She panicked when her dog grew protective overnight. Vet laughed and asked her to take a pregnancy test instead

Riley Gaines Barker, a pet parent (@rileygbarker), couldn't understand her dog's strange behavior around her until the doctor asked her to take a test. At first, she thought something was wrong with her dog because she had exhibited a similar demeanor while being pregnant in the past. However, it was only after a vet consultation that Riley realized she was the one expecting.

Riley's dog became more possessive of her and wouldn't leave her side at all. "She would constantly paw/lay her head on my belly, sit on my feet, circle me like a shark, and guard me from our two male dogs," Riley said. The woman loved every bit of the attention, but she was scared and assumed something was off about her dog. "The only other time she had acted like this with me was when she was pregnant with her puppies," Riley recalled.

Worried by the dog's behavior, she called the vet, informing them about her symptoms, and the doctor laughed, asking if she had taken a pregnancy test. So, she took a test and was shocked when the result showed positive. "When people ask me who was the first to find out we were expecting, I tell them it was our dog, and then she told us," Riley shared. The woman found out she was expecting a baby girl and confessed, "Our baby girl is already loved and looked after more than she [will] ever know." Dr. Ann Hohenhaus, a veterinarian, explains that dogs have 60 times as many smell receptors as humans.

In fact, Dr. Ann said dogs have 40 times as much brain power dedicated to smell, and these scent receptors allow them to differentiate between 30,000 to 100,000 aromas. Russ Hartstein, a certified behaviorist and dog trainer in Los Angeles, said since dogs' brains are devoted to analyzing odors, they can pick up on different scents. From cancer, insulin levels, menstrual cycles, and pregnancy, dogs can easily understand changes in a human's body.

Reacting to Riley's experience, @lcharbonneau5 shared, "So sweet; dogs are amazing. Several years ago, we had a sweet Lab named Bindi. She was 'my girl,' and she was very bonded to me. My mom came to visit, and Bindi would not leave her side. Anytime my mom sat down, Bindi would come over and lay her head in her lap. It was sweet but strange. She didn’t exhibit that behavior with anyone else. Not long after, my mom was diagnosed with colon/liver cancer. I know that Bindi knew."

@lifewithsarahjade commented, "My dog knew before I did with my first pregnancy, 11 years ago. She knew about my labor before I knew what was happening with my body, and she sat by my side the whole time I was at home. She was the best dog. I miss her so much." Echoing the sentiments, @wbooth123 revealed, "Within seconds of this video starting, I knew what she was doing. I've worked with dogs my whole life. They are a GIFT from God. I also recommend bringing items the baby touches home before the baby, so all of those beautiful dogs know her smell before she arrives." Another user, @kryptonsfavoriteson, commented, "Undeniable proof that life has already started. This is so sweet. Congratulations to you and your husband. Enjoy this new journey; it's quite the roller-coaster ride."

You can follow Riley Gaines Barker (@rileygbarker) on Instagram for lifestyle-related content.

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