A dog’s sweet reaction to feeling the baby kick has melted his owner’s heart—and not to mention, millions across the internet too.
While Taylor Rodriguez, from Michigan, can’t wait to become a mom in July of this year, it seems that her long-haired German shepherd is also eager to meet the new arrival. The expectant mom shared an adorable video on TikTok (@taylorlrodriguez) showing the moment Storm rested his head on her pregnant belly and felt the baby kick for the first time.
When Storm felt the movement, he instantly lifted his head up and started licking the bump sweetly.
It was such a touching moment that absolutely melted Rodriguez’s heart. Since she shared the unforgettable moment on TikTok on April 3, it has gone viral with more than 2.1 million views and 424,100 likes at the time of writing.
Newsweek has contacted Rodriguez via Instagram for comment.
It remains unclear how much dogs understand pregnancy in humans, or at what point they can sense it. There is a belief that dogs can tell when their owner is pregnant before they might even know, all because of the hormone changes and the powerful canine sense of smell. Although that hasn’t been proven and is merely speculation.
Dogs have 60 times as many smell receptors as humans, allowing them to differentiate between 30,000 to 100,000 aromas. Given how much of their understanding of the world is based on analyzing odors, it’s fair to assume that they can detect changes in scent when a woman is pregnant. But the American Kennel Club (AKC) explains that they are unlikely to understand the reason for that change in smell.
Dogs may understand that something is different, both physically and behaviorally. In some cases, they might even take interest in the changes they can perceive. But that doesn’t mean they understand that their owner is expecting a baby.
According to the AKC, when dogs detect a pregnancy, it can lead to an innate need to protect. Their demeanor may change in unexpected ways, such as becoming more alert to potential dangers, barking more, or maybe even being more affectionate.
How Did TikTok React?
Since the adorable video of Storm sensing the baby kick was shared on TikTok, it has led to more than 490 comments on the post. Internet users have praised the precious bond between Storm and the unborn baby.
As it turns out, Storm won’t be the baby’s only four-legged friend because Rodriguez also has two other German shepherds.
One comment reads: “I feel like dogs have a sense of gentleness when it comes to babies.”
Another TikTok user wrote: “GSD? yeah that’s going to be one well-loved, well protected baby.”
Another person added: “My dog licked my belly my entire pregnancy I have so many videos of him doing it.”
While one commenter replied: “that baby will have a best friend straight away.”
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