Humping: opinions??

[sugarskull]

Hello all,

My sweet 3 year old terrier/chihuahua mix, Jack, has the habit of humping other dogs at the dog park. It doesn't bother me in the slightest as he is neutered and I understand that this is natural play behavior. I never allow him to hump another dog if he is not in an appropriate-for-play environment. He is never aggressive and will usually stop if the other dog growls or shows displeasure for this behavior. (Plus he gets his fair share of being humped, I assure you!)

This was never really an issue until Saturday when I was at the dog park and and some woman bit my head off for not running all the way across the park to stop my dog from humping another dog. I was pretty startled by her response (mostly because she was so rude and confrontational) but it got me to thinking, maybe most people are offended by his humping? No one has ever said anything about it before or seemed to be bothered by it.

When I tried to apologize and explain why I hadn't run across to get him to stop (it's natural and harmless blah blah blah) she said "Don't try to tell ME about dog behavior! I've been breeding and training dogs for 20 years! I KNOW it's natural, but you can break him of it!"

I just don't understand why I need to "break" him of this behavior if it is normal for play, in an appropriate play environment, not aggressive, and not harmful to the other dog. I feel that the only problem with it is with people projecting their issues and ideas of sexuality onto the situation. The dogs are just doing what comes natural to them.

I'm totally open for interpretation on this, and even training my dog to stop if it would make me a better/more polite patron of the dog park, but I wanted to gauge whether this really bothers most people.

What's your opinion?

 

[Babyblue5290]

I don't consider it an OK behavior to let your dog do. I mean, I probably wouldn't scream at someone for letting their dog hump others, but it would bother me if they didn't stop the dog. None of mine are allowed to ever hump another dog at the dog park, if they do the play stops and they get a time out for a little while. I jsut don't think it's polite to let your dog hump others.

 

[Maxy24]

humping doesn't bother me, but many dogs get really ticked off about it and can get aggressive. It is considered a rude behavior for that reason, since you don't know the dogs at the dog park, and how they might react, I'd try and stop him if he is persistently humping a dog.

 

[Tankstar]

Depending on the dog. It doesn't bother me. Blaze is to easy going to let it bother him. UNLESS the dog is doing it agressivly. which it doesn't sound like your dog is. Now if I have Bucky with me, you bet there would be a problem, as Bucky will NOT stand for that at all, and will lash out.

So it really depends on the dog. Some owners think it is all rude behaviour. while others actually know its more then a sexual thing to do. it doesn't always mean dominence or sex. it can and alot of the time does mean play. Blaze and his BFF Cody play this game often. Blaze even does it to Bucky, But bucky doesnt mind Blaze doing it (I think he idolizes Blaze)

There is a Viszla at my DP. He is a RUDE and very DOMNIATING humper, he does NOT do it as a game. He does it to Blaze, and finally yesterday I got beyond pissed, and literally chewed the owner out and spit her back out just to chew her up again lol. Her dog does not to it as a game of play at all. he does it to be rude with Blaze, and that's where Blaze draws the line and will fight, since the other dog is mouthing his back. The lady said "they are dogs, let them work it out" No thanks. I don't want my dog ripped open, and even if I hate your dog with a passion, I don't want my dog to rip yours open.

 

[ACooper]

Yes, I find it rude behavior as well.........especially if the owner stands by and does nothing to stop it. Yes, it might be 'natural' behavior.........but so are other things a dog will do if not trained. Going to the bathroom wherever they want is also natural but not tolerated, LOL

As others have pointed out, some dogs will tolerate this behavior, some won't........one day your dog is going to hump the wrong dog and end up in a fight.

 

[DanL]

Yes, I find it rude behavior as well.........especially if the owner stands by and does nothing to stop it. Yes, it might be 'natural' behavior.........but so are other things a dog will do if not trained. Going to the bathroom wherever they want is also natural but not tolerated, LOL

As others have pointed out, some dogs will tolerate this behavior, some won't........one day your dog is going to hump the wrong dog and end up in a fight.

That's pretty much how I feel about it. Especially agree that at some point he'll try it to a dog that won't like it and it'll be a fight.

 

[Dogs6]

I wouldn't allow it because my dogs WILL lash out and I REALLY don't want someone elses dog to get hurt and like others have said one day he will do it to the wrong dog. And TBH I just don't like it so it is a no no.

 

[Vintage Boxers]

Personally i see it as rude...but...above that, i have three dogs, if we met at the dog park and your dog humped harry, harry would just be like...MAN , are you done being a doof...halo would be like WTH and loki would EAT your dog. EAT mind you, he does NOT tolerate that behavior. He even gets a disgusted look on his face.

Personally i would stop him now before some dog takes it wrong and hurts your dog.

 

[Dekka]

If your dog had a good doggie friend and they like playing humpy games. Then its fine. Its all fine until a dog doesn't like it. Problem is the dogs who don't like it often dislike it with prejudice Personally I wouldn't take a dog who would eat another for humping (like Dekka) but people take all sorts to the dog park.

I would discourage it for your dog's safety, not the sensibilities of others.

