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Persistent Humping
I recently walked a male dog (60 lb +, pit bull mix) at a shelter that was not neutered. He was found as a stray. It was my first time walking him and I was impressed with his behavior on leash and around other dogs. We had been out for over an hour when he decided to play tug with the leash. I decided to take him back to the play area for some vigorous play but he instantly latched onto my leg humping. I had a very difficult time stopping him because every time I pulled him off, he latched on again. Finally, I yelled out a loud “enough” and short leashed him and was able to walk him back. I thought this dog had good adoption potential until the humping started. He’s very strong and I think any potential adopter would have a problem with that behavior. I mentioned the situation to the behavioral staff at the shelter. I know humping is a very common behavior among dogs and over excitement is a trigger but this dog had, in my mind, clearly lost control. I’ve been around literally 100s of dogs in play settings and on dog walks and this was one of the few times I’ve been somewhat stumped in stopping an undesirable behavior. Does anyone have suggestions to address this type of behavior?
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7 Replies
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Great discussion topic, @Rvrabel Ron!
Humping is one of those things that can have so many reasons. First, I wonder why he isn’t neutered yet? Is the shelter waiting on that for some reason? Some dogs (even neutered ones) start humping when they are simply over-excited and don’t know what to do with it. I’ve got some ideas to help – but want to give members a chance to jump in first. Thanks for starting the topic!
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He’s a new arrival so he has to get on the neutering schedule. I’m not sure neutering is the answer to his humping because as you said many dogs (I’ll go as far as saying most dogs) hump at some time usually due to over excitement.
Anyway I walked him again today and I got my “duh” moment. He got excited and starting the humping and I just turned my back to him as he was attached to my leg. He let go within seconds. After a few more tries he got the message and stopped. We had a nice long walk and time playing in the play area and he didn’t hump again. I guess he surprised me the first time with the sudden excitement and his vigor and persistence in humping. Sometimes you get one of those moments when the obvious eludes you.
Thanks for all the recommendations.
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That’s great news, @Rvrabel Ron!
I’m sure you are helping him learn that such rude behavior is not a way to make friends! Keep up the great work.
He got excited and starting the humping and I just turned my back to him as he was attached to my leg. He let go within seconds. After a few more tries he got the message and stopped. We had a nice long walk and time playing in the play area and he didn’t hump again. – Ron V.
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I had a client that had a golden doodle about a year old (male). I tried a lot of things but what worked for this dog was I had the owner separate herself from the dog. She went into the bathroom and closed door. I had her stay behind the door for 30 seconds and come back out. If dog started humping she would repeat the step. I than had her mark and reward when she came back out and dog had all four paws on floor. It took about a week before there was no humping
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I had the owner separate herself from the dog. She went into the bathroom and closed door. I had her stay behind the door for 30 seconds and come back out. If dog started humping she would repeat the step. I than had her mark and reward when she came back out and dog had all four paws on floor. It took about a week before there was no humping – Bruce M.
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I once had puppy clients who had a similar issue.
the pup used to hump his mom every time after he eliminates in the backyard. He goes into zoomies and then humps his mom. This was more like pattern. So we taught him a attention noise. Everytime we produce that noise, he stops and looks over for a treat, because previously we CC the attention noise = rewards. So, just before the behavior happens we did the attention noise and the pup got redirected to looking at the mom for treats instead of engaging in humping.
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Awesome use of classical conditioning, @RADS !
We taught him a attention noise. Everytime we produce that noise, he stops and looks over for a treat, because previously we CC the attention noise = rewards. So, just before the behavior happens we did the attention noise and the pup got redirected to looking at the mom for treats instead of engaging in humping. – Radhika V.
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