Dogs are incredible creatures so it’s no shock you might be wondering “Does my dog know I’m pregnant?” The answer is simple! Dogs are really good at smelling things.

Why are dogs so good at smelling things?

Scientists generally agree that a dogs sense of smell is anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 times better than our own. With your dog having 50 times as many scent receptors as you.

But why do dogs have such good noses?

Simply put – it helps dogs to survive. Dogs noses are adapted to be excellent at sniffing out things. This allows them to find mates, avoid predators, find food, and locate their young from distances far greater than what we can.

One of the ways your dogs nose does this is by separating air. Part of it goes into the receptors while the rest of the air is for breathing. Certain breeds, like scent hounds, have evolved in a way that disturbs the ground less when sniffing. That way more of the scent will stay on the ground and your dog will be able to track it easier.

Your dog also has a vomeronasal organ. What does this organ do? It allows your dog to detect pheromones by other dogs. But what’s even cooler is your dog can smell separately with each nostril. Like how humans see differently with each eye and then combine the images together. Dogs will take two different scent profiles and combine them into one. This makes them excellent at pinpointing where a specific smell is coming from.

Does my dog really know I’m pregnant?

In reality, probably not. Dogs knowing that humans are pregnant is something we perceive. Pregnancy produces loads of hormones that are going to give off different smells. This will make you smell different. This different smell is what your dog is focusing on.

Dogs can understand smells but in most cases, they don’t. Dogs recognize a different smell, it smells interesting, and they want to investigate.

But my dog is more protective of me when I’m pregnant?

Again, this is something we perceive. There’s no scientific evidence to back up this claim.

What we do know is dogs mimic our behavior. Even when you’re not pregnant. If you’re on high alert there’s a good chance your dog will pick up on this and also be on high alert. This is what we tend to associate with dogs being more protective during pregnancy.

Dogs pick up on the slightest change in routine or environmental changes. A good example of this is when you’re preparing for the baby. When you’re preparing for a baby there’s going to be a lot of household changes. These changes might be stressful to everybody in the household. Your dog is going to pick up on this and possibly be more clingy. Thing clingyness can be perceived as being more protective.

Should I do anything to make my pregnancy easier for my dog?

Adding a new human to the family is one of the most difficult things for pets. There are a lot of things about pregnancy that you can’t avoid. Doctors appointments, rearranging of rooms, and the new things coming into the house. These things can stress out your dog.

But the most stressful thing will be when you go into labor. We recommend having plans for a pet sitter for when you go into labor.

Imagine if everybody in your house suddenly disappeared for a few days. Sure, your neighbor came over to help you out but they didn’t understand how to do things proper. By making plans with Wet Noses Pet Sitting you can worry about one less thing. Our pet sitters will make sure your dog, or any of your pets, stick to their routine. This ensures minimal stress for your pets.

Tips to introduce a new baby to your dog

Your dog might not understand you’re pregnant, but there are ways to make introducing a new baby to your dog easier.

Let your dog sniff the areas where baby will be spending most of their time. This allows your dog to get used to the smell the new items coming in.
Start any new rule changes before baby arrives. Example: If your dog is not going to be allowed in the nursery. Start keeping them out of nursery before there’s a new person in the house.
Work on basic training. Babies drop lots of things. Most of these things you don’t want your dog picking up. Reinforcing your dogs basic commands can help with this. If your dog needs help there are many wonderful trainers who are thrilled to train your dog. It’s amazing how quickly dogs can learn!

Conclusion

Your dog is really good at smelling things. This makes it easy for your dog to detect hormonal changes during pregnancy. Not the pregnancy itself. Same goes for your dog acting more protective of you during pregnancy. Your dog isn’t being more protective of you because you’re pregnant. Your dog is reacting to the changes in their environment and mimicking your behavior.

If you’re expecting it’s best to prepare your dog for baby before baby arrives. This can include household rule changes, and getting a refresher training course for your dog. We also recommend having a pet sitter on call for when you go into labor. You’ll know your dog is being taken care of by a professional for as long as you need our services.

How To Keep Your House Smelling Fresh When You Have Pets

If you have pets, you probably have pet odor. But fear not! Keeping your house smelling fresh when you have pets is easier than you think. Following these handy tips will help banish pet odor for good.

Absorb the smell, don’t cover it up

Most of us just cover up pet odor with a quick spray of Febreze but this can actually make a pet odor problem worse. Covering up odors doesn’t solve the underlying issue. You need to absorb the odors to eliminate them, not just cover them up.

Use an air purifier or pet odor candle

Air purifier’s are a great way to keep the air in your home smelling fresh. You’ll have to remember to change the filter regularly but these can be a quick way to help manage pet odor. Not a fan of an air purifier? One Fur All makes a pet odor eliminator candle to help freshen the air in your home.

Embrace baking soda to absorb smell

Baking soda has been used for years to help absorb fridge odors but it can also be used to help absorb pet odors.

Maintain the litter box

The one thing all cat owners hate, besides being woken up at 2AM to the sound of barfing, is scooping the litter box. But it’s an important task that should be done daily. Not only will the litter box be more hygienic, it’ll help reduce the amount of pet odor in your home. Some people rave about the Litter Genie, instead of using a plastic bag from the store you simply dispose of the litter into the litter genie and only take it out when it’s full.

Check out our list of products every cat needs in their life for more recommendations to make litter scooping easier.

Vacuum at least once a week

Even if you don’t have carpets, vacuuming is important to help keep the “tumbleweeds” of hair at bay. If you do have carpet, vacuuming at least once a week will help remove pet odor that comes from fur, dandruff, and whatever may have been on their paws.

Open the windows

Fresh air is good for you and your pets! Opening the windows can help reduce odor by bringing in fresh, not stale, air. This is the easiest way to keep your house smelling fresh with pets.

Change those furnace filters

It’s something you might not think about but the more pets and the more humans you have in your home, the more often you need to change those furnace filters. We change ours about once a month to help keep dust down and other pet odors.

Wash pet bedding

Bedding is great at absorbing odors. You should aim to wash your pets bedding at least once a week depending on how soiled it gets. If your pet sleeps with you, you should also wash your bedding to help reduce odor further.

Groom your pet regularly

Dandruff, dead skin cells, and extra fur can all contribute to pet odor. They also contribute to the dust in your home and clog up furnace filters. Grooming your pet regularly will help to reduce the amount of dandruff, dead skin cells, and extra fur in your home.

Invest in an enzyme cleaner

Enzymatic cleaners are a life saver. They do more than help clean up a mess. They actually break down the biological elements of pet accidents to help reduce the smell. Nomos is a personal favorite, but it’s hard to find. Nature’s Miracle is another good option that may be easier to find.

Did you also know you can use some plants to purify the air in your home? That’s right! But make sure they aren’t on our list of toxic plants to cats first. Let us know in the comments if you found any of these tips helpful.