Hmmmmm....Humping Question

[Rem&Silkmom]

Remmy is a three year old neutred male dog. I am starting to crack down on his obedience training. I have let him get away with alot so I am trying to establish leadership in my pack. I have been making him and chance sit before I let them out the door, me going first of course. I have have noticed that Remmy is humping things alot more. He ran straight in the house to his kennel and started humping his bed. what's up with that? Is he doing this because I am making him obey commands? Because humping is a sign of dominance....is he trying to dominate something?
Oh he was biting the bed too

[Rem&Silkmom]

??? no one???

[browniesmom622]

i dont know brownie is 4 and just started humping kayko im clueles its gotta be the dominance issue

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by Rem&Silkmom

Remmy is a three year old neutred male dog. I am starting to crack down on his obedience training. I have let him get away with alot so I am trying to establish leadership in my pack. I have been making him and chance sit before I let them out the door, me going first of course. I have have noticed that Remmy is humping things alot more. He ran straight in the house to his kennel and started humping his bed. what's up with that? Is he doing this because I am making him obey commands? Because humping is a sign of dominance....is he trying to dominate something?
Oh he was biting the bed too

i think maybe since you've taken his dominance of you away that he needs to dominant something else. he needs to make sure someone or something is still below him in the pack. in this case, he thinks its the bed. LOL

[Rem&Silkmom]

Originally Posted by kalina82

i think maybe since you've taken his dominance of you away that he needs to dominant something else. he needs to make sure someone or something is still below him in the pack. in this case, he thinks its the bed. LOL

lol...did not think of that...he has tried to hump Chance as well but I told him "no". I 'm wondering if that is wrong or right. He is more dominate than Chance cause Chance is a pup.

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by Rem&Silkmom

lol...did not think of that...he has tried to hump Chance as well but I told him "no". I 'm wondering if that is wrong or right. He is more dominate than Chance cause Chance is a pup.

it was just a thought. as for him dominating chance, you can let him to an extent. they are just trying to figure out their place in the pack, but don't let it get rough. and always make sure they both know you are the pack leader. when chance gets older he might challenge his position and become the dominant one out of them or he might except things the way they are now. time will tell

[SnowWa]

I am all for people being in charge and being the leader, etc. ---

But - humping is humping for a variety of reasons - and I have always just stopped my dogs whenever they do it.

My little Yorkie is a soon-to-be neutuered, 10 month old that humps very rarely - but when he did, it was always one of his stuffed animals ---so they are gone!!!!! Now - I haven't seen him hump for a month or two.

But if he ever does - I have always just stopped it immediately, told him "no," and have quickly gotten him interested in something else.

***** I also have one of the most passive dogs in the world - and this is probably why we have had almost no humping - even at his age now and not being neutered.

I'll bet that those of you who have more dominant dogs - have more humping problems. Right?

Good luck! Carol Jean

[LullaBelle]

[F]My parents have two big dogs a boy and girl both are fixed and their girl dog is always humping their boy dog. My mom trys to stop it one because its silly and two because the boy dog doesn't seem to care. He just kinda looks at the girl dog and is like,"oh boy attention." lol He is kinda smitten with her, its funny when ever he tries to hump her the girl dog swats at him and he backs off, but he will just let her do her thing.[/FONT]

[megan_kat22]

I agree that it is definately a dominance issue. Since you have taken away his dominance over you he feels left out and had to find somethin' else for a confidence booster LOL. But just correct him when he does with a firm no and like Carol Jean said immediatly distract him with something else.

[frankiesmommy]

I am having the same problem with my Frankie. He was neutered over six months ago, and still continues to hump. He especially likes to hump his toys, will sometimes hump furiously in bed, or lick himself while making the little humping motion. Sorry to be so graphic, but we thought this would stop after we got him neutered.

[Rem&Silkmom]

Originally Posted by frankiesmommy

I am having the same problem with my Frankie. He was neutered over six months ago, and still continues to hump. He especially likes to hump his toys, will sometimes hump furiously in bed, or lick himself while making the little humping motion. Sorry to be so graphic, but we thought this would stop after we got him neutered.

LOL...sorry but its kinda funny. I think after they have been neutred its more of a dominate thing. I got rid of all stuffed animals that were big enough for Remmy to hump but now he has moved on to his bed and blankets. He bites and humps them. I'm not sure if I should just leave him alone or what. Anyways I have been telling him No, thats enough when he is doing that. So he usually stops when he sees me. Turns and looks at me like what mom, i'm not doing anything.

