{"id":8232,"date":"2019-11-12T10:00:54","date_gmt":"2019-11-12T16:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/?p=8232"},"modified":"2023-11-30T04:27:00","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T10:27:00","slug":"what-is-dog-humping-about","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/blog\/culture\/myths\/what-is-dog-humping-about\/","title":{"rendered":"Debarking Pet Myths: Dog \u201cHumping\u201d Is All About S-E-X or Dominance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to another episode of \u201cDebarking Pet Myths,\u201d our monthly series that addresses common myths, misconceptions and old wives\u2019 tales about dogs and cats.<\/em><\/p>\n

This month\u2019s topic \u2014 just in case the title wasn\u2019t obvious enough \u2014 is about a canine behavior that many dog owners find embarrassing, annoying, unacceptable and even abnormal. Yes, we\u2019re going to talk dog mounting (the preferred term), or \u201chumping,\u201d and why dogs do it when they do. And just for the record: no, your dog isn\u2019t deliberately trying to embarrass or dominate you.<\/p>\n

(We promise to address this subject as mature adults. But if kids who haven\u2019t learned yet about the birds and the bees are peering over your shoulder, you might want to wait for another time to read this article.)<\/em><\/p>\n

Dog behaviors are riddled with nuance<\/h3>\n

From barking to tail wagging, dogs engage in behaviors that have subtle shades of meaning. When you live with a dog long enough, you recognize the differences in the barks that convey \u201cHey! I need to go out for a bathroom break\u201d versus \u201cI\u2019m really happy to see you!\u201d You also know the difference between tail wags, including those that mean \u201cI\u2019m a bit nervous\u201d and \u201cThis is the best day ever!\u201d<\/p>\n

Like tail wagging and barking, dog humping behavior is far more complicated and nuanced than it may first seem. No, it isn\u2019t all about sex<\/a>. In fact, there\u2019s no one explanation for the behavior, particularly without the surrounding context.<\/p>\n

Assumptions about canine mounting behavior debunked<\/h3>\n

Some dog owners, like their non-pet-owning counterparts, assume canine mounting behavior is all about reproduction. It\u2019s true that mounting is a sexual position for dogs. But it\u2019s not necessarily true that humping is all about mating. In fact, according to veterinary behaviorists and dog behavior consultants, mounting behavior is most commonly not<\/em> about sex. Sure, if you have an intact (unneutered) male mounting an intact (unspayed) female who\u2019s \u201cin heat,\u201d then yes, the activity is clearly about reproduction. So why do spayed or neutered dogs exhibit mounting behavior?<\/p>\n

Another common assumption is that a dog mounts another dog or a person in an effort to dominate them. That isn\u2019t always the case either. In a study of dog-dog interactions<\/a> in a dog daycare setting, mounting was associated with play and other affiliative (friendly) behaviors, not status-related behaviors such as aggression and submission.<\/p>\n

What behaviorists now know is that humping is part instinct and part learned behavior, and isn\u2019t completely regulated by hormones. More importantly, dog owners need to understand that mounting is a normal dog behavior and part of normal canine communication. Both males and females do it, as do intact, neutered and spayed dogs. Mounting becomes a problem behavior, though, when a dog humps people or excessively mounts other dogs, upsetting them or causing fights.<\/p>\n

So why do dogs mount?<\/h3>\n

Like many other dog behaviors, there are different reasons why dogs mount other dogs, people, stuffed animals, pillows, furniture or even air. (Yes, \u201cair humping\u201d is a thing for some dogs.) The key to understanding why a specific dog exhibits the behavior is knowing the context in which it occurs.<\/p>\n

Here are five basic motivations for dog humping behavior.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

The most likely reason dogs hump things (objects) or people, according to veterinary behaviorists, is to release stress, anxiety and\/or excitement<\/strong>. Some dogs bark, others jump or run, and some hump. The stress and excitement of meeting other dogs is a classic cause of mounting behavior, which is why you\u2019re likely to see it happening at dog parks.<\/p>\n

