Dogs are known for their caring nature, but one pup’s devotion to a pregnant woman has captured the internet’s attention, earning more than 1 million views on TikTok.
The viral clips, shared by 23-year-old Anna Wren Oakes (@aawwwwwooooooo), show her partner’s dog glued to her side throughout her pregnancy. In one moment, he sits between her legs with his back resting gently against her bump. In another, he licks her stomach, then sits opposite her wagging his tail, and later positions himself in the hallway as though guarding the bathroom while she’s inside.
Text layered over the video reads that he has been “helping me all day long” while his owner is at work, and the footage has already racked up more than 292,000 likes. A follow-up clip shows even more examples of the affectionate dog sitting close to her at all times.
How Dogs Detect Changes in Pregnancy
Dogs have extremely powerful noses, far stronger than those of humans. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), dogs have tens of thousands more scent receptors than we do and devote a significant portion of their brain to processing smells. This makes them remarkably good at detecting tiny chemical changes in the body—including those linked to pregnancy.
When someone becomes pregnant, their hormone levels shift, subtly altering their natural scent. Because dogs are so smell-oriented, many experts believe they may pick up on these changes early on, even if humans haven’t noticed them yet. Dogs are already known to identify illnesses, insulin drops and certain medical conditions through smell, so pregnancy-related changes fall well within their sensory abilities.
While there’s no scientific proof that dogs understand someone is pregnant, their advanced noses mean they may realize something is different long before we do.
Why Some Dogs Become More Affectionate
It’s impossible to pinpoint the exact moment a dog detects a person’s pregnancy, but very little gets past them. According to the AKC, dogs are highly attuned to even small shifts in scent and may recognize hormonal changes early in pregnancy—even if they don’t know the cause.
What dogs can sense is that something feels different. They may notice changes in their owner’s routine, behavior or physical state and react accordingly. Some become clingier or more protective, while others may act unsure, anxious or completely indifferent. Each dog responds in its own way.
Many pregnant people report their dogs becoming more affectionate or attentive during this time. This is likely a combination of altered scent, hormonal shifts and subtle emotional changes that dogs instinctively pick up on.
Whether or not they understand the full picture, dogs are often aware that something significant is happening—and, as this viral pup has shown, some are eager to help however they can.
Newsweek is waiting for Anna Wren Oakes to provide a comment.
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