- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Puppies are born with an impressive set of dog instincts—including ones you might wish they didn’t have, like humping. If your new puppy is inclined toward this behavior, you’re not alone. Many dogs hump when excited, playful, asserting dominance, or due to sex hormones.
If you’ve welcomed a new pup into your home, you might be asking yourself a lot of questions: Is this behavior normal? How long will it last? Should I do something to stop it? Dr. Jordan Beauchamp, DVM, of GoodVets, explains.
When Do Puppies Learn To Hump?
“A dog’s sex hormones typically become present around six months, but I’ve had clients say that their dog has exhibited humping behaviors since day one,” says Dr. Beauchamp. “It’s an instinct influenced by these hormones, but it can also be a learned behavior.”
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While male pups often get a bad rap, female puppies can be just as prone to humping. In fact, most puppies will exhibit this very normal behavior, though some will naturally do it more than others.
“There isn’t necessarily an exact age or breed predisposed to do it more,” explains Dr. Beauchamp. “It’s natural for puppies around six months to start doing this when they’re playful or excited, but it can start even earlier too.”
Why Do Puppies Hump?
As your puppy grows, their developing sex hormones play a big part in a tendency to hump other dogs, people, or toys. It’s normal to see this behavior increase in puppies who haven’t been fixed yet, especially as they encounter other canines.
There are many other non-sexual reasons, however, that cause humping behavior.
Stress or anxiety
Did you know that humping can be your puppy’s form of self-soothing in a stressful situation? It’s not uncommon for dogs to exhibit this habit when they feel overwhelmed or anxious.
Excitement
As with barking or jumping, your puppy constantly seeks ways to channel their playful energy. If your pup tends to use this habit to greet guests in the home, excitement is likely behind the humping.
Exploration
Everything is shiny, sniff-worthy, and new for a puppy. Young dogs are continuously navigating the world around them and might hump toys, especially plush toys, out of curiosity.
Asserting dominance
If you’re having trouble at the dog park, this might be the underlying reason. Some dogs are naturally keen on showing other dogs who’s boss, and humping is one way to establish their place in the pecking order.
How To Stop Humping Behaviors
While it’s completely normal for a puppy to hump, it’s not a desired behavior when people or other dogs are involved. If it’s becoming excessive, Dr. Beauchamp suggests identifying a consistent stimulus. From there, positively reinforcing an alternative behavior is key.
Identify the cause
For many puppies, humping has a specific trigger or stimulus. It might happen when they greet their favorite dog buddy, or maybe you’ll see it more when they get excited or tired. Once you know some predictable causes, you can be ready to redirect.
Redirect your puppy’s attention
“If your dog is always doing this to the same person, for example, make an effort to redirect their attention to toys when that person is visiting,” says Dr. Beauchamp. “It’s also worth noting that dogs might be doing this out of boredom, so providing plenty of mental stimulation is extremely healthy in puppyhood.”
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Avoid punishing your puppy
While ignoring this behavior encourages it to continue, don’t punish your puppy for doing something that feels natural. Scolding or yelling, for example, can do more damage than good and cause stress and anxiety for your puppy.
Encourage exercise
Just as mental enrichment plays a big role in your pup’s health, so does physical activity. Make sure your puppy is getting enough exercise with daily walks and space to run around outside. Walks, dog parks, or playing in a safe, gated yard provide the opportunity for a puppy to explore as they burn energy.
Consider spaying or neutering
Spaying and neutering can help prevent this habit from becoming a norm for many dogs. Experts recommend getting small breeds fixed around six months of age, with larger breeds a couple of months following.
Do You Need To Stop Humping Behaviors?
If your puppy humps from time to time and quickly moves on to something else, there might not be much point in trying to intervene. If you find that it’s becoming excessive and impacting encounters with people or other dogs, training your puppy to move away from this behavior is key.
“Most clients come to the vet asking about this topic because it can feel embarrassing or uncomfortable,” says Dr. Beauchamp. “When it does become an issue is if males are doing the behavior aggressively enough that it causes bruising, bleeding, or inflammation to their genitals. The behavior itself won’t cause health issues, but it can lead to dangerous secondary problems worth talking to your vet about if you notice these signs.”
In most cases, spaying or neutering and keeping your puppy occupied with plenty of mental and physical enrichment is the best way to curb an excessive humping habit.
