Questions about Humping

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Just some quick questions about humping... Is it bad if two dogs are having fun in the dog park and one gets fixated on humping the other? I know hump happens from time to time, but when one dog gets obsessed and won't quit, is this a sign of trouble (other than it being annoying to the humpee and the owner)?

 

If one dog is obsessivly humping another dog should the owner not take action to stop it, or else leave the park with their dog?

 

The back story - both Sophie and Winston were playing in the park and in came a spaniel of some sort, full of energy. They were all having a blast chasing each other when suddenly Moxie became obssessed with humping Sophie and wouldn't stop. The owner laughed it off while I pryed him off of her over and over again. I know she doesn't like it but she never does anything about it, just sort of wiggles a bit to get loose. Sophie eventually shook him off and ran around while he chased her. She didn't seem too bothered, was having fun, but the humping kept up and I had to keep prying Moxie away from Sophie. The owner never reacted, but eventually distracted him with a ball. Winston meanwhile, was bothered that he wasn't included so started humping Moxie. Then Moxie turned his obssession to him. it was a giant hump fest and I was getting really annoyed.

 

Am I the one with "humping issues" or would this bother other people too?

[Cindy M, Zachary & the Frenchies]

I know that others will probably have other opinions. But to me, if the dogs are not doing anything about it. They need to give signals that it is not okay. No one is getting hurt. No one is growling, or getting beaten down because he or she is overly submissive then I pretty much let dogs be dogs. My dogs play like this in the house. I am not opposed to dog parks but I don't use them. They are not appropriate for my frenchies, and Zach is too submissive and dog shy to benefit from the experience. However I think that if you bring your dogs to a place where they are going to run loose with other dogs that it is unreasonable to think that dogs at play will not act like dogs act when they are playing.

[Amber (with Maggie)]

Agreed. It is a sign of dominance. I stop it and move maggie over to the other side of the park when other dogs try to do it to her.

[Cindy M, Zachary & the Frenchies]

Humping is not necessarily a sign of dominance. My dogs hump each other - they switch off . The girls hump each other and their brothers and vice versa. There is a pack order among my dogs, but it is reflected in who can take and keep toys not in who humps who at play,

[Amber (with Maggie)]

cindy, from reading about it, it is not a good thing to allow to happen. It is a faux pas at a dog park (at least in california). Some trainers disagree about what exactly they are doing.

 

Here is what a trainer of mine said "he humping behavior is to show dominance over other dogs. This is the reason why male dogs can be seen humping another male dog. In primitive dogs, the dominant male is the only one allowed to breed females. Dog will only allow being mounted by dogs it considers to be higher in rank. We know that dogs are affectionate and loving creatures. Some would form a strong bond with the whole family while others would be devoted to a single person. Dogs hump people because they think people are members of their pack. A dog mounting your leg is telling you that he is dominant and that he occupies a higher position in the pack than you. Of course this should never be allowed. The dog should be made to understand that the human is higher in rank, that the human is the alpha male. A dog allowed to think otherwise will be one stubborn and hard to control dog."

 

It's not a good thing to allow on you (your leg) or other dogs and could cause fights with other dogs. IMO

[BG and Gavin]

The only thing that I have seen Gavin hump is his bed.  Occasionally he will double it over and try to hump it.  Its pretty funny and a bit pathetic, but through our laughter we try to correct him.

[Becka]

This is pretty funny--I like that he arranges it just so before he begins.

[Cindy M, Zachary & the Frenchies]

There is a current school of thought that this whole notion of dominance in dogs is certainly overrated if not false. Certainly, protecting your dogs in a dog park is up to the owner.However, expecting other dogs owner to act as you desire, is just not in my opinion a way towards a peaceful life. You can only control your actions. So moving your dog(s) is the way to go if you find this inappropriate play, rather than expecting the other owner to do anything. I am not advocating allowing dogs to hump humans, just as I would not allow dogs to play with humans with their teeth- there are behaviors that dogs can do with their own species that are never appropriate cross
species. However to assume that humping behavior between dogs is dominance behavior is in my opinion and in the opinion of many others is a misreading of dog behaviors.

Here is a nice little explanation from a vet. I have a busy day today but will try to find a research based or more comprehensive article or reference before this discussion burns out.

http://www.dogstardaily.com/training/down-amp-dirty-humping-sex-sta...

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

This is what I'm wondering. Is it dog park etiquette to stop your dog from humping another dog if it's obssessive, or if it's clearly bothering the other dog owner? Or is it up to the person who doesn't like it to leash up and leave.

 

Why isn't there a guidebook on dog park etiquette????

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It doesn't matter if it's good dog park ettiquette or not, if it bothers you or your dog, I would stop it. I don't think you should have to leave, just take your dog to another area, or calmly and politely tell the other owner that the behavior is making you and your dog uncomfortable.

Whether it's a dominance behavior or not, it's not something I would want my dogs doing at the dog park. They're supposed to be there to get some exercise. It's not good exercise and it's not playing. I would be concerned about any dog who chooses to stand in one place obsessively humping other dogs when he has the opportunity to run and romp.

 

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Exactly, but that being said, when sophie got away she had a blast running around while the other dog tried to catch up. So it sort of worked out in the end because there weren't any othe dogs there and I was tired of throwing the ball. Nobody can out run my Sophie Bear and she knows it!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This article doesn't make sense to me. It is my understanding that dogs who have been neutered or spayed using traditional methods have an absence of sex hormones, which I would think are what causes the sexual drives and urges. In fact, there are people who request vasectomies in male dogs, rather than full castration, because of concerns that the lack of testosterone will cause problems with bones and growth.

 Also, during sexual activity, the female dog does not "hump'', it's the male who does that, yet many females dogs engage in humping behaviors with other dogs of both sexes. I had a very dominant female poodle who humped when she became overly excited.

I think there are probably many varying opinions on this being a "sexual" behavior.

I know a woman who adopted a very large dog who was a very dominant male, and her much smaller female dog humped him several times a day. It seemed obvious to those of us observing this that it was the female's way of putting him in his place. She also mouthed the back of his neck on a regular basis, which is another way dogs try to show dominance over other dogs, although it's usually (but not always) done in a playful manner.

[Cindy M, Zachary & the Frenchies]

Karen I have three french bulldogs within 10 pounds of each other. All fixed, 2 girls 1 boy. One girl is very laid back - does not even snap at flies! Everyone is superexcited in the morning when I get up because it means breakfast (dogs do love there routines) and since they are raw fed with real food (not the commercial products) it takes a little time to get their meals cut, measured and into bowls. It is a circus at ground level. Bulldogs running around, playing,  some barking and a hump fest with the frenchies, girl on girl, on boy, if things get too rough someone flops over on his/her back to make it clear no harm intended. My interpretation is that it is arousal from the excitement of breakfast, but it certainly is not dominance, because gentle Gracie is right in the thick of things with no resistence from the other two.. Poor Zach the only one not yet nuetered, is just so excited to get fed but is way to big to get involved with the frenchie orgie occuring below him.