My Dog Mounted Me! Why Would They And What Can You Do To Stop It?

“My dog mounted me, is that normal?”I recently received a similar question from a dog lovers. It’s OK, we are here now; everything will be fine!

We love our dogs and of course, they love us too! However, there can be times when they show their love for us a little too much. This means that your dog would mount you the same way they would for other dogs. It can get quite uncomfortable for us, that’s for sure. There is a reason for this behavior. Read further and find out the reasons as to why they would do this, and what you can do about it!

What is mounting?

Nope, it has nothing to do with the mountains. Mounting is when your dog decides to ‘love’ you, or in other words, hump himself or herself on you. When your dog does this on you, it gets a little awkward for you, and naturally, your usual options would be to shoo your dog away or just… let it happen.

Most of the time, people view this happening as something comical and hilarious, but in reality, it’s really just plain embarrassing. Sure, you would be laughing a little while the moment you see your dog doing it and so would others, but the longer it happens… the more awkward you realize it can be.

Why Do Dogs Mount in the first place?

If you haven’t already guessed it, mounting, or in other words, ‘humping’ is the usual position they will take when they wish to mate. So… why do they do this?

To mate

As I have mentioned, they perform this behavior when they need to mate. This mostly happens to dogs who have yet to be neutered or spayed due to the fact that their hormones are still all over the place.

To assert dominance

Other than mating, mounting can be a sign of dominance. They would do this to others in order to show them that they are the top dog around here. Of course, they would do this to other dogs as well, and if the other party isn’t enjoying the action it can result in dog fights. We wouldn’t want that happening now, would we?

Excitement

They probably are too excited about something. Mostly a thing or a person that is new in their lives. They would be hopping around, speeding through the house, and circling around that new something until they suddenly start going at it.

Irregular canine behavior

When a dog hasn’t been properly shown or taught the proper way a canine is supposed to act, they would act in this sort of way. They do not understand the regular things that a dog is supposed to do in a similar situation. This can be due to the fact that they have not been socialized with other dogs.

Playful behavior

Since a dog doesn’t understand what is usually ‘wrong’ or what is ‘right’, they don’t know what’s so inappropriate about their actions. They do it because it’s just as regular as barking and not something viewed as negative in their perspective, and actually something they do with other dogs as if saying hello.

Feeling lonely or bored

Have you been ignoring your dog? Perhaps you have ignored his other attempts at gaining your attention, and when they realized that they would be able to have your focus on them only when they start mounting they would start doing it more often in order to grab your attention.

Why do female dogs hump?

While humping behavior is more commonly associated with male dogs, it’s not uncommon for female dogs to exhibit this behavior too. There are several reasons why female dogs may engage in humping:

Playful behavior

Just like male dogs, females may hump as part of play or when they’re feeling excited. It’s their way of interacting and having fun with other dogs or even with humans.

Social interaction

Humping can also be a way for female dogs to engage socially and express themselves. It’s their unique form of communication within their group.

Assertiveness and confidence

Some female dogs may hump to assert their dominance or show their confidence in a social setting. This behavior is more likely to be seen in dogs with strong personalities.

Stress relief

Occasionally, humping can be a way for female dogs to alleviate stress or anxiety. It provides them with a sense of comfort and helps them cope with certain situations.

Health considerations

In rare cases, underlying medical conditions such as urinary tract infections or hormonal imbalances can contribute to humping behavior.

The most common reasons for humping behavior in female dogs are playfulness, social interaction, and asserting dominance. However, it’s important to note that individual dogs may have unique motivations for humping, and the specific reason can vary from one dog to another.

If you’re concerned about your female dog’s humping behavior, observing her closely and consulting with a veterinarian or professional dog trainer can provide more insight into her specific situation to ensure your furry friend is healthy.

Don’t get too flustered when you see your dog humping with air, also known as “air humping” or “mounting behavior”, or even puppies doing the same. They are explained for the same reasons as your dog humping you.

Fun aside, your dog could possibly have a medical condition. If you notice that they are continuously licking their genitals in an abnormal manner, that could be a sign of a dog having a canine compulsive disorder. It could mean many things other than that, it may even be an itch that they aren’t able to get rid of.

When to Be Concerned About Dog Humping?

It’s important to note that while humping is a natural behavior, it may not always be appropriate or welcomed by other dogs or people.

Is your dog attempting to relieve an itch?

Excessive humping and genital licking can be indicators of an underlying issue, such as skin allergies or a urinary tract infection.

If you observe your dog frequently licking their genital area, experiencing difficulty or increased frequency in urination, showing signs of dehydration, or displaying humping behavior alongside these symptoms, it is advisable to schedule a visit to the veterinarian.

The ASPCA recommends seeking professional veterinary care to assess and address any potential health concerns.

If your dog’s humping becomes problematic or excessive

You can try redirecting their attention to more appropriate activities, such as playing with toys or engaging in training exercises. Consistency, positive reinforcement, and addressing any underlying issues are key to managing this behavior.

How to get a dog to stop humping?

Of course, if you do not want to suffer from embarrassment you would want to fix this little issue as soon as possible. So, how are you supposed to do it?

• Stop at an early age

This applies to any problems you see in your dog’s behavior. If you want it to stop you’ve got to stop it as soon as possible. The sooner your dog’s negative behavior is fixed (preferably at the puppy stage) the better it will be for the both of you.

• Neuter or spay

If you do this for your dog, this would, of course, lessen the number of times they would go on about mounting other dogs, people, or objects. However, if it is in older dogs who have gotten used to this as a habit, you must go through more thorough measures in order to take care of the problem.

• Obedience training

This can be the last measure for any behavior that you don’t like inside of your dogs. Of course, you would have to hire someone or go through efforts to do it yourself, but nonetheless, it is still very efficient.

• Counter behavior

Once your dog starts doing this to you, all you have to do is to slowly stand up and walk away. This will teach them in a simple manner that what they are doing isn’t something that they should do. Try to tell this to other members of the household or to people who’d visit your home.

Dogs mount and hump a lot of times, and for them, it is something considered normal, however, to human beings it can be viewed as inappropriate and rude. The best course would be to solve this problem as fast as you can if you don’t want any more embarrassing moments to happen between you and other people when your dog’s around.

As small as it is, there are reasons for this action. Reasons that can help you discern how you are supposed to go about in solving this behavior.

If you think there are other dog owners who are suffering the same problem, do not forget to share this in any of your social media.