Can Dogs Sense Pregnancy In Humans? - What To Expect

“I’m four weeks and one day pregnant with my first baby. For anyone else who has a dog, has your dog shown signs that they knew before you tested? My girl is not usually one for attention and cuddling, but lately she’s been … wanting to be next to me,” says one WTE mom. “Then, I tested positive. It’s like she knows, but it’s just so crazy to me that they can sense it.”

Well, when moms in a similar boat were asked about this exact thing, 85% of them who have a pet say yes, their pet could tell they were pregnant, according to a recent What to Expect poll.

But is it really possible that pets can sense you’re expecting? Here’s what the research can — and can’t — tell us about your pet’s perception of your pregnancy.

Key Takeaways

• Your pet may sense your pregnancy — 85% of moms who own a pet report their pet could tell they were expecting.

• Dogs, especially, may be able to pick up on changes in your body's hormones.

• Some moms-to-be report their pets became extra cuddly and more protective during a pregnancy.

Can pets tell when you’re pregnant?

Anecdotally, at least, cats and dogs have been known to start following their owners around or become more overprotective when they are newly pregnant. Although there is no study (yet) showing that pets can definitely sense pregnancy in humans, it’s not really that much of a stretch to assume that they might be able to sense when you have a baby on board – and What to Expect moms have witnessed it for themselves.

“My dog has known since day one before I knew,” says WTE Community mom Elliesmom24. “He’s the one who made me realize I should take a test.”

If you do notice changes in your pet’s behavior during pregnancy, it might be linked to shifts in your hormones along with changes in your behavior, or just a coincidence. Here's what we know.

Changes in your pregnancy hormones

Cats and dogs possess notoriously sensitive senses of smell. Scientists say they can smell as much as 100,000 times better than we humans can. Trusted SourceFrontiers in Veterinary ScienceWhen the Nose Doesn%u2019t Know: Canine Olfactory Function Associated With Health, Management, and Potential Links to MicrobiotaSee All Sources [1] It allows them to pick up on a wide range of changes in your body's chemical compounds — including the increase in pregnancy hormones like estrogen, progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Track your symptoms with the My Journal tool in our free app

Using that incredible sense of smell, dogs specifically have been shown to sniff out health conditions in people with incredible accuracy. Research suggests that dogs can even sense certain cancers like ovarian, as well as infectious diseases like malaria — sometimes by merely sniffing a person’s breath — with nearly 100 percent accuracy. Trusted SourceMDPI JournalsCanine Olfaction: Physiology, Behavior, and Possibilities for Practical ApplicationsSee All Sources [2] Trusted SourceBMC Infectious DiseasesCanine olfactory detection and its relevance to medical detectionSee All Sources [3]

Dogs have even been shown to detect low or high blood sugar levels in people with diabetes or body odors that occur before a seizure, and they can be trained to alert owners by whining or licking their hands.

Given these abilities, detecting changes in a person’s pregnancy hormones doesn’t seem too far-fetched (pun intended!).

Changes in your behavior

Cats and dogs are very attentive and perceptive, especially with their owners. They notice slight changes in an owner’s behavior, which is why some are trained to be registered emotional support companions for people with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression and other mental health disorders.

During pregnancy, your behavior or routine may change in ways that your pet notices. For example, your pet might notice that you’re more tired than usual, that you have major nausea, that you’re in nesting mode — or even simply that your baby bump is growing. In fact, according to the same WTE poll, 2 in 3 moms who own a pet report that their dogs specifically could tell they were pregnant.

Additionally, of moms who have a pet, 28% of them reported that their cats, too, could tell they were pregnant, and 4% of moms reported that their other pets, beyond cats and dogs, could tell they were pregnant.

Will your pet’s behavior change during pregnancy?

Every pet and breed is different, so how they may react to your pregnancy will vary, too.

“My dogs must be totally clueless,” says What to Expect Community member Rubybebe3. “They never exhibit any of the behaviors people always mention. Maybe they are in denial as we already have two kids and they are over it.”

Some moms-to-be report that their pets have become more protective and clingy. Your pet may also act more affectionate, more fearful around you or simply indifferent.

“I’m pretty sure my cat has realized I’m pregnant,” says mom Hailey2002mort. “The past couple weeks, she’s been extra cuddly..”

Can pets sense if you’re going into labor?

Major hormonal changes to levels of oxytocin, endorphins, prolactin and adrenaline all play an important role in triggering and sustaining labor and delivery, from instigating contractions that dilate and efface the cervix to preparing the body to breastfeed. Given that cats and dogs can smell hormones, they may also be able to sense hormonal shifts that occur as you’re going into labor, too.

“My dog has been insanely anxious [and] clingy the past few days,” says one WTE mom. “This morning he was even trying to dig his way through the shower, something he only does during thunderstorms. I’ve been having more and more early labor signs so I think he can really sense it.”

There’s no hard science that proves your pet knows you’re pregnant or about to go into labor. If it seems like your pet is acting unusual during your pregnancy, you could be right in assuming that they are sensitive to the changes going on in your body.

But if your pet’s behavior doesn’t change, that’s okay. Every pet reacts differently to your behavioral and hormonal changes. It doesn’t mean that something is wrong. For instance, for some moms with multiple pets, one may sense a change while the other may not.

“My dog still seems absolutely clueless… lol but my cat has known since before I even got my positive test!” says user Kgabrielse3. “She became way more playful and has cuddled with me every single day and night (which wasn’t normal for her before) since three days before I tested positive! I have a feeling she has already claimed this baby as hers.”

Either way, it’s always a good idea to start preparing your pet to welcome a new baby even before your little one’s arrival, by doing things like bonding with your pet and baby at the same time or burning energy by taking your pet on walks with the baby.

Methodology

The Everyday Health Group Pregnancy & Parenting Talk to Moms Monthly Poll was conducted by Everyday Health Group – Pregnancy and Parenting between March 28 and April 2, 2025. We surveyed 402 women ages 18 to 44 who are currently pregnant or have at least one child up to 5 years old.

Additional reporting by Elise Robley.