Not sure if this is normal behaviour for our Beagle

[Ursula Parenteau]

I have a quick question regarding my Beagle's humping behaviour. Whenever he plays with my sister's lab cross puppy they will wrestle run around and play but quite often my dog will hump my sister's dog. Is this normal?

[Renee Premaza]

Hi Ursula!

How old is your dog? Is he neutered, and if so, how old was he when he was neutered? Is the puppy the only dog he humps? Does he hump people too? What is your response to your dog when he does hump the puppy? What does the puppy do?

Humping is not always a sexual behavior, especially if the dog was neutered and didn't learn to practice humping for a very long time. I see dogs hump other dogs and people when they become very excited or aroused about something. I had a client whose Chocolate Lab got so excited (stressed) anytime they had company at the house, his first response was to run into their living room and hump the pillows on their sofa.

I have a quick question regarding my Beagle's humping behaviour. Whenever he plays with my sister's lab cross puppy they will wrestle run around and play but quite often my dog will hump my sister's dog. Is this normal?

[Ursula Parenteau]

My puppy is 12 weeks old and he also humps men. I am thinking that his behaviour might be him trying to show or assert his dominance. He has never humped me and he hasn't had any close contact with other dogs as he is kept on a leash when we are in obedience class. I am not sure what to do in this regard. With men we just pull him off and ignore him with a "not acceptable" command. He is not neutered but will be at the begining of August. Will this help that? Is there anything I should be doing with regards to my sister's puppy. Any advice or techniques will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Renee,

Ursula

[Renee Premaza]

Hi Ursula!

This is not uncommon behavior for male puppies of any breed. It doesn't have anything to do with dominance. It can be the beginning of sexual behavior. Believe it or not, even human male toddlers will begin showing some sexual behaviors (e.g., touching themselves). I think re-directing your pup's attention onto something else and gently pulling him away from whomever he is humping is a good thing to do until you have him neutered. Once he is neutered, don't expect the humping behavior to disappear immediately. It takes a minimum of 30 days to see any behavioral change, and then about 6 months for the hormones to adjust themselves.

My puppy is 12 weeks old and he also humps men. I am thinking that his behaviour might be him trying to show or assert his dominance. He has never humped me and he hasn't had any close contact with other dogs as he is kept on a leash when we are in obedience class. I am not sure what to do in this regard. With men we just pull him off and ignore him with a "not acceptable" command. He is not neutered but will be at the begining of August. Will this help that? Is there anything I should be doing with regards to my sister's puppy. Any advice or techniques will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Renee,

Ursula