Humping Behaviour in Dogs.
Despite the embarrassment it can cause owners, humping in dogs is a normal behaviour. While it is common for male dogs to display this behaviour, females can do it too. When dogs mate, the male must mount the female. However, dogs will attempt to mount furniture, toys or quite often, people’s legs. It is not uncommon for some dogs to have a ‘special relationship’ with a stuffed toy, or cushion! Read on for more information on humping behaviour in dogs.
Humping behaviour in dogs is instinctive and generally speaking not something to give dog owners cause for concern. There are several common situations which might trigger this behaviour;-
Sexual. It is perfectly natural for non-neutered dogs to hump. This is due to their hormones. However, while male dogs will attempt to hump other dogs, they can also do this with toys, people and even thin air.
Excitement. If a dog is very excited, humping is a way for him to get rid of pent-up energy. Playing with other dogs, or people can also produce humping behaviour.
Anxiety/stress. In the same way a dog might attempt to release excited energy, humping may also relieve feelings of stress, nervousness, or anxiety.
Medical problems. Although less common, the dog may hump if he has skin conditions which cause him to itch. Humping can rarely indicate conditions relating to the bladder.
If this behaviour is infrequent the best thing to do is to ignore it. However, if it involves a person, the easiest response is to get up and walk away. Dogs that hump the air in excitement, are also simply engaging in a natural behaviour which should be considered normal – so best to just laugh it off.
Be aware, that if your dog sometimes tries to hump other dogs – female or male – they may react aggressively to such an imposition. Be ready to intervene.
Generally speaking, occasional humping behaviour is normal for dogs and doesn’t usually need addressing.
However, if your dog has formed a regular habit of humping anything and everything, it is best the behaviour is addressed. This is especially so if it causes conflict with other dogs, or people. Here are some solutions to excessive humping behaviour;-
Neutering. Consider neutering your dog if the humping is hormone related. This usually works better for males than females. See our other Holidays 4 Dogs article concerning the pros’s and con’s of neutering.
Exercise. It is worth considering whether your dog may be bored and under stimulated. Make sure he is well exercised and has plenty of activities to do throughout the day. Providing the dog with enough physical and mental exercise will almost certainly reduce, or eliminate humping behaviour.
Socialisation. This is important, especially for puppies, as it teaches them from a young age how to interact appropriately.
Stress. If you suspect your dog engages in humping behaviour because of stress, try and figure out how to reduce the dog’s stress. This might be more exercise, for instance, or perhaps reducing triggers that cause the dog fear.
Never shout at your dog for humping. As the behaviour is a natural one for them, they will not understand why you are telling them off.
If your dog is becoming unmanageable, or aggressive along with the humping behaviour, seek help from your vet. Once health conditions have been ruled out, your vet will be able to refer you to a trainer, or behaviourist who can help your dog with positive reinforcement training.
