An embarrassing question...

[L.M.]

As a new owner of 2 dogs, a male and female, brother and sister but not littermates....I have a bit of an embarrassing question to ask.  Seamus is about 20 months and Stella is almost 5 months.  Tonight, for the first time ever, I caught Seamus trying to hump his sister.  I looked it up online and it said dominance....well I know they often try to establish dominance over one another and all that, but this was more than that.  They were sniffing one another "down there" (lol I'm sorry) and would not let up!  Then Seamus proceeded to hump/mount, which he really never does, and he won't stop!! He is fixed, she is not because she is still too young.  What should I do??  I pulled him off of her, but he won't leave her alone now.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

My DIL's male whippet actually 'mated' with her female when she came in season - he was a neutered male.  I think the connection is that the female might be coming in season and her other doodle can tell. Otherwise is it a dominance issue.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I think Darwin was 5 months old when he was neutered. I agree with other that you should call your vet and see if you can do it now.

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

 

Sorry,  I stand corrected, but I do remember a repellant spray that we used to use when we had both a male and female

dog.  When she went into heat we would spray her with the product and he would not bother her.  It has been many years and I do not remember the name of it.  Guess Bitter Apple might not be effective.  It was available at pet shops so we

did not need to get it from a vet.  Maybe someone knows what I am referring to..

[Camilla and Darwin]

Not sure what exactly what product you are referring to but it makes sense. I think maybe Caitlin was thinking of the bitter apple spray that tastes bad, to prevent chewing.

 

But bitter apple could be a scent as well as a taste, so I can see how it would work, you spray it on and they don't like the scent so it stops them from going near. Is that how the product you used worked?

[Lynda Kamrath]

Five months is early, but she may be coming in season.  You don't need to worry if he has been neutered, but dogs will mate even when neutered when a bitch comes in heat.  A bitch in our neighborhood came in heat and our two year old goldendoodle scratched the gates, posts, and doors until his feet were bleeding (even though he had been neutered as a puppy).  Try teaching her the down command, and teach him the off command, but this can be a problem with an unspayed female in the house.  However, it probably is dominance, and you may find her humping him also.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

It could be dominance, but as you say, Seamus never really does that, so i would think maybe Stella is coming into heat. I would call the vet and get her spayed ASAP.... I have been told that it helps reduced the risk of certain cancers if female dogs are spayed before their first heat (or that having a litter in creases the risk of certain cancers). unfortunaltey I havent seen any scientific literature, but i havent looked.

 

if she is coming into heat, get ready! Get some doggy diapers so you dont get blood spots all over your floor and dont let her outside (except for a quick potty). Male dogs can smell a bitch in heat and will do anything they can to get her. You dont want the neighbourhood dogs at your door or an "accident" to happen

[Adina P]

Well...Rosco was neutered before 5 months and he lived with our spayed female Thule for nearly 4 years (until we lost her last year) and...well...he humped her repeatedly every single day.  So while spaying Stella A.S.A.P. may curb this...it also might not.  If Seamus is anything like Rosco, he may just have found his favorite new hobby.

[ej]

K my 2 yr old GD humps Z my almost 5 yr old GR every day.  They are both fixed.  Whenever we catch him in the act we would spray her back with Citronella (we use Burt's Bee insert repellent).  They both hate the smell.  This almost always stops him from humping her until the smell wears off.

[L.M.]

OMG I can't believe I may have to deal with Stella possibly coming into heat!  I am calling the vet TODAY and scheduling this appointment.  That is one thing I don't want to have to worry about ugh!! She will be 5 months at the end of this month...I thought we had more time than that!! Oh...and this morning....Stella was the FIRST thing on Seamus' mind!! lol

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

We have a male(6.5 mo) and a female (2) and in our house they are both already fixed and still hump each other.  Neither one seems too bothered by the other most of the time.  They take turns and it definitely appears to be a dominance thing because of the timing on most occasions.  Simba early on earned the nickname Sir Humpalot and now Whopper has been the more frequent humper probably because the little guy isn't as little anymore and she wants him to really know who's boss. 

[L.M.]

Sooo just talked to the vet....2 veterinary hospitals actually.....neither of which will spay a female dog before the age of 6 months "unless medically necessary."  lol so now I'm stuck with a humpty dumpty male puppy and a possible female going into heat.  lol wonderful!!

[Debbie and Thomas]

So cute..."Humpty Dumpty" male....I am laughing out loud!!  I also love

 the comment above that Simba was named"Sir Humpalot" .  I feel for you and it looks kind of weird to see this "act"  but I am sure it will all work out....OR you will just get used to it.  Someday when Stella is a big girl she may want to get back at him just as siblings do.  Just tell Seamus that he is the "BOSS" and maybe he won't do it anymore...as if that will ever happen!!  Keep up the good work!