It’s embarrassing, it can be confusing, and let’s face it… sometimes it’s funny. But why exactly does your dog sometimes seem like the absolutely have to hump everything in sight?
You’ve been there or you wouldn’t be reading this article. See another dog? Needs to be humped! See a throw pillow? Needs to be humped! And the list goes on and on.
Probably many of the things found in your home, both human and non-human, have experienced the horror.
But it’s not always funny and can cause problems if left unchecked, so today we’re going to cover the major questions that are likely filling your mind.
So without further ado, let’s get into why your dog humps, and how to stop your dog from humping.
Why your dog humps
Sexual Reasons: Dogs will find plenty of reasons to mount, and the most obvious of these is of course for sex. But the behavior can continue even if you dog has been neutered or spayed (yes, female dogs will hump as well, though it’s more rare).
The reasoning behind why your dog continues to hump even after being fixed is that they, like humans, sometimes just want to masturbate.
Male dogs may still be able to ejaculate (the fluid contains no sperm, of course) from humping even after being neutered.
They’re Excited or Anxious: The reason can be as simple as getting a new toy or being told they’re going to the dog park, but sometimes your dog will become aroused due to being overexcited about something.
How this gets displayed will vary from dog to dog. Some dogs may not go all the way to humping in these situations where they’re excited but not in a sexual manner, but will still get an erection.
Boredom or Seeking Attention: Think about what types of reaction your dog gets when they’ve decided to mount someone’s leg, or you catch them in the act with your couch pillow. Lots of yelling and excitement devoted to them, right?
If you catch your dog humping something or someone, think about what was going on immediately beforehand.
It’s possible your dog didn’t think it was getting the attention it deserved, so it went for the easy solution they know is guaranteed to make them your focus.
If you’re noticing your dog likes to hump while your family is eating dinner, or perhaps when you have company over, then their humping could be due to simple boredom.
Make a point to play with your dog before times like these and that could solve your problem.
Asserting Dominance: Let’s remember that though they’re part of our families, dogs still have those wild instincts in them and an important part of that is establishing rank within their dog pack.
If you find your dog frequently trying to hump when they encounter new dogs, this could be what they’re after.
You then need to be especially mindful of your dog around unfamiliar dogs, as their humping could very quickly lead to a dog fight.
Medical Reasons: If your dog is humping multiple times per day, or you constantly find them licking or rubbing their genitals, you may have a compulsive disorder or some other type of medical issue on your hands.
Possible explanations for compulsive humping or licking include skin allergies or urinary tract infections. but if there’s any question in your mind you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
How to stop dog humping
Neutering/Spaying: As we discussed earlier in the article, humping is not a behavior that is strictly limited to male dogs, though they are obviously the usual offenders.
Having your dog fixed is not just important for controlling the pet population, but will also put an end to most humping.
Use a Command: If you catch your dog “in the act,” firmly tell them “No!” If you dog has been trained to respond to other commands (e.g. something like “down” or “sit”), you can try those as well.
Be consistent and use the command as soon as they attempt.
Leash Them: Many dogs will hump in situations that make them anxious, like having new people over for dinner.
If your dog has a humping problem and it’s too late for other solutions, put a leash on them so you can quickly pull them away and take them to another room if needed.
Crate Them: If your dog has a crate to sleep in, this can be a great spot to send them when humping arises, or even beforehand if you know some of their usual triggers will be around.
Since humping is often due to stress, you’re not only preventing the problem but also making things easier on your pup!
Stop Your Dog from Humping!
It’s funny until they do it on you. Dogs hump for many reasons. They may be bored, asserting dominance, or excited.
To stop this behavior, neuter or spay your dog and train them. Be consistent and use the same commands each time.
If after all these solutions your humping problem continues, do not give into frustration and let your anger out on your dog.
Remember that your dog could have a medical issue that needs to be examined by your veterinarian, and you should contact them as soon as possible.
