
When your dog humps, it may make you and all the other humans around feel uncomfortable. Dog humping is instinctual, but understanding what’s behind that drive and how to kindly correct your dog are crucial components of creating well-behaved, well-socialized dogs.
Your dog often seems to act normally – walking around, sniffing, or playing. When you least expect it (often mid-conversation), you’ll hear something off or see the motion in your peripheral vision.
Behold the scene of your dog mounting an unsuspecting pillow, another dog, their favorite toy, the air, your leg, or even your human company.
It’s essential to understand what motivates your dog before you can develop a strategy to stop humping.
Humping is about dominance, not just sex
When dogs hump, it’s not usually about sex or procreation. Mounting is usually about dominating an object, being, or situation.
Like humans, when dogs deal with other living beings and things in their environment, they interact with them to find their sense of place.
For dogs, this is often simply about taking control. Play fighting can quickly become mounting.
You may notice that your dog humps people, other dogs, or objects after they’ve been playing, which usually indicates overstimulation.
Other times, your dog might hump after being confined for a while and presented with many play options.
Think about it as your dog trying to take control of a challenging situation.
Humping is something dogs can do to focus themselves and guide the situation at that moment.
Your dog may hump due to a medical problem
While humping dogs are usually overstimulated by their favorite toys or by working out some stress, the behavior also could indicate a medical issue.
If your dog has an infection in the groin area or is experiencing irritation, it may hump to scratch the itch and provide relief. For example, it’s never pleasant when a dog decides to urinate on poison ivy.
All dogs can get urinary tract infections or experience other medical problems in the groin region.
Male dogs can also get prostate and priapism problems, so if the humping is excessive or new, consult your veterinarian immediately.
When is it OK for your dog to hump?
Humping is typical canine behavior. The occasional mounting may occur when dogs get excited while they’re playing.
Mounting and masturbation can cause conflict between dogs when dogs play or socialize because some dogs prefer not to be mounted. A dog will communicate this with growls and snaps.
Unfortunately, if other dogs don’t help correct that mounting behavior, your dog may not recognize it’s inappropriate and could continue.
Positive reinforcement training prevents dog mounting
Preventing your dog from humping or mounting is easier if you catch the behavior early.
Once humping becomes enshrined as acceptable behavior, it will be harder for the dog to unlearn.
This presents a better opportunity for you if you’re working with a puppy or young adult, but older dogs can also learn to curb the impulse to mount or hump.
Consider why your dog humps
Evaluate the sources of stress and overstimulation for your dog.
Is something bothering them or preventing impulse control? Did you add another dog to the household?
Is there a new situation, person, toy, or change that could be causing your dog to hump?
Sometimes a change of routine or something new in the environment can shake a dog up – dogs are creatures of habit, and they appreciate having a schedule.
Do a visual examination of the dog’s groin to identify any apparent infection or irritation. If you find any or otherwise suspect one or more medical issues, contact your dog’s veterinarian.
Train your dog to stop mounting
Once you’ve removed any sources of overstimulation or stress and have ruled out a medical issue, you can use positive reinforcement training to encourage your dog to cease its impolite habit.
In addition to redirecting your dog’s mounting behavior, positive reinforcement training reinforces your authority. It’s less critical that your dog sees you as a boss but more crucial that it sees you as having the situation under control.
This can lessen your dog’s stress and reduce the need to assert dominance.
Redirection is vital to stop your dog’s humping.
Now is the time if you haven’t done a basic training class with your dog.
Not only will it redirect attention from mounting and more potentially destructive behaviors, but it will also strengthen your bond.
Even if your dog knows a basic command like “sit,” you can use this as a redirect:
- When you observe your dog humping, don’t yell or provide negative attention.
- Ask your dog to do something else, such as sit, fetch, or lay down.
- Reward your dog when it performs the positive behavior as requested.
- Repeat to lessen the likelihood that your dog will go back to humping.
Exercise and mental stimulation can also help your dog avoid the urge to hump or draw its attention if it’s already mounting something it shouldn’t.
Final thoughts on dog humping
Additionally, you can remove tempting features, such as pillows, and consider having male and female dogs spayed or neutered to lessen their tendency to hump.
Neutering is especially helpful for male dogs. A spayed or neutered dog is less likely to get excited and misbehave.