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Humping is a common behavior seen in dogs, but it often causes confusion or embarrassment for pet owners. However, there are several reasonable explanations for why dogs hump. Understanding the potential motivations behind humping can help owners address the behavior properly.
Dominance
One of the most common reasons for humping behavior in dogs is as a show of dominance. Intact male dogs in particular are prone to demonstrating their dominance by humping both other dogs and even people's legs. However, while hormonally influenced, this type of humping is more about showing their rank rather than expressing sexual interest. It's not limited to males though - female dogs may hump to exert dominance as well.
Even puppies as young as several months old may start humping other puppies or toys. This innocent puppy humping is actually practice for assertive humping behaviors they will display when mature. For all dogs, it's essentially a way to gain control over another dog or object. Reprimanding dogs for this type of humping can sometimes increase the intensity of the behavior. Redirecting and providing plenty of exercise outlets for the high energy can help reduce humping that stems from dominance urges.
Sexual Behavior
Although dominance motivates much humping behavior, sex drives can still be the underlying reason behind it for intact male and female adult dogs. Intact male dogs are prone to mounting both other dogs in heat and even inanimate objects due to bursts of testosterone fueling their sex drives. Similarly, intact female dogs in heat will mount and hump other dogs due to the influence of estrogen levels.
Neutering males and spaying females is very helpful for decreasing the intensity and frequency of this sexually motivated humping behavior. However, keep in mind that dogs can retain humping habits that started before being sterilized. While sterilization won't eliminate all humping, it does typically minimize it greatly in cases where sex drives are the primary cause.
Excitement and Anxiety
Humping doesn't necessarily need to be driven by dominance or sexual urges. Many dogs hump when they get overexcited during play. The eager energy builds up and then is expressed through humping. Anxious dogs under stress may also direct humping behaviors towards people or objects around them as a physical outlet for their nervous energy.
For these causes, the humping tends to be self-soothing rather than asserting rank or expressing sexual interest. Petting anxious dogs to reassure them tends to encourage this displaced humping, so it's better to redirect their attention towards appropriate chewing toys instead. Teaching dogs to settle on cue can also help them learn to tone down their hyperactivity. Maintaining a calm environment and providing plenty of aerobic exercise is also important for high-energy, easily stressed dogs.
Attention-Seeking Behavior
Some dogs will mount and hump simply to gain owner attention, even if it's negative attention. Dogs who display attention-seeking humping behaviors typically nudge, whine or pace to get noticed, and then promptly hump a nearby person or object when acknowledged. Ignoring attention-seeking humping avoids rewarding the behavior. Teaching and rewarding an alternative positive behavior instead helps the dog obtain attention appropriately.
Most experts recommend that owners promptly interrupt their dog's attempts at attention-seeking humping by standing up and walking away. A loud noise deterrent such as compressed air can also startle dogs out of the behavior. Consistently interrupting humping and rewarding resting behaviors teaches dogs that calmness garners positive attention instead.
Medical Causes
While behavioral issues cause most humping in puppies and dogs, medical problems can sometimes be the underlying motivation too. Urinary tract infections or other genitourinary conditions can cause discomfort and inflammation that dogs express through sudden increased humping. Urination issues stemming from diabetes, bladder stones or neurological disease can also contribute to humping behaviors.
Dominance and sexual urges account for much humping behavior in intact dogs. However, excitement, anxiety, attention-seeking and medical issues may also provoke humping. Understanding why dogs hump allows owners to address the behavior appropriately based on its underlying cause in their pet.
