From cushions and toys to your leg and their very own bed, if you have a dog that seems to want to hump everything in sight, you might be at your wits end as to how to put a stop to it.
Humping is a natural and normal dog and puppy behavior, but according to expert trainer Julianna DeWillems, it's also very misunderstood.
While pet parents differ in their opinion as to whether their dog mounting and thrusting things is frustrating or funny, most agree that humping is either caused by a build-up of sexual energy or an attempt by their pup to exert dominance.
However, DeWillems says nothing could be further from the truth. "Humping is often an indicator of how your dog is feeling," she explains.
According to DeWillems, humping is often caused by:
- Over arousal/over stimulation
- Frustration
- Excitement
- Stress/anxiety
Dogs may also hump for medical reasons. Skin allergies in dogs can cause itchiness that makes our canine companions want to hump to relieve their discomfort. Urinary tract infections are another common cause.
"It’s critical to uncover the cause of humping in order to treat correctly," DeWillems says.
In terms of how to prevent humping, DeWillems suggests videoing the moments when your dog does this or writing them down in a journal. From there, try to identify any particular patterns or triggers.
Some other things you can do include:
- Practising avoidance by leaving the environment when your dog begins to hump
- Distracting them with other trained behaviors, such as 'sit' or 'down'
- Speaking with your vet about whether medications may help reduce your dog's stress and anxiety and therefore eliminate their desire to hump
"We recommend consulting a vet to rule out any medical cause first and then consulting with a qualified training professional for how to handle if your dog humps excessively," advises DeWillems.
Most importantly, never reward, praise, or punish your dog for their humping behavior as this will only make it worse.
