Download Article
Download Article
A dog that engages in obsessive humping can be both an embarrassment and a safety concern. The behavior is troublesome enough when a dog does it to you or another human, but if your dog decides to do it to another dog, a fight could break out. If you want to stop your dog from mounting, you need to look at the problem from both a medical and behavioral perspective.
Steps
-
Make a loud noise. Say “NO” in a strong and loud voice or another loud noise. Dogs often get into a trance as they hump, but a loud noise might be enough to startle your dog out of that trance. [1] X Research source
- Your tone should be assertive, but you need to keep anger out of it since anger can heighten a dog's energy instead of lowering it.
- Try using another source of noise, like a whistle or air horn. Make sure that these noise makers are far enough away from your dog to prevent damage to the ears.
- Make the noise when the dog is starting or in the middle of doing the behavior, not afterward.
-
Ignore the behavior. Dogs sometimes mount people to get attention. Push the dog away or turn away from the dog so they don't get attention. You may also sit down or move away from the dog so they can’t mount you. [2] X Trustworthy Source American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source
- To push the dog away, gently take the dog by its front legs and set those paws back on the ground.
- Move yourself. Turning away from the dog or walking a few paces in another direction can work well as long as you remain calm.
Advertisement -
Put your dog in "time out." You may need to physically remove your dog from the area if they won’t stop humping. Say “No!” or “Nope!” when the dog humps. Then, lead the dog out of the room and into a quiet, closed room for a few minutes. Let the dog stay in that room alone for a few minutes until they calm down.
- When you take your dog to a "time out" area, make sure that there are no toys to play with.
- Leave the dog for 30 seconds to three minutes.
- Make sure that your dog is calm before releasing them, and when you release them, stay calm and act as though nothing happened.
-
Keep your dog on a leash. When humping is a persistent behavior, you will likely need to work with your dog every time another person or dog visits your house. Put a short leash on your dog and let them wear it around the house. When the dog needs to go to time out or you have company, you can direct your dog as needed. The leash can also help you remove the dog from aggressive situations. [3] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source
- You could either use a tab or a drag-line. A tab is a short piece of leash measuring 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15.25 cm). A drag-line is a 4 to 6 foot (1.2 to 1.8 m) nylon cord.
-
Redirect your dog's energy. After you get your dog to stop its initial humping, redirect that energy into an acceptable behavior, like playing fetch or other games or activities.
- Aside from toys, you could also distract and redirect your dog by giving him or her an interactive toy that dispenses treats or by asking your dog to perform a previously learned trick. You may also be able to train your dog to hump a pillow instead of people or other dogs.
-
Block your dog from the temptation. When you break your dog away from another dog or person it's been humping, you need to keep your dog away. If your dog moves back toward the target while displaying dominant behavior, put yourself in between your dog and the target to physically block your dog from returning.
- Dominant behavior may include growling or aggression, nudging, pawing, standing over another dog, or taking things away from the other dog.
- Stay calm as you step in front of your dog. If possible, consider leaning forward or gently knocking your dog with your hip or knee to send a message. Remember that the purpose is not to hurt your dog, but to snap it out of its fixation and let it know that you are taking command of the situation.
Advertisement
-
Exercise your dog . When a dog has too much energy, they can direct that energy toward an unwanted behavior, like humping. If you can thoroughly drain the dog's energy each day with structured exercise, you can help prevent your dog from using their energy on that behavior. [4] X Research source
- Walking your dog is crucial. You can drain a lot of energy by letting your dog run around in a backyard on their own, but walking forces your dog to exercise physically and mentally.
-
Avoid encouraging the behavior in any context. Some pet owners think it's cute when their dog humps something like a stuffed animal, but if you want your dog to stop humping other dogs or people, you need to stop the behavior in all forms. Encouraging or allowing the behavior in one form will create an inconsistency in your training, making it less effective. [5] X Research source
- You may end up encouraging the behavior without even realizing it. For example, if you laugh or show signs of happiness whenever your dog mounts their favorite plush toy, you are indirectly praising your dog for the behavior.
-
Distract your dog before it starts. Watch your dog and observe how they act immediately before starting the mounting behavior. When you start to notice these signs, immediately distract your dog with a toy or game before it can engage in the behavior itself.
- Common signs that your dog may start humping include panting, licking, whining, pawing, or rubbing against something.
-
Train your dog to leave other dogs alone. If your dog humps other dogs, you may try to train them to obey your commands around other dogs. You may teach them to stay when told, come to you, or to stop. [6] X Trustworthy Source American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source
- When you see your dog about to hump another dog, you can use one of your commands to interrupt the behavior. Make sure to give your dog a treat for the correct behavior.
-
Teach your dog an acceptable behavior. Some dogs will start humping for attention when guests visit. If you suspect that this might be an issue, teach your dog an acceptable trick to perform for company, like sitting or begging, and make sure that this trick earns your dog the same amount of attention. [7] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source
- If the trick receives positive attention while the mounting receives negative attention, your dog is more likely to want to perform the trick.
- Consider rewarding your dog with a treat or toy after it performs the trick to reinforce the positive behavior.
-
Keep your dog away from excessively stressful situations. Humping can also be a response to stress. If you notice that your dog displays this behavior when faced with a source of anxiety, avoid putting your dog in that stressful situation. If the situation is unavoidable, look for ways to make the experience less stressful. [8] X Trustworthy Source American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source
- For example, petting and grooming can be a trigger for some dogs, in which case, you should limit the time spent doing these activities to a degree your dog can tolerate.
- If visitors are your dog's trigger, keep the dog in a room until the initial energy and excitement of the visit calms down. Let the dog out once it and all of your visitors are calm.
