hear the heartbeat until the final two months of pregnancy.

Because canine hearing is much more sensitive than human hearing, it’s possible your dog could hear the baby’s heartbeat sooner. Dogs can detect sounds much quieter than a human can, and from further away. If your dog starts picking up on multiple heartbeats coming from your body, it might offer another clue that something is changing.

How To Prepare Your Dog For a Baby

It’s impossible to predict exactly how your dog will handle all the changes that accompany a pregnancy in the family. You can, however, take simple steps to prepare your pup for the forthcoming baby to make the transition that much easier.

Here’s what Dr. Ostermeier recommends to help prepare your dog for the arrival of the new baby.

• Brush up on basic obedience skills. Stock up on high-value treats and start reinforcing your dog’s response to simple cues like “sit,” “stay,” and “come.” Other helpful training cues are “leave it” and “go to spot.”
• Gradually introduce changes to your dog’s routine. Consider how your schedule might change when the new baby arrives and start adjusting your dog’s routine ahead of time.
• Establish dog-free and baby-free areas. Determine which spaces your dog won’t be allowed in once the baby arrives and use pet gates to block them early. Make sure your dog has a few dedicated baby-free spaces of their own as well.
• Introduce baby furniture and supplies slowly. Made gradual changes to the home environment. Utilize storage space, if you have it, to hold baby items so you can introduce them slowly.
• Get your dog used to baby sounds and smells. Play recordings of baby cries to get your dog used to the sound. You might even apply baby lotion to a blanket so your dog becomes familiar with the scent.
• Use a baby doll to mimic daily activities. As the due date approaches, start incorporating a baby doll into daily activities so your dog gets used to the addition and feels included instead of replaced.

Preparation can only take you so far and, eventually, your baby is going to arrive. When they do, introduce your dog to the newborn as soon as possible. A step-by-step approach is the best way to ensure safety and minimize stress.

Finally, remember to be patient with yourself and with your dog. Life with a newborn is bound to be hectic. There’s no shame in asking for help from a canine behaviorist or certified dog trainer, either before your baby is born or after they arrive. With any luck, however, it won’t be long before your baby and your dog become best friends.