Heather and I have worked hard to prepare Annie for the arrival of her baby brother, and so far it seems to be working as she’s excited about what’s to come. There’s another member of our family, however, who doesn’t seem nearly as well adjusted about the baby… Rigby.
The first change we’ve seen in Rigby is that she’s started to follow Heather everywhere she goes and from a very close proximity. While this is very sweet, it’s driving Heather a little crazy. When Heather crosses the room Rigby shuffles no further than a foot behind her; when Heather sits or lies down, Rigby insists on positioning herself so that she’s touching Heather. Since Heather is especially hot on account of being nine months pregnant, she finds this less than ideal.
The second change in Rigby is that she’s gone into “super guard dog” mode. This means that she’s constantly barking at possible “intruders,” aka birds outside our windows. This is awesome since Rigby wasn’t exactly the quietest dog to begin with. She doesn’t stop there, though. Anyone who dares to ring our doorbell door meets the full weight (all eight pounds) of Rigby’s wrath. She’s even growled at me a few times.
The weirdest thing Rigby’s started to do happens at night, and unlike the previous two examples, it’s not nearly as easy to figure out why she’s doing it. Every night for the last week or so Rigby has jumped off – and then back onto – our bed about twenty times. This would be annoying enough, but it’s what she does when she’s off the bed that is especially maddening. She digs into our laundry hampers, pulls out all of our dirty clothes, and scatters them across the room. If you’ve heard someone yelling, “Rigby!!!!” at three in the morning recently, it was me.
Today I decided that it was time to sit Rigby down and have a heart to heart chat with her about all that is happening.
Me:
“So, Rigby, I’ve noticed that you’ve been acting a bit unusual of late. I can’t help but wonder if it’s because of the baby. Has it been worrying you?”
Rigby:
Me:
“Things are going to change a little, but it’s nothing to be afraid of. You’ve done this twice before!”
Rigby:
Me:
“Everyone is going to love you just as much as we always have. You are our family dog, Rigby, and nothing will ever change that.”
Rigby:
Me:
“I’m glad we had this conversation. I feel a lot better. Don’t you?”
Rigby:
I think that helped things a lot. But who the heck knows with a dog?
Anyone else ever experience anything like this with their pet?
Jenn says:
As weird as it might sound, but do you think Rigby might be Nesting? Maybe that’s what she’s doing with the laundry? I do know dogs can be sensitive to their humans moods & hormones, etc. She is also probably feeding off of all the energy in the house. I’m sure she’ll settle in just like you all will once the little Prince makes his appearance. By the way… Just wondering… I know the name is a secret so I won’t dare ask what it is but wondering if you guys picked his name yet or are you waiting until he’s born??? Think of you all often & can’t wait to hear the HAPPY news!!! xo
Fiona says:
Sounds to me like she is ’rounding you up’ at night. Dogs when out and about with their ‘pack’ who are not walking together will often run backwards and forwards to make sure everyone is there. This might be what Rigby is doing when she is jumping on and off the bed. I agree with the previous poster about nesting. Perhaps give her a box and some old sheets so she can nest but not with your laundry?
Annalisa says:
Not sure about the last one, but all the other stuff sounds like she’s feeling anxious and worries she won’t get enough attention. I’m going through it with one of my cats, funnily enough the one who used to be more laid back about getting attention. She was kind of lovey dovey and somewhat into nesting behavior the first time I was pregnant and then my daughter was born and she hid inside our linen closet for two months. I felt really terrible about it, because it was clear she was doing it because having a crying baby around was just nerve wrecking to her, but I never had the extra time to coax her out properly. She eventually got over it (she still isn’t as kid friendly as my other kitty), but now that I’m pregnant again she’s been peculiarly touchy. If I sit down sans toddler, she has to come sleep on top of me, specifically on my lap and belly. The only reason she doesn’t do it constantly IS because my daughter is around. On days my daughter is at daycare, I basically get stalked around.
The only solution thus far has been giving her extra TLC when I can. But I bet that’s difficult for Heather right now, because well… I’m pretty sure at the height of my last end of pregnancy, I was so uncomfortable I didn’t even want my husband to get too close, let alone the wee beasties. The good news is… It will stop eventually. My kitty went back to ignoring me for the most part (see: toddler, and also she’s not super touchy freely when I’m not pregnant).
BTW, perhaps it is a girl thing. My other cat is a boy, and while he’s the neediest orange cat ever, he’s been nowhere near as ridiculous about getting extra attention. While last time he was terrified of my belly, and thus started to be extra affectionate to thr husband, this time he’s more or less ignoring me unless he wants food, prefering instead to get my daughter to pay attention to him (usually resulting in a strange cat and mouse game wherein he’s clearly the mouse, so to speak).
