Quick humping question (sorry!)

[Lucia]

I'm sure this has been covered on other threads before, but I can't get my 'search' to work so I thought I'd ask again......

Wicket has started continually humping Twinkle. He's never humped toys (or legs) or anything before (and still doesn't)....and has only recently started showing interest in Twink.

He is six months old and neutered. Twinkle is spayed. So my question is: Is this just him trying to assert his dominance, and should I/how do I stop him doing it? He's never aggressive towards her, in fact she tends to be the one 'in charge' when they play (she decides when enough is enough)...It's just strange that he's just started doing it and it's constant, every time I look up he's going at it!

Any advice/suggestions would be great
Thank you xxx xxx

[mimimomo]

I don't really know, but I'll tell you what mine do. Princess (Mimi's daughter) is 9 months old & spayed, she'll occasionally hump her loofa toy. She hasn't done it in a while, so I'm thinking even tho she's spayed & never experienced a heat cycle, she's having some sort of instinctual heat or claiming the loofa as her toy.
Maybe it's something that will pass (hopefully). I also read somewhere that the dog's dominance is constantly changing, so maybe for now... Wicket is the top dog! Lol

[TeresaM]

Gracie Ruth and Yogi do this to each other all the time when one has a toy the other wants. It all started when Yogi first joined our family, G quickly learned she could wrap her front legs around his middle and then by humping and pulling him backwards could hold him tight and pull his head close to hers and still holding him tight could snatch the toy from him. I'm not explaining it too well, but it sure was funny to watch her after she figured this out. Yogi is too much bigger now and this doesn't work any more. But they both will still hump each other when one has something the other wants. Silly kids.

[scentlady]

I've always heard, read, that humping is a sign of dominance.

[Lucia]

Thanks for your replys. Teresa, your story about Gracie Ruth and Yogi made me laugh - I could just picture it!

I think it is a dominance thing then, Wicket trying to be 'top dog'.

Do you think I should stop him when he does it, or let him get on with it and let them figure out their 'rank' on their own? xxx

[coolbar]

And what with wicket now being an accomplished hunter

He is in the big boys club now lol

[Lucia]

Originally Posted by coolbar

And what with wicket now being an accomplished hunter

He is in the big boys club now lol

LOL, yep he thinks he's 'the man' xxx

[TeresaM]

Originally Posted by Lucia

Do you think I should stop him when he does it, or let him get on with it and let them figure out their 'rank' on their own? xxx

If I sense there's aggression involved, I put a stop to it in a firm way. If it's all in play, one of them just trying to get their way about stealing the toy, then I usually just say, "Yogi, leave your sister alone." He'll stop and look over at me, "Oh, ok, but gee Momma, it's my turn to chew on that toy."

[Onni]

Originally Posted by TeresaM

Gracie Ruth and Yogi do this to each other all the time when one has a toy the other wants. It all started when Yogi first joined our family, G quickly learned she could wrap her front legs around his middle and then by humping and pulling him backwards could hold him tight and pull his head close to hers and still holding him tight could snatch the toy from him. I'm not explaining it too well, but it sure was funny to watch her after she figured this out. Yogi is too much bigger now and this doesn't work any more. But they both will still hump each other when one has something the other wants. Silly kids.

My two; Onni and Bonnie do the same thing...when they want each others toy they will hump.

They never do it to the other dogs though...our other 4 dogs (110 - 35 pounds) are huge in comparison (4 pounds) so Onni will bark and then look at mommy or papa with this look that says "please take that toy for me" Onni thinks ALL toys and ALL chewies belong to her. We have seen her with up to 4 chewies in her mouth while trying to steal another.