Dog With False Pregnancy Moms Random Household Items in Viral TikTok Video

A dog owner recently shared a tear-jerking video on TikTok, capturing her German Shepherd Dog going through a false pregnancy. The clip has moved many viewers to tears, showing the dog attempting to soothe herself with anything she can find after her owner removed her stuffed toys that she had been treating like her babies.

The German Shepherd, named Ava, is only 11 months old and experiencing her first false pregnancy. Laura Walton, Ava’s owner, first observed Ava nurturing stuffed toys. On the advice of a veterinarian, Walton removed the toys to expedite the process of ending the false pregnancy, leading Ava to adopt random items around the house as her new “babies.”

A phenomenon known as phantom pregnancy or false pregnancy is not uncommon among unspayed canines. This condition is due to hormonal changes that trick the dog into thinking they are expecting, resulting in pronounced maternal behaviors. Walton initially noticed Ava’s behavior mirrored her actions when she first went into heat. However, Ava couldn’t have been in heat again so soon, as dogs typically go through estrous cycles every six to 12 months.

Concerned, Walton consulted her veterinarian, who confirmed that this was a typical behavior in unspayed dogs. Ava’s way of self-soothing involved treating stuffed toys like her offspring. Once the toys were taken away, she began to care for various household items in the same manner.

Walton conveyed her thoughts to Newsweek, saying, “I felt quite mean stealing all her teddies, but she didn’t seem to care or be looking for them. She just found other objects to carry about.” Fortunately, Ava’s nesting instinct has since subsided, and she has ceased babying random household items.

The video documenting Ava’s nurturing attempts has struck a chord with many, amassing over 977,000 views and 124,000 likes. The sight of the German Shepherd caring for inanimate objects endeared her to viewers, touching hearts across the platform.

Source: Newsweek, DogTime