Whether it was one of your own dogs being the guilty party or another dog doing it to yours, we’ve all seen two dogs hump each other at some point. Yes, it’s embarrassing and obnoxious, and it’s not something you want to encourage, but what does it all mean?
There are a lot of theories floating around out there about mounting and humping, some think that it’s sexual, humping is dominance, or it’s mainly done by intact males. While some of these and other theories can be correct in some cases, the most common type of humping/mounting that I see on a daily basis is redirected excitement that usually ends up in play.
While mounting and humping may be a way to start a nice game of chase, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t obnoxious or shouldn’t be interrupted out in public. You definitely don’t want to be the owner of that dog that is constantly mounting and going to town on every dog at the park, telling them to come would be an important management skill to have in this case. It’s extra important in situations like these to be able to interrupt it because some dogs will instantly turn and correct a dog for mounting them. But around a group of well-socialized dogs with no behavior issues – why not let them go?
Start to observe your dog a little closer when it comes to their humping. You may see them do it in times of high excitement or as a way to get another dog to play with them. While it isn’t appropriate in all situations, humping is not a sign of a bad dog.
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