Mostly, humping in dogs is a natural phenomenon. However, in some scenarios, it’s a cause of concern. First, the good news. Humping is a very common behavior. You are far from alone in having a hump-loving dog. And, despite appearances, it’s not necessarily sexually motivated. Occasional humping isn’t usually a problem, and you don't need to do anything about it. In fact, many dogs mount or hump a couple of times a day. But if your dog's excessive humping has become an issue, there are some things you can do to help:

As Preventive Vet's dog behavior expert and lead trainer at Pupstanding Academy, Cathy focuses on helping humans and their pets build a strong relationship based on trust, clear communication, and the use of positive reinforcement and force-free methods. With over 13 years of experience, she has had the opportunity to work with hundreds of dogs on a wide variety of training and behavior issues. Beyond her one-on-one consultations through Pupstanding Academy, she also teaches group dog training classes at Seattle Humane. Her specialties include dog aggression, resource guarding, separation anxiety, and puppy socialization. Humping can be a displacement activity, an out of context behaviour expressed to cope with internal conflict. This can happen when dogs are overstimulated or understimulated. The behaviour offers a release of emotion. This may be seen in dogs who have previously been neglected or abused. Excitement When there's a lot going on in the environment, a dog may become overstimulated and not know how to deal. A dog can start humping when they get really excited, such as when you arrive home after they've been alone all day or when guests come over to visit. This could happen when they are at a dog park or dog daycare, and there are a lot of different dogs and play styles that your dog can't control. Play Initiation

How to Stop Dog Humping

Some neutered dogs continue to hump as it gives them pleasure. Castrated dogs can still achieve erections and ejaculate so it is often a form of masturbation. Play Humping is a normal part of dog play behavior. It's not unusual to see a dog try to initiate play with another by humping or to see humping as part of wrestling. While it may be embarrassing to see your dog start to hump another, if it's just a short burst during otherwise appropriate play sessions, it's okay to let it go. However, watch for other signs of stress or overstimulation, as a dog may start humping during play when they feel overwhelmed or are policing other dogs' play. It’s also important to consider any stressors that might be causing your dog to act out. Are they getting enough exercise and stimulation? Is something in the home aggravating them, and, if so, what can you do to alleviate it?

Humping is a normal dog behaviour. Excessive humping can usually be managed to prevent harm and embarrassment with some investment in observation and training. Owning a dog that humps furniture, other dogs or people can lead to comic, but profoundly embarrassing moments. Most people assume that the dog is a sex pest or asserting dominance.At around 6 months once your puppy reaches their sexual maturity, their humping will grow more sexually charged. As puppies grow sex hormone levels increase and unneutered dogs will hump to mate or attempt to mate. Entire male dogs will often mount dogs of any sex, whether they are neutered or not. Female dogs mount other dogs, this happens more often when they are in season.

Persistent erections: When humping is almost always associated with an erection, it could mean that your dog has priapism, recurrent painful erections. Our dog’s humping might be embarrassing to us, but for them it’s simply a natural and normal behaviour. That means, in most cases, it’s nothing to worry about and you don’t necessarily need to try and stop it. Keep an eye on your dog’s humping behaviour to see if it seems to be triggered by a particular event, for example, visitors or when they meet other dogs for the first time. Uncovering the reason for humping in an individual dog involves close observation. Looking at their lifestyle, health, behaviour and triggers can help to pin down the cause. Some causes of humping are easier to manage than others. Sexual exploration and matingIf you notice that your dog has been excessively humping, call your vet. It could be a serious concern that requires treatment. For your safety, do not try to stop a dog from humping if you are worried the dog may become aggressive.