Few things are more embarrassing than when your dog humps another dog – or worse – another person. Learning how to stop dogs from humping is more about understanding the behavior than disciplining your dog.
Not only is it embarrassing, but other owners can become irritated if your dog continues to try to mount their pet. Some dogs can become aggressive when mounted, as well. You don't want to have to deal with a dog fight because your dog cannot control his behavior.
Learning how to stop dogs from humping deals with the behavior itself. Most owners think that spaying or neutering will stop this behavior because it will change the hormones in your dog's body.
On the contrary, you'll need to work with your dog on consistent behavior training in order to correct the unwanted behavior.
How To Stop Dogs From Humping?
Why does my dog hump?
Humping is a common behavior, and not normally something to be concerned about. A common misconception is that humping is related to the dog’s sex drive, but it’s not.
Most people also believe that only male dogs hump. I can vouch for the fact that this is not true, as I’ve had two female dogs in the past who were “humpers”.
In most cases, humping is a show of dominance. Whether your pooch humps people or other dogs, it is likely his way of trying to assert his dominance.
Rowdy play can also cause some dogs to get overstimulated. If your pet often humps pillows, stuffed animals or furniture, this may be the case.
In very rare cases, it could be a sign of a medical issue. Dogs with urinary tract issues, infection or irritation around the genitals or prostate problems may resort to humping to try to soothe the pain.
If the humping behavior comes on suddenly and is accompanied by licking or chewing of the genital area, you should seek veterinary care as soon as possible. It’s likely that your dog has a medical issue that is causing this embarrassing behavior.
Humping may be a sexual behavior, as well. This is usually the case if you have a young dog who is not spayed or neutered.
RELATED: Dog Humping – Why Does My Dog Hump?
How to stop dogs from humping
Learning how to stop dogs from humping is easier to do if you catch it early. As with any strange behavior, it’s easier to nip it in the bud than to try to break a bad habit.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Is he getting enough exercise and mental stimulation?
- Are there any new stressors in his environment?
Stress and anxiety can cause odd behaviors in dogs. Likewise, if your dog is bored and has a lot of pent-up energy, he'll look for interesting ways to burn off this energy.
If you can’t think of any environmental issues and it doesn’t seem to be a medical problem or an issue with excessive energy, you’re likely dealing with a behavioral issue. In this case, learning how to stop dogs from humping will require consistent training.
Proper training is key, because the humping is likely a dominance issue. Training helps to foster the bond and relationship between you and your pet. When done right, behavioral training can help to establish your dominance as the leader of the pack.
You could consider signing up for a professional dog training class, or you could commit to working consistently on daily training sessions with your pup. Your dog will need to have command training before you can move forward with terminating the humping behavior.
If your dog is not spayed or neutered, talk to your vet about the procedure. Your vet may not recommend it if your dog is very young.
Never punish your dog for humping. It’s a natural behavior that he is exhibiting for some reason. If it’s medical, seek veterinary care. If it’s due to stress, remove the stressor(s). If it’s behavioral, put in the time and effort to properly train your pet.
When your dog starts to hump, have him sit or lie down and reward him when he does what you ask. This will help to redirect the behavior and focus his concentration on something else.
You could also try to redirect him with toy or some exercise to burn excessive energy. If he doesn’t listen to your commands or he won’t follow your redirection, don't overreact.
Gently remove him from whoever or whatever he is humping and take him to a crate or quiet room of the house until he has calmed down. If your dog humps pillows, blankets or other objects, take them away.
Consistency is key with any type of dog training. You can't allow the behavior when you don't have the time or energy to deal with it. You need to redirect your dog every time he begins to hump.
READ NEXT: Book Review – The Puppy Playbook by Joanna Russell
