Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes

Summary: You may have noticed that your dog has an interest in humping! In this blog we learn why dogs hump (even after they’ve been spayed or neutered!), and how to stop a dog from humping too…

 

First things first – humping is a normal, common behaviour in dogs regardless of their sex. It’s also not just a behaviour that occurs when the dog is feeling aroused!

Brief moments of humping during play can be a very common occurrence. When dogs play together they may hop on each other throughout to express excitement at the game. However, some dogs don’t like to humped and it can be anti-social and uncomfortable if your dog is humping things they shouldn’t… Say, your house guest’s arms and legs! 

So, why do dogs hump and how does one get a dog to stop humping?

Why Do Dogs Hump?

If your dog is humping a pillow or a toy this is usually because they’ve gotten excited or over stimulated and simply need to expend their pent up energy!

If a dog is humping people or another dog, this is often because they are wanting to dominate. It can also be a sign of stress, over-stimulation or they could simply be acting up.

Sometimes a dog can hump because they’re experiencing a medical issue too. This could be an infection (like a UTI), an irritation, disease (like hip dysplasia) or a prostate problem if your dog is male. They’re most likely humping to try and help alleviate their pain. The behaviour may also be accompanied by licking or chewing at the area that is causing them discomfort. If you suspect it may be one of these issues, particularly if the behaviour is happening more frequently and your dog is older and has been neutered or spayed, it would be wise to check in with your vet. 

If your dog humps the air, this can be because they haven’t been properly socialised. This means they may have learned that humping is a way of interacting but this is more common in puppies who are still learning how to be behave with other dogs and older dogs who have experienced abuse. 

If your dog hasn’t been spayed or neutered and is young, then this is when the humping is most likely for pleasure and is sexually motivated.

Why Does My Dog Hump Me And No One Else?

If your dog is humping you, their master, and no one else this can be an expression of (as above) illness, excitement or dominance but can also be a sign of boredom. They simply may be looking to get your attention. In some cases though this may be a compulsive behaviour they’ve adopted through poor care/abuse which may be a possibility to consider if you’ve got a rescue pup. 

How To Stop Dog From Humping

Firstly, if your dog is young and you’re not planning on breeding them, it would be wise to get them spayed or neutered. The most up to date advice is to do this around 9 months of age, or after a female dog’s first season. Not only is this better for their overall, long-term health but it is also going to help reduce their need to hump. 

If you have an older dog that has already been “fixed”, you may want to get them looked over by a vet to rule out prostate problems, disease or infection. 

If the above have been sorted or ruled out, you’re then looking at training your dog away from humping and redirecting the unwanted behaviour. Remember, you should never punish your dog for humping or behaving badly – they don’t understand punishment. All this teaches them is to fear you which isn’t what we want…

Instead, when your dog starts to hump, instruct them to perform a command they know like “sit”, “down” or “stay”. When they stop humping and perform the command, reward them with a big fuss and a treat. Repeat this every time they hump to help train them out of it. Alternatively, you could choose to take them out for a walk or play with them to distract them and help spend some pent up energy they may have.

Make sure that they have easy access to their toys and are receiving the amount of exercise they need daily to help manage their energy levels and decrease boredom. 

If you’re unsure how much exercise your dog needs, check out our handy guide on how much walking time your dog’s breed typically requires per day:

If there’s a particular toy or object your dog likes to hump, try hiding it and distract them with their other ones. 

If your dog humps guests, make sure you keep them in their crate or a quiet room whilst that guest visits until you’ve got them trained out of it. 

If you’re struggling to redirect their behaviour with training and finding it hard to reduce the humping yourself, it may be worth considering seeking out an ethical, kind, reputable and professionally qualified dog behavioural trainer to help.

Sources

Author Robins, Mary “Why Does My Dog Hump? Understanding Humping Or Mounting Behavior” Nov 21. 2019, American Kennel Club https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/why-is-my-dog-humping-or-mounting/

Author Piamore, Eduarda “Why Does My Dog Hump Me?” Apr 08. 2019 https://www.animalwised.com/why-does-my-dog-hump-me-3087.html