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In a viral TikTok video, you can see a Golden Retriever react to the sound of a gentle kick in his owner’s belly, with his ears perking up. But does he understand that there is a tiny human inside his human parent? His adorable reaction certainly suggests so.
You may have heard similar stories of dogs behaving differently around pregnant people, perhaps becoming clingier and more protective or even sniffing at the belly with unusual curiosity. So, it does seem that dogs can sense pregnancy. Sadly, no studies have explored the possibility of dogs detecting pregnancy through olfactory cues. But they can notice changes in mood and physical state. However, do they understand what this means? Let’s take a look at what scientists know so far.
Can Dogs Detect Pregnancy Through Their Sense of Smell?
Dogs perceive the world primarily through their highly developed senses of smell and hearing. Their olfactory prowess is quite impressive, with a few estimates suggesting that dogs can smell up to 100,000 times better than humans 1. In fact, we have long used dogs’ remarkable sniffers for odor identification and discrimination. For example, trained dogs can detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are organic chemicals that are emitted from various sources within the body and that possess an odor imperceptible to humans due to being at concentrations as low as 1 to 2 parts per trillion 2.
Their incredible sense of smell enables dogs to pick up on a vast array of odors that escape our detection entirely.
- Dogs can detect prostate cancer by smelling urine samples 3. Indeed, it is hypothesized that certain VOCs present in urine may indicate the presence of a malignant tumor.
- Canines can detect low and high blood sugar levels 4. In fact, they are being explored as “biocompatible, patient-friendly alarm” systems for detecting low and high blood sugar levels in humans. Numerous case studies have shown that trained dogs can exhibit specific behaviors, such as vocalizing, nuzzling, licking, biting, jumping, and staring at their owners when their blood sugar levels drop.
- Trained dogs have also been shown to detect narcolepsy, as these patients emit a specific odor that dogs can detect 5.
However, note that these studies have certain limitations, such as having been carried out on relatively small samples of dogs. Still, they offer a promising glimpse into what canines are capable of doing with their noses.
Indeed, it appears that dogs can detect subtle chemical signals that elude human perception, ranging from diseases like cancer and epilepsy to hormonal changes and emotional states 6. So, it’s not so far-fetched to think that they could detect pregnancy-related changes.
Can Dogs Detect Hormonal Changes?
Hormonal changes can cause a change in a pregnant person’s body odor, which a dog might pick up on. However, to our knowledge, no research has explored dogs’ ability to detect pregnancy through scent cues, yet they excel at detecting changes in mood and physical state.
For example, morning sickness induced by the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), fatigue, and mood swings resulting from increased estrogen and progesterone levels can significantly alter a pregnant person’s daily routine. This may mean going on fewer walks, experiencing a more irritable mood, or paying less attention to the dog. Although the canine undoubtedly perceives these changes, it is quite difficult to know whether they understand that they are pregnancy-related.
Essentially, a dog will seem to react to their owner’s pregnancy but this could be due to a combination of changes in behavior and smell. Indeed, the potential for increased protectiveness and clinginess likely comes from detecting their owner’s altered emotional state and scent, However, reliable scientific research is yet to be carried out on this.
Although it is difficult to determine if dogs truly understand that their owner is pregnant, it’s undoubtedly a beautiful thought!
Why Having a Dog May Be Good During and After Pregnancy
According to a Japanese study, owning a dog while pregnant was linked to a lower risk of depression and psychological distress, suggesting that a canine could benefit their pregnant owner’s mental health. Interestingly, having a cat was associated with an increased risk of depressive signs 6 months after giving birth, though researchers did not find the exact reason for this phenomenon.
Another study suggests that interacting with dogs can lead to increased oxytocin levels in owners and their canines, while decreasing the owners’ cortisol (the stress hormone) levels. This explains why many pregnant people feel reassured by the presence of their beloved dog by their side!
Tips for Reassuring Your Dog During Your Pregnancy
Although it hasn’t yet been proven that dogs can detect pregnancy, it’s evident that many dogs’ behaviors do change during this time. In fact, many owners have reported that their four-legged companions became more attentive, protective, or even possessive during their pregnancies.
If this is your situation, here are a few tips to reassure your pup during this transformative period of your life:
- Maintain a routine. Much like us, most dogs thrive with some sort of order in their daily lives, so try to keep your regular schedule as consistent as possible. This will help reassure them that despite the changes happening around them, they can still rely on familiar patterns.
- Gradually decrease the attention. This is easier said than done, but the goal is to get your dog used to the fact that they will likely receive less attention from you in the coming months. That said, giving your dog less attention could result in unwanted boredom behaviors, such as chewing or barking, so be sure to speak with your vet beforehand to determine if this is the proper method for you and your pet. Reducing the length of your dog’s walk and doing shorter routes is a good idea so that they get used to a new structure long before the baby arrives.
- Play recordings of babies crying, screaming, or laughing. This will get your dog used to the baby’s future sounds.
- Set up baby equipment and toys. Allow your dog to explore the new things at their own pace and reward them with treats, cuddles and games when they approach a new object calmly.
- Train your dog not to jump on people. If you haven’t already done so, now is the time.
Bottom Line
So, what’s the verdict? Can dogs smell pregnancy? Although the evidence is mainly anecdotal, there is a bit of scientific data to consider this to be a valid possibility. Indeed, dogs’ remarkable sense of smell and their great sensitivity to changes in their environment make it plausible that they can detect the hormonal, physical, and emotional changes associated with human pregnancy.
But even if they don’t have a “sixth sense” to detect pregnancies, dogs do have an exceptional ability to perceive their humans’ emotions, making them perfectly suited to playing the role of future big siblings!
Featured Image Credit: Daria Lixovetckay, Shutterstock