-
Work on standard obedience training. If your dog frequently humps you, they are trying to exert dominance over you. To stop this behavior, you need to let your dog know that you're the boss. Standard obedience training is a healthy and effective way to establish this. [9] X Research source
- Obedience training can also help dogs focus and release their energy on something more productive and welcome than mounting.
- Standard obedience training includes basic commands like “heel,” “sit,” “down,” and “stay.” The overall goal of an obedience training program is to train your dog to listen to you no matter what the command might be.
Advertisement
-
Neuter or spay your dog. At its root, humping is a display of social dominance. [10] X Research source However, neutering or spaying your dog can be a helpful measure. Moreover, you should also get your dog fixed as early in its life as possible for the greatest effect. [11] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source
- Getting your dog fixed may decrease mounting problems, especially in males.
- However, this may not eliminate the problem completely. With older dogs, the habit is often ingrained. That's one reason why getting your dog spayed or neutered as a puppy is so important.
-
Have your dog checked for medical conditions. Your dog’s humping behavior could be linked to an underlying medical condition that causes your dog to act that way. Some medical conditions can be serious if not treated and need proper medical attention. If you believe your dog has underlying issues, take them to the vet immediately. [12] X Trustworthy Source American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source
- Possible medical conditions that could be contributing to your dog's behavior include urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, persistent erections, and skin allergies.
-
Take your dog to an animal behaviorist. If your dog is aggressive when you try to stop them from mounting or humping, you may need to take them to see a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist or certified veterinary behaviorist. You shouldn’t try to alter your dog’s behavior if they are aggressive. [13] X Trustworthy Source American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source
- If you cannot find a certified behaviorist in your area, look for a certified professional dog trainer. Just make sure that the dog trainer has experience dealing with aggression and mounting.
- If your dog sinks their claws into the skin of a human it mounts, or growls when you try to remove it, this is a more serious problem and should be addressed by a certified applied animal behaviorist.
-
Ask your vet about appropriate medications. When humping is clearly connected to stress, giving your dog an anti-anxiety medication might be enough to stop the humping and improve your dog's overall mental and physical health. [14] X Research source
- Medication should only be used as a last resort, and even then, only in extreme conditions. For instance, if a dog is displaying other signs of anxiety, like obsessive licking or destructive behavior, he or she might have a serious anxiety issue that needs to be addressed.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Search
-
QuestionWhen should you get your dog neutered?Dr. Nelson is a Veterinarian who specializes in Companion and Large Animal Medicine in Minnesota, where she has over 18 years of experience as a veterinarian in a rural clinic. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1998.Six months of age is the general recommendation. For giant breeds of dogs some veterinarians will say around one year of age.
-
QuestionIs mounting a sign of dominance?Dr. Nelson is a Veterinarian who specializes in Companion and Large Animal Medicine in Minnesota, where she has over 18 years of experience as a veterinarian in a rural clinic. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1998.Many times it is. That doesn't mean that you can't curb your dog's humping habit.
-
QuestionDo puppies hump?Dr. Nelson is a Veterinarian who specializes in Companion and Large Animal Medicine in Minnesota, where she has over 18 years of experience as a veterinarian in a rural clinic. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1998.Yes they do. They do this both as a means of playing around and to show dominance.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
References
- ↑ https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/why-do-dogs-hump-each-other
- ↑ http://www.akc.org/content/entertainment/articles/why-puppies-and-femal-dogs-hump-or-mount/
- ↑ https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/mounting-and-masturbation
- ↑ https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/why-do-dogs-hump-each-other
- ↑ http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/why-does-my-neutered-dog-still-try-to-hump-things
- ↑ http://www.akc.org/content/entertainment/articles/why-puppies-and-femal-dogs-hump-or-mount/
- ↑ https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/mounting-and-masturbation
- ↑ http://www.akc.org/content/entertainment/articles/why-puppies-and-femal-dogs-hump-or-mount/
- ↑ https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/why-do-dogs-hump-each-other
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201107/why-does-my-neutered-dog-mount-other-dogs
- ↑ https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/mounting-and-masturbation
- ↑ http://www.akc.org/content/entertainment/articles/why-puppies-and-femal-dogs-hump-or-mount/
- ↑ http://www.akc.org/content/entertainment/articles/why-puppies-and-femal-dogs-hump-or-mount/
- ↑ https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/why-do-dogs-hump-each-other
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To stop a dog from humping, start by saying “No” in a loud voice or blowing a whistle to try and disrupt the behavior. Then, engage your dog in an alternate activity, like playing fetch, to redirect its energy to an acceptable activity. Alternatively, if your dog seems to be mounting you to get attention, gently push it away, then turn or walk away so you’re not reinforcing its efforts. You can also try putting your dog behind a dog gate or in a quiet, closed room for a few minutes if it won’t stop humping you. For more tips from our Veterinary reviewer, like how to use obedience training to stop your dog from humping, read on!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 351,871 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "I really appreciate this information, it has helped immensely with my dog humping. I know now what to do in the situation and it has calmed him down a lot. Still working on this, but I believe eventually he will stop. Very much appreciated. Thank you." ..." more
Advertisement
"I really appreciate this information, it has helped immensely with my dog humping. I know now what to do in the situation and it has calmed him down a lot. Still working on this, but I believe eventually he will stop. Very much appreciated. Thank you."
..."
more
"Thank so much. My dog has been humping for a year and a half, but now we know how to stop this."
"Reassurance I am doing the right thing of blocking/removing/giving time out."
"Loved the tips to stop the behavior."
