At What Age Do Dogs Start Humping ?

When you think of sex, what comes to mind?

Is it the hot sweaty passion of your first kiss or the tenderness of a new relationship?

Or maybe you picture yourself on top of someone with your legs wrapped around their waist while they are thrusting back against you.

For most people, this is an out-of-the-ordinary image.

But for many dog owners, it’s a daily reality.

Dog humping is a common behavior in dogs that start around six to nine months of age.

It’s usually done in play and not in a sexual way.

There are different reasons why a dog may hump another animal, but the most common reason is to establish dominance over its partner.

So if you have a dog, here are some things you should know about humping.

The Humping Instinct

Humping is an instinctive behavior by some male dogs toward other males.

It’s most often seen in intact, sexually mature, adult male dogs.

In fact, it is common for this behavior to occur between two males who are at least one year old.

The Humping Instinct is an instinctual behavior exhibited by male dogs when they are aroused or excited.

This can be caused by the presence of another male dog, but it also occurs in response to excitement such as playing with toys, chasing prey, or performing other vigorous activities.

This behavior is not aggressive, but rather playful.

The male dog will begin humping the ground or another object and may even attempt to mount the object (if it is large enough).

Although there is no clear reason why dogs hump, it is believed that it serves several purposes.

One purpose is to communicate dominance among dogs during mating season.

Another purpose is to demonstrate their sexual maturity.

Still another purpose could be to ward off predators.

Finally, it is possible that the male dog is simply trying to cool itself down after being excited.

There are many different breeds of dogs.

However, each breed has its own unique characteristics.

Since each breed has different needs and behaviors, we’ll look at specific breeds to learn more about them.

First, let’s take a closer look at the Humping Instinct.

What Is the Humping Instinct?

According to Dog Behavior International, “the humping instinct is an innate drive in dogs to establish dominance among themselves.”

In order to understand this behavior better, you need to first know what dominant means.

Dominant means having control over something or someone else.

Dominance is generally achieved through physical strength or intimidation.

How Does the Humping Instinct Work?

Dogs have a natural desire to compete and dominate one another.

When a dog exhibits the humping instinct, he is trying to gain dominance over another dog.

Sometimes, this happens during play sessions.

Other times, it happens when a dog senses his partner is losing interest in him.

In either case, the humping instinct is a sign that the dog wants to become dominant.

He does this by mounting his partner.

If you don’t want your dog to mount you, keep in mind that if you allow him to do so, you risk him becoming injured because his genitals rub against your body while he mounts you.

Also, remember that if you’re not comfortable with your dog doing this, you should never allow him to mount you.

So how do dogs get to the point where they exhibit the humping instinct?

When Do Dogs Start Humping?

There seems to be no set time frame for when dogs start exhibiting the humping instinct.

Some people believe that it begins as early as six months of age, while others think it starts later, around nine months of age.

As I mentioned earlier, it is most likely to occur between two males at least one year old.

If you suspect your dog has the humping instinct, try to observe him when he’s excited.

You might notice that he becomes very vocal and agitated.

Also, watch out for signs of aggression.

Your dog may growl or snap at other dogs.

He may even show signs of wanting to bite.

These are all signs that he has the humping instinct.

In addition, pay attention to his urine.

If he has the urge to urinate, he probably has the humping instinct.

Urine samples taken from dogs with the humping instinct show a higher concentration of testosterone than normal.

Normally, a dog’s urine shows a 5-10% concentration of testosterone.

A dog with the humping instinct will have a 20-25% concentration of testosterone in his urine.

Finally, keep in mind that the humping instinct is only exhibited by certain breeds of dogs.

A few breeds include Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Pit Bulls, and Rottweilers.

Let’s now explore how to tell whether or not your dog has the humping instinct.

When Do Dogs Start Humping?

Humping is an instinctive, often playful behavior by most dogs.

The behavior can be seen as play or aggression depending on the dog’s mood.

Most puppies start humping at about six months of age when they’re still fairly young.

They’ll begin humping their owners, other dogs, toys, or other objects that interest them.

This behavior will continue until they reach adulthood.

