Why does my fixed male dog hump

Humping is a frequent and embarrassing behavior you may observe in your dog. Sometimes dogs hump other dogs.

Sometimes they hump a stuffed animal or a sofa. Perhaps worst, sometimes they hump a person's leg. It can be awkward when your dog is humping something in front of other people. It's particularly cringe-worthy if your dog likes to hump people, especially if the "victims" don't have or don't like dogs.

Although humping is usually a harmless behavior, there are ways to discourage your dog from humping everything in sight. Humping, or mounting, is an action that seems inherently sexual in nature. However, this is not always the case.

Humping is part instinct and part learned behavior and, most importantly, it is completely normal for dogs.

It only becomes a behavior problem when your dog humps people, upsets other dogs by mounting them, or when the humping is excessive. There are a few different reasons why dogs hump.

An intact dog not spayed or neutered may hump other dogs due to hormones and sexual attraction. Sometimes, an intact dog will hump a spayed or neutered dog.

Females hump too, and it may or may not be sexual in nature. When a dog humps objects or people, it might be a form of masturbation.

Having your dog neutered or spayed may help with the problem, but be aware that dogs may develop the habit of humping before they're altered and continue it afterward. Usually, dogs aren't emulating mating behavior when they hump. Nonsexual arousal is more likely to provoke a dog to hump. It's just a way for the dog to burn off energy or relieve stress. This is normal for many dogs. If the behavior is frequent, training may help by redirecting your dog to another outlet for its excess energy.

Along the same lines, some dogs hump as an attention-seeking behavior or because they are bored. If this is the case, providing them with ample exercise, mental stimulation, and attention when they are not humping should help. Like play fighting , play humping can be a completely normal and acceptable behavior between two dogs as long as it doesn't upset one of the dogs. Some dogs play hump each other back and forth, and everyone is fine with it.

Some dogs simply enjoy humping. As a result, certain dogs will still exhibit mounting behavior, albeit less frequently. Mounting or humping can be a hormonal-driven behavior, but it can also happen in a nonsexual situation.

Instead, a dog may hump his owner or an object, says Dr. Sueda, if he's excited and upset at the same time. Case in point: A dog gets excited when he hears that his owner is home — so excited, in fact, that he knocks over the garbage. When the owner scolds him for making a mess, the dog may feel two emotions simultaneously: Excitement to see his owner, and anxiety from the negative feedback that he receives from the owner.

Another example of displaced mounting is when a dog humps something in an attempt to simply get your attention. At one point, he may have gotten some laughs after mounting a stuffed animal, so he's since learned to do this as a way to capture your interest. To discourage the behavior in these types of situations, says Dr. Sueda, try to remove yourself from the scene or ignore the action.

But keep in mind that verbal reprimands will only add to your pet's stress levels, likely exacerbating the behavior. It could be a sign of an infection or a hormonal disease that mimics an increase in testosterone. Consider signing up for training classes , or, if you want to go a step further, enroll in the Canine Good Citizen CGC program. If your dog is well trained but still humping, you can put that training to good use.

The best way to treat humping is to redirect. This lets the dog know that the behavior is not wanted, and allows for positive reinforcement if they successfully perform another command.

When the humping starts, ask the dog to sit, lie down, or stay, and reward them when they do. Alternatively, redirect with a game of fetch or by taking the dog outside for some exercise. Simply go to the dog and calmly take them to their crate or another quiet area. Make sure they have access to chew toys and other activities that keep them occupied and burn energy.

Need some help training your dog? This live telephone service connects you with a professional trainer who will offer unlimited, individualized advice on everything from behavioral issues to CGC prep to getting started in dog sports.

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Why Does My Dog Hump? Understanding Humping Or Mounting Behavior.