Sudden "humping"

[Donna Bay & Buzz]

I am concerned (and maybe for no reason...hence Im posting). The past 2 days, our male gd has started humping our female gd. I know it is purely a dominence thing but not sure why now? We adopted Buzz in December and over the last few months we thought Bay was coming up "top dog". They get along so well. They really are a perfect match but i am concerned about this new behavior. Should i be? I want to correct it immediately. Thanks much.

[Malenie Piscetelli]

Did both dogs get fixed yet?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

DRC (or any reputable rescue group)  does not adopt out intact dogs, and we also do not adopt dogs to homes where there are intact dogs. So the answer to that question is yes, both dogs have been "fixed". 

[Lynda Kamrath]

I don't think it has anything to do with sex.  It is just a dominance thing.  Here is a photo of our three (male) dogs humping and my husband just thinks it is a congo line.  The new little dog was new and it was definitely a dominance thing as all three had been neutered early.  We just think you should distract them with something more interesting and it tends to go away as soon as they get the "new order" straightened out.

BTW, I don't think doodles are by nature very dominant.  Mine haven't been anyway.  The new little dog tends to be rather dominant now and we think he is a Jackapoo.  Small, but mighty.  But it is all just doggie behavior and they get it straightened out in their own way.  Females also hump and it doesn't seem to be related to anything in particular.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Donna, the reason this may have first started now might be that after all this time, Buzz finally feels 100% secure and comfortably "at home".

I think that Bay will let you and Buzz know if she is unhappy with this new behavior. Otherwise, unless it's excessive, I wouldn't be concerned. The best way to stop it if you need to is to distract him. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And yes, it is a dominance behavior. It's possible that there will be a new "pack order" between your dogs, but if there is, it will likely be a mutual arrangement. :)

[Donna Bay & Buzz]

Yes, both dogs are fixed! Bay definitely does not like this. She looks at me with her big brown doodle eyes as if to say"mama....wth". Lol. Love the conga line, Lynda. Hysterical. I will distract for sure. (Im happy to hear he is 100% comfortable though...he is such a good boy).

[Donna Bay & Buzz]

Also, with this new thing happening, Bay has gotten very mushy with me. Maybe the roles are changing.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I hope that when she gets annoyed enough, she'll tell Buzz to knock it off. You may have to put Buzz in time out if he persists with it. 

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

Eh, perfectly normal canine behavior. My pair of (neutered) boyz do the canine conga most evenings after supper for a minute or two and take turns being "on top." I only bother to interrupt if they're in my way in the hall and I can't get past. "Oi! Take it to the living room, brats!"

Funniest thing I've ever seen in my life was while sitting in the kitchen at a friend's house a number of years ago. She bred and showed Rottweilers and at the time had half a dozen females in the house. As is common with dogs (and humans!) living in close proximity they all cycled into heat at once, and she had found that her husband's tightly-whiteys were a perfect fit to prevent, erm, spotting. I happened to look around just in time to see a six-white-underwear-clad-Rottie conga go past the kitchen doorway.

Current theory is that there are multiple reasons dogs might choose to hump - dominance, anxiety, excess energy, or as part of normal play behavior are the top four. Not something I'd worry about unless it leads into a genuine fight between them.

[Donna Bay & Buzz]

That would be a priceless picture for sure! I feel better now. I just thought it strange that it just started now but im sure karen is right. He has been here long enough now to be truly comfortable. They'll figure it out.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I agree that this is pretty normal "dog behavior".  I went through this with Guinness and Murph for awhile.  Normal or not, I didn't like it and so I always stopped the behavior.  It was usually Guinness trying to hump Murphy and it was always when he just got overly excited.  I separated them and put them in down/stays.  They got the message and now I haven't seen either of them try it in well over a year.