How Do Dogs Act When You Are Pregnant?

A dog's behavior can change when you are pregnant. This should be no coincidence when we consider their abilities of perception. Dogs look to us as their reference point, so they are always studying our moods and behaviors. When these moods and behaviors change, they notice. They will not always interpret these changes correctly, but they will have some understanding that a change is occurring. Few changes in the family are as big as pregnancy.

The perceptive ability most acute in dogs is their sense of smell. Hundreds of thousands of times more sensitive than our own, a dog can smell hormonal changes in the body of somebody who is pregnant. When you become pregnant, your body starts to produce different levels of certain hormones in order to allow for the gestation of the fetus. Dogs can smell these changes and recognize your pregnancy, even if they are not exactly sure why.

Hormonal changes that dogs detect

These are the changes that dogs detect in the body of someone who is pregnant:

• Increased estrogen: the production and release of estrogen increases as pregnancy progresses, which is key to preparing the uterus to support the developing baby and stimulating the mammary glands in the breasts. These glands are responsible for producing breast milk.
• Pregnancy-exclusive hormones: the human body produces certain hormones during pregnancy alone, such as human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and human placental lactogen (HPL). These hormones are present in elevated levels in the blood and urine of pregnant women. Dogs can detect them before their owners suspect they are pregnant.

Physical and behavioral changes that dogs perceive

Furthermore, as pregnancy progresses, women tend to change their posture, gestures and even their way of walking. This both due to the physical changes in their bodies, as well as the need to protect their well-being and that of their child. These behavioral changes can seem subtle or even imperceptible to us, but don't go unnoticed by dogs. This is because dog communication is largely based on body language.

Whether they do so conscious, pregnant women emit a series of chemical and behavioral signals that are easily picked up by a dog's senses. This is why many believe that dogs predict human pregnancy, among other changes in our bodies and moods.

Dogs are not only able to determine whether a woman is pregnant, but you can check out our related guide to see how a dog knows when their owner is about to go into labor.

The relationship between dog behavior and human pregnancy is strongly influenced by two main factors:

1. The inherent canine instinct of dogs.
2. The adaptation or response of their body to external factors and environmental conditions.

Due to the relationship between dog and guardian, the initial reaction of a dog to a pregnant owner is guided by their innate protective instinct. Dogs are gregarious animals that naturally form social groups. Within these groups is a hierarchy and division of tasks generally orientated toward the common good. It is for this reason pregnant females are protected and cared for by the rest of their group.

While it is wrong to think that dogs consider us other dogs, we are their reference figure and part of their social group. They will naturally want to protect use during times of vulnerability such as pregnancy. In the wild, dogs ensure pregnant bitches are comfortable and exposed as little as possible to hazards such as adverse climate, predators and other threats. They will instinctively want to provide similar protection for a pregnant owner.

Learn more about canine perception of humans with our article asking do dogs think humans are their parents?

How are dogs and human pregnancy related?

Although dogs know we're a different species and don't interact with us the same way they do with other canines, there are a number of instinctive behaviors that continue to manifest when they interact with humans. One of these is a heightened protective instinct when they perceive a human pregnancy, especially if the pregnant dog is their guardian.

Upon realizing that you are pregnant, your dog will tend to spend more time with you than other family members. A study conducted by pet care specialists Rover in Spain has revealed that 92% of owners who have been through a pregnancy say that their dogs have adapted positively to both the pregnancy and the arrival of the baby^[1]. This highlights the following positive changes in their behavior:

• 36% of participants reported that their dogs became more attached and protective of the pregnant woman. Added to this was the nearly 10% who stated that their dogs simply refused to leave their owner's side during pregnancy.
• More than 20% of those interviewed perceived displays of affection and curiosity from their dogs, such as placing their ears close to the pregnant woman's belly or lying down to sleep with their heads resting on her stomach.

It's important to consider the possibility that protective instincts may make dogs more wary of strangers when their owners are pregnant. Their reaction may be particularly negative if an unknown person or animal suddenly or abruptly attempts to approach. This can lead to adopting a defensive or offensive posture. This doesn't mean your dog has suddenly become aggressive, but we need to ensure they react appropriately in social contexts even when we are pregnant.

Female dogs may also show some increased aggression during their own pregnancy. This is also related to the need to protect themselves and their future offspring, especially when they perceive a sudden change in their environment or the presence of unfamiliar people or animals.

Our article further explores the protectiveness of dog mothers with our article explaining why a dog is aggressive after giving birth.

As we've seen, the vast majority of dogs tend to react positively to their owners' pregnancy. It is important to keep in mind that the way a dog's behavior changes throughout their owner's pregnancy doesn't depend solely on canine instincts, but also involves external factors. This is because each dog's behavior varies greatly depending on factors such as breed, upbringing, experience, training and socialization.

