Humpty Dumpty (Humping)

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

O.K. Stuart fans, just got a question - Stuart walked up behind me and grabbed my leg at the calf and all 6 pds of him tried to hump me.  At 8 weeks.  He also had tried to do so to my future SIL.  I know that this is about dominance but I've never seen or heard of a dog so young doing this.  Is this related to the fact that he was taken from his mommy early?  Or doesn't understand why he has been passed around?  Could this be a personality issue I should work on?  Any advice.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

In my non-professional training experience, I would tell him 'no' and take him off of you. Rooney will show Stuart what appropriate dog behavior is supposed to be. Expect Rooney to give him growling and air snaps - just like his Momma would have done to teach him the ropes.

The hardest thing I had to do, from the advice of my trainer, is to sit back and just be quiet when that was happening and not interfere. Samantha would teach Charli. I was I told that I should step in and break it up if I was concerned that Samantha was getting too stressed with Charli being such a PIA puppy (also one that was taken away from Momma and littermates - I believe she was somewhere around 5-6 weeks old). We all lived through it. Charli absolutely still believes that Samantha is her Momma.

As an adult I know it is dominance - I have no clue if an 8 week old would be trying to show dominance. Could it be play? 'You walking away from me? - I can stop you if I hump you. I learned that already.'

[Dori & Rua]

Sorry...I can only laugh!  Rua will still do the Hoochie Dance with her stuffed puppy or Easter bunny every now and then.  Fortunately, not with us.  Here are some of the answers I got regarding Rua not acting like a lady!

 

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/rua-is-not-acting-lady-lik...

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Dori this is different in that he is trying to do it to humans!  LOL  And he actually grabs you with his little paws just like they are hands.  It is funny but I am going to STOP in now before he is 50 pds and has his way with my leg!!!!!  Rua was just being cute to her stuffies. I'm just wondering if all the upset in his life is "making" him feel that he needs to be top of the pecking order.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

From what I've read there are two different views on puppy humping.  Some say that it is a sign of sexual behavior and dominance (the puppy trying to find his place), and that male dogs display signs of sexual behavior as soon as they are able to walk.  Others say that it's merely a sign that the puppy is "overexcited" and this is an outlet for him that "feels good".  In either case, I think the answer is to just try to calm the puppy down when he does this.  You may just calmly say "No" and put him into a sit (with lost of praise).  I also think that Stuart will like turn his "humping" object of affection from you to Rooney.  My Guinness will still do it to Murph from time to time....always when he's just overexcited.  At the puppy stage I wouldn't worry much at all....Rooney will teach him.

[Lindsey]

Ugh, our little male dog does this...he's 6 years old now. It's sooo annoying. He is small though and he humps BIG dogs. We were told, and believe, that it's a dominance thing. However, Stuart is young...so I'm a loss there. I have to think though that it's just overexcitement. I agree, tell him "no" and make him sit.

[BG and Gavin]

Don't worry too much.  I beleive at that age it is just play - hey this is fun!!  I would just correct and redirect like you would with mouthing behaviour.

[Ellen, Brûlée, and Tira]

Jane, this may sound silly, but regardless of the cause of Stuart's behavior...  "No" can be a pretty negative way to respond to a little puppy.  It also can come out in a rather harsh-sounding way, especially if you are put out!  How about "4-on-the-floor!" as an alternate command?  This can be useful, too, if puppy is putting his sweet little nose or paws somewhere they shouldn't be.  Sounds more like a command than a correction maybe...:)  I use it with Brulee and she's quick to get those tootsies all on the floor!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Ellen thanks - I like that and will go that route.  I'll let you know.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Here's a hint that my trainer in Murphy's puppy class gave me about "corrections" for puppies.  Her view was that you should think about how the Mother would correct the misbehavior in her puppies, and your correction should be aligned with that degree of intensity.  Her thought was that Mother dogs are the very best trainers...and if we take their lead, the puppy will understand what you're trying to communicate.  It made sense to me...I wish I had known that when I trained Guinness.

[Mimi Linna, Lilly and Lolly]

okay, I know this is serious- but I about spit coffee all over the key board as I read your post and pictured this little ball of fluff trying to get his business on with your leg. I can just imagine the look on your face... good luck

[Sorana, Darwin and Chance]

Jane, I was just as surprised when my 8-week old pup humped a big rolled up towel and the older doodle's head on his very first day home!  Needless to say, Darwin didn't put up with that kind of 'wrestling' for long.  The puppy didn't do this very frequently, but when I'd see him start, I'd interrupt him with a little poke in the bum, and then call him away to do something fun.  He's 5 months now, and hasn't humped anything in at least 2-3!  Time flies so fast it's hard to keep track of when behaviours come and go, but this one was definitely a short stage.  (and triggered by being over-excited).