Bremen. We have heard these anecdotes quite often: Pets such as dogs or cats react sensitively to their owners' pregnancy – and sometimes notice it earlier than the woman herself. A study from Northern Ireland has shown that these are not just anecdotes, but scientifically proven facts and is the first time this connection has been examined.
The dog suddenly seeks more closeness, reacts more protectively or behaves unusually in other ways – not uncommon when the owner becomes pregnant. This is the result of a study by the University of Belfast in Northern Ireland and Dalhousie University and Mount Saint Vincent University in Canada.
A team of four scientists from the fields of psychology and neuroscience surveyed 130 pregnant dog owners using an online questionnaire. The questions revolved around demographic details, pregnancy information and the dog's behavior.
The conclusion of the study published in the journal “Anthrozoös”: The majority of respondents, namely 65.4 percent, reported a change in the behavior of their four-legged companion during their pregnancy. 26.9 percent even stated that their dog had already shown behavioral changes even before they found out about their pregnancy. The likelihood of changing behavior was greater in dogs that had previously shown protectiveness or fear when in contact with unfamiliar people. However, other variables such as different socio-demographic conditions or pregnancy outcomes were not an indicator. “These results help us better understand the human-dog relationship and the perception of dog behavior during significant life changes,” write the study authors.
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