30/05/2015
By Josh Weiss-Roessler
You knew that your dog was excited about his new toy, but you didnât know he was that excited.
The first time you walk in on your pooch ma********ng can be a bit of a shock, especially if heâs your first dog and youâre not used to the behavior. You might feel grossed out, confused about whatâs going on, worried that something is wrong, and perhaps even a little bit amused.
Whatever your reaction, there are some things that you should know about dog mounting and ma********on so that you donât overreact (or underreact) to your hu***ng dog.
Why it happens
First off, hu***ng, mounting, and ma********on are completely normal behaviors in both male and female dogs. Itâs something thatâs in their DNA, and they do it for all kinds of reasons.
Sexual
This is the obvious one, right? Dogs ma******te and hump as a sexual behavior. But what most people donât realize is that this is true of all dogs. It doesnât matter if your dog is male or female, or even if theyâve been spayed or neutered. The part that usually tends to surprise dog parents is that neutered male dogs can still get erections and even ej*****te.
Social
Another way to put this is that mounting and hu***ng are a way of exerting power and control. Itâs your dogâs way of saying that sheâs higher in the social hierarchy than whomever sheâs hu***ng.
Play
Sometimes dogs that become overexcited during play will mount and thrust as a response to this feeling. If this happens every once in a while, itâs perfectly normal, but dogs that do it every time theyâre playing with other pups may be displaying a sign of under-socialization. In other words, plan some more doggy playdates so they can get used to the way theyâre supposed to play.
Over-emotional
Dogs that are prone to excitement or stress may attempt to mount or ma******te when their feelings get out of control. When this happens, the focus of their attentions could be you, another dog, a toy, or even a dog bed.
Compulsion
If your dog becomes too used to hu***ng as a way to relieve stress or excitement, the action can become a compulsive habit. When this goes too far, it can even start to harm their ability to function normally.
Potential medical implications
As mentioned above, most of the time dog hu***ng is a perfectly normal behavior. However, there are medical issues to watch out for. If your pooch seems to be ma********ng excessively, constantly rubbing against other objects, or licking and chewing parts of his body more frequently than normal, your best bet is to take him to the vet. Possible medical problems associated with this kind of behavior include:
Urinary tract infections
Urinary incontinence
Priapism (persistent, painful erections)
Skin allergies
When and how to correct the behavior
Weâve talked about how ânormalâ this behavior is, but what does that really mean? In specific terms, a dog that humps once or twice a day is displaying normal behavior that you donât need to worry about correcting â at least not for her sake.
But if the action bothers or embarrasses you, or if you just want to know how to stop your dog from engaging in it during certain situations to avoid getting themselves into trouble, there are several things you should know.
Distraction works
Dogs display specific behaviors before mounting (pawing, rubbing, licking, panting). If you notice your dog doing this and anticipate hu***ng, ask him to perform a trick or toss a toy for him to play with.
Spay and neuter
While itâs true that all dogs ma******te â regardless of whether or not theyâre intact â spaying and neutering can reduce sexual motivation and minimize hu***ng.
Give her a time out
If your pup humps people (potentially including you), start by pushing her off and saying no. Still not working? Close her off in a room all by herself (and without any fun toys). Leave her there for a minute or two, then release her and act like nothing happened. If the hu***ng begins again, repeat the process.
Use his training
Chances are good that youâve taught your dog a few minor tricks such as âLeave itâ or âSit.â If you worry that he may try to mount someone or something, ask him to do a trick that will make this difficult. âSitâ is a great one because itâs very simple, but incredibly effective.
If you try these methods and still have trouble getting your dogâs hu***ng under control, talk to your vet about other things that you can do to help.
Were you ever embarrassed by your dog's hu***ng? Tell us what happened in the comments.
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