OP what would you do with the answer?

Pregnancy makes nipples stand out very prominently.

If you don’t see that, the dog is just fat.

For long-haired fluffy dogs, you can’t tell the difference unless you look closely, or they’re very near term and start shedding in that area, and develop the characteristic waddle

Anonymous wrote:Don't ask. Very, very few people are breeding dogs in the metro area and taking them to farmer's markets. Lots of dogs are fat. Owners don't need to hear it. You can always say, "She has a beautiful coat!"

This. I’d say 90% just fat. It wouldn’t occur to me that a fat dog is pregnant.
Fat dogs can have beautiful coats, too (just ask my beagle) 😂

Anonymous wrote:If you live in South Carolina, ask. If you live in Bethesda, don't ask.

SC dogs are likely to be pregnant, Bethesda dogs are likely to be fat and spade.

I thought you were going to say your advice was bc ppl are more uptight I'm Bethesda and laid back in NC, lol

Anonymous wrote:I doubt the owners would care. It is a dog after all.

+1

I can't believe that a dog owner would be that sensitive.

If you live in South Carolina, ask. If you live in Bethesda, don't ask.

SC dogs are likely to be pregnant, Bethesda dogs are likely to be fat and spade.

Thanks for the laugh. I would not ask. Some people will be offended by the notion that they overfeed or underexercise their dog.

I doubt the owners would care. It is a dog after all.

The rational part of me knows it isn’t rude and I’m being unreasonable, but I feel (secretly) offended and annoyed when people comment on how fat my cat is. It’s true: she’s overweight, and I feel guilty, but nothing the vet suggests works and she remains plump. My son even noticed I don’t like when people comment on her weight and laughs about people “fat shaming” the cat.

So I’d keep quiet. People (like me) get a little crazy about their pets.

What do you care? Maybe it was fat and then got pregnant too.

Don't ask. Very, very few people are breeding dogs in the metro area and taking them to farmer's markets. Lots of dogs are fat. Owners don't need to hear it. You can always say, "She has a beautiful coat!"

What would the answer do for you? Is it just satisfying your curiosity ? Or are you looking to purchase a puppy? Or trying to shame the dog owner?
It seems to me that your question is completely unnecessary. Don’t harass random people just to satisfy your curiosity to shame them.

I think a fat dog at the farmers market is a lot more likely than a pregnant one.

I teach my children never to comment on a fat dog.

I saw a beautiful lab today with a glossy coat and she looked to be pregnant. I know it’s rude to ask a woman that, but is it rude to ask the dog’s owner? I was merely curious. I saw this dog at a farmers market.