Why Do Dogs Hump? - PetMD

Reasons for Dog Humping

Mounting is a natural, instinctive behavior in dogs. People commonly think mounting behavior is strictly sexually motivated, but there are many reasons why dogs hump.

1. Hormones

In unneutered male dogs, mounting behavior is in fact influenced by testosterone—it will occur in the presence of an unspayed female dog or a female dog in heat.

Some female dogs may also mount people or objects when they’re in heat. If the mounting behavior increases in frequency during this time, it’s most likely hormonally driven in intact animals.

Many pet parents assume the behavior will stop once their dog is neutered. And while neutering may reduce the mounting behavior, not all humping behavior is sexual in nature.

2. Play

A dog’s humping behavior can begin in puppies 3–6 week of age, most commonly during play. Both male and female puppies may mount each other.

Mounting can also occur when adult dogs play with another dog or person.

3. Excitement

Humping can occur when dogs are excited, such as during play or after greeting another dog. Some dogs may perform this behavior when they see their favorite dog friend or person.

4. Attention-Seeking

Sometimes dogs hump to get their pet parent’s or another person’s attention. After all—it’s difficult for most people to ignore a dog when they are mounting their leg. If you’re sitting on the ground, the dog may mount you from the side or their back.

A dog may hump to get your attention because you are inadvertently reinforcing their behavior. For example, your dog may mount you to tell you they want to play. You might push them away using your hands or legs. In your dog’s mind, this strategy worked to get your attention, and you are now “wrestling” with them.

5. Social Status

Mounting behavior can also be one way of conveying social status in dogs. Some dogs may mount other dogs to assert their status, but this behavior is usually accompanied by additional social signaling.

Most social communication between dogs can occur without it escalating to one dog mounting the other, and it’s less likely to happen in a social context with the pet parent. In most cases of humping, there is another underlying cause.

6. Anxiety

Some dogs hump when they’re anxious. This is referred to as displacement behavior: The dog engages in a particular behavior as an outlet for their anxious energy, similar to an anxious person tapping their foot.