How To Stop A Dog From Humping

Quick Summary

• To stop a dog from humping, lightly push him off then turn away. It also helps if you get it a position where it is impossible for him to mount you such as sitting down. If your dog keeps trying to hump you, remove him from the situation.
• It’s important not yell at your dog when he is humping someone or something. It’s better to divert his attention to something else like a toy, or take him out for a walk.
• In dogs, humping is a natural behavior. It is a demonstration of dominance. However, if your dog’s humping habit starts to become repetitive, the reasons could vary from stress, overstimulation, and medical conditions.

Dogs are lots of fun! I love that they are affectionate and do the funniest things. Some things are sweet, random, and totally show our dogs’ personalities. Some funny and sweet things they do are the result of training—teaching them to give a kiss or to shake hands. However, our dogs can be like toddlers at times—they may be well behaved overall, but occasionally, they will do something that embarrasses their owners. One of these things is humping. 

Humping is one of the most embarrassing things our dogs can do, especially if they latch on to an acquaintance or a stranger. Also referred to as “mounting,” humping is not always a sexual behavior. Humping is often a means of showing dominance, but it can also be a sign of overexcitement or a medical issue of which you might not be aware. 

Can you stop your dog from humping? Yes, with positive reinforcement training and redirection, you can curb your dog’s humping behavior. See my guide below.

Why Do Dogs Hump?

In order to address the behavior, we must first understand it. Mounting is more common than typically thought—it is in fact a perfectly normal behavior. We tend to associate it with sexual behavior, but this is not always the cause. In fact, a certified applied animal behaviorist would say that humping has nothing to do with procreation. 

You may be surprised to learn that humping is more of a showing of dominance. If your dog carries out the behavior with another dog—especially if it is another male dog—you can most certainly be assured that this behavior is due to dominance. They may also carry out the behavior on a human. The reasoning is still the same. 

However, one little-known cause of mounting behavior is stress. Yes, stress can cause your dog to act out by humping. In some cases, the dog is simply over-stimulated, and mounting behavior results. 

Have you ever noticed your pup humping a dog toy or a pillow? If this is the most frequent mounting behavior you notice in Fido, then understand that he’s simply excited about his favorite items. 

There are some serious possible causes of humping; these are medical issues, and you should see a vet quickly. First, some male dogs may have urinary tract infections or an irritation that requires medical attention. Male dogs may also be experiencing issues with their prostate. 

Now, although the largest percentage of mounting behavior causes are non-sexual, there ARE instances of humping being caused by good old Mother Nature. However, this is most common in younger dogs that have not been spayed or neutered. 

When Does Humping Become a Problem?

Let’s face it—all dogs, male and female, will display mounting behavior from time to time. You may notice it when two dogs are playing together, or your dog may hump a stuffed toy, pillow, or even a favorite blanket. Some of these instances take place in the home, and you may be the only one to witness it. However, allowing the behavior to seem acceptable could backfire if your dog and a friend’s dog are having a play date when Fido decides to mount. Not only will you be embarrassed in front of your friend, but the two dogs may have a disagreement if one dog gets upset by being mounted. 

Therefore, you should work to eliminate mounting behavior early on so that it does not become a problem later. Obedience training tips for dogs greatly help.

I’ve Noticed My Puppy Humping. Why?

Unfortunately, puppies may display mounting behavior at any time. For puppies, the behavior is prompted for other reasons, not due to any medical issues. In addition, puppies can learn that humping feels pleasurable. In fact, young dogs that were not conditioned regarding humping behavior early on may continue to hump even after spaying or neutering. 

You may notice dogs as young as six months old displaying mounting behavior. Six months is considered a time of puberty for dogs—that’s right, a six-month-old puppy is the equivalent of a human teenager. That means a puppy of that age displaying humping behavior is probably experiencing hormonal surges that cause the behavior. 

At the same time, puppies may hump you, a toy, a pillow, or a chair leg because they are stressed. Have you noticed your young dog humping more after a recent move or a change in your schedule? Have you noticed a puppy you’ve only recently brought home displaying mounting behavior? Sometimes all puppies can do to cope with the big changes their young life undergoes is to hump something (or someone). 

Puppies may also mount other dogs during play. This is completely natural, and it may be a good idea to allow a younger puppy to learn the “pecking order” of play. Puppy siblings often keep one another in line, and your puppy may learn the hard way that this type of behavior isn’t acceptable. However, when an older puppy has been separated from its siblings and continues to display humping behavior, you will want to consider training and redirecting so that humping doesn’t become a persistent habit. 

