Dog Behavior and Human Pregnancy

When Dog Behavior and Human Pregnancy Collide

For many of us, our dogs have been our "first children". We've learned how to care for them, train them and put their needs ahead of our own. In many ways it's a training ground for parenthood.

So, what happens when you discover you now have your own bundle of joy on the way? Life is going to change in a very big way.

The Family Pack

The simple fact of life with dogs is that they are pack animals, first and foremost, and they include us in their group structure. Bringing a baby into the picture will significantly change those pack dynamics.

If you've trained your dog well, you should have become the head of your family pack, with your dog falling in line behind you and any other people living in your home. Every time you add a new member to your household there is a subtle jockeying for position in the pack. When the new baby arrives, the time and attention you'll need to focus on him may mean less time to spend with your dog.

Feelings of jealousy may cause your dog to react in different ways.

• Your dog may try to physically squeeze in between you and the new baby.
• Your pet may grab items that belong to the baby and chew them up.
• Your dog may begin having house accidents.
• In an extreme case of jealousy, your dog may begin to show signs of aggression toward the baby, such as growling. Nip this in the bud with firm but calm verbal reprimands.

At the other end of the spectrum, your dog may not appear to be jealous at all. In fact, many dogs take their cue from their owners, and readily welcome the baby into the home. In cases like this, the main concern may actually be protecting the baby from your dog's overly enthusiastic affections.

Body Changes

Pregnancy brings about certain changes in a woman's body, and dogs tend to super-tune into them all. Dog behavior and human pregnancy collide in these areas:

Scent

Pregnancy triggers definite changes in a woman's hormone levels. Believe it or not, your dog can actually smell the difference in your body chemistry after you become pregnant.

This scent change can affect your dog in different ways, such as:

• Your dog may seem a little confused by the scent change and act reluctant to be too close to you. It may take a little time for your pet to accept your new scent and realize that you are still the same person.
• Your dog, especially if she's a female, may actually respond to your new scent by acting more affectionate and protective toward you. It's almost as if she can recognize the scent is related to your condition.
• Your dog may actually remain happily oblivious to the entire change going on and continue to behave normally.

Shape

Unless you were full-figured before the pregnancy, your body is going to increase noticeably in size. While some pets don't seem to register any notice of a growing belly, other dogs, especially smaller ones, may actually appear a little apprehensive about your new shape.

Your pet may also become flustered the first time he's snuggled up with you and feels the baby move. If this happens, offer calm, loving reassurance that every thing is all right.

Helping Your Dog Adjust

There's no way to predict how your dog will react to your pregnancy, but there are some ways you can help your pet adjust to the changes to come.

Obedience Training

If you haven't already put your pet through obedience training, there's no time like the present. You can do this yourself if you're in the beginning stages of pregnancy, or you may want to ask your partner to attend training classes with your dog instead.

Establish a Flexible Schedule

When the baby arrives, you'll all be operating around his schedule, so it's a good idea to accustom your dog to flexibility. Here are some ideas:

• Begin by gradually varying your pet's feeding and exercise times. This way he won't be too rocked when the baby demands to be fed when it's time for his usual walk.
• Installing a dog door might not be a bad idea either.

Accustom Your Dog to Baby Scents

Dogs operate more by smell than by sight, so you can help your pet prepare for the coming baby by accustoming him to the scents of baby bath and talcum products in these ways:

• Try bathing your pet in baby shampoo. He'll recognize the familiar scent when you use it on baby.
• Sprinkle a small amount of baby powder in his dog bed so he gets used to that smell too.

Use a "Practice" Baby

One of the most important things you can do for your dog is accustom him to the presence of someone else in your lap.

Try holding a baby doll in your lap during your dog's usual snuggle time with you. This will begin to move your pet into his new position with the pack, yet reassure him that he can still be close to you as long as he behaves calmly around "baby". Take this opportunity to train him to behave the way you need him to without any risk to a real child.

Conclusion

When it comes to dog behavior and human pregnancy, the most important thing you can do is remain aware of how the changes in your life may affect your pet. Try to remain firm, but patient and reassuring with him as you both adjust to your new life-style.