A heartwarming moment captured on video has brightened social media timelines, showcasing a dog’s reaction to feeling a baby kick for the first time. The video, shared by a TikTok user known as @21_garreg, features Ned, a Welsh collie mix belonging to her partner’s mom. Despite being an anxious and nervous dog, Ned has formed a loving bond with the mom-to-be, always sitting next to her.
In the throwback video posted on May 26, Ned is seen resting on the pregnant woman’s belly. Anticipating the baby’s kicks, she holds Ned’s paw next to her belly and starts filming. When the baby kicks, Ned’s eyes shoot open in surprise, and he lifts his body, giving a side-eye filled with confusion as he tries to understand what just happened.
“It was weird; it’s like he knew I was pregnant before we’d told anyone,” she shared. “He always used to sit and put his leg over my belly, so having him feel my belly was nothing out of the ordinary.”
The video captures the exact moment Ned feels the baby move for the first time, and his reaction is priceless. Almost a year later, the mom-to-be still cherishes this special moment. It marked the beginning of a beautiful friendship between Ned and her baby. “That moment was absolutely adorable,” she said. “And now he loves the baby. We have pictures of them, and he’s always checking on him and needs to be close at all times. Bless him.”
The video has sparked discussions about whether dogs can sense human pregnancy. Dr. Ann Hohenhaus, a staff doctor at New York City’s Animal Medical Center, explained in an American Kennel Club (AKC) article that dogs have an extraordinary sense of smell, with 60 times as many smell receptors as humans and 40 times as much brainpower dedicated to smell. This allows dogs to differentiate between 30,000 to 100,000 aromas and detect altered scents, including changes in a pregnant person’s hormones.
While dogs can likely pick up on these hormonal changes, it is not believed that they understand the reason behind them. However, dogs might start acting differently during their owner’s pregnancy, becoming more protective or fearful, or showing no change at all.
In another similar story, a couple in Washington shared their Labrador’s reaction to feeling a baby kick for the first time. In a TikTok video posted by @renaegraves on March 4, Lany the Labrador is seen resting her head on Renae Graves’ stomach. As the baby starts kicking, Lany’s eyes shoot wide open in amazement. This was the first time Lany felt the baby kick, and her reaction brought Graves to tears. The caption reads: “I can’t wait for them to be best friends.”
Seeing Lany’s calm and sweet reaction gave Graves a sense of ease about the eventual meeting between the dog and the baby. “Lany is already really good around kids with her being our other small nieces and nephews in the family,” Graves told Newsweek. “But it’s been fun for her to smell all the new baby things we are starting to get in the mail and just praying she will love this little girl.”
Preparing pets for the arrival of a new baby is often recommended. This might include playing baby sounds or walking around with a doll. Some parents even bring home clothing or a baby blanket from the hospital to let their pets sniff it, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the new scent.
The precious TikTok video of Lany quickly went viral, reaching 5.8 million views, 1.2 million likes, and 3,161 comments as of Friday. Viewers were touched by Lany’s sweet reaction, with many commenting on how gentle and beautiful she is. “The way she doesn’t move,” pointed out one viewer, while another added, “Omg the eyebrows and ears! She’s so beautiful!” A third user wrote, “It’s so sweet how they know!!!”
Graves expressed her excitement for her baby girl to have an instant best friend in Lany. “We are beyond excited for baby girl to have an instant bestie when she gets here!” she said.
These heartwarming stories highlight the special bond between pets and their owners, especially during significant life changes like pregnancy. The videos of Ned and Lany reacting to the baby kicks have not only brought joy to their families but also to millions of viewers online, showcasing the incredible sensitivity and love that pets can offer.
Source: Newsweek