Older puppies may also display humping behavior as a means of getting your attention. This is another cause that should prompt you to begin redirecting and behavioral training [1]. You simply can’t reward your puppy for displaying this behavior; it will carry over into their adult dog life—and it could happen at times when you definitely don’t want Fido misbehaving! 

Puppies may begin displaying humping behavior as early as three weeks of age; therefore, you may bring a puppy home that has already developed a bad habit. It’s your job to address the behavior as soon as you see that it is a persistent habit. 

How Can I Stop my Dog from Humping?

First, you need to determine the cause. Watch closely when your dog starts humping. Does your dog lick his own body or begin chewing his lower body? These and other signs of distress could be indicative of a medical issue causing your dog’s behavior. 

Next, look around your home. If your dog is mounting toys, pillows, or furniture, is it possible your dog is over-stimulated? Consider your dog’s exercise schedule. Does he get enough activity during the day? Try taking Fido on an extra walk or two for a few days and observe whether the behavior lessens or ceases altogether. 

If extra exercise doesn’t fix the issue, look around the home itself. Is it possible there is something that is triggering the humping behavior? Are you away from home more than usual? Have there been other changes in the dog’s routine or in the household overall? Sometimes, humping is a coping mechanism for dogs. If you notice your dog licking its lips, panting, or yawning, his humping could be a means of dealing with stress that Fido has no other outlet for. Again, exercise and a little extra playtime can help dogs deal with stress and lessen the humping behavior. 

When Do I Take My Dog to the Vet?

You may notice your dog licking himself on his lower body or chewing in the area. Urinary incontinence may be one reason your dog humps too often; urinary infection is another. However, some dogs hump due to skin allergies (look for loss of hair and red skin in the lower body) while others are suffering from a medical condition called priapism [2]. Priapism is a persistent erection that lasts for more than four hours. This is a condition that should be treated by your vet. 

Medical problems can cause both male and female dogs to display humping behavior. 

I’ve been to the vet and my dog has no medical issues. She mentioned working on training. What can I do?

Most instances of mounting behavior can be attributed to an attempt to be dominant. 

What are Ways I Can Prevent Humping in My Dog?

First, limit the number of opportunities your dog has to mount. You may have to take your dog and put her in a dog crate if she repeatedly attempts to mount you or, gasp, your company. It is important that you never yell or make a big deal out of the behavior. Simply remove her from the situation. 

Try to provide extra exercise or visit to the dog park so that Fido doesn’t have extra energy to burn. If you are away a good bit for work or other reasons, then you may want to look into picking up toys that will stimulate mental activity and keep Fido from becoming bored. Look for food puzzle toys that you can fill with cream cheese, treats, and the like. These toys may keep Fido occupied for up to thirty minutes per session. You may want to give this to Fido just before you leave for work. 

At the same time, if you notice your dog mounting a specific toy or even a stuffed animal, you may have to take it away for a week or so. 

What are Some Other Tips to Prevent My Dog From Humping?

While it may be difficult to do, try to catch your dog in the act as often as possible to work on conditioning. Calmly use either “stop” or “off.” Commands such as “down” and “no” are actually confusing to dogs because we humans use “no” in conversation and “down” may be a command you use to get the dog to lie down. If possible, you may want to redirect the dog to his kennel for a chance to calm down. 

If you repeat this redirect as often as possible and Fido learns to stop humping on your verbal command, be sure to offer a treat and praise. Dogs thrive on positive reinforcement, and, even when they do something unpleasant, they still want to please their pet parents. Offering a reward for properly stopping the behavior will decrease the chances that Fido will continue the bad behavior. 

If your pup is still working on verbal reprimands regarding your dog’s humping behavior, you can also get the dog’s attention and offer a favorite toy. Be sure to reward him with praise when he does stop the bad behavior and takes the offered object. 

If training doesn’t work and the vet gives your puppy the all-clear as far as medical issues go, then you may need to consider professional training. 

FAQs

1. How do I fix my dog’s humping?

There are many things you can do to stop your dog from humping. You can redirect the behavior, or you may have to temporarily remove her from the situation. Be sure to rule out any medical issues causing the behavior. If all else fails, you may have to look into a certified professional dog trainer. 

2. What triggers dog humping?

Multiple things can trigger humping in a dog. Stress, being over-stimulated, puppies at play, hormonal urges, and a need to be dominant can all lead to humping behavior. 

3. How do I stop my dog if they are ready to start humping?

Never draw attention to the behavior, yell, or otherwise make a big deal out of the episode of humping. Instead, you may have to crate your dog for a few minutes until he calms down. If a crate is not available, then remove him to another room so that the excitement calms down.