problem with humping toys. Certain ones. Do I discipline, remove the toys, or redirect attention... or what? I just watched a streaming video on biting pups and that might be of some help, but does anyone have specific suggestions? Thanks!

What? Does he want some privacy, or something?

Just kidding.

Put the toys up.:smile:

Definitely needs privacy with the youngsters watching & asking a bazillion questions. Toys are gone. (Kids got short, sweet & truthful answers, but I prefer not to have to discuss it with an 8-yr old who will be repeating everything in great detail at school!)

I'd say you did the right thing.

From what I've read it's best to just get rid of the toy.

Just what had you thought about telling the youngster?
What the act resembles?
Or what it actually means to the dog?

Oh by the way, do you have a male or female dog?

Male dog, almost 12 wks old. We live on a farm so they've seen the act of breeding and parturition many times over. I told them it's a dominance thing in a pup this young, even females do it. Basically like playing "king of the hill".... the more dominant gets on top and tries to keep the other down. The movement is that of an act of breeding, but it means the one doing it is the more dominant pup/dog because the other submits to it.

So that is pretty graphic explanation, but like I said, they've seen it all. I just hate to hear them say, "look mom, Harvey's humping the stuffed horse again! Look Anna, look at him! giggle, giggle, giggle" Then go tell the teacher, "Our dog humps his stuffed horse when he's playing. Looks like this (then demonstrates)." Of course that results in child discipline too!

I figured taking the toy away was the simplest solution, but what got me to thinking was the free video where Ed briefly mentions humping an adult's leg. But no real explanation is given for solving that, I'm assuming b/c it should already be resolved before the dog is to that point.

Do you feel I gave an incorrect explanation? That's what I learned in college..... but some of my instructors, well.... who knows....

After that long explanation, op is about toys specifically. I'm assuming if that's handled correctly, the leg thing will never become an issue.

 Quote: Paula Colvett

Definitely needs privacy with the youngsters watching & asking a bazillion questions. Toys are gone. (Kids got short, sweet & truthful answers, but I prefer not to have to discuss it with an 8-yr old who will be repeating everything in great detail at school!)

Why not have a little fun. Tell him the dog must have seen your father. See what kind of a note that brings home.

Ha Ha, o believe me, they get enough of that already! Daddy's always filling their heads full of info. But I suppose, seriously, I'd rather they learn the truth from us at home than from some kids who heard something from his sister's girlfriend....

but I digress and get off-topic, that's a whole other thread altogether :-)