As you sum it, go figure what’s going on in those tiny brains.
Julie says:
My cat did that. The night I was about to gointo labor with my first, she woke us every hour all night long. It made my subsequent 27 hour labor especially awesome. She woke the baby quite a bit when we came home from the hospital too – jealous. Five and a half years later and they are great friends
MissyK says:
I was thinking the nesting thing too. I think she is sensing that Heather is near the end of her pregnancy & is being extra protective. I would bet she sees your room as a whole, as one big “nest” so is trying to make all parts of it warm & comfy by pulling the clothes out and scattering them. Then you undo what she fixed so she has to redo it.
I bet if you keep an eye out you will find that she just may be able to predict if Heather is going to go into labor. I swear the cat I had when I had my two boys(both grown now) did just that. One night she was extra lovey, touchy & whiney. I went into labor either that night or within hours the next morning.
Animals can sense so many more details than we would ever think they could.
Randi says:
My dog did that for the last couple of weeks with my pregnancy. He followed me everywhere and every time I sat down, which was a lot, he had to be touching me at all times. Once the baby was born, he wasn’t so bad, but I think it has more to do with Heather’s possible changes in hormones as her body prepares to go into labor. Her body doesn’t know it is having a c-section, and neither does Rigby :-). Good luck!
Kim says:
Sweet little Rigby. It is a big change for a little bitty.
TamaraL says:
Rigby is a puppy of few words.
Anna says:
Poor Rigby!
Kristi says:
I’m sure she senses change in the house. The only thing I can think of with the laundry is that it has your and Heather’s scent on it and she’s marking the room with it. Perhaps as Heather’s getting near the end of her pregnancy, Rigby is picking up a different scent from her. Not sure.
Glenda says:
She definitely feels the change with a new room set up!
I’m sure she will adjust just fine, but will want more attention. Poor Rigby!
S says:
My best advice is to smuggle a receiving blanket and/or the hat put on immediately after birth to let her prepare. It worked very well for us the past 2 times (in fact the nurses encouraged us last time, once they realized we had 2 dogs at home), and we plan to use that trick again when I deliver in a few more weeks.
As for the odd behavior, oh yes, I’ve been there. This pregnancy seems a bit easier, but I constantly seem to have a German Shepherd underfoot or an English Setter trying to sleep with her head on my stomach while pregnant. The worst is when they both want to use the baby as a pillow. Then I have to put my foot down and demand space from the dogs.
S says:
My best advice is to smuggle a receiving blanket and/or the hat put on immediately after birth to let her prepare. It worked very well for us the past 2 times (in fact the nurses encouraged us last time, once they realized we had 2 dogs at home), and we plan to use that trick again when I deliver in a few more weeks.
As for the odd behavior, oh yes, I’ve been there. This pregnancy seems a bit easier, but I constantly seem to have a German Shepherd underfoot or an English Setter trying to sleep with her head on my stomach while pregnant. The worst is when they both want to use the baby as a pillow. Then I have to put my foot down and demand space from the dogs.
Jolene says:
We did this with our first born. Our little crazy dog took her hat and hid it in the closet where he hid his special bones. Then when we brought her home, he decided that he was going to get as close to her as we would allow. It was really sweet.
S says:
Sorry for posting twice!
Auntie_M says:
I’m guessing that not only can Rigby sense the change in the household–to say nothing of observing the recent activity of decorating, etc–but I’m wondering if she also can sense a change of smell physically in Heather as her due date approaches. Maybe Rigby knows there is an imminent arrival on your horizon and is trying to prepare you for it. Just another weird random thought from me…
GreenInOC says:
@Auntie_M, I think it’s a good theory. She may be trying to build a a place for Heather to give birth just like she would for herself!
GreenInOC says:
Well I see my brilliant theory was mentioned in the first comment! I guess that’s what I get for reading the comments last to first!!
Steph says:
omigoodness, your convo with Rigby is beyond adorably hilarious. thanks for the smile. Wishing you all all the best!
karen says:
Dogs are pack animals. Rigby knows her place is the lowest member of the pack and as such she is the ‘guard’. She is nesting and protecting and doing exactly what a pack animal would do. She will also guard the baby. It is a good idea to introduce the smell of the baby to Rigby but by just having been to the hospital Mike and Annabel will smell of him and he will smell of Heather.
Its only a few more days to go so but it may help knowing that what shes doing is because youre good dog owners and she feels secure in her ‘pack’.
Paula says:
I don’t know if anyone mentioned this but some dogs are sensitive to their human pets and when there is going to be a change. There are medical dogs trained to alert someone when a seizure might come on. I think Rigby is no dummy and she is sensing Heather’s stress and trying to comfort her. I love Rigby!