I thought it I had it bad by my german humping the golden reteriver, but he has never humped his toys. So When he does this to my female dog do I just let him do it or do I stop it?

Originally posted by Kate Kolbeck:
I wondering if it's just a normal, natural instinct that dogs hump. I say this because my 13 WEEK old Broder Collie pup is humping the giant plush Woodstock......

I don't know how else a dog that young would know to do that. He doesn't seem old enough to comprehend dominance issues yet...the poor guy can barely chase after a ball without tripping over his big feet! And yes, he is neutered, compliments of the Humane Society we adopted him from. Kate, it's perfectly normal behavior.

Originally posted by Charlene Gates:
How ironic I would see this right after my 10mo old female american pittbull jumped on my 5yr old daughters back! I think she is getting ready to go into heat, She was in heat a few months ago and I do plan on fixing her, but this is not a good senerio. Will she stop after she is fixed or is this the beginnig of an issue of dominance toward my child? Regardless of the reasons for the humping...because we're dealing with a young child...I would not be allowing this behavior. It could be dominance or it could be hormones due to upcoming season...either way we're talking about a child and it's just not a chance I would take IF it was just by chance out of dominance. I rarely see spaying/neutering as a 'fix' for dominance and in many cases it does nothing to reduce humping behavior. In fact I knew a 6 yr old GSD that was neutered at 12 mos and he still bred a GSD female and tied every time she came into season. Did nothing for his dominance, humping, territoriality, aggression etc...JMO

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Originally posted by ken figueroa:
I thought it I had it bad by my german humping the golden reteriver, but he has never humped his toys. So When he does this to my female dog do I just let him do it or do I stop it?

Ken most dogs usually solve this on their own quite well when dealing with male/female sexual humping...Most females will put them in their place once they've had enough of the amourous advances. I personally don't like to correct a dog for sexually humping a female and in MOST cases (depending on the bitch), I won't correct him--especially if I plan to use him as my next stud dog. The average bitch usually does it better than you or I could lol and more effectively. However, I do correct/discourage if they attempt to hump people or children.

You'll note I said 'average bitch'. I have one female that was outside with a friend's male who had been bred before and was 9 yrs old. My female was 4 at the time. I was taking her for a walk and he let the male out. The male just wouldn't accept her growls and snaps and warnings and kept advancing--he was determined...Just as he sniffed her for the 3 or 4th time, (she was nowhere near her season) and put one paw on her back...she spun around so fast that it surprised everyone...She basically ripped his face apart in two bites and it was over in about 2 seconds as well. Half his lip was hanging off and the corner of one eye was opened to the bone. This male was a friend's and even though I warned him that she was going to bite him hard and asked him to call his male back...He said not to worry about and what's a little 'love bite' <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> ?? Well he refused to put him away and I went to get my female to put her away to avoid a clash between the dogs--because you could see the female had enough of the harrassment...but just at that moment it was too late. So you have to know your dogs. I don't really have to deal with this as my dogs are not allowed to run loose together and they are on a training schedule and although they all take turns in the house...They live in their kennels separated from each other. I find prevention and not putting them in that type of situation is the best approach, unless I plan on breeding them. It works for me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I think at times this humping behavior is very often misunderstood and this is where a person really has to know their dog(s)...esp. if the dogs are interacting on a daily basis.

It could be sexual or dominance and if dominant...you can actually see this as early as 4 weeks! They'll hump each other (males and females) and many times their stuffed toys.

I remember on one of my trips to Holland....I was training at a KNPV club and they brought out the puppies. And this particular 6 week old male pup...he was dominant, aggressive, and just thought he was the 'cat's meow'. Quite the confidence and attitude. They did the ragwork and every time he won that rag; he immediately took possession of it with his front paws and swooped the rag under his belly/chest and humped to no end. When he was finished he was exhausted. Then they did the ragwork again and gave him 3 or 4 more bites and after each bite and win...he repeated the humping until he was exhausted!

I also have one particular female that will only hump my leg if I'm sitting down when she's about a week from her season and then again if she's pregnant! Other than those times...she NEVER humps. I guess it's her way of telling me she's either coming into season or she's pregnant. Very strange! lol :rolleyes:

The other interesting point I wanted to make was that there is research being done on humping behaviour. And 'experts' are becoming more and more convinced that it's a reflex more than anything (not unlike the rooting reflex in a baby). A reflex to pressure (whether in the form of manual pressure, or scratching the pup/young dog etc...)on the sternum/breast bone area between the front legs...And the puppy immediately responds by humping. So at the time I had a litter of 5 week old pups and I tried to stimulate this 'reflex'. I had the puppy stand in front of me and I gently put pressure on his sternum with two fingers and immediately the pup grabbed my wrist and started humping. I removed the pressure and the pup let go and went to play with his siblings. I got the same response from all the pups in the litter--males and females....So who knows...maybe they're onto something here--w/respect to pups but I'm not so sure about older dogs! Just found it interesting that's all and thought I'd share it! lol <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Is humping either dominance or sexual? Is it possible to just be a release of energy or frustration?

I don't think its sexual, my female 3.5 yr old female Rottie will hump the 9 month female GSD pup side ways (just fore feet over her back) I think its more dominance. In my opinion the Pup is always trying to promote herself in the pack and this keeps her in check, I guess.

They seem to play well until I'm around then I have to tell the Rottie to stop. She starts pushing and mouthing her of course the pup don't just take it. And it becomes an non growling wrestling match. Until I stop it usually a snap of the finger and "Stop"! does it.

Just my 2 cent.

QUOTE
"I don't really have to deal with this as my dogs are not allowed to run loose together and they are on a training schedule and although they all take turns in the house...They live in their kennels separated from each other. I find prevention and not putting them in that type of situation is the best approach, unless I plan on breeding them. It works for me. "

Brigita Brinac- That was some great info and some of the best regaruding both my dogs. My german is so hyper that I have to keep them seperate other wise he is alwys trying to bump on her and play in the house he is just too hper to keep both dogs in the house.
I know my dog and am convinced it is a doninant thing. He is very head strong and confident, may be too much. He is always trying to circle around the the golden and blocks her from coming to me and taking her toys. So I guess I just let them sort it out and I will not get involved.
Is there any way to get my german to calm down and quite being so hyper?

My GSD pup started humping his "carry-around-bed" at the age of 8 weeks old. I was shocked and surprised as i've never witnessed this behavour in such a young male pup. He's 12 weeks old now, and he makes an issue out of having to hump that darn bed inbetween his training sessions??? What do you make of that?!?