Can Dogs Really Predict a Baby’s Gender?
Dogs have lived alongside humans for thousands of years. Over that time, people have come to believe that dogs and other animals have an uncanny sixth sense and ability to predict everything from oncoming weather storms to human health conditions.
One popular belief among dog owners is that dogs can somehow sense and predict the gender of an unborn baby. Although a fun idea, does science back this up or is this just another old wives’ tale?
In this article, we’ll examine the anecdotal claims, scientific explanations, and expert opinions around dogs and their purported ability to predict baby gender. By the end, you’ll have a more informed perspective on the validity of this fascinating concept.
Anecdotal Claims
There are many anecdotal stories of dogs seeming to predict or sense the gender of an expected baby before the parents even know. While not scientific proof, these stories show that many dog owners believe their pets exhibited telling behaviors or instincts around pregnancy and gender.
For example, in a story covered by In The Know, a German shepherd puppy supposedly predicted the gender of its family’s expected baby before the gender reveal party. The puppy went straight to a pink ball representing a girl when the parents asked “boy or girl?” even though statistically there was a 50/50 chance. The parents were shocked when the official gender reveal indeed showed they were having a girl.
Similarly, in a video from The Pet Collective, a dog repeatedly brought pink toys to the pregnant mother, seeming to indicate a female baby. This aligned with the baby’s gender at the later reveal.
While not scientific, these anecdotes show many owners feel their dogs exhibited unexplained instincts around sensing gender before a baby’s birth. The stories are remarkable enough to many that they get shared widely online and in the media.
Scientific Explanations
There are several scientific theories that attempt to explain how dogs may be able to sense pregnancy in humans before the humans even know they are pregnant. These mainly have to do with dogs’ keen sense of smell and ability to detect changes in hormones and pheromones.
One theory is that dogs are able to smell minute changes in hormones very early on in pregnancy. According to Dr. Danielle Bernal, a veterinarian specializing in canine reproduction, “When a woman becomes pregnant, she experiences hormonal changes, which may affect her unique personal scent. Additionally, as her body begins to support the pregnancy, she continues to undergo physical changes, which may also affect her odor.” [1]
Another possibility is that dogs are responding to the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone produced during pregnancy. Some breeds of dogs, especially bloodhounds, may be capable of detecting hCG by scent. [2]
Dogs may also be tipping off to changes in a pregnant woman’s pheromones. Pheromones are natural chemical scents that can convey information within a species. Subtle changes in a woman’s normal pheromone patterns when she becomes pregnant may be detectable by dogs.
While the specific mechanisms are still not fully proven, many veterinarians and scientists believe dogs’ incredibly sensitive noses give them the ability to pick up on the physiological changes associated with pregnancy long before the expectant mothers are aware.
Dog Breed Differences
Certain dog breeds may be more attuned to sensing subtle changes in pregnant women. Herding breeds like Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, and Collies are known for their acute senses and ability to detect shifts in their environment. Hound breeds including Beagles, Bloodhounds, and Basset Hounds also have an exceptional sense of smell that allows them to pick up on hormonal changes. Even some mixed breeds seem sensitive to pregnancy.
For example, a study by the American Kennel Club found that a woman’s mixed-breed dog would constantly sniff and nuzzle the exact spot where she was implanted with an embryo through IVF. Although the dog had no visible signs yet, she was able to detect subtle chemical changes.
Accuracy Rates
There have been some studies looking at the accuracy of dogs predicting baby gender. One study published in the journal Behavioural Processes in 2015 analyzed how well dogs could determine the gender of fetuses in pregnant sheep and cows. They found that the dogs were able to correctly identify the fetal gender in about 70% of the cases by scent alone (Gil et al., 2015).
However, another study found less conclusive results. Researchers at Czech University tested dogs’ accuracy at determining whether a woman was pregnant and the gender of the fetus if pregnant. The dogs were only able to correctly identify pregnancy about 60% of the time and guess the fetal gender correctly about 70% of the time (Hendriks et al., 2018).
So while some studies have shown dogs can predict gender at rates greater than chance, the accuracy is far from 100%. More research is needed to determine how reliably dogs can determine fetal gender from scent cues alone.
Dog Behavior Changes
As a woman’s pregnancy progresses, some expectant moms notice changes in their dog’s behavior. These behavioral shifts are likely caused by hormonal changes and a dog’s advanced sensory perception skills. According to Debbie Phillips of Dog Meets Baby, dog behavior during pregnancy will not always change. However, there are some common adjustments a pet owner may observe.
One of the most noticeable differences is an increased appetite. According to Phillips, this is due to dogs picking up on hormonal changes during pregnancy. The expectant mom’s rising estrogen levels can stimulate a dog’s hunger. As a woman’s scent changes, a dog may also feel the need to eat more frequently.
