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Original poster

Dog getting very territorial since pregnant

11 replies

BeachBunni · 05/05/2007 02:45

We got our dog, cross black lab/ german shephard bitch, about a year and a half ago. My OH never really wanted a dog because of all the hassle and though he loves her to pieces I've been the one to feed and walk her 99% of the time.
She's always barked a bit at people near the house and to be honest we never really discouraged it as we thought it was good on the burglar side of things. I'm 9 wks pregnant and I've noticed the past couple of weeks she is going nuts at anyone who comes near the house, even cars driving up the street at times. She follows me round the house like a lapdog, is getting very needy and whines constantly if she knows I'm in the house and I've put her out the back whereas before as long as you put out her bed and water she used to settle. More worrying she really growled at one of the kids in the street the other day.
Is she somehow sensing that I'm pregnant? I don't know what to do about her bahaviour as she knows her position in the house and getting plenty of exercise as usual. If she's growling at kids how will she react to a newborn in the house??

OP posts:
hercules1 · 05/05/2007 09:59

To be honest you wanted a guard dog and that's what you got. How well have you socialised her with kids and all sorts of people?

I would seriously get some help from an expert.

jalopy · 05/05/2007 10:01

Aren't dogs sensitive to hormone changes?

Original poster
BeachBunni · 05/05/2007 10:20

She very well socialised with other people. We used to have parties in the house all the time and she loves the attention. Kids not so much as none of my friends have any.

I knew dogs were meant to be snsitive to hormaone changes but I didn't think it affected them so much once they were fixed.

OP posts:
hercules1 · 05/05/2007 10:21

If I were you I would ensure she gets socialsed with kids especially if you are pregnant.

MuffinMclay · 06/05/2007 21:47

Dogs are very sensitive to hormonal changes when their owners are pregnant. It will get worse as the pregnancy progresses and when the baby arrives. The chances are that she'll be Ok with the baby itself, but not with other people out and about.

But you've become aware of this really early on when there is still plenty of time to do something about it (wish I had with mine , DS 12 months old and the problem isn't resolved).

I'd get a behaviourist involved to come up with a strategy to help the dog cope with these changes.

bitzermaloney · 09/05/2007 15:39

Agree with the others (of course with my name I was always going to agree with MuffinMclay ), definitely worth getting a behaviourist in. Ring a few vets and see if the same name comes up. You want a good one as there are loads of dodgy ones (avoid Barkbusters).

On the upside one of my dogs became very clingy and protective early in my pg (from before I even knew I was pg!) but her behaviour calmed down after a few weeks with consistent handling. You need someone to show you in detail how to react when your dog behaves this way as the instinctive responses (reassuring or telling off) tend to make things worse.

Rachmumoftwo · 09/05/2007 15:58

My dog was very similar, apart from the growling at kids bit, which is concerning. She got very clingy to me when I was pregnant, and liked to lay with her head resting my bump. When DD1 was born, she had a phantom pregnancy (the dog) and even lactated! She now dotes on my 2 DDs, has never so much as growled at them and I belive she would protect them with her life if need be. I think she thinks they are hers.

MKG · 09/05/2007 16:26

My sister had a huskie that was same as your dog, he became very protective of her in her first pregnancy. as soon as she got home from the hospital she put her daughter in front of him to sniff up and down, and has slept outside of her room ever since (she'll be 4 soon). He was very wary of anyone that would come near "his baby".

rislip · 09/05/2007 16:40

Our GSD(2.5years) completely changed during my pregnancy and now(dd 8 months)is very very protective of her and has become a real old grump with other dogs, not bad with people thank goodness. We saw a dog trainer about it as we wanted to avoid any dramas. It's really important your dog knows her position in the pack and you have to keep re-inforcing it. I would definitely go and see someone if you can.

Good luck

Rachmumoftwo · 09/05/2007 20:30

Mine is a GSD too. They can be lovely family dogs with the right handling and care.

burek · 09/05/2007 20:39

No particular advice but thought I'd let you know that it isn't unusual for dogs to change during pregnancy.
My old dog was very clingy when I was pregnant. He'd stay right by me during walks instead of wandering off to do his own thing as normal. When we brought ds home from hospital we let the dog have a good sniff for as long as he wanted so that there would be no obsession. He went through a bit of an adjustment stage - lots of whining and pacing - for a month or two but soon got used to a new baby in the house, and was always very protective of DS when out for walks.

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