In some cases, however, you may see your pet humping before he reaches his first birthday.

If this happens, it’s probably because he doesn’t have good social skills yet. He may also be bored or lonely.

If your dog starts humping at any age, don’t worry — there are ways to help him control this behavior.

You can use positive reinforcement to teach him how to stop humping.

Read on to learn more about why do dogs hump, what causes humping, and how to stop humping.

Why Do Dogs Hump?

Dogs hump for various reasons.

Some do it just because they want to, while others do it because they are uncomfortable.

When a dog starts humping, the reason why can be determined by examining their actions.

If you see your dog doing this, don’t worry.

There’s nothing wrong with any type of sexual activity between two consenting adults.

However, if your dog does this when there’s no one else around or when he gets excited, then he may have a problem.

Here’s what to look for:

Your dog is doing it out of boredom.

He’s trying to get attention from another person.

He’s trying to relieve stress.

We’ll explain each of these reasons below.

When Does Your Dog Do Humping?

It’s important to understand when your dog does his humping so you know how to deal with it.

The most common time for him to do this is at night.

This is when he wants to go out and explore the world.

He also does it after he eats, which means he’s hungry.

Since your dog has a natural instinct to hunt, he also likes to hump during the day when he thinks he might catch something to eat.

If he’s a very active breed, like a labrador retriever, then he will also hump more often than other breeds.

How Do You Know If Your Dog Is Doing Humping?

There are several ways to tell if your dog is doing humping.

First, let’s talk about some of the signs that your dog is humping.

Signs That Your Dog Is Humping

The first thing you should look for is your dog rubbing against himself.

If he’s only rubbing against one part of his body, such as his leg, that could mean he’s feeling uncomfortable.

Another sign is that your dog might start panting heavily.

Panting is an indicator of anxiety in many animals, including dogs.

If he stops panting once you pet him, then he’s probably okay.

But if he keeps on panting, then he’s clearly anxious.

Another sign is that your dog will arch his back and lift his tail up over his backside.

This is usually done in an attempt to make his genitals visible to someone who might be interested in having sex with him.

If your dog is doing this, it’s definitely a bad sign.

If he’s doing this in front of people, then he’s definitely in trouble.

Other Signs

You should also keep an eye out for your dog licking or biting himself.

Licking can indicate he’s nervous and self-conscious.

Biting is a sign of aggression and discomfort.

If your dog is doing either of these things, then he’s most likely doing humping.

Once you’ve identified that your dog is doing humping, it’s time to take action.

We’ll discuss what you can do next.

Is Humping a Problem?

Humping is a normal canine behavior, but there are some times it can become problematic.

If your dog humps you or another person, he may be exhibiting dominance behaviors.

You should never allow a dog to hump someone who doesn’t want him to.

If you notice your dog humping other animals, especially if they are smaller than he is, you should take action right away.

Any time a dog hogs an area or tries to mount another animal, the animal is being dominated by the dog.

This is dangerous for the animal as well as the dog.

What Happens When a Dog Humps Another Animal?

A dog will typically hump a smaller animal such as a cat or rabbit.

These animals are often prey, so they tend to be very skittish when a larger animal comes near them.

A humped dog puts himself at risk because the cat or rabbit might bite him if he gets too close.

When a dog hogs an area, it sends a message to the other animals in the area that they are not welcome.

The smaller animals may try to leave the area, which could lead to injury for them or even death.

This is why it’s important to get your dog off the other animal immediately so that no one gets hurt.

Also, if your dog is going after a small mammal, like a mouse, squirrel, or raccoon, he’ll likely end up with a mouth full of fur.

You can also have problems if your dog hogs an area while he’s trying to sleep.

He may wake up and cause trouble for you or injure himself.

Also, a dog who hogs an area may not be able to get back into his bed.

If you have a dog who sleeps on a blanket, you should consider getting a bigger bed for him.

Dangers Caused By Humping

If a dog hogs an area, he may injure himself.

If he’s a puppy, he may get injured when he tries to get out of the humping position.

Older dogs may fall down or trip over something.