We may experience unwanted reactions in dogs with a pregnant owner due to disturbances in their routine and environment. At least 20% of those interviewed in the aforementioned study observed signs of agitation, nervousness and a tendency toward isolation even from other dogs during the pregnancy. This is related to feelings of insecurity which can be of varied origin

We now look at how dog behavior can negatively change when their owners are pregnant and what to do to prevent this from happening:

Need to attract attention

Although it is borne out of some necessity, one of the biggest problems a dog can experience is related to reducing the amount of time a pregnant owner spends with their dog. Pregnancy is a major even which necessitates changes to routine and behaviors. For example, a pregnant woman may reduce activity levels and not be able to walk the dog as much as before.

Preparing for a child also takes work in the form of preparing the home and adapting social structures. For example, there may be renovations to the home which can disruptive to the dog. While these changes may be necessary, it is important that the dog is not neglected and their own care is adapted accordingly.

To achieve this adaptation successfully, guardians will need to set aside more time for walks, play and other interactions. If they cannot provide this, they may need help in the form of dog walkers or even friends to spend time with them. If not, dogs can exhibit the following unwanted behaviors when their owner is pregnant:

• Exaggerated vocalizations: the dog starts barking constantly or cries every time its owners leave, generating conflicts with the neighborhood.
• Destructive behaviors: these can range from throwing things on the floor, scratching walls, biting objects or destroying their guardian's clothing. They may even carry out self-destructive behaviors such as eating inedible material or scratching themselves raw.
• Sadness and depression: if a dog starts spending a lot of time alone and perceives their owners treat them with indifference, signs of sadness or depression may appear. Depression can lead to both physical and behavioral problems which seriously affect their well-being. You can explore this topic with our guide to the signs and symptoms of depression in dogs.

Stress

Another unwanted impact of human pregnancy on the behavior of dogs has to do with the symptoms of stress. In this context, stress often manifests for two main reasons:

• Changes in routine: this is directly related to the previous point, as neglect by owners regarding walks, games and the bond with their dog negatively impacts physical and mental stimulation. When dogs begin to live a more sedentary and monotonous routine, they accumulate tension and anxiety. Eventually, this will have a detrimental effect on their health and well-being.
• Sudden environmental changes: in addition to a routine, dogs need security in their environment. This means a quiet place to rest, appropriate food, freedom from stressors (loud noises, etc.), accessories, etc. When these environmental needs are not met during pregnancy, it can cause the dog to feel insecure and they may act out accordingly.

If you perceive that your dog is suffering from stress due to their owner's pregnancy, you will need to help them adapt. This means amending their routine and environment to the new situation, doing so gradually. If we are unable to do this or need a little help, we should contact a canine ethologist.

Resource protection

Resource guarding is often confused with or mistakenly equated with jealousy or possessiveness in humans. In dogs, it is actually a delicate behavioral problem that affects not only coexistence within the home, but also the dog's social life. A possessive dog is one that needs to resort to aggression to secure possession of the resources it considers essential for their physical, mental and emotional integrity.

A strong need for a dog to protect resources is related to a feeling of insecurity that these resources will no longer be there for them. These resources are not just material such as food and toys, but they are the attention of their guardians and the care they receive. Since pregnant guardians may spend less time or provide less attention, a dog can feel more insecure.

These feelings of insecurity will vary according to the individual. For example, some dogs may have experienced neglect or trauma in the past. When they receive less care or attention, they may fear this neglect will return and act out because of it.

When a new arrival comes to the family in the form of a new baby, it is a naturally disruptive process. The high levels of attention a baby will need means the dog can feel neglected. This leads to insecurity and resource protection, among the other issues we have mentioned above. It's important to reinforce that such negative reactions have nothing to do with the baby themselves, but how the impact of their arrival affects the home dynamic.

In practical terms, your dog doesn't reject a baby because they don't like children. Most love playing with children and develop strong attachments to them, often resulting in the dog becoming very protective over a baby. A acts out at the arrival of the baby because of the feelings of insecurity it engenders in the animal. This is one of the reasons it is so important to introduce the baby and the dog properly.

How a dog acts when their owner is pregnant will depend on many factors, not least the personality of the dog. Ensuring we adapt them to the new situation is key to ensuring a harmonious coexistence in the home. Some dogs may be more insecure and consequently need more help in adjusting. They will need greater reassurance and their care needs may need to be adapted.

It is important to remember that most dogs will adjust perfectly well when their owner is pregnant and a new baby arrives into the home. However, there are a very small number of cases which can see the dog become aggressive due to the new family member. This is not something which can be tolerated for the safety of all involved. Check out our guide explaining why a dog attacks children.

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