[frankiesmommy]

Originally Posted by Rem&Silkmom

LOL...sorry but its kinda funny. I think after they have been neutred its more of a dominate thing. I got rid of all stuffed animals that were big enough for Remmy to hump but now he has moved on to his bed and blankets. He bites and humps them. I'm not sure if I should just leave him alone or what. Anyways I have been telling him No, thats enough when he is doing that. So he usually stops when he sees me. Turns and looks at me like what mom, i'm not doing anything.

No, I agree, we find it amusing and funny. I just hope he doesn't do it when people come over.

[yesenia83]

lol...there is a thread about this dominace humping a few month back...my middle boy air humps, just stand there and humps the air, hes done it when we walk, i used to be mortified at first but i tell him no and sometimes you just gotta laugh cuz they look really silly.

[periwinkle]

Dog's hump because they want to dominate.

My dog threw his back out humping, and I had to take him to the vet. The vet said to not let him do that. They can injure themselves. He used to do it on his big stuffed animals.

I have taken his big stuffed animals away, and he is fine. He doesn't try to hump anything anymore.

[biewerlover]

Humping: Is It All About Sex?

My Yorkie only humps his "special" pillow. He has never "humped another dog or human for that matter, just his pillow. He is not a dominant dog so generally I tell him to take it to the other room and he does. It isn't often and it isn't a huge annoyance so I do allow it.



Why do dogs hump? Dogs humping humans may amuse other humans, but rarely the human who's being humped. Some dogs will hump a toy or sofa cushion incessantly. We accept dogs humping other dogs in the act of mating, but in other situations it can create problems. What does all this humping mean, and what can we do about it?

Early Days

Puppyhood socialization to another dog of the opposite sex can help a dog orient sexual behavior for adulthood. Whether you're going to breed the dog or not, it helps for the dog to develop the concept that sexuality is toward other dogs, not humans or pillows.

Much of the humping you'll see among puppies as well as among adult dogs is play. Some of it expresses dominance, but that's not always the case.

If a dog persists in humping another dog in a social situation, distracting the dog who's doing the humping into another activity is a good idea. For one thing, it's best that a dog not get obsessed with humping. Besides the potential annoyance to others, it can even result in physical irritation. When you consistently interrupt the humping, you prevent it from becoming a strong habit in the dog.

Secondly, being humped can become oppressive to the dog who is the target, so that's another reason to interrupt. This is a common complaint in situations where dogs get together to play, such as dog parks. Just distract the humping dog, without punishment of any kind.

Physical Issues

Irritation or itching in the genital area can cause both male and female dogs to hump in response to the physical sensation. Be alert to this possibility, and of course have your veterinarian prescribe treatment to correct any underlying condition.

When a female dog is in heat, she, other females, and of course the males around her may turn into humping fools. Of course, this would be sexual arousal. The excitement of the situation can lead to fighting, as well as the strong possibility of an accidental pregnancy. Female dogs in heat need to be kept under top security!

Effects of Neutering

Behaviors can start for physical reasons and then continue because they have become habits. Humping is a prime example. Perhaps initially the dog derived pleasure from it, or simply was allowed to do it for prolonged periods with another dog, a human or an object.

When a male dog is neutered, a female spayed, or a medical condition irritating the genital area corrected, an established humping behavior may continue because it was allowed to become a habit. For this reason, neutering a male dog is not a sure cure for humping people's legs any more than it's a foolproof method of stopping urine marking in the house after that has become a habit.

Neutering does reduce the physical pressure on the dog, and can make your task easier when changing habits through behavioral means. It's important to stress, though, that intact male dogs need not go around humping everything in sight, either. The same simple distraction into another activity that works for neutered males also works for those who are not neutered.

Alternatives

Correcting a dog in a harsh manner for humping is not necessary and can create problems worse than the humping. Work with the dog to develop several behaviors the dog will perform on cue, such as sit, down, come, fetch, go to a spot and settle calmly, go find a toy to chew, and any trick the dog enjoys doing for a reward.

The list of alternative behaviors can be endless. Vary which behavior you cue as a distraction from humping. This keeps your intervention interesting for the dog, and helps avoid encouraging new obsessions.