I don’t know if Daisy understands I’m pregnant, but she’s definitely acting differently. Some dogs can smell cancer and other ailments, so it follows that a dog can sense pregnancy. Daisy’s a pretty sensitive girl as it is…she trembles in fear from fireworks, wind and…I don’t know… a cricket chirping all the way in Kenya! Sometimes I never find out what set her off.
Around the time I got the positive test, Daisy was acting out and being really naughty. Sometimes she just stares at me and shakes (note that she also does this when Dave is eating pizza or something else she really wants). But the more problematic thing is she’s been letting herself up on our couches. Daisy isn’t allowed on the couch; I’ve broken this rule on only a few occasions—recently after she got some teeth extracted and wasn’t feeling well—but in that case she was invited, on a blanket, on ONE couch). Since then we’ve reinstated the no dogs on furniture policy and it seemed to be understood by Daisy…until now. Now she’s been helping her self onto ALL of our couches.
Is she claiming them as hers? Does she know a baby is on the way and she wants to make it clear that the couches are her domain? Who gave her that idea?!?!? I like to think my dog is smart, but I don’t think she’s that smart.
I think she senses change, is feeling insecure and the couch feels like her safe place. I mean the couch is a great seat. It’s plush and cozy and comfortable. And being up off the floor gives her a better vantage point of what’s going on in the rest of the house. I like the couches too, but I don’t want to wipe off pet hair and paw prints every time I want to sit down.
I am frustrated. I yell “No” when I find her on the couch, but she’s sneaky. She’ll wait until I go upstairs and when I come back down she’s on the couch. Last night she didn’t even bother being sneaky—she hopped up when I was sitting on the couch right next to her!
It could be worse. She could be destructive, have accidents or run away. As far as bad behavior goes, sitting on a couch probably isn’t the worst thing. She knows she’s wrong. When I tell her to get down, she is profusely apologetic. She rolls over showing me her belly and looks so pathetic and guilty. It makes me feel bad for yelling at her. (Is this the first hard parenting lesson I’m supposed to learn?)
Aside from consistently letting her know this is not okay, I’m trying to play fetch with her more and take her on more walks. Maybe she just needs an outlet for these feelings of insecurity. Will let you know how it goes from here.