can dogs tell when you're pregnant

Dogs can often tell when someone is pregnant, mainly due to their highly sensitive sense of smell and their ability to notice changes in behavior. While there is no definitive scientific proof, many experts believe dogs detect pregnancy through hormonal changes that alter body odor, as well as behavioral shifts in their owners. Dogs have an extraordinary sense of smell, with up to 300 million olfactory receptors compared to about six million in humans, allowing them to pick up on subtle scent changes. They may also notice emotional and physical behavior changes, such as increased tiredness or nesting habits, which result from pregnancy. Pregnancy hormones like human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and progesterone may change the scent a dog picks up on, possibly very early in the pregnancy, even before most people know they are pregnant. Additionally, dogs might be able to hear fetal heartbeats or stomach sounds later in pregnancy, which may contribute to their awareness. Dogs often respond to pregnancy by becoming more protective, affectionate, or attentive to their owners. Their behavior changes may vary from increased clinginess to acting out due to changes in routine or jealousy. Overall, dogs likely do sense pregnancy through a combination of scent, sound, and behavioral cues, even if they do not understand exactly what pregnancy is.