Dog acting out during pregnancy?

[Kirky658]

We've got a very nearly one year old pup. Generally he's very well behaved. Went through a spell about 6 months ago when he hated being left in the house alone for even short periods so we had to put him in his bed. Recently he'd been better.

In the past week he's chewed DH's watch strap, eaten his ear buds, waking up barking at night and just genuinely being a little bugger. It feels like he knows I'm pregnant (I'm 29 weeks) and that he has a feeling things are going to change.

Just wondered if anyone else had had this experience?

They absolutely know. My own doggo is being more sooky and protective with me (36 weeks) and is being a bit weird with my husband at the moment, growling at him sometimes. My in laws dog has been putting his nose on my tummy and growling (not ideal). However, as yours is a boy dog, it could be those pesky hormones kicking in more now he’s one. We waited to get ours castrated as he is a big dog, but eventually felt we had to as his behaviour was becoming challenging. Suggest more walks/games as a starting point because chewing/acting out can be a sign of boredom. Congrats on your pregnancy 🙂

Dogs can sense when you’re pregnant, they pick up on chemical changes in the body. So it’s not just pregnancy that they can pick up. However, he’s almost one so you’re also in full teenage angst stage where he is going to test his boundaries. It might just be the pregnancy, it might just be teenage angst but it’s likely to be a bit of both.

You need to go back to basics with your training and build up again. Anything he’s struggling with, take it right back to the beginning. So lots of leave it, lots of praise when he’s been good and quiet, keep him busy so he can’t be a bugger. Go back to basics yourselves, so nothing is to be left in his reach. If he’s struggling being left, build it back up again, make his kongs really exciting, if you aren’t using kongs then introduce them. Be consistent with the boundaries. He’ll remember how to do something and get it but he’ll forget (possibly purposefully) something else, so you’ll be revisiting a lot of things. It takes time and it’s exhausting while they have their teenage strop. You might also want to consider preparing him for a baby. Bring some of the things (like bassinet or pram) in slowly and one at a time or introduce the scents of a new baby to him. Play the sounds of a baby crying on YouTube. But just take it slow with him and be consistent, lots of praise when he’s doing something good. Similar levels to when he was a tiny puppy and went outside to the toilet for the first time.

I don’t think my 3 year old dog has a clue that I’m pregnant.
I do remember though that my dog went through a regression with his behaviour at around 1 year old.
It was probably my fault I had not kept on top of his training and he was trying to get attention constantly.

Thanks for the suggestions all, sounds like he is just being a teenager then! We are trying to keep up with his training as well as teaching him some new commands too. He gets walked approx 5 miles a day so I can't really exercise him any more than that. He is being castrated in 2 weeks time so maybe that will help maybe it won't!

Just sounds like normal pup behaviour, your training never stops with a dog (especially males). You just need to keep at it and it will settle as your dog goes in to adulthood. The castration does often help.

Only change in our dog has been that she's been more protective of me as I've slowed down in the 3rd trimester (like body blocking around strangers). She has been alph trained and generally very obedient.

Animals 100% know youre pregnant because of the hormone change.

However, a dog never stops learning.
At 1year old, an uncastrated male is like a teenage boy believe it or not.
The myth that castration will fix behaviour issues is just a myth. In some cases it can calm the dog and reduce some of the unwanted behaviour because of the levels of testosterone, but, it takes 3 months for these levels to drop after castration. By a year old as well, alot of unwanted behaviour becomes a 'learnt behaviour' not a behavioural issue. As in, he will know when he barks at night for example, it provokes a reaction from you so will keep doing it because it gets him the response he wants. Dogs arent stupid 😂
As dogs grow their needs change. More exercise is always a good start. Maybe 3 shorter walks per day rather than one very long one.
Lots of puzzle games such as snuffle mats and puzzle feeders to get their mind going.
Split their food into meal times rather than ad-lib or one meal per day.
Recall training/agility depending on the type of dog.
He doesnt sound like a dog who is fearful of you being pregnant, just a teenager who needs to burn off some of his energy.
Defo get this balls off of him though to prevent issues later in life.

Good luck with the pregnancy 😊

I would be amazed if my dog knew I was pregnant haha. He is the same chill dude as always, I'm sure he'll be the same when the baby arrives, nothing ever fazes him.

@flutterby8 yes I know this about the castration, we aren't having it done for behavioural reasons it's because he's a cross breed and we won't be breeding him and thought well let's get it done before baby arrives. Thanks for the tips though!

absolute zero chance ours have a Scooby Doo I'm pregnant haha. As shown by yesterdays walk minus hubby....let them off in park, here there and everywhere and then got dragged round when put em back on lead to go back to car!
good luck @Kirky658 getting his balls off, he will be fine - good shout doing before baba arrives!! ours acted up on holiday and barked at night and scratched doors - as in holiday cottage attached to others we ended up with them in our room as didnt wanna disturb other people - bang went my holiday lie ins, we were up earlier than the normal working week!!!

@leftitlate37 dogs eh, who'd have them!!! Lol

Us...a million times over hahaha...u know it!

Our dog definitely knows. His behaviour has changed, mostly with the garden.

He always used to bark if he heard noises at the bottom of the garden or saw a cat or bird on the fence, but now he goes down there and barks for no reason and guards all day. We have to pick him up and bring him in sometimes to force him to stop, it’s like he feels like he’s always on duty!

He also sits on me and tries to sit on my belly which he never used to do