 

[xpaeanx]

Yes, I find it rude behavior as well.........especially if the owner stands by and does nothing to stop it. Yes, it might be 'natural' behavior.........but so are other things a dog will do if not trained. Going to the bathroom wherever they want is also natural but not tolerated, LOL

As others have pointed out, some dogs will tolerate this behavior, some won't........one day your dog is going to hump the wrong dog and end up in a fight.

This.

 

[MafiaPrincess]

Cider is a humper. I let her hump Smudge for a short while and then I stop it. Some days it's all she wants to do and while he is okay with it.. I'm not that she wants to do it endlessly.

If any other dog humps Smudge it will start a fight. He will turn and lash out and only at that behaviour.

Cider can have that hump and play and run style.. but I try to stop her when I see the possibility that she may start a hump because I don't know how other people's dogs feel about it.

 

[sugarskull]

Thank you all so much for your replies. I will now train him to stop. I don't want him to get hurt, and I want to be polite so I guess that means none of this kind of play for Mr.Jack at the park.

It's going to be a challenge because in a park of that size it's hard to be everywhere he is! Maybe I will take my squirt bottle or shaker with me to the park. Either way I will do my best to get him to stop.

It's too bad some people cannot be as kind as you all are and just explain their reasons in an adult conversation without lashing out but...I guess that is her problem!

 

[Southpaw]

I'm not a fan of people letting their dogs hump Juno. Doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's a dog that just won't give up and the owner just stands by (typically laughing about it). I so badly wish I could pull the dogs off of her, because I totally would but you never know how a dog will react to a strange person grabbing them.

Juno doesn't freak out over it but I know she doesn't like it. She wants to run around and play, she doesn't want a dog hanging off of her.

 

[ihartgonzo]

From some one who works at a dog daycare and who is constantly squirting/removing dogs from attempting to butt rape other dogs... I know how quickly humping can start a fight! IMHO, it is rude behavior, especially with dogs whose only way of "playing" with other dogs is humping. It is definitely an insecure, unsocialized trait. Particularly with neutered dogs. And, it can become an obsession, so it's best to curb the behavior especially when it's toward strange dogs who you don't know to be safe and stable.

My dogs hump each other in the midst of playing... but it isn't violent humping, it's subtle, playful humps and they both know when it's irritating the other and stop. But a dog who grabs another frightened dog and forcefully humps them is being rude - some dogs will not warn the other dog, they'll tolerate it for dozens and dozens of times, until out of nowhere they will snap and attack the humper. I have seen this happen over and over, and it's why I NEVER allow dogs to hump each other. I do not want the humpee to feel the need to warn/stop the humper, because that's what leads to fights. Remove your dog immediately when he is humping, keep him away from the dog he was humping, distract him and encourage friendly, appropriate behaviors.

 

[BostonBanker]

Yes, I find it rude behavior as well.........especially if the owner stands by and does nothing to stop it. Yes, it might be 'natural' behavior.........but so are other things a dog will do if not trained. Going to the bathroom wherever they want is also natural but not tolerated, LOL

As others have pointed out, some dogs will tolerate this behavior, some won't........one day your dog is going to hump the wrong dog and end up in a fight.

As others said, I agree with this. Now granted, I don't take my dog to dog parks for reasons such as this, but you can bet I'd be very quick to say "Please get your dog off mine" (probably not as quick as Meg would be to fix the issue, however). I don't personally see it as play at all; I see it as either a dominance display or, as Gonzo said, the sign of an insecure dog with an obsession.

Good for you for realizing it may be making people or dogs uncomfortable and being willing to do something about it.

 

[Lizmo]

Another thing to consider is humping, to the general public, usually means 'making puppies'. So someone might get very alarmed at a behavior like this. I don't see her response as *totally* out of line, IMO.

Also, I agree with Coop. hehe

 

[Punkygirl0101]

I hate when my dogs hump, and its almost always Peanut the chi/terrier mix who does it, and he definitely does in a dominant manner, and I stop him when I see him do it.

Gunmar the puppy does it too, has been since ive had him, and I dont encourage it!

 

[smkie]

Agree with Coop. Rude. Especially if the owner does nothing about it. Fighting is a natural dog behavior too but we over ride that with good training, same goes for humping.

Timing your dog out each time he does it will get the message across quickly, they want to run, they want to play more than they want to hump.

 

[sprintime]

I consider it very rude if the owner doesn't stop it. Not only does it show dominance on the humping dog's part, but some dogs object strongly to this and it can lead to nasty fights. If it's between two doggie friends done as play behaviour and both owners don't mind then I guess it would be fine. I don't have that problem with mine but my friend's female humps even my female and it is clear that it's a dominance thing so I stop it right away as I don't care for it.

 

[Dogs6]

Timing your dog out each time he does it will get the message across quickly, they want to run, they want to play more than they want to hump.

That's what I do with Scamp when I see him do it. (he has only done it 3 times so it might be working LOL)

I think it is rude when someone who I don't know and who doesn't know my dog allows them to hump them. I KNOW my dogs WILL attack if provoked like that. They have tried it on each other before it was made extremely clear that it is not tolerated by me or the othjer dogs