My friend’s dog used to hump everything and anything. Her favorite thing to hump was her dog bed. She would paw at it strangely at first, and we all knew what would happen next when we saw that behavior. She would gather up the bed beneath her to make it into a little peak and then she would hump it shamelessly while we watched. I always wondered why she would do such a thing!
Most dogs, when humping, don’t do inanimate objects. They hump other dogs or even people. It can get a little awkward when your pup decides someone is their favorite humping post. So, it’s important to know why they hump so you can stop the behavior if necessary.
So, Why Do Dogs Hump?
You can stop feeling awkward about your dog’s humping habits because according to animal behaviorists, most of the time it’s not sexual.
Playfully Asserting Dominance
When humping during playtime, they are showing they are more dominant. It is the opposite of a dog bowing or rolling belly up in front of another dog to show submission. During doggy playtime, you will see the pups switching roles. One will playfully mount the other and then they may switch. Dogs do not have the idea that there is anything wrong with sex, so some of them incorporate sexual motions into their play.
One of the reasons that dogs hump, is to playfully assert dominance over the other dog.
©Makarova Viktoria/Shutterstock.com
Stressed or Over-Stimulated
Sometimes when they get a little stressed or over-excited, they will hump their favorite dog toy or their bed. This is especially likely to happen after a bout of rough playing or a lot of commotion. Dogs who get worried about visitors or changes to the household may hump as a way to deal with the stress.
Medical Problem
If your dog has traditionally not been a humper and starts doing it all of a sudden, there may be an infection or irritation on their genitals. Male dogs may hump if they have an issue with their prostate. If your dog is humping a lot and showing other signs of illness, like licking or chewing areas of their body excessively, the humping may be a sign of a condition.
They Want Your Attention
If you laugh at your dog or even yell at them when they hump your leg, your dog may learn that it is a good way to get your attention. It’s pretty hard to ignore a dog when they are humping you!
Your dog may also learn that you will push them away or wrestle with them when they hump you, which they may come to see as playtime. So, they hump you to try to get you to play.
Sexual Pleasure
Yes, in dogs that are younger than one year and have not yet been spayed or neutered, humping is related to sexual arousal.
In male dogs who are unneutered, an abundance of testosterone can lead to humping behavior when they see a female dog, especially one who has not been spayed or is in heat. Male dogs get to sexual maturity between the age of six and 18 months, depending on the breed. So, you may notice them starting to hump around that time.
Female dogs may hump while they are in heat. This happens up to three times a year in the smallest breeds, twice a year in most breeds, and once a year in really large breeds.
Is Dog Humping Really a Problem
Most of the time, dogs humping is not a problem. If your dog does it infrequently and it doesn’t bother you, there’s no reason to try to adjust its behavior. However, if your dog does it more frequently than you would like, or the behavior bothers you, you can try to train your dog to stop humping.
There are a few cases in which humping can harm a dog’s health. Some dogs who have spinal degeneration or arthritis can experience more pain from humping too often. Other times, male dogs can get a skin infection or lesions on their penis from humping too much. Sometimes the lesions are so severe that they block the urinary tract. So, if your dog humps a lot, it is worth it to curb their behavior in the interest of their health.
How Do You Stop Dog Humping?
If your dog is not spayed or neutered, getting the procedure may stop humping behaviors altogether, but there is a 50% chance that they will still hump dogs, people, or objects. In that case, there are other methods to try.
©alexei_tm/Shutterstock.com
How to Stop Your Dog From Humping People
If a dog is humping you, just ignore it and walk away, if you can. If your dog is humping another person and you’d like them to stop, don’t yell. Just grab them, and calmly take them to another room or to their crate. If you have someone coming over that you definitely do not want your dog to hump, like a small child, put your dog in another room while your guests are over.
How to Stop Your Dog From Humping Other Dogs
If a dog is humping another dog and you want to prevent this behavior, separate the two dogs and don’t allow them to play unsupervised. Some of them do not enjoy humping play, while others do. So, if you’re at the dog park, it’s best to help your dog to avoid humping to prevent any conflicts.
How to Stop Your Dog From Humping Inanimate Objects
If your dog enjoys humping inanimate objects, it’s fine if it is just once in a while. If your dog has a favorite toy or dog blanket to hump, hide it away when you have guests over if you don’t want the dog to hump.
Animals who hump objects often have anxiety. So, give them a schedule so they always know what to expect. Make sure to give them plenty of exercise to tire them out. That way, they may become too exhausted to hump too much.
To prevent humping, make sure your dog is adequately entertained. Try different kinds of toys including ones that are designed to stimulate your dog’s brain.
