Why Does My Dog Hump And Bite Me?

Quicklinks

Why Do Female Dogs Hump Things?

It doesn’t surprise most dog owners when their male dog humps another dog, a pillow or a stranger’s leg, but why do female dogs sometimes hump or mouth? Especially if your female dog has been spayed at an earlier stage?
Although it’s harmless and normal for male and female dogs to mount (mouth) here and there, regardless of the dog breed, it’s important to know if your dog’s humping behavior needs to be addressed.

What Does Normal Behavior Look Like?

Regardless of what you call it, the behavior is natural for both male and female dogs. There are different reasons a dog does it. For some dogs, it is a response to arousal. While for others, it can just be a way to exert dominance and show that they’re the top dog in the house.

A dog that tries to hump other pets, people, or even the living room couch once in a while isn’t considered excessive, even if it bothers members of the family. There are a few things you can do to limit or eliminate your dog’s quirky behavior.

Ways To Prevent Dog Humping

Dog owners often notice humping behavior around the time a female dog enters her first heat. Many veterinarians recommend neutering or spaying your dog before he or she reaches that point to prevent unwanted learned behaviors. Getting your dog neutered also prevents the unpleasant surprise of a litter of pups and reduces your dog’s risk of testicular or mammary cancer. However, getting your dog spayed or neutered won’t completely eliminate humping, as it’s still common for some humping behavior from time to time.

The ASPCA recommends teaching the “leave it” command early for all dogs to leave when dog owners want to use the command for their dog to leave unwanted objects alone. Once your dog gets familiar with this command, you can signal to your dog that they should step away from furniture, other dogs or people. If you think your dog is about to mount an object (by rubbing, licking or whining), say “leave it” and distract the dog with a toy or a more desirable activity. Although it could take some time to train your dog to do this, it may be the easiest way to stop unwanted humping. This may be easier to achieve if your dog is more biddable.

Minimizing Humping Opportunities

If your dog is persistently humping when you have a visitor, and redirecting their behavior doesn’t stop them humping, rather than yelling or making a fuss, simply take your dog calmly and take them to their crate or a quiet area.

You can also manage your dog’s environment to minimize humping opportunities. Make sure they have access to chew toys and other activities that will help to keep them occupied and burn energy. If there’s a particular toy or other objects that bears the brunt of your dog’s humping, then remove the item until the behavior has eased. And if you’re expecting a visitor and you don’t want your dog to have the chance to hump them, then simply put your dog out of the way until the visitor leaves.

When To Be Concerned About Dog Humping

Although dog humping is normal behavior, there can be times when it could be a sign of other underlying issues. It’s important to observe other behaviors that lead up to or accompany the humping, which could help you determine if there’s a reason to be concerned.

Is the humping a sign of boredom?

If your dog is going from lying around or pacing to suddenly humping things, then it’s possible that your dog is bored and needs more playtime with you.

Could your dog be trying to relieve an itch?

Humping or excessive genital licking can be a sign that your dog has a problem, like a skin allergy or a urinary tract infection. If you notice your dog urinating frequently, licking their backside, trouble urinating or showing signs of dehydration along with the humping, then you should consider taking your dog to the vet.

Is your dog stressed?

The ASPCA notes that male and female dogs can use humping as a way to relieve stress. Is there a new pet or new baby in the home? Did you recently change your work schedule? Sometimes minor changes in a dog’s daily routine can cause them to feel stressed, and every dog has a different way of dealing with stress. Therefore, the dog owner needs to figure out what could be causing their dog to feel uneasy, and how best they familiarize their dog with the new routine. If stress-humping goes on for too long, it could become a habit that’s hard to break and the dog could end up needing professional obedience training.

Has the behavior just become a bad habit?

If you believe that you’ve ruled out all other causes and the dog persists, it may be time to get your dog into obedience training. You may need to try a new approach like group socialization training, implementing time-outs, or even having one-on-one training with a pro. If you’ve taken your dog to the vet and they’ve ruled out any medical causes for the humping, then get your vet’s advice on the best way to move forward.

Dealing With Dog Humping

Although humping is considered a sexual action, it can also be used as a sign of power and rank. So, it’s normal for dogs to hump as a way of asserting authority and dominance. Regardless of their motivation, when humping is directed toward people or objects, the result is always the same: it’s always embarrassing for the dog owner, especially if any guests are present.

Intact male dogs are more likely to engage with this behavior, although neutered males and females may express the behavior as well. It’s known that one out of three neutered male dogs and the occasional neutered female still engage in humping, years after getting neutered. Regardless of what dog owners believe before getting their dog neutered or spayed, humping can persist for a few months after surgery before the intensity and frequency start to wane.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR