What is a Phantom Pregnancy? A phantom pregnancy , also known as false pregnancy  or pseudopregnancy , occurs 6–8 weeks after a season , causing a dog to behave and feel pregnant despite not being pregnant. 🐾 Why does it happen? After a season, female dogs naturally produce pregnancy hormones —regardless of whether they were bred or not—which can lead some dogs to experience false pregnancy symptoms. Signs & Symptoms Every dog is different, but common signs include: 🔹 Nesti