Introduction
Sarah was 9 months pregnant and resting on the couch while her loyal dog Bailey laid nearby. Suddenly, Bailey sat up, alert, and stared intently at Sarah. He whined and nudged her baby bump with his nose. Confused, Sarah tried to calm him, but Bailey remained restless. An hour later, Sarah’s water broke—she was going into labor! Bailey had sensed the first signs before she did.
Dogs have an uncanny ability to detect changes in our behavior, mood, or health. As Sarah’s due date approached, Bailey noticed subtle signs that labor was nearing. While the notion of pets predicting labor may seem far-fetched, many dog owners have stories of their intuitive companions recognizing impending delivery. Let’s explore the evidence behind dogs sensing labor and the ways they try to alert us.
Changes in Dog’s Behavior
One of the most common signs that a dog may sense impending labor is a sudden increase in clinginess. As you get closer to delivery, your dog may start following you everywhere you go and want to be by your side at all times. This is likely due to their ability to detect changes in your scent, behavior, and energy levels that indicate labor is approaching.
Research has shown that dogs are very attuned to their human companion’s emotional states. When you are anxious or act differently as labor gets closer, your dog picks up on this and likely wants to offer comfort and support. Their protective instincts kick in, so they want to keep you safe during this vulnerable time. According to studies, many women report excessive clinginess and following behavior days or even weeks before they ultimately go into labor.
Nesting Near Owner
As a woman’s pregnancy progresses, especially in the final weeks, dogs may start exhibiting nesting behavior where they try to stay close to their heavily pregnant owner 1. This is likely because they can sense subtle physical and hormonal changes indicating the pregnancy is nearing its end.
Dogs have an excellent sense of smell, so they may pick up on hormonal shifts and changes in their owner’s scent as she approaches labor. The dog wants to keep their pregnant human safe and provide comfort, so they will often follow her closely or curl up against her swollen belly.
This nesting behavior stems from the dog’s loyalty and pack mentality. They view their human family as their pack, so when a new pack member (the baby) is on the way, they become more protective and want to monitor the expectant mother by staying close.
Increased Guarding
One of the most common signs a dog senses labor is increased protectiveness and guarding behavior. As your due date approaches, your dog may become more alert and attentive to you and your surroundings. They will likely follow you very closely, not wanting to leave your side. This protective instinct kicks in as they sense the changes in your body and behavior that indicate labor is approaching.
Dogs have an excellent sense of smell and can detect the hormonal changes that happen leading up to labor. According to research, your dog can smell the increase in progesterone that drops right before going into labor (Source 1). They use this ability to sniff out medical conditions, so it makes sense they pick up on the hormonal signals of impending labor.
As your due date gets closer, don’t be surprised if your dog becomes your self-appointed bodyguard. Their protectiveness stems from sensing something significant is about to happen. Make sure to reward this guarding behavior with praise and affection so they know it is appreciated.
Unusual Anxiety
As the time of delivery approaches, you may notice your dog becoming more anxious. They may begin whining or pacing around, and seem generally distressed. This behavior likely stems from sensing the changes happening in your body. The scent and hormonal changes happening can make your dog uneasy as they sense something is different.
Some dogs may become clingy and want to stay by your side at all times. Others may seem agitated or start hiding from you. These signs of anxiety are your dog’s way of reacting to the approaching labor and birth. They don’t fully understand what is happening but can tell something big is about to occur. Try to remain calm yourself, keep to your normal routines as much as possible, and give your dog extra affection to help ease their worries.
Changes in Appetite
It is common for a dog’s appetite to decrease as labor approaches. This is because the dog’s body is preparing for the demanding process of giving birth. As early as a week before labor begins, you may notice your pregnant dog eating less or refusing meals altogether.
According to 10 Signs of a Dog in Labor, “Another sign of a dog in labor for pets is refusal to eat. Dogs do not typically like to eat before they go into labor.” Pregnant dogs do not feel like eating right before going into labor because they instinctively know that the process of giving birth will require a lot of energy and work. Eating a large meal beforehand may cause digestive issues or vomiting while in labor.
You should not try to force your pregnant dog to eat right before labor if she refuses food. Offer small, highly digestible meals like boiled chicken and rice, as recommended in the wikiHow article on feeding a pregnant dog before labor. Allow your dog to eat as much as she wants, and do not worry if her appetite seems decreased.
Increased Affection
Many expecting mothers notice their dog becomes more affectionate and attentive as their due date approaches. Dogs have a strong sense of smell and can detect subtle odors and hormonal changes. According to a study published in Biology Letters [1], dogs were able to detect various cancers through odor signatures. Similarly, they can pick up on the hormonal changes and pheromones released by a woman going into labor.
Your dog may begin exhibiting more affectionate behaviors like licking, nudging, and cuddling. This is their instinctual way of providing comfort and reassurance as they sense the impending changes. Increased licking, in particular, releases oxytocin in both the dog and human to promote bonding. Your dog is tuned into your shifting energy and emotions during this transition. More frequent nudging or pawing is their way of checking on your state. Overall, the extra snuggles and affection from your dog in the days leading up to labor is their intuitive way of sensing something is happening soon.
Changes in Routine
Dogs are creatures of habit and typically follow set routines and schedules. However, as their owner’s due date approaches, some dogs may suddenly deviate from their regular habits and patterns of behavior (1). This change in routine may be one of the signs that your dog senses you are going into labor soon.
For example, a dog who normally naps in the afternoon may start following you everywhere instead. Or a dog who enjoys a long morning walk may suddenly be reluctant to leave your side. Dogs who are outdoors may want to stay inside more with you. Overall, the dog is unlikely to stick to its normal routine and may act clingier or more protective of you.
This behavior suggests your dog may be picking up on chemical changes in your body or energy as you near labor. Your dog may be anxious or excited about the upcoming birth and what it means for your dynamic. Along with sticking close by your side, your dog may also check on and observe you more often. Deviation from routine is a notable sign for many pregnant women that their dog is sensing labor is close (1).
Detection of Scent Changes
One of the most well-known reasons dogs can detect pregnancy is their incredible sense of smell. According to the AKC, dogs have up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses, while humans only have about 6 million (source). This allows them to detect subtle changes in scent that humans would never notice.
When a woman becomes pregnant, hormonal changes occur that can alter her natural scent. Dogs are able to pick up on these hormonal changes through their highly sensitive noses. The changes in scent are likely very subtle, but apparent enough for your dog to detect. Dogs can smell these hormonal changes as early as a few weeks into pregnancy when hormonal shifts first begin.
Researchers believe dogs use their sense of smell to gather information about a woman’s physiological state. By detecting changes in hormones, pheromones, and body chemistry, dogs can get cues that their owner is pregnant. This exceptional “sniffing” ability allows dogs to pick up on pregnancy even before physical changes become noticeable.
Conclusion
In summary, dogs can sense when their human companion is going into labor through various behavioral changes. Paying close attention to your dog’s actions, routine, and mood in the days and weeks before your due date can provide insight into the early signs of labor. Unusual clinginess, anxiety, nesting behaviors, appetite changes, and guarding are some of the most commonly reported ways dogs react to an impending birth. Their advanced sense of smell likely enables them to detect hormonal changes and scent differences emitted by your body. While every dog is different, trusting your pet’s signals can give you extra preparation time before the big event. Recognizing your dog’s labor alerts allows you to plan accordingly and get ready to welcome your new baby.