How to Stop Your Dog From Humping by Using Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is a great way to train them not to hump. When you see your dog humping, redirect them by making them perform a command like “sit” or “lie down”. Then you can give them a reward, like a dog treat, once they stop humping and perform the command. You can also redirect their energy by taking them for a walk or going outside to play a game of frisbee.
However, if humping becomes a compulsive behavior, and your dog just won’t stop doing it, you may need a trip to the vet or an animal behavior specialist. There are medications for dogs who exhibit compulsive behaviors like this.
The photo featured at the top of this post is © gesango16/Shutterstock.com
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Why Do Dogs Hump?
You can stop feeling awkward about your dog’s humping habits because according to animal behaviorists, most of the time it’s not sexual.
Playfully Asserting Dominance
When humping during playtime, dogs are showing they are more dominant. It is the opposite of a dog bowing or rolling belly up in front of another dog to show submission. During doggy playtime, you will see the pups switching roles. One will playfully mount the other and then they may switch. Dogs do not have the idea that there is anything wrong with sex, so some dogs incorporate sexual motions into their play.
Stressed or Over-Stimulated
Sometimes when dogs get a little stressed or over-excited, they will hump their favorite dog toy or their bed. This is especially likely to happen after a bout of rough playing or a lot of commotion. Dogs who get worried about visitors or changes to the household may hump as a way to deal with the stress.
Medical Problem
If your dog has traditionally not been a humper and starts doing it all of a sudden, there may be an infection or irritation on their genitals. Male dogs may hump if they have an issue with their prostate. If your dog is humping a lot and showing other signs of illness, like licking or chewing areas of their body excessively, the humping may be a sign of a condition.
They Want Your Attention
If you laugh at your dog or even yell at them when they hump your leg, your dog may learn that it is a good way to get your attention. It’s pretty hard to ignore a dog when they are humping you!
Your dog may also learn that you will push them away or wrestle with them when they hump you, which they may come to see as playtime. So, they hump you to try to get you to play.
Sexual Pleasure
Yes, in dogs that are younger than one year and have not yet been spayed or neutered, humping is related to sexual arousal.
In male dogs who are unneutered, an abundance of testosterone can lead to humping behavior when they see a female dog, especially one who has not been spayed or is in heat. Male dogs get to sexual maturity between the age of six and 18 months, depending on the breed. So, you may notice them starting to hump around that time.
Female dogs may hump while they are in heat. This happens up to three times a year in the smallest breeds, twice a year in most breeds, and once a year in really large breeds.
Is Dog Humping Really a Problem?
Most of the time, dogs humping is not a problem. If your dog does it infrequently and it doesn’t bother you, there’s no reason to try to adjust its behavior. However, if your dog does it more frequently than you would like, or the behavior bothers you, you can try to train your dog to stop humping.
There are a few cases in which humping can harm a dog’s health. Some dogs who have spinal degeneration or arthritis can experience more pain from humping too often. Other times, male dogs can get a skin infection or lesions on their penis from humping too much. Sometimes the lesions are so severe that they block the urinary tract. So, if your dog humps a lot, it is worth it to curb their behavior in the interest of their health.
How Do You Stop Dog Humping?
If your dog is not spayed or neutered, getting the procedure may stop humping behaviors altogether, but there is a 50% chance that they will still hump dogs, people, or objects. In that case, there are other methods to try.
How to Stop Your Dog From Humping People?
If a dog is humping you, just ignore it and walk away, if you can. If your dog is humping another person and you’d like them to stop, don’t yell. Just grab them, and calmly take them to another room or to their crate. If you have someone coming over that you definitely do not want your dog to hump, like a small child, put your dog in another room while your guests are over.
How to Stop Your Dog From Humping Other Dogs?
If a dog is humping another dog and you want to prevent this behavior, separate the two dogs and don’t allow them to play unsupervised. Some dogs do not enjoy humping play, while others do. So, if you’re at the dog park, it’s best to help your dog to avoid humping to prevent any conflicts.
How to Stop Your Dog From Humping Inanimate Objects?
If your dog enjoys humping inanimate objects, it’s fine if it is just once in a while. If your dog has a favorite toy or dog blanket to hump, hide it away when you have guests over if you don’t want the dog to hump.
Dogs who hump objects often have anxiety. So, give them a schedule so they always know what to expect. Make sure to give them plenty of exercise to tire them out. That way, they may become too exhausted to hump too much.
To prevent humping, make sure your dog is adequately entertained. Try different kinds of toys including ones that are designed to stimulate your dog’s brain.
How to Stop Your Dog From Humping by Using Positive Reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement is a great way to train dogs not to hump. When you see your dog humping, redirect them by making them perform a command like “sit” or “lie down”. Then you can give them a reward, like a dog treat, once they stop humping and perform the command. You can also redirect their energy by taking them for a walk or going outside to play a game of frisbee.
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