Dr. Paola Cuevas is our Senior In-House Veterinarian at Dogster and Pangolia. She has over 19 years of experience working with an array of species and loves sharing her knowledge and experience with our readers and aims to provide assistance with any issue presented by your non-human family members. She received her degree from the University of Guadalajara, Mexico.
Her passions are animal welfare and preventive medicine, and has skills in the fields of nutrition, microscopy, clinical pathology, diagnostic imaging, and endoscopy.
Paola frequently contributes pet care insight to various media outlets like PetMD, The Daily Record, Parents.com, etc.
Paola is also an animal behaviorist with extensive experience in positive reinforcement animal training.
We all want privacy in our most intimate moments. But it seems that every time we get a little frisky with a partner, watching eyes peer in from the doorway.
What exactly is it about taking time for a bit of hanky panky that really draws the attention of our canine friends? It seems that dogs can have very different reactions to things like this, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer.
If you’re asking yourself, “Why does my dog watch me have sex?”, in this article, we’re going to just explore some possibilities as to what your pet could be thinking when they observe you sowing your wild oats.
Dogs Are Terrific With Senses
We all know that our dogs have an impeccable sense of smell. They are much better than we humans at using their senses.
So, when it’s time for some special connection between you and your love, your dog might be smelling all sorts of hormones and pheromones and everything in between. Your body can be sending out a lot of signals into the room, and your dog is picking up on the chemistry.
Because they might not understand what’s happening, it can really draw their attention. They will definitely know something is happening, though they might not know exactly what. For some dogs, this can cause confusion, aggravation, or curiosity.
Image by: vk_st, Shutterstock
Emotional and Physical Shifts Are Happening
There’s very clearly some hot and heavy energy in the air that wasn’t there before. Dogs are well aware of your emotional state. So, when your focus shifts or they’re sensing a change in your behavior, they might need to observe you to try to make sense of why you might be experiencing it.
Because there’s another person involved, they can clearly tell that it relates to the connection between the two of you, but they might not understand the intention. Even though dogs are creatures of instinct and habit, our sex lives differ very much from those of our animal friends.
They will not understand the need for personal space and will simply want to be a part of the activities. Also, with the way that things can move around during this time, it might look a lot like playtime to them. Ultimately, each dog will respond to the changes differently.
Some Dogs Might Worry
With all the hustle and bustle, it might really cause anxiety in some dogs. If you have a particularly anxious pup or one that’s very attached to you, they might worry about your safety or feel like you are in trouble.
If you have a dog that is more anxious and dependent on you, they might start exhibiting signs of anxiety like whining, pacing, nudging, and vocalizing. For dogs that exhibit this kind of behavior, it’s often best that you relocate them to another room until you’re finished.
Image by: MDV Edwards, Shutterstock
Dogs Might Not Have the Concept of Privacy
Last time our dogs checked, they’re a part of everything in our lives. Why would this be any different? If you have a particularly nosy pup, they probably just want to be a part of whatever exciting activity is happening.
They don’t care what it is, and they don’t care why everybody’s excited, they just want to join in on the fun. Little do they know, it’s just not the kind of fun that includes them. Because they don’t understand this, they will have no concept of personal boundaries and might try to get all up in your business while you’re doing your thing.
Image by: Nina Buday, Shutterstock
Dogs Can Get Protective of Owners
If you have a dog that is protective of you, you might notice them running to your defense when they think you’re in trouble. If you’re engaging in a little private time with your lover, the dog might mistake acts of passion for acts of violence.
Getting very concerned, they might start acting in an aggressive or dominant fashion to assert themselves over the situation. After all, if you are in trouble, they will be your first line of defense. It can be very difficult, if not impossible, to reassure these types of dogs that you’re okay. You might have to make other accommodations to prevent triggering this protective instinct in your particular dog.
Image by: Vyaseleva Elena, Shutterstock
Is It Cruel to Lock Your Doggy Out?
So, your dog is certainly interrupting your private time, but you’re worried a little bit about being mean. After all, they’re just observing to the best of their ability.
But most people don’t really enjoy an audience while they get busy, so we understand your frustration. You might wonder if it is cruel to lock a dog out of your room, and we have to say no! Everyone deserves privacy, even away from our best buddies.
However, there is a certain way you should do this. Instead of starting the act and then waiting until your dog is worked up, set them up in another location before it ever happens. That way, they have no concept of what’s going on at all and think everything is normal around the house.
If you wait until they’ve already caught on to something happening, they might vocalize the entire time or exhibit other anxious issues related to separation anxiety or protective instincts. This can result in damage to your home and other unnecessary nonsense.
If you have a particularly aggressive dog, you should learn very early to make sure you always separate them from the act, so they don’t feel compelled to respond.
Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock
Conclusion
Now you understand a bit more about how your dog understands intercourse. The reality is, we don’t know exactly what a dog is thinking about, but their behavior can tell us a lot about their comfort level.
Regardless of if your dog is feeling anxious, scared, protective, or curious, you don’t have to share your bedroom time with them. It is perfectly acceptable to put your dog out of your room so you can experience intimacy privately.
Ashley Bates is a freelance dog writer and pet enthusiast who is currently studying the art of animal therapy. A mother to four human children— and 23 furry and feathery kids, too – Ashley volunteers at local shelters, advocates for animal well-being, and rescues every creature in need. Her mission is to create awareness, education, and entertainment about pets to
prevent homelessness. Her specialties are dogs and cats.
Airline pet policies are notoriously hard to navigate. The information is scattered across different pages, buried in FAQ sections, and often contradicts what...
“I’ll take a highly trainable, low-shedding lapdog, hold the heart disease and anxiety!” Something I always found amusing was when people would point...
When you want to give your dog food that’s the best of the best, fresh is the way to go. But we all know that fresh food costs more than traditional kibble. So, how much does a food like The...
Finding healthy treats for our dogs isn’t as straightforward as many pet parents might think, especially when considering vegetables. Due to our many biological differences, the plants that benefit us in our diets are often unexpectedly hazardous to dogs. Though...
Wheaten terriers are a devoted, friendly breed. Their medium size and happy temperament make them excellent family pets. The dogs need the right food to stay healthy and keep their gorgeous coats shiny. However, finding the best dog food for...
Corn is a controversial ingredient that is used in a lot of commercial dog foods. It is very much a normal dog food ingredient in grain-inclusive diets and has been for quite some time. In fact, according to The Institute...
Sometimes, it’s nice giving your canine companion a treat you know they’ll love, and occasionally, those treats are something you would eat or drink too. Take tea, for example. Plenty of people enjoy tea because of its various flavors and...
Since it’s full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, rhubarb is one popular pie ingredient we don’t have to feel guilty about eating. But as much as we enjoy rhubarb, is this tart and tasty garden delight a sensible food for...
If you’ve ever caught your pup giving you that “please share your salmon” look, you’re not alone. Most dogs go wild for this flavorful fish, and thankfully, it can be an incredibly healthy treat. But here’s the catch: serve it...
It’s not a backyard barbecue or beach party without great food and a pup or two. However, not all that food is safe for those dogs. One of those unsafe foods is BBQ sauce, so you must keep it out...
Stay informed with expert pet care insights delivered straight to your inbox! Discover professional guidance on animal behavior, feeding tips, trusted product picks, and much more.
You may opt-out at any time. View our Privacy Policy for more information.
Sign up for the Dogster Email Newsletter
You may opt-out at any time. View our Privacy Policy for more information.
You may opt-out at any time. View our Privacy Policy for more information.