If a dog isn’t on command, he may harm himself by biting or scratching himself.

Even if he’s under control, he could still damage himself by running into things or falling off furniture.

The biggest danger to a dog who hogs an area is that he could get bitten or scratched by another animal.

If a dog is hogging an area and a cat or rabbit comes along and starts nipping at his hindquarters, he may get hurt or killed.

If your dog has been humping an area where there are other animals, you should take immediate steps to stop this behavior.

If your dog is attacking another animal, you should grab him by the neck and leash him until he calms down.

Don’t let him chase the animal, as you don’t know what he could do.

Conclusion

Humping is a natural behavior for young dogs, and it can be cute if you know how to handle it.

However, it can also become a nuisance when your dog starts humping furniture or other objects.

There are several ways to stop your puppy from humping.

You should never force a dog to stop humping – it will only make the problem worse.

Instead, here are some tips on how to stop a dog from humping.

If possible, keep your dog out of the bedroom until he reaches adulthood.

Keep your dog busy with toys or other activities during the day before bedtime.

Don’t allow your dog to sleep in the same room as a person who is sleeping.

Provide plenty of exercise and mental stimulation.

Teach your dog to use a crate instead of mounting objects such as beds, couches, or chairs.

Make sure your dog has enough space to run around in his yard or on leash.

Avoid harsh punishments like spanking and electric shock

Spanking or shocking your dog may cause him pain and stress, which could lead to aggression down the road.

This type of punishment might work sometimes, but it won’t last long.

Sooner or later, your dog will get over the hump and do it again.

Use positive reinforcement to teach your dog to stop humping

Instead of punishing your dog, try using positive reinforcement techniques.

For example, you can reinforce your dog by giving him treats every time he stops humping.

If you have more than one dog, reward them all whenever they stop humping.

Put your dog on a schedule

A schedule works well for any animal because it helps to predict what happens next.

You can set up a schedule where your dog always has access to an object (like a couch) at a certain time each day.

When he does this perfectly, give him a treat – this will encourage him to continue doing this throughout the day.

However, if your dog doesn’t follow the schedule, don’t punish him – just ignore him.

Your dog will eventually learn that he needs to go to the couch in order to receive a treat.

Try these tricks to help train your dog to stop humping.

You can use these tricks to help teach your dog to stop humping:

1. Teach your dog to stay close to you.

Try moving slowly towards your dog and petting him while he follows you.

Then, turn around and walk back to him.

Repeat this action a few times and then switch directions.

2. Give your dog a toy to chew while he stays close to you.

After a while, put the toy away and repeat the process.

3. Put a blanket over your dog’s head so that he can’t see you.

Walk toward him but don’t touch him yet.

Wait about 10 seconds, then pat him gently on the head, neck, and shoulders.

Don’t let him see you do this, but he will associate the movements with being touched.

4. Have your dog sit close to you and hold a toy in front of his nose.

Move the toy closer to you.

He will associate the movement with getting a treat.

Eventually, just move the toy right in front of his face.

Once he sees the toy, he will automatically stop humping.

5. Use a remote controlled toy to distract your dog from humping.

Just like with the blanket trick, hide the toy behind you and wait for your dog to start humping.

The moment he does, pull the toy out and give him a treat.

6. Create a distraction for your dog by putting on music or turning on the TV.

Try these methods to help stop your dog from humping when you’re home alone.

When you’re home alone, you need to prevent your dog from getting into trouble.

Here are some ways to help you stop your dog from humping when you’re home alone:

1. Keep your dog tied up outside while you’re inside the house.

This will ensure that your dog can’t mount anything inside the house.

2. Put your dog in its own room when you’re home alone.

This will reduce unwanted interactions between your dog and people who live in the house.

3. Close the doors to rooms where you don’t want your dog to be.

This will prevent your dog from mounting things in those rooms.

4. Make sure that your dog has plenty of toys and exercise equipment available when you’re home alone.

This will keep your dog busy and happy so it won’t want to mount anything.

5. Use a crate instead of letting your dog sleep on your bed.

This will help protect your mattress and pillows from damage.