- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Humping is a pretty common behavior—among both male and female dogs. Like male dogs, female dogs may hump as a way to communicate certain needs and emotions to their pet parents as well as other dogs.
In many cases, humping has nothing to do with dominance or the intent to mate. More often, this behavior happens when dogs are stressed, overexcited, tired, anxious, or in need of attention. Figuring out the reason why your dog is humping can help you meet your dog’s needs, which can help stop the behavior.
Read on for nine reasons why female dogs hump and tips to manage humping, with insight from dog behavior experts.
1. She’s feeling friendly and playful
Some dogs may hump when they’re excited to play with a friend. In fact, humping can point to a healthy relationship between two dogs.
Playful humping may also be linked to other “flirtatious” or friendly behavior, like licking, pawing, or play bowing.
2. She wants your attention
When people have big reactions towards humping, your dog learns this behavior will get your attention quickly.
So, if you only pay attention to your dog at the dog park when she starts humping another dog, she may pick up on this pattern and use the behavior to her advantage.
3. She’s bored
Your dog may start humping to let you know she’s ready for more activity or mental stimulation.
In one study, pet parents who only had one dog reported more humping behavior than pet parents of multiple dogs.
If you find your dog only starts humping when not much else is going on, consider buying some mentally stimulating toys or adding in more playtime.
4. She has energy to burn
Similar to being bored, your dog may just have extra energy. If that’s the case, humping may be her way of telling you she needs more exercise.
Take note of what time your dog generally starts humping. If you notice a consistent pattern, you might find that adding in another walk or play session makes a big difference.
5. She’s overtired
While humping can mean extra energy, it can also mean the opposite.
“It’s common for a dog’s behavior to deteriorate when they get overtired, similar to a toddler,” says Julianna DeWillems, KPA CTP, CDBC, owner and Head Trainer at JW Dog Training and Behavior Consulting. “Removing your dog from the situation and taking them to a quiet area will help them start to rest.”
6. She’s stressed
”More often than not, humping is a sign of overwhelm or discomfort,” says Karishma Warr, CPDT-KA, FFCP, CSAT, Head of Training and Behavior at Calm Canine Academy. “Many dogs hump people and dogs when they are scared of them or unsure how to interact with them safely.”
If they do seem stressed, avoiding certain anxiety-provoking situations and giving them some space and distance can help, according to DeWillems.
Signs of stress in dogs can include:
7. She learned it from other dogs
Your dog may have picked up a humping habit from watching other dogs hump. Many dogs learn new skills from other dogs, but you can’t always control the behaviors they pick up!
If your dog learned humping from another dog and there’s no stress or discomfort behind the behavior, positive reinforcement and redirection can help.
8. She has a medical issue
According to DeWillems, dogs with urinary issues and skin allergies may begin humping to try to relieve their symptoms.
If your dog keeps humping and you can’t find any other possible cause of the behavior, it’s best to reach out to your vet. They can do an exam and help determine whether your dog’s humping relates to any underlying health concerns.
9. She’s experiencing hormone changes or pregnancy
Some mounting, especially in female dogs, can point to hormone changes or pregnancy.
If you haven’t had your female dog spayed and she begins humping, you may want to check with your vet—and keep her inside in the meantime. She could be entering a heat phase.
Note: Humping isn’t the same as mating and doesn’t involve actual penetration. Unspayed female dogs can become pregnant during their heat cycle, however.
How To Train Dogs To Stop Humping
Humping is common (and pretty natural for dogs). That said, some pet parents prefer to discourage the behavior.
It’s possible to discourage humping, but you’ll want to do it carefully. These training tips can help:
- Management: Get ahead of your dog’s behavior by watching their body language. “Most dogs who are humping have also shown other stress signals, including excessive panting, rapid breathing, lip licking, and dilated pupils,” DeWillems notes.
- Positive reinforcement: After redirecting your dog from the other dog, give them a treat or praise. Spend an extra few seconds waiting for them to calm down.
- Redirection: Replace humping with another activity. DeWillems suggests providing another focus (ideally, one that helps ease stress), like a lick mat or chew toy. If your dog keeps humping, you could try temporarily redirecting their humping to one item, like a toy, to manage the behavior.
- Professional help: If you’ve tried these tactics and nothing seems to work, a good next step may involve talking to your vet or a dog behavior expert.
And throughout the entire process, try to remain calm. “Avoid punishing or scolding your dog for this natural behavior,” Warr emphasizes.
Will spaying my dog stop them from humping?
While spaying your dog will prevent pregnancy, it won’t necessarily stop her from humping. Since humping can be a learned behavior, your spayed dog may still copy what she sees other dogs doing or start humping when stressed.
What Humping Doesn’t Mean
While dogs may occasionally hump in an effort to reproduce, humping more often happens due to stress, overexcitement, or tiredness.
Pinpointing the cause can help you find the right way to address your dog’s humping. If she starts humping your leg when you have a lot of friends over, she may feel stressed or simply want your attention. If she begins humping other dogs in the park, she may just feel happy to spend time playing with her friends.
Just keep in mind that humping rarely has anything to do with dominance.
“Assuming all humping is dominance-based risks missing the actual reason for the humping, which can allow a dog to remain stressed,” DeWillems says.
At the end of the day, your dog’s humping probably means something. If you can’t find the cause on your own, a dog behavior specialist can help you find out what’s bothering your dog—which can, in turn, help improve your bond.
