Can Dogs Tell You Are Going Into Labor?

Dogs can sense a lot of things that humans could never imagine doing. Dogs can detect storms, tornados, a good or bad person, and some believe they can even sense ghosts. If dogs can sense these types of things, it is not far-fetched to think dogs could detect before a female goes into labor. Dogs have an incredible sense of smell, and they can sense the smallest changes in scents that alert them to events before we even know they will happen. 

Many moms claim their dog knew they were going to go into labor before they even know! Although this may seem like science fiction, there is actually a very real possibility this phenomenon is real!

With so many stories all over the web about dogs sensing their humans were going into labor before they even knew it, there are a few common signs that suggest a dog's intuition about detecting labor is very real. Many dogs are very clingy when their human mom is pregnant. They may follow them around a lot, sleep with them, and always want to be by their side. 

However, when you are near the end of your pregnancy, and your due date is fast approaching, many doggy moms claim their dog became even clingier and more present throughout the day. Your dog may seem extra needy, they may follow you to the bathroom, outside, into the kitchen, or even just across the room if you need to throw something in the trash. Your dog is probably doing this to make sure you are okay at all time because they know what is coming next. 

Additionally, many dogs will even go a step further and rub and heads and snouts on your belly on the day or day before you go into labor. It's as if they are trying to alert you to prepare yourself. Or, perhaps they are trying to get a closer listen to what is happening inside of your belly! 

Dogs have always had to rely on their incredible noses to help them navigate through the world. In fact, sense of smell is one of the oldest senses to exist. Dogs noses and sense of smell were particularly critical many thousands of years ago where dogs and their wolf ancestors lived in the wild. 

Wolves would rely on their sense of smell for just about everything. They would use their nose for hunting and figuring out where their prey was and where they were going. Wolves would also use their sense of smell to pinpoint where their pack was and who was part of their pack as well. 

Dogs and wolves also use their sense of smell to determine when foods are safe or unsafe to eat. Although they do not have to worry about this as much today, it is still a useful trait. 

Regarding a dog using their nose to sense labor, we can assume they have had this ability for many thousands of years. Dogs are very in-tune with their human owners and can sense emotions, sickness, and much more. Many dog moms have stories about their dogs rubbing their faces on their bellies all day long until they eventually began to have their first contractions. 

Jeff Werber, Ph.D., the president and chief veterinarian of the Century Veterinary Group in Los Angeles, claims that it is possible dogs can sense you are going into labor before you even know. He states that dogs have 200 million sniffing receptors in their noses, which allows them to pick up on even the tiniest changes in scent. These powerful noses will enable them to detect when you are getting sick. These furry friends can even tell when someone is about to have a seizure. It is not too far of a stretch to believe dogs can sense impending labor in female humans as well.

Scientists and animal behaviorist claim that dogs sense oncoming labor due to a combination of scent and feeling the changes in human behavior. Although not every dog will show these signs and not everytime they act oddly means you are going into labor soon, be aware that it is a possibility. 

You will not have to train your dog to sense when you are going into labor. Your dog will be able to sense this based on their biological instincts. Think of their noses as a second brain. They use their nose to sense changes in smell, which then alert them to react. When your dog acts on these reactions, they show some of the common signs we have discussed above like clinging to your side more than usual and rubbing their faces on your belly the same day or the day before you may have your baby. 

The only thing you can do is keep an eye on their actions and see if you notice any changes in their behavior as your due date approaches. If you notice some of these signs, it could very well indicate that you should prepare to have your baby at any time. Prep your bags and be ready to go when the time comes. Your pup is emotionally connected to you, and they know you very well. You can use their behaviors as guidance, but we do not recommend wholeheartedly relying on your pup. If your dog rubs their head on your tummy or follows you to the bathroom, don't immediately panic and rush yourself to the hospital in anticipation the baby is coming. Still, follow your doctor's orders and listen to your own body to tell you when it's the time.