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?

[Becka]

Dogs that are being submissive will still display their discontent--snapping, ears flattened, tail between legs, yelping are all signs.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Yes this bothers us also when the owner doesn't make them stop or leave. We went to an indoor play with our dogs and it was Myla's 1st time there. Along came a big yellow lab mounting Chloe and Myla was protecting her and scared him off a few times but he kept doing it so we left!! His name was Tucker aka Tucker the ******!

[BG and Gavin]

ROFL re:  Tucker's nick name.  Too funny Jennifer.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

HA! I love it. Now I will never name a dog Tucker.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

We haven't had this happen at dog parks, mainly because we don't hang out with other dogs and owners there, we play ball and hike.

But Jack and I were visiting a new friend, a big male Lab, in the other dog's yard when the other dog started humping him very aggressively, and it was clearly a show of dominance, also involving the other dog restraining Jack.  Both the other owner and I could see that Jack was not happy about it, and the owner stopped it before it turned into a dog fight.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I'm sort of afraid of a dog fight. I have never ever seen my dogs get even romotely aggressive nor assertive. It's not in their nature at all, but I would hate to have another dog bring this behaviour out of them. They don't even bark or growl at other dogs. They just sort of sit there and take it. Sophie at least tries to shake the dog off, but Winnie just sort of stands there, or in this particular case, he was so despereate to chase the ball that he trotted along with Moxie dragging behind him trying to do a sort of mobile hump. It was hilarious, and Winnie wasn't bothered one bit, but I didn't like it mainly because of the other dogs' energy. he wasn't really aggressive, just completely possessed and fixated and beyond hyper. He didn't respond to any verbal corrections and I had to pull him off by his collar.

[Becka]

Humping is generally discouraged at our dog park, because it seems to be a dominating behavior that can quickly change the energy balance. The dogs mostly seem to work it out on their own, though, and the owners are usually pretty good about interceding if they don't. Some of the most common humping that seems to go on is actually between pairs of dogs that live together--one dog in particular, Shannon, is always humping her "sister" Claire, so that everyone knows that Claire belongs to her!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

yes, usually it is stopped by the owner right away. But there have been times in the past when I've had to step in, mainly because I'm closer. But in this case the owner didn't do anything at all. Also there was an owner a few weeks ago who watched on the side lines while her dog kept stealing the ball from Winston and Sophie and wouldnt' give it back. She'd growl if Sophie got close. I kept having to chase the dog down to get the ball back. WTD, why didn't owner correct her dog or move her somewhere else?? Sheesh!

Generally when we go to the park, S W and i just play ball. They aren't interested in many other dogs so the humping doesn't happen too often.

[Becka]

I agree that the woman should have corrected her dog for being ball-aggressive, but at our park it's pretty much understood that if you bring a toy to the park, it's fair game for anyone--dogs are always running around with each others' balls and frisbees and nobody seems to mind (and the ones that do mind--i.e. the ball-aggressive ones--the other dogs seem to know not to mess with). I always offer to get back anything that Sadie has stolen, but the owner always says don't worry about it.

 

I also think that it's OK to intervene in humping if you're closer to the situation than the other owner. That way the other owner also sees that you're not OK with it.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Daisy will not chase her ball if another dog even hints like he'll go....makes DH mad, he says "Daisy, you go and get that ball from that stupid dog, now" of course only if there is no one within ear shot, and of course she doesn't and he has to chase the dog down - LOL

[F, Calla & Luca]

We've had discussions about dog humping behavior before. It rarely happens here anymore but it does on occasion. This was a funny discussion on the topic.

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

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

ROFL!!!! That was funny. Sophie Bear is a perfect lady and never does the Hootchie Dance. Winston however, slips up from time to time and tries the Humpty Dumpty on Sophie. I make him stop, but secretly, I'm just so happy that he is energetic and having fun. I just really hate the red rocket. It pops out sometimes at the most unexpected moments. Something I hadn't thought about before getting a male dog.