All You Need to Know About Dog Humping: Why They Do It and How To Deal With It

Although it may seem unusual if this is your first dog, any dog owner will tell you that they have seen their dog humping something at some point in time. Some dogs hump pillows, their dog bed, furniture, other dogs, stuffed animals, a person's leg, or your own body. Humping is a normal part of the canine activity for both male and female dogs and can be due to several reasons. It's important to understand the root cause behind why your dog is humping to properly address it.

Today, in one of our in depth articles we are going to go over why your dog may be humping and how to deal with this problem when it arises in your home, yard, or dog park so you can avoid any awkward situations, or exacerbating your dog's anxiety or medical condition.

Why Dogs Hump

Generally speaking, dog humping can be the result of a few different reasons. While it may be a potentially sexual behavior, in many dogs it is a natural play instinct. Depending on how your pet is socialized they may see it as perfectly normal behavior when playing with other dogs. It can also be a way to show dominance or assert rank in the pack. Some will hump other dogs in a social setting until they can determine their place within the social hierarchy. Some dogs may hump as a reaction to stress or anxiety in their environment, while others may do it because they are aroused and see something as a potential sexual partner.

There is no particular reason that applies to most dogs, so you'll have to look at the specific dog's behavior and what triggers them. The next few sections go over various reasons why your dog may be humping in detail.

Why does my dog hump?

When considering your dog's humping it's important to consider the underlying potential motivations. In neutered dogs, the behavior is likely less sexually motivated and more likely either a play or dominance behavior when done with other dogs. When in your home and humping your leg it could be because your dog is nervous, anxious, or over-excited and may come to you for comfort.

If your dog has never humped before, but suddenly started to do it with any regularity the behavior should always be investigated further. Look for patterns in your dog's activity such as when and what they start to hump, and look for signs that may indicate why your dog is humping. Possible reasons include:

• They are seeking attention. Your pet may be bored, look for other signs in conjunction such as barking.
• They are anxious or stressed. Your dog may be looking for a way to relieve stress or looking for just a way to seek comfort. If you notice your pet hump a stuffed animal or your leg this may be the case.
• It is a learned behavior that they picked up as a younger dog and is now a normal behavior to them.
• It is related to dominance. Canines use humping as an act of dominance in some situations.
• Medical issues, such as urinary incontinence, urinary tract infections, skin allergies, painful erections, or other issues.
• Sexual attraction. If your pup likes to hump dogs of the opposite sex it may be for sexual gratification. Even dogs masturbate in some instances.

In the next few subsections, we'll be looking at specific questions that frequently come up around dog humping.

Why do desexed or female dogs hump?

As mentioned above, humping is not always sexual, and when it comes to dogs females hump as often as males. Your pet may just be playing, overstimulated, anxious, or attention-seeking. If your female dog humps toys, other objects, or other dogs, it is usually not due to sexual motivation but rather boredom or a lack of stimulation or for play reasons. Humping can occur in male and female dogs and is normal, and frequently not sexual behavior.

Why does my dog only hump my leg?

If your furry friend only humps only your leg, it is possibly because they are seeking attention. Dogs may hump your leg to try and get you to pet them, give them food or water. Another reason they may be humping your leg specifically is that they are stressed and are seeking comfort while also acting out their behavior. Humping can be a displacement behavior, which is described in the next section.

Why does my dog hump other dogs?

If you have an intact dog, then humping could be for sexual reasons. However, it is more likely that your dog is just engaged in a play session with another dog, or wants to establish dominance. Many dogs have a natural drive to establish rank in the pack, and it is normal for them. When two intact dogs are playing together they will often hump each other, but it isn't a sexual behavior.

What is displacement behavior in dogs?

Displacement behavior is a dog's way of acting out their stress or anxiety. When your dog starts to hump they may be anxious or stressed. Some common displacement behaviors include licking, chewing on objects, and scratching themselves but humping is also another possibility.

Why does my dog hump stuffed animals or toys?

Humping can be an ingrained or compulsive behavior. If you see a dog hump stuffed animals, their favorite toy, their dog bed, or other objects it could be because they've learned when they were younger. It's possible that now the behavior is a compulsive habit. It could also be because they are nervous or anxious due to things going on in the dog's environment.

Should I intervene in my dog's humping?

Humping can be acceptable behavior in some circumstances. However, if your dog develops a mounting behavior at the dog park it can be problematic. Dog mounting behavior as a sign of dominance towards other dogs can be dangerous depending on how the other dogs respond and can lead to aggressive behavior at the dog park or in other social situations with other dogs. Watch out if you know your pet is prone to dog mounting and notice other dogs bark or show signs of aggression.

