Dog Humping: 6 Reasons Why Your Dog Does This

If you’re a dog owner, chances are good you’ve seen your dog exhibit humping behavior now and then. This behavior can occur in male and female dogs alike, and it isn’t always sexual—although it sometimes can be.

 

While it’s normal for dog owners to feel embarrassed when their pets start humping, it is equally normal for dogs to use this behavior in a variety of ways. Below, we’ll break down some of the most common reasons your dog may be humping and help you understand more about what this action means to your dog.

English bulldog trying to reach cookie

 

 

Sexual Behavior

Sexual behavior is the most common cause of humping in dogs. It is normal for male dogs to attempt to hump female dogs, but it is also normal for females to hump males. Additionally, female and male dogs may hump dogs of the same sex in a pleasure-seeking attempt.

 

If your dog is very young and has not yet been spayed or neutered, you’re likely to see much more humping than you would in an older dog who has been fixed. Talk to your vet about choosing the right time to have your pet spayed or neutered.

 

 

Overexcitement

If your dog typically humps when he is very excited or overstimulated, this is normal. Many dogs become so excited and worked up that they don’t know how to release those feelings, so they turn to humping behavior. Usually, the humping will subside when the dog calms down or the exciting situation has ended.

 

This type of humping usually only happens every now and then. However, if your dog is the type to try humping every time he gets excited about something, you may want to look into training and redirection to help. This way, he can still feel excited, but he can reduce his humping habits.

 

 

Dominance

Dominance is one of the most common causes of humping in dogs. It is perfectly normal for dogs playing in a group to take turns humping each other as an attempt to become the dominant dog. Usually, this is done as part of regular canine play, and it is nothing to worry about.

 

If you do have an aggressive dog who does not ever want to be humped as a sign of dominance, then it is best to keep him away from situations where other dogs may be present. Otherwise, however, humping is part of canine communication.

 

 

Stress or Boredom

Humping behaviors that occur with inanimate objects, such as pillows, are commonly related to stress or boredom. If a dog is very stressed, humping may be seen as a self-soothing habit that can help him calm down. And if a dog is bored, he may feel like he has nothing better to do than to hump something.

 

You can relieve both stress and boredom in your dog by making sure he has plenty of physical exercise and mental stimulation every day. Give him a lot of play time and interactive toys, and you may see the stress or boredom humping ease up over time.

 

 

Dog Urinary Infection

Urinary tract infections as well as infections of the genitals and sexual organs can sometimes cause humping behavior. Dogs may seek out humping opportunities to relieve themselves of the pain associated with these types of infections.

 

Additionally, male dogs with prostate problems may hump more often than healthy dogs. The reason is the same; humping behavior can provide some temporary relief for dogs who are dealing with this type of pain. If you think your dog could be in pain or might have an infection, go to the vet to find out for sure.

 

 

Lack of Dog Training

Yes, it is true that you can train your dog to stop humping. If your dog is especially prone to humping behaviors, training may be the best solution to help you and everyone in your home feel a little bit better.

 

The right type of training involves redirection. If your dog begins humping, it’s important to have very strong commands that you can give him to interrupt the behavior. For example, if your dog is very good at “lay down,” you can give this command to interrupt the humping and encourage him to think about something else instead.

 

Conclusion

 

Most of the time, humping behavior is perfectly normal in dogs. While it may seem embarrassing to you, there’s no reason to worry if your dog’s humping behavior only occurs every now and then.

 

If you do suspect your dog has some type of medical problem contributing to his humping behavior, or if you feel like it’s time to have your dog spayed or neutered, talk to your vet for more information. Your vet can help you figure out what’s going on for your specific dog and choose the right management or treatment as needed moving forward.

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About The Village Vets

The Village Vets is a network of animal hospitals based in Atlanta, GA and the surrounding area. We offer honest, excellent service to our clients in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere. To learn more about our locations and how we can better serve you and your pet, click the button below.

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About The Village Vets

The Village Vets is a network of animal hospitals based in Atlanta, GA and the surrounding area. We offer honest, excellent service to our clients in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere. To learn more about our locations and how we can better serve you and your pet, click the button below.