Sexual Frustration

[Richard Gauthier]

ok, now that I have everyone's attention. Bosco, our 8-month old, male, 65 lb., un-neutered (so far) F1B doodle has begun humping everyone in sight. He becomes quote forceful and mouthy, and enters a "red zone" where he ignores any commands. Advice has ranged from "its best to just let him finish" (ok, that was from the movie "Christmas Vacation") to saying "OFF" or "STOP" and giving a command like "sit" followed by a reward (see Red Zone comment above).

Is this something we just endure and wait for him to outgrow? Will this behavior disappear or lessen when he is neutered? How have other people handled this?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

IF (and that's a big "if") the behavior is indeed hormonal, neutering will take care of it. 

However, humping behaviors are most often dominance behaviors, not sexual behaviors. Females do this too, as well as desexed dogs of both genders. 8 months is the teenage stage when dogs often try to assert their independence and test the limits, so it's an important time to "up" his obedience training now. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

According to my Vet many dogs at this age start exhibiting all kinds of "unattractive" behaviors....some of it is likely hormonal.  With Murphy she definitely felt that we should not wait any longer to neuter him....sometimes they develop those behaviors which can become "habits" and later they are difficult to break.  I also recently heard the owner of our Daycare tell someone with an 8 month male GR that the dog could not come back until he was neutered....he was trying to mount the other dogs and she felt this was unfair and could result in a problem with the pack.  She told the owners "humping is a symptom and with it often comes other dominant behaviors that you really aren't going to want to deal with".  Her experience was that neutering with some solid training and exercise would address the problems.  That said, I never allow my dogs to do this.  My mini Doodle would try it with our younger Standard on occasion when he was younger....it was always when they got way too excited while playing.  I always stopped the behavior and separated them.  I would really never let him do it to a human....and I wouldn't reward it at all.  Remove him from the situation and put him in a crate or a down/stay until he calms down.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

The deciding factor for us was when Spud began peeing on humans.  Not intentionally humans but he would find any large, hefty leg and treat it like it was a tree. He peed on a mother holding a 4 day old infant.  What a proud moment that was.

Another day, we looked over to see him urinating on a man at the dog park yet the man was oblivious to Spud as he was paying good attention to his own dog.  We said nothing to the man.  What good would it do.  Astonished we wandered the other way, fast.   Sorry to admit that one. 

Horrified, we made the appointment the next day. There were a lot of contributing factors going on at this time too.  

You reach a point where enough is enough.  Sounds like you are almost there.

NEUTER . The sooner, the better. You wont regret.

You have allowed many months of development to take place and permitted those hormones to work their wonders.

Spud was just shy of 9 months and no matter what research someone posts, I know it made a huge difference in these behaviors for our dog  

Spud humps only one thing now. He humps a blanket in the car every time he gets in.  He stops once the car is rolling. 

Humping is not always sexual, it is also control and dominance but certainly I think neutering is a huge help.. for all of you

[BG and Gavin]

A man at the park?  Yikes! (your secret is safe with us Joanne ;)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

The poor man had no idea what hit him. LOL UGH! What a moment

[BG and Gavin]

I agree with Jane.  I think early intervention is key - when he starts to go for the hump, leash his up and put him in his crate.  I will bet that neutering helps.  Consult your vet.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Get him neutered now!  It is much healthier for him in every way.  There is absolutely no reason not to neuter unless he has an extreme health problem.  It takes 6- 8 weeks for the hormones to level out at their new level and yes he may still hump things.  A quick sharp no and a distraction of a toy, a game, a walk whatever.