Look at the root cause

You should always seek to understand why your dog is humping as it can be due to several reasons in their environment that are stressing them out, making them anxious, or even due to an underlying medical condition. It's important to look at the full context, their other behaviors, and the triggers that cause the humping.

If they are panting, licking their lips, barking, hiding, or averting their eyes then they may be anxious or nervous. If they are doing it only around other animals it's likely to play humping or signs of dominance, or could be sexual. If your dog is licking or biting themselves in addition to the humping behavior it could be due to a medical reason such as urinary tract infections.

The other reason you may want to consider intervening to stop humping behavior is if the behavior is embarrassing, may result in unwanted pregnancies, or is otherwise unwanted behavior.

How to stop my dog humping

One solution you may want to look at when it comes to stopping dog humping is behavior modification. You can work with a professional or even do some of the training yourself. You need to find the root of the behavior and work on how you can change it. Be it a medical or environmental cause, or a simpler behavioral issue.

Remove the root environmental cause

If your dog is humping due to stress, anxiety, or displacement behavior, then you need to remove whatever is stressing them out. If it's a new environment, work on desensitizing your dog to it. If there is a specific dog or person that your dog is always trying to hump, then keep them away from your dog or use positive reinforcement when they are around.

There are many reasons a dog or even other animals may be stressed, such as a new environment, loud noises, or when company visits. Make sure you stay calm, keep your pet entertained, and well-exercised. You can try giving them a separate space in your home away from the stressor. Keeping your pet on a strict schedule can help reduce anxiety as well. If your pet is showing aggression on top of their humping, you should consult a certified applied animal behaviorist.

Give them alternative outlets for stress

Make sure your pet is getting enough exercise. Dogs that don't get enough exercise can act out or be overly nervous or anxious. Like nuisance barking, CBD or other natural relaxants can be something to try if you're having trouble removing the environmental cause of your dog's anxiety. Sensitizing your pet to the noise or stressor can work with enough positive reinforcement and patience. Giving your pet other toys or things to chew on can also help get stress out of your dog's system.

Remove any potential medical causes

If the issue is medical make sure to take your pet to the vet and get them treated. There are many medical reasons that your dog may hump things and they usually involve the genitalia or a skin issue such as skin allergies. A vet would be best prepared to help you understand if it's an underlying issue. Make sure you note any other symptoms that occur so your vet can properly diagnose your pet.

Consider having your dog neutered

For intact dogs, and in particular intact male dogs, if your dog is humping due to pleasure-seeking behavior you may consider having your dog spayed or neutered as a way to minimize humping if necessary. Bear in mind that neutering younger dogs, below 6-months of age, can have health risks associated with it and you should seek professional advice from a vet before making that decision.

Also, keep in mind that if the behavior is present in younger dogs before they are neutered they may continue to do it even after the surgery. If your dog is humping another dog in a social situation and is intact, then neutering may be a priority as you will want to make sure that they aren't going to get another dog pregnant. This is why many places such as parks, kennels, or doggy daycares require that your dog is spayed or neutered to be present.

Positive reinforcement training

Positive reinforcement training is the best way to help stop your dog from humping. You can train them with treats, fun toys, or petting when they are not engaged in the behavior. If you catch them hump an object you can say "off", "leave it", "stop", or any other word you want. Just keep the words and enforcement consistent.

Keep in mind that your dog is likely humping because they are stressed out and anxious. Thus, you want to make sure they associate the training with something positive and fun so they don't resent it or feel like you're punishing them. Keep in mind that humping is perfectly normal for puppies and isn't directly harmful.

Start by rewarding your dog when they are not engaging in undesirable behavior and make sure you reward them for good behaviors only, never punishing them for bad ones. Remain calm and issue the commands calmly, since you don't want to exacerbate the anxiety your dog may be feeling. Continue reinforcing the positive actions until your dog stops humping.

Consider a trainer if all else fails

If you aren't able to tackle the problem yourself or aren't seeing results, consider consulting a certified professional dog trainer. They will be able to help you understand and modify your pet's humping activity as well as other behaviors.

Summary

There are a few different things you can do if your dog is humping. One is to remove the environmental or medical root causes, another is to use positive reinforcement training, and the last is to consider having your dog neutered.

Whichever path you choose, make sure to remain patient and consistent with your pet. Remember that humping is normal behavior for puppies but if it continues into adulthood then it may be indicative of an underlying problem that requires professional help. Consult with your veterinarian or certified dog trainer if the problem persists.

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