Mounting is frequently a displacement behavior, a behavior that occurs out of context in response to an internal emotional conflict, according to veterinary behaviorists. Some dogs aren\u2019t well-equipped to deal with stressful or exciting situations. Maybe your dog becomes overly excited when playing with a new toy or feels stressed about how to interact with a particular visitor to your home. Humping can be an outlet that relieves the dog\u2019s nonsexual arousal and stress.<\/p>\n

Attention-seeking can be another reason why dogs hump. For some attention-starved dogs, negative attention is better than none at all. However, mounting behavior can also be an anxiety response to punishment.<\/p>\n

Play<\/strong> involves more than \u201cfun\u201d in a dog\u2019s world. It\u2019s an important social lubricant, an activity that helps dogs feel more comfortable in social settings (e.g., dog parks). Like play fighting, play humping can be a normal, acceptable behavior between two dogs \u2014 as long as it doesn\u2019t upset one of them. Mounting during play is considered an affiliative behavior, one that reinforces bonds between dogs in a group, and suggests a healthy relationship between dogs.<\/p>\n

Whether or not a dog uses mounting to communicate dominance<\/strong> depends on the context in which the behavior occurs. Some veterinary behaviorists believe humping is a common dominance gesture in older dogs. But the dog doing the mounting may not be the dominant one. More likely, dogs who are unsure of their place in the pack are the ones doing the mounting, a move that can lead to fighting.<\/p>\n

Humping objects like pillows, bunched-up blankets or stuffed animals, on the other hand, isn\u2019t a dominance gesture because dominance involves a relationship between two individuals.<\/p>\n

If mounting is a new behavior that starts suddenly and occurs frequently, an underlying medical or physical cause<\/strong> may be the trigger. Talk with your veterinarian because infections of the urinary tract, anal sacs, uterus or vagina, allergies that produce intense itching in sensitive areas, or hormonal disorders that result in increased testosterone, estrogen or progesterone levels may be causing your dog to seek relief through mounting behavior.<\/p>\n

Problem behavior? Here are simple steps to take<\/h3>\n

Mounting behavior is a normal behavior in dogs, but it can also be a problem behavior if it occurs excessively. While a full discussion on how to deal with mounting as behavioral problem is beyond the scope of this article, there are steps you can take immediately if a dog\u2019s mounting behavior is causing issues within your home pack.<\/p>\n

First, have your veterinarian physically examine your dog<\/strong> to determine if there\u2019s an underlying health issue causing your pup\u2019s behavior. If there is a medical reason for the behavior, your veterinarian can then help you figure out why your dog is behaving this way. Your veterinarian can also refer you to a veterinary behaviorist or dog behavioral consultant and\/or trainer.<\/p>\n

Second, observe your dog to identify the motivation<\/strong> behind the behavior. Is your dog anxious during certain situations? Does he or she become overly stimulated during playtime? Is your dog seeking attention from you, another family member or visitors? Is your dog mounting other dogs, people, objects or all of the above? Different motivations need different treatments, so you\u2019ll want to look for patterns in your dog\u2019s behavior.<\/p>\n

Third, teach or use commands to distract your dog<\/strong> during inappropriate episodes of mounting. You can also practice avoidance<\/strong>, when possible. If you \u2014 and everyone else present \u2014 leave the immediate environment when your dog starts mounting, you help prevent any encouragement or positive reinforcement of the behavior. Finally, don\u2019t punish your dog because that can lead to other problem behaviors.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

RELATED POST: 7 Commands Every Dog Should Know<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcome to another episode of \u201cDebarking Pet Myths,\u201d our monthly series that addresses common myths, misconceptions and old wives\u2019 tales about dogs and cats. This month\u2019s topic \u2014 just in case the title wasn\u2019t obvious enough \u2014 is about a canine behavior that many dog owners find embarrassing, annoying, unacceptable and even abnormal. Yes, we\u2019re […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":8239,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Understanding Dog Behavior: Why Do Dogs Hump?","_seopress_titles_desc":"Learn more about the nuances of dog mounting behavior beyond the usual myths of dominance or sex with our analysis of canine communication & behavior!","_seopress_robots_index":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[158,275],"tags":[202,134,365,54,329],"class_list":["post-8232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-myths","tag-behavior","tag-diamond-pet-foods","tag-dog-behavior","tag-dogs","tag-playing"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8232"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8232\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8239"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}