Welcoming a litter of puppies into the world is an exciting, emotionally charged experience for any dog owner or breeder. From the moment of mating, the anticipation builds—counting days, watching for signs, and, crucially, booking that all-important pregnancy scan. However, amidst this hopeful journey lies a lesser-known risk: being misled by untrained or underqualified ultrasound scanners. It’s a growing problem, but one that is entirely avoidable if you follow one golden rule—trust only an AUA-trained paraprofessional scanner.
The Animal Ultrasound Association (AUA) sets the gold standard for non-veterinary animal scanning. Unlike other training providers, the AUA is the only organisation in the world whose course material is written and delivered by a fully qualified sonographer actively working in the field. That expertise matters—and here’s why.
It’s easy to understand the emotional pull of wanting to believe your dog is pregnant. For some, the puppies may represent a source of income; for others, the continuation of a beloved bloodline or the fulfilment of a long-held dream. But this deep desire also makes us vulnerable. In psychology, this is known as confirmation bias—the tendency to seek out, interpret, and even favour information that confirms what we hope to be true, while dismissing anything that contradicts it.
This psychological trap is no different to the one that leads lonely elderly people to fall prey to “gold diggers”—individuals who feign affection for personal gain. Often, even when doubts arise, victims silence their own instincts. “Surely not,” they tell themselves. “This feels real.” Similarly, in the world of animal pregnancy scanning, desperate hope can override logic.
Consider a recent example handled by an AUA-trained scanner. A woman approached Charmaine Baker for a routine pregnancy scan at 31 days post-mating. After a thorough and professional examination, the unfortunate news was gently delivered—no puppies were found. This result, though disappointing, was reliable. The equipment was high-quality and settings were expertly adjusted, as you would expect from an AUA-accredited professional.
But, unable to accept the outcome, the woman sought a second opinion from another scanner—one with little or no formal training. This second scanner told her exactly what she wanted to hear: “Yes, she’s pregnant! The first scanner had their machine settings wrong.” Thrilled, the woman sent the captured images back to the original Charmaine—only to be told, unequivocally, that the second scanner had made a classic beginner’s error: mistaking cross sections of the small intestine for circular foetal sacs.
Above: the misleading image of intestine cross sections. AUA trained scanners know the difference between this and foetal sacs.
This type of misidentification is common among untrained or poorly trained individuals, who often work with substandard, unreliable equipment. It was left to Catherine Stowell, founder of the AUA and a qualified sonographer, to gently break the news once more. No puppies. Just misplaced hope.
What’s most heartbreaking here isn’t just the false hope, but the emotional turmoil the dog owner experienced—first excitement, then confusion, then disappointment all over again. Had she trusted the original AUA scan, she would have had a clear, professional answer from the outset.
In seeking out a second opinion not rooted in training or standards, she invalidated the very process she had invested in. It’s akin to getting a medical diagnosis from a consultant and then asking a fortune teller for confirmation because you didn’t like what you heard.
The AUA directory exists for a reason: it’s a trusted list of professionals who have received the highest standard of paraprofessional training in animal ultrasound. When you choose an AUA-accredited scanner, you are choosing accuracy, professionalism, and a depth of knowledge backed by medical-grade expertise.
If you don’t trust the result from a scanner who has been through this rigorous programme, it’s worth asking yourself—why not? And more importantly, what are you hoping someone else will tell you instead?
In emotionally charged situations, we are all susceptible to seeing what we want to see. But just as you wouldn’t entrust your health to an unqualified practitioner, don’t leave your dog’s pregnancy to chance. Scans are not just about seeing puppies—they are about getting informed, professional insight into your animal’s health and well-being.
So when it comes time to scan your dog, don’t let wishful thinking guide your decisions. Stick with an AUA-accredited paraprofessional. It’s the smartest way to protect yourself, your dog, and your peace of mind.
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