When a man’s pit bull suddenly became fiercely protective of his wife, he turned to the internet for answers — and quickly uncovered a life-changing truth.
Reddit user Girlfriendhatesmefor shared the story of his three-year-old pit bull, Otis, who had recently started displaying intense loyalty toward his wife. Writing in the subreddit /r/dogs, he explained that it all began after she caught a stomach bug.
“A week or two ago, my wife came down with something — really nauseous and sick for about a week,” he wrote. “Otis, who’s always been in tune with her emotions — like when we once argued, and he stared daggers at me — refused to leave her side, even skipping walks. We thought it was adorable.”
Although his wife eventually recovered, Otis’s behavior remained unchanged. He continued to hover around her constantly, showing distress when she left for work and crying outside the bathroom door. “It’s 50% cute, 50% annoying,” the husband joked.
Concerned that Otis’s sudden clinginess might signal an emerging aggression problem or even a hidden illness, Girlfriendhatesmefor turned to fellow Redditors for advice: “Has anyone else’s dog suddenly developed attachment or aggression issues? Any help appreciated — even if it’s just telling us we’re paranoid!”
The internet responded swiftly. Among the suggestions, the most upvoted comment came from a user named ZZBC, who posed a simple but powerful question: Could his wife be pregnant?
The idea struck Girlfriendhatesmefor like a thunderbolt. Could Otis have sensed something they hadn’t yet realized themselves? A few days later, he returned with an emotional update: ZZBC had been right.
“The wifey is pregnant!” he wrote. “Otis is still being overprotective, but now it all makes perfect sense! Thanks for all the advice and kind words — sorry for the delay in updating!”
The revelation sparked a wave of similar stories from other Redditors who shared experiences of their pets detecting pregnancies before any human signs were obvious.
So, how exactly can dogs tell? According to Dr. Jeff Werber, president and chief veterinarian of the Century Veterinary Group in Los Angeles, dogs are remarkably sensitive to hormonal changes. Speaking to Health.com, Werber explained, “Dogs can smell the hormonal shifts happening in a woman’s body during pregnancy. They might not understand a baby is on the way, but they absolutely know something has changed.”
Ultimately, Otis’s story serves as a reminder: when your pet’s behavior suddenly shifts, it’s worth paying attention. They may be picking up on life-changing news long before we do.