How to stop your dog from humping. You know that embarrassment–your dog is attempting to hump a dog, a leg or object in public. There are multiple reasons why dogs exhibit humping behavior and some may surprise you (as outlined in our earlier blog post). Even so, many dog owners want help in discouraging this socially unacceptable behavior and the team at Union Lake Veterinary Hospital can help.
Luckily, there are several things you can do at home to effectively discourage or stop your dog from humping. Let’s take a look at some of these methods.
How to Stop Your Dog From Humping
While most people think dog humping is about sex, it isn’t. In most instances, this behavior is more about stress and anxiety. It can also be due to over-excitement in dogs who are hyperactive, or those who aren’t spayed or neutered.The object of your dog’s affection can be you, another dog, stuffed toys, pillows, or anything else.
To stop your dog from humping, you need to get to the answers of why they do it. First, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to see if there are medical or emotional issues linked to your dog’s humping.
In order to stop or discourage your pet, there are a few changes you can enlist to accomplish this.
To Stop Humping: Limit the Trigger
If your pet only humps when at the dog park, then naturally, limit the visits until you can address the behavior. Overstimulation at a busy park or dog park will inspire a dog to act out in ways we find unappealing, like sniffing and humping. The fewer the dogs around, the less likely your pet’s unseemly behavior will be triggered.
If your dog humps their toys or a favored pillow, remove the item and redirect their attention to a game of chase or fetch.
To Stop Humping: Intervene Early
If your dog has been exhibiting this behavior for a long time, or if they have been rewarded for it through attention or laughter, then the harder it is going to be to break their habit. During your pet’s development, redirect them to another activity any time you witness humping. Rather than punish or scold, simply redirect them to something else they enjoy doing. Punishment further entrenches the behavior because they are getting negative attention, which rewards them for it.
To Stop Humping: Spay or Neuter
If your dog, especially a male dog that is more likely to hump, has never been sexually altered, he is more likely to exhibit these behaviors. Dogs who are neutered are at least 60% less likely to mount or hump. While females are much less likely to hump than males, the likelihood of doing so is much less than before their spay surgery.
To Stop Humping: Use “Time Out” to Discourage Negative Behavior
When your dog assumes the position of the mount, take them to another area. Wait for them to calm down before taking them out with other pets or people. Provide your pet with plenty of enrichment and exercise to discourage pent-up energy that results in bad behavior.
To Stop Humping: Ensure Your Pet Responds to Commands
Humping can be just a normal playtime activity with dogs, much like roughhousing. It is a show of dominance. You see this play-fighting and mounting more often in puppies. With proper commands-based training, interrupt your dog when they start to mount. Get them to come to you and sit. Give them some time to interact with you, which will disrupt the pattern of humping.
Reward for Good Behavior
Last but definitely not least, reward your pet with a small treat or favorite toy when they respond to your commands. When your dog is enjoying a game with you or having fun without humping, praise them verbally. Focusing on the positive will help your dog understand what behaviors you want to see in them.
Do you have a problem with a dog who humps? Have you exhausted all of your training methods? Please contact us with any questions or to schedule an appointment to get to the bottom of why your dog humps. We can help you stop your dog from humping. We have a large, well-trained training team and a skilled behavior modification department, so we can help you be effective in achieving your goal.