You may have noticed that occasionally a dog comes along who seems to have a “hump me” sign on his back. Particularly obvious at dog parks, where multiple dogs are free to engage unrestrained in assorted behaviors at will, this poor dog is approached time and again by various dogs who are intent on a round of mounting fun. It may even be your dog that always gets humped at the dog park. You might also see it in dog training classes where supervised free-play is allowed, and at poorly run doggie daycare centers. What is it about these victim dogs that attracts other dogs to them? And if you happen to own one, what do you do to protect your dog from the unwelcome advances of other dogs?
There doesn’t seem to be much in the way of solid scientific information about why certain dogs are particularly selected as mountees, so we are left with a couple of theories. Perhaps there is something about a victim dog’s behavior that arouses other dogs and encourages mounting.
Is your victim dog particularly appeasing toward and docile in response to the social advances of other dogs? If so, you might try confidence-building exercises with your dog to teach him new body-language skills around other dogs. (See “Building Your Dog’s Confidence,” WDJ September 2011.) Teach your dog operant behaviors that mimic more assertive body language (lift your head up, stand tall) and cue those behaviors when a dog approaches him with mounting intent.
Is it possible that your dog gives off a scent that is arousing to other dogs? Next time he’s bathed, try a different kind of shampoo and see if that reduces the frequency of these encounters. Or try giving him a bath before your next off-leash dog encounter and see if that makes a difference.
Know Your Dog; Protect Your Dog
Regardless of the cause, your job is to always protect your dog. If he stands calmly and stoically while other dogs are inappropriate with him, you might just let him handle it. If, however, you see any signs that he is disturbed by the other dogs’ attentions, you must take action. You can ask other dog owners to remove their dogs (and suggest they read the accompanying article!), but ultimately it’s incumbent upon you to remove your dog from harm’s way – and sooner rather than later, before your dog decides to aggressively protect himself or becomes traumatized by being singled out for this unwanted attention.
Remember, your dog doesn’t have to go to the dog park and he doesn’t have to participate in class play. If he does have to go to daycare, be sure he attends one that will look out for him and match him with appropriate playmates. You can also invite friends with compatible dogs (those who don’t mount other dogs) over to your own backyard for playdates.
I’m so glad I found this site! I have a spayed female chihuahua with her first home being a very bad abusive one. She’s very friendly and loveable to almost everyone, including some animals. I’ve noticed my sister’s little boy dogs really take advantage of her and my sister even went as far as saying she likes it and lets them hump her. I’ve taken her away from that situation, but how can I handle that and is it actually something that they enjoy or is it truly abusive even if they submit like she would tend to have in her nature anyways? My female dogs have always been the alpha, this is the first I’ve had that would have this happen to her.
We changed Millie’s shampoo and now all the boys are interested in her at the park. .. But, she’s a dog and she just turns their advances into play. They are animals, after all, let them work out — they always do. The worst thing about all this is how the owners handle it.
Really? Let them work it out… You may not have seen this behaviour between male dogs escalate into a full blown dog fight Im guessing – ?
Or worse, I “let them work it out” when my dog was getting humped at the park and he got “finished” on.
So yeah no. I don’t advise “letting them work it out”. Bad advice for you and your dog.
So my dog was the humper.
Little dogs and big dogs he didnt care.
Tried everything at the dog park to get him to quit. Some owners became real nasty. Just took him out. Do not miss the drama at the dog park with my dog.
As someone who has a dog who gets frequently humped, I can say it majorly depends on the attitude of the human who’s dog is doing the humping.
Are you up on your feet and making sure to nip it in the bud when your dog starts humping? Great.
Are you standing there laughing? Not paying attention? Bad.
My dog gets humped pretty often and I have to stay alert – doing my part to keep dogs off him, but as a dog owner who’s dog likes to hump, you should do your part as well.
Also you should train your dog. It’s not a behavior that should be just looked past. That’s bad on you if you don’t train/work with your dog to stop.
Very helpful. Thanks!
I adopted a 1.5 yr old fixed, starved, human abused boxer dog. He continued to fear humans, but was so kind and sweet with me and all other dogs. He did not seem to mind it but for his entire life dogs would be attracted to him ; smell and lick his penis then hump him. I hated it as I had to stop them as they would just line up and it was never ending. Sad. It wasn’t fun as he couldn’t play they would just want to jump him. Aweful
This was a very unhelpful, lame article.
Dogs who aren’t neutured aren’t even mentioned on why a dog is getting humped. Grow up and get your dogs fixed.
Neutering doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with it. Both neutered and intact dogs may hump, and some females hump as well. You might consider becoming better informed before dissing people,
My dog Is neutered and is still the target for every dog in the park. HE can’t even go without getting licked or jumped. I don’t think that is what it is.
I’m looking for help! My male dog who has been castrated attracts attention from other male dogs. We’ve had dogs follow us home etc. The problem arises when they try to mount him and he shows teeth and aggression. It doesn’t matter where I go with him there is always one other male that takes an unhealthy interest in him. I am very worried and don’t know what to do. Any advice welcome
Hi Anna
I am in the exact same situation as you. My boy is as placid as anything normally but all the big male dogs take inappropriate behaviour with him that normally ends up with them trying to mount him. At which point he will growl and try to see them off, which I think it’s bloody fair. I’ve asked people to remove their dog from him but sadly other owners don’t seem to understand why this behaviour is inappropriate or the trial and either either day my dogs boys an issue of just apologise not make no picks to get their dog off of mine. I have a big dog, who is a friendly giant bit if you keep pushing him he will defend himself. I’m now frightened to take him to the park because I know I can’t split 2 large dogs up. So if any professionals see this thread and can help myself and Anna please message.
Rebecca Birs and Anna. Sorry for your problems as I’ve posted about my dog. You just have to become rude crude and unacceptable with these type dogs and their so-called owners. A professional will just advise you to avoid letting your pup be around those BF dogs and you should take yourself and your dog and tuck your tails between your legs and leave the BF’s to take over the park. Don’t do it. Stand up to these people and their worthless mongrels. If you can teach your dog to fight then do it. Don’t let the bad guys win all the time.
I agree with CMW because it’s different when your dog is the one getting sodomized by another dog. I encourage mine to bite the hell out of the humper when it keeps going. But my docile neutered labrador will usually not defend himself. And I’m not leaving the park because the owners won’t train their dogs correctly. So I let them all know that if they don’t control their sodomite dog then I will do it. And they’re not going to like my way of doing it either. I’ll defend my dog at all costs. To heck with the consequences.
You have some serious issues. You sound pretty homophobic referring to dogs as sodomites.
Seriously Marc? So you’re one of those with being offended by the words, maybe you need a safe space too and some crayons to sit in a corner, sulking over words because you’re too soft to handle it.
I also have a 3 yr old 60lb black lab and in the past 4 months must be sending off some scent that attracts all the males and its starting to piss him off (finally). I have a vet appoint in a couple days and will discuss it will the vet. I agree with Dave, if some big dog is going to break my dogs spine or damage his hips, I’m going in for the kill.
That right! I agree with you 100%. It’s not okay, it’s nasty and nothing funny about it…