Can Dogs Sense Pregnancy: How to Deal with an Overprotective Dog
Why Do Dogs Get Protective of Their Pregnant Owners?
Can dogs sense pregnancy? Undoubtedly there is a connection between dog behavior and human pregnancy. So if you’re expectant and you’ve seen some notable personality changes in your pooch, and maybe even some undesirable behaviors, it’s because dogs can sense pregnancy. Dogs are the most intelligent and incredible creatures on earth. It’s because of this intelligence that dogs are trained to scent out chemicals, drugs and even weapons. Well, that’s not all. Dogs are intelligent creatures who are capable of noticing that their owners are pregnant. In most cases, dogs will change how they react towards their owners once they realize that they are pregnant. After realizing that you are pregnant, your dog will change and become aggressively protective of you. That’s a very sweet thing, right?
Dogs might not consciously know why their owners’ scent has changed but they will still react to it. As your body and movement change as a result of the pregnancy, your dog is intelligent enough to pick up those changes and conclude that you are pregnant. When you get pregnant, your body hormones change. Odds are, something in your routine will change once you get pregnant. Moreover, your body language will also give your dog clues about your pregnancy. However, not every dog will change during its owner’s pregnancy. Some will remain unaffected while others will become affectionate and overly protective.
So Why Do Dogs get Protective of Their Pregnant Owners?
With dogs being one of man’s best friends, some of them have boundless loyalty and willingness to protect their pregnant owners. Below are some of the reasons why dogs are so fiercely protective of their pregnant masters.
-
Your dog knows that you are Family
Your dog will consider you to be part of his family as much as you consider him to be part of yours. If you are lucky to have your adult dog since he was a little puppy, he has grown up knowing you and is already used to having you around. Dogs don’t take too kindly those who seem to pose a threat to their loved ones, especially when they are pregnant. Dogs who become more protective over their pregnant owners mostly do so because they feel like their owners are vulnerable. This can be attributed to the change in walking postures or because pregnant mothers might not walk steadily as they used to. This protective nature of dogs comes naturally, which means that they instinctively know that expectant owners require more care during the entire pregnancy period.
-
Encouragement
Your dog may be overly protective of his expectant owner because the owner encourages this behavior by approving it. If you are taking a walk with your dog and he snaps a stranger for example, and you don’t do anything about it, the dog will take that as approval for his bad behavior and will continue on that path. Furthermore, if you are pregnant and allow your dog to become too aggressive and protective and you end up doing nothing to make him change his behavior, you are making him think that being expectant makes you feel weak and in need of protection. By doing so, your dog won’t see you as the pack leader. While your dog being overly protective of you when you are expectant is a good thing, you need to cut short such a behavior before it gets out of hand.
Read : Best Dog Food to Feed a Pregnant Dog
Can Dogs Sense Pregnancy: How to Deal with an Overprotective Dog
Your dog being protective of you when you are expectant is a good thing, but having him being overly protective isn’t and it can be quite a frustrating experience. Dogs that are extremely close to their owners and spend most of their time with one person can become overprotective. It is therefore natural for such dogs to want and protect their owners especially after they find out that they are expectant. If your dog is always becoming overly protective, here are some of the tips to help tame him.
-
Regain Control of Your Overprotective Dog
Even if you are expectant, don’t let your dog be in control and run your household. Set clear boundaries between the two of you and make sure that the dog doesn’t control you in any way. Make sure that the boundaries are not crossed because many dog owners don’t even realize when their dog is completely in control over them, and in such a case it becomes very difficult to have your control back.
-
Create Some Distance
If you notice that your dog has started to become very close to you once he realized that you are expectant, try and get some distance. Even though you probably want to take your dog with you wherever you want to go, don’t spend every moment of your day with him. Get them used to staying alone during specific hours in the day and get them to stay in a different room from yours. You should also make sure that the dog gets to spend quality time with other members of your family. You can also decide to get someone who helps you when it comes to feeding your dog, taking him for walks and training him. By doing so, you get to help them create bonds with other people, not just you.
-
Look Out for The Early Signs
There are some early warning signs of dogs that are become overprotective of their owners once they learn that they are pregnant. If you can spot these signs early, the better. By doing so, you get to take immediate action to tame the problem and prevent it from developing. Some of the early signs of a dog that’s becoming overly protective include placing themselves in between you and any other person. An overly protective dog will also show signs of stress when people come near you. They can also growl a little when anybody comes near you.
-
Give and Show Attention on Your Terms
Even if your pregnancy hormones are showing you to shower your dog will affection, don’t just do it for no reason. Dogs are beautiful creatures and we all want to show them how we adore them by showering them with lots of love and affection. This isn’t always the right thing to do. If your dog approaches you and demands attention, make sure that they earn it by getting them to sit or do a trick. Never stroke your dog if he demands attention by either barking or nudging you by using his nose or paws.
-
Try to Stay Calm
Pregnancies in women are different and they all come with a share of up and downs. With your hormones fluctuating every other time, you will find yourself feeling upset, angry, and vulnerable for no good reason. If you have your dog beside you, he is going to pick up on your energy. They will feel that something is amiss with you and feel the urge to protect you. What you should do is try and stay relaxed whenever your dog is with you. If you feel upset, take a moment and stay away from your dog so that he doesn’t get stressed out.
-
Socialize Your Dog
Socializing your dog from an early age helps prevent him from becoming overprotective. This means that your dog won’t change and become overprotective of you after he realizes that you are expectant. If you have a dog who wasn’t lucky to be well socialized, seek advice from your veterinarian and learn about how you can gradually socialize him. You should also give your dog more exercise or give him toys that keep him more occupied. By doing so, your dog will have less time to hang around you all the time.
Related Posts:
Why Dogs Carry Sticks on Walks?
Benefits of Dog Muzzles and Muzzle Training Training
Why Are Dogs Afraid of Fireworks?
Can Dogs Sense Pregnancy FAQs:
Q: Are dogs able to sense when a woman is expectant?
A: While there is no study yet that shows dogs can sense pregnancy in humans, your dog will eventually know that you are pregnant. As your body changes, so do your movement when you are expectant. Your dog will be capable of picking up these changes and know that you are pregnant.
Q: Are all dogs protective of their expectant owners?
A: Dogs are different and not every dog will change during its owner’s pregnancy period. While most dogs become more affectionate and attentive to their owners when they notice that their owners are pregnant, some may remain apathetic and unaffected.
Q: Why do most dogs get protective of pregnant owners?
A: Dogs being among the most intelligent animals are capable of identifying thousands of scents and remember them distinctly. When women get pregnant, their hormones rise which might change their normal personal scents. Moreover, as time goes by, their bodies change as well as their movement. As a result, dogs can pick up those changes and come to know that their owners are pregnant. They will then become overly protective because they love their owners and would want to see them happy and secure as well.
Conclusion
Dogs are extremely close to their owners and spending a lot of time exclusively with one person can make them overprotective. Dogs learning that their owners are expectant even makes them more overprotective. While your dog being protective of you is a good thing, it should never get to a point where he becomes overprotective. Prepare your dog by giving him the attention he deserves and don’t let him spend way too much time with you just because you are pregnant.
Related Read: How Do You Know When Your Dog is About to Give Birth?