{"id":3737,"date":"2021-12-21T06:56:14","date_gmt":"2021-12-21T12:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petpundit.com\/?p=3737"},"modified":"2021-12-21T06:56:14","modified_gmt":"2021-12-21T12:56:14","slug":"both-male-and-female-dogs-hump-for-many-different-reasons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cathyrosenthal.com\/blog\/2021\/12\/21\/both-male-and-female-dogs-hump-for-many-different-reasons\/","title":{"rendered":"Both male and female dogs hump for many different reasons"},"content":{"rendered":"
Dear Cathy,<\/span><\/p>\n Our Katie is a five-year-old Lab mix. She\u2019s always been obedient and will lick you to death if you let her. Now suddenly, when little kids come over, she gets super excited and starts humping them. Why now, after all this time, is she doing this? I thought only male dogs hump. Any ideas on why she does this and how to stop her? <\/span><\/p>\n — Anthony Meule, Valley Stream, New York<\/span><\/p>\n Dear Anthony,<\/span><\/p>\n The truth is, both male and female dogs hump, and for many reasons. If dogs aren\u2019t fixed, it\u2019s a behavior tied to mating. But if Katie is fixed then she could be humping because it simply feels good, she\u2019s super excited or stressed, or has a health problem, like a urinary infection. <\/span><\/p>\n If there\u2019s no health problem, then the clues point to the excitement (or stress, depending on how she\u2019s interpreting her encounter with the kids). There is no general harm in the behavior, but most people don\u2019t want a dog humping their legs, which can become a compulsive behavior for a dog if allowed to continue. You can curb this behavior through distraction and training.<\/span><\/p>\n If possible, give Katie a quick walk before the kids come over. This reduces pent-up energy. Then, distract her when the kids come over. Get her attention by shaking a can of coins or clapping your hands and telling her to \u201cleave it\u201d when she tries to hump anyone. Show her a toy or high value treat \u2013 something yummy she doesn\u2019t normally get, like a chew treat or a piece of hot dog. She should come over to you for the treat, which will help distract her during the initial excitement around the kids\u2019 arrival. If she acts too wild, put her on a leash for these encounters until you get her trained.<\/span><\/p>\n