Saturday, January 29, 2011

The dog has me panicking

Yes, you read that right. My dog's behavior has me panicking. About what, you might ask? That I'm going to go into labor soon. No, I don't think I'm crazy, but I might be!

See, I've been in nesting mode for a few weeks now - perfectly normal, I'm assured. Then there was Monday's L&D trial run, right? Well, Tuesday morning when we woke up, Inara had dragged her bed out of her crate - something she has never done in the past 2 years that we've had her. She did it again Wednesday and Thursday nights....and this morning it was in place, but she slept with me on the couch. Aaron and I went into the bedroom for about an hour and when we came out, she had pulled her bed out again.

Knowing she was trying to tell us something but not sure what, we washed all her bedding. Maybe it stunk? Maybe it had fleas? Who knows? So we washed and dried it, something we've done a few times. I put it down on the floor while I folded the blanket that goes under it, and she immediately bit it and dragged it closer to her. I put the little bed in the crate, she dragged it out. I put the big bed (usually in the computer room, but we moved the computers to the back today) into her crate and told her to go to bed...and she walked in, and dug up the corner, flipping it over. I called her back out, straightened it, had her go back in, and this time she laid down. I put the small bed in front of her crate (so maybe the kitten will sleep on it instead of in the crate!) and she started biting it again.

I'm just a stupid human, I know. I KNOW she's trying to tell me something, I just can't figure out what. She's showing signs of nesting - messing with her bed, wanting to go out and pee more often, pacing around. But she's not the pregnant one - I am. She knew a week before we found out that we were pregnant - her behavior around me changed, she was underfoot all the time. So now I'm wondering: If she's nesting, is she trying to tell me I'm going to go into labor in the next few weeks? Everything I've read about pregnant dogs says "a few days to weeks" that they start their own nesting...and it's been several days, so a few weeks? My shower is in 3 weeks - I CAN'T go into labor before that. I really really don't want to go into labor before the beginning of March, when I'll at least be full term. Does anyone out there have any ideas on her behavior?

2 comments:

annie said...

The dog is just trying to be extra prepared, no worries!

I wanted to stop by and say a BIG thank you for your kind words on my blog this week. Losing my friend has been incredibly difficult, and will continue to be this way, but having the support of you and everyone out here makes it so much easier.
AP

Jess said...

She could sense hormonal changes that aren't necessarily labor, too. Animals DO sense things, I know, because our cat is mean and never loves....except when I'm pregnant. BUT....as far as needing to be afraid you're headed for labor, I'd not say it means anything like that!