Is my dog depressed because I’m pregnant?
November 3, 2009 by Admin
Filed under User Questions
I’m 37 weeks pregnant. My dog is an indoor, 4 yr old rescued GSD. I rescued him when he was 4 months. We exercise him everyday. He’s loved. He’s pampered. We never hit him, but we must be firm with him, especially when we take him to the farm with the cats and horses (otherwise he’ll chase the animals and he’ll get in the way of the farm equipment.)
My father suggested that we pet our dog a lot…give him a lot of attention, especially with the changes. I told him that we do already. I pamper that dog like crazy.
So, here’s what our dog is doing:
He has been extra scared of the wind and weather outside. Whenever we try to let him out to potty (by himself), he’ll cower (sp?) in his crate. Sometimes I’ll call him over for some TLC, but he’ll just look at me. He won’t come unless I use a firm “come!” command. This type of behavior is not necessarly new; he has always been a little serious. But, I would say that his seriousness has intensified in the last 6 months
I suppose there’s different interpretations of the word “pamper.” To me, this means feeding the best dog food, inviting him to lay down next to use at our feet, petting him when he’s just laying there and playing ball with him. He is wonderful with his manners, as long as I have him on “command.” He heels, sits, downs, stays, fronts, comes, drops, and “crates.” He is not on “command” when we’re just hanging out in the house. I’ll say, “come hear Champypoo!” in an upbeat voice, and he used to come to me, wagging his tail. He doesn’t do that anymore. He will only come when I say “come” as I would when he is on “command.”
It’s been worrying me a little because he has been acting different, for sure. For instance, when we left for the weekend, and my family cared for him, he cowered in his crate. Normally he would wag his tail and act happy when family came to let him outside…
If you own a Chow Chow or if you’re thinking about getting one, then this may be the most important letter you’ll ever read…
He could be sencing a change, and it could be affecting him.
As long as you keep pampering him, and when the baby comes, let him be involved with the baby. Let him think that the baby is for him too, and not taking his place.
they do have doggie prozac if it gets too bad.
There’s nothing wrong with your dog, and I do think that the dog knows that someone is like going to be replacing him…so hes depressed. You should go to your vet, and see if they can give you any anti depressants. Hope That Helps!
He isn’t depressed.. He is likely feeling that his life is going to change some how..
When you teach a dog to come, you tell them 1 time, then if they don’t come, you go get them. If you have not been doing this, well then that’s why he isn’t coming the second you say it..
If you say Come, and he doesn’t, then you deepen you voice and say it again and he doesn’t, and then you get up and you move towards him, and he comes… Well that’s because he knows he has a few more seconds before you are coming over to actually do something about it.
Just a note.. If this is your first kid, he will be the exact same way. The kid won’t come until he knows you are serious.
So it’s likely since the beginning and especially since
being pregnant, you might have been a little more lax about making him come.. He knows this and will use it to his advantage.
I have also found, but he isn’t quite old enough yet.. That as dogs get older, they decide that rules don’t really apply to them as much anymore. I am not sure if it’s because you become a little softer with them, or just thru getting older, they decide that they don’t need to come quite so quickly and are more inclined to say ‘ yeah in a minute ‘
Edit: Don’t let him think that the baby is for him too.. You want it very clear that while he is family, the baby belongs to YOU.. You are responsible for it’s care, you are responsible for protecting etc.. You don’t want him to be aggressive thinking that he needs to protect the baby from everyone.. Your baby, you and baby and husband?? are alpha over the dog.. Not you and husband alpha and baby and dog equal, or you are going to have trouble.
The expectant mother’s web page has a good guide, aparently it’s a common problem:
yup he sure can be, he knows you have changed and doesnt know if it is good or bad yet. but wait he will find out soon enough it is a good thing. think of it this way, dogs get scared when we get scared upset and angry when we do and even get defensive when we do, maybe the reason we have them around, there emotions are allot like ours. i would take extra caution around the dog with a new born baby but dont keep the dog from the baby either. let him smell all he want and a lick wont hurt little one. soon he will be a good guardian for your child, wait and see.
my dog behaves the same way when we are going to have bad weather. It was so bad, I took her to a dog behaviourist to see if there was something to be done. Suggestions were to watch carefully to what really upsets your dog. Dogs & Cats are more sentitive to changing weather. I was told some can sense a change coming long before it is noticely to us. Once you know for sure it is the weather that is bothering them, then you have to try to make everything seem normal. We were told to buy a cd with the sound of thunder, wind and rain. We had to play this on very low all day and to increase the volume each day. Needless to say it didn’t work for my dog. She still hides in the basement each time she senses a storm coming. The alternative was to give her medication but it made her so unresponsive for such a long period, that we stopped giving it to her. I have found the best thing is to let her be by herself but to check on her often. She now has a second bed in the basement and a night light as well. My vet has said this is a very common occurence is dogs.
As to you being pregnant, it might just be a coincident or he feels the changes you are going through. Just keep on loving him and be sure to keep it up once the baby arrives. You don’t want him feeling he has been completely replaced by your baby. Good Luck
Pampering your GSD has led you to this point. What I mean is; his learned behavior is “If i sulk they will pet me and treat me like a kid.” Big mistake, you want to give TLC when your dog is calm. Giving TLC while he is going through a “spell” only intensifies his insecurities.” If you want more info, you can email me. I’m at work right now and I can’t get into a “long winded info session.”
Aren’t dogs amazing?
They are so sensitive to things…and to those they love.
Our malamutt’s behavior changed when I was pregnant, too. He had always been my husband’s dog primarily, although he loved me, he always went to work with hubbie. Soon after the pregnancy began, he became MY dog. He hated to leave me alone for any reason. If I cried at a commercial, he was there to comfort me. When my hubbie would take him to work, he would pace until they came home.
I think Dr D’s link looks good. Also check out the ones from the SPCA provided below.
Bottom line, you have good instincts with your dog and there are plenty of resources to help the entire family adjust to this wonderful new chapter in your lives!
Good luck!!