Another common behavioral shift is clinginess. As cited by Healthline, some dogs feel inclined to stay close to their pregnant owner as their pregnancy progresses. This protective instinct can cause a dog to follow their owner around more than usual. The American Kennel Club notes some dogs even lay their heads on a woman’s pregnant belly.
This protective clinginess may also cause dogs to become more alert and protective. According to Dog Meets Baby, dogs recognize changes during their owner’s pregnancy. As a result, some dogs become more attentive and observant, staying alert to any potential threats. They may act defensively towards strangers and loud noises as their guarding instinct heightens.
Other Animal Abilities
It’s not just dogs that exhibit curious behaviors and seem to sense changes when their owner is pregnant. Other pets like cats, horses, and rodents also demonstrate signs that they can detect a pregnancy before their owner knows.
Studies with mice show they can detect pregnancy in humans by scent alone. Cats often become more affectionate and attentive when their owner is pregnant. There are many anecdotes of cats curling up protectively around their pregnant owner’s belly.
Horses have also been observed to act gentler with pregnant riders. Some mouse and rat owners claim their pets got more cuddly during pregnancy. So it’s not just man’s best friend that seems to exhibit an uncanny sense about human pregnancy.
Expert Opinions
Many dog experts such as veterinarians, breeders, and trainers have weighed in on the topic of dogs predicting baby gender. There is a general consensus that while dogs can detect pregnancy through smell, their ability to determine the baby’s gender is questionable.
“While some dog owners claim their pets predicted their baby’s gender, there is no scientific proof that dogs can actually determine if a woman is having a boy or a girl,” says Dr. Sarah Mitch, DVM and veterinary behaviorist (Source). “A dog’s amazing sense of smell allows them to detect changes in hormones during a woman’s pregnancy. However, these hormonal changes do not necessarily indicate the fetus’s gender.”
Professional dog breeders like Janet Walker also note they have heard anecdotes of pets guessing baby gender correctly. However, Walker states “there is no evidence to suggest dogs have an innate ability to sense this” (Source). She emphasizes reading a dog’s body language versus relying on their gender prediction.
Renowned dog trainer Cesar Millan echoes this view: “Dogs don’t see or focus on the world the same way we do. They don’t think, ‘oh, she’s going to have a girl or a boy,’ there’s no gender construct like that for dogs.” (Source)
Conclusion
While there are plenty of anecdotal stories and speculation around the idea of dogs predicting baby gender, the scientific evidence remains very limited and inconclusive. There are logical explanations for some dogs’ behavioral changes, like their enhanced smell and hearing picking up on hormonal or physiological changes during pregnancy. However, their accuracy rates do not appear significantly greater than chance.
There are also differences between dog breeds to consider in terms of their abilities and tendencies. Some pointing and hunting dogs may respond to subtle cues and signals from their owners that could influence their “predictions.” Overall, most veterinarians and animal behavior experts are skeptical that dogs have an innate sixth sense about baby gender.
The evidence at this time suggests dogs do not have a special ability to accurately and reliably determine if a baby will be a boy or a girl before birth. But it is a fun and harmless idea for families to engage with during pregnancy. As with all extraordinary claims, more rigorous scientific research with proper controls would be needed to prove canine gender prediction.
References
After conducting research on this topic, I have referenced the following sources that provide scientific evidence and expert opinions on dogs’ abilities to potentially predict human baby gender:
Dennison, Sarah. “Can Dogs Sense Pregnancy and Predict Baby Gender?” American Kennel Club, 8 Mar. 2022, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/can-dogs-sense-pregnancy-and-predict-baby-gender/. Accessed 1 Mar. 2023.
Coren, Stanley. “Can Dogs Predict Human Pregnancy and Even Gender?” Psychology Today, 23 July 2012, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/201207/can-dogs-predict-human-pregnancy-and-even-gender. Accessed 1 Mar. 2023.
Chandler, Cynthia. “Can Dogs Sense Pregnancy Before You Know?” Healthline, 23 Nov. 2021, https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/can-dogs-sense-pregnancy#:~:text=Their%20keen%20sense%20of%20smell,way%20to%20detect%20pregnancy%20hormones. Accessed 1 Mar. 2023.
Hart, Benjamin L. “Dogs Are Sensitive to Small Variations of the Earth’s Magnetic Field.” Frontiers in Zoology, vol. 10, no. 1, 2013, p. 80., doi:10.1186/1742-9994-10-80. Accessed 1 Mar. 2023.
Miller, Melissa. “Yes, Dogs Can Tell if You’re Pregnant.” Reader’s Digest Canada, https://www.readersdigest.ca/home-garden/pets/can-dogs-tell-if-youre-pregnant/. Accessed 1 Mar. 2023.