To not want the dog humping my 7 year old?

[onmybroomstick]

The last few days the dog has took to humping 7 year old at every given opportunity. He's always been her favourite but the last few days it's gone to another level. She's never done this before. She just won't leave him alone, constantly licking him and everytime he stays still does the humping start. He finds it hilarious and thinks she just loves him and wants to cuddle him, doesn't really get why I keep telling her to stop. Why is she suddenly doing this!

[OfaFrenchmind2]

OP, did you cancel the dominance?

[BellaGoth]

[Gabilan]

It's not a theory or a belief, it's what you can see when out and about

Well it is a belief then, isn't it? What you see is the dog humping. The explanation you give is "it's being dominant". But you can't observe dominance directly, you just attribute certain behaviours to being dominant. They don't appear with that label on them - it's a label you and others choose to assign to them.

Did you have a look at the link I posted? What makes you think humping is about dominance? Why not think it's about stress? Dogs don't speak human languages so they have to find a way to communicate with us. There could be all sorts of things triggering this dog's behaviour. Simply labelling it dominance probably isn't going to work in terms of fixing it. It might work, which is why dominance theory persists. But it probably won't - and evidently didn't in the case of your aunt's dog since the behaviour wasn't stopped.

[sparechange]

Oh well if your aunt said it, ruby, it must be true

thebeast has given great advice on what to do and what to avoid doing

[lavenderandrose]

Really hope those advocating putting s dog to sleep for humping don't have teenage sons ...

[picklemepopcorn]

Lavender!

[straighttalker]

Agree, distract, and warn your son that it's behaviour that needs to be nipped in the bud. It's not serious, it should be fairly easy behaviour to eradicate.

Oh, and to thepiglet59 of the comment "I’m sure that the doggy nuts will disagree"... yeah, totally, we're the nuts... rofl

[BeastofCraggyIsland]

I don't believe in theories about dogs

Good lord. Well, regardless of whether or not you believe in it, behavioural theory (whether applied to dogs, humans or any other animal) definitely does exist, and in canine behaviourism, dominance and pack theory has been thoroughly debunked, time and time again.

Challenging a stressed and reactive dog is never going to end well but it's not because the dog is 'dominant'. Reactive dogs are most often anxious and fearful dogs. They are the opposite of 'dominant'.

On some subjects it doesn't much matter if people start spouting off and making sweeping 'fact' statements when they really know absolutely nothing about it. However, when it's something like this, where, should someone be inclined to follow the utter bullshit that's presented as authoritative fact, a dog could lose its home or even it's life for absolutely no reason, it's dangerous and just downright disgusting. If you know nothing about dogs or dog behaviour - and to know about it I mean actually have spent time studying and learning about it properly, then don't post on threads that are asking for proper behavioural advice where a dog's home or life could potentially be at stake.

[BeastofCraggyIsland]

Its life, not it's.

[Darlink]

Ffs rehome one of them

[BellaGoth]

But which one Darlink, the dog or the child?

keep the dog

[jennyfromtheblock1975]

Victoria Stilwell is good on stuff like this - I believe the method she uses is to stand up with your back to the dog when it tries to hump you - give the behaviour zero attention until the dog decides "this is boring" and moves on. Of course if your ds thinks it's funny / cute you may have trouble convincing him to do this.

[onmybroomstick]

Oh lots of great advice. Only just had chance to pop back on. Ok so dog is very small, not even up to child's knees, absolutely adores him and always has. Nothing's changed that I'm aware of...sons had his hair cut, maybe looking to handsome to stay away from? I certainly won't be getting rid of the dog over this. I've been telling him to stand up and move away from her each time she does it. Can't be certain if I'm making a cup of tea etc he's actually doing this or just letting her hump away while laughing about it. She doesn't have the urge to do it to me or younger sibling

[BellaGoth]

Make sure he stands still, if he moves away there's a risk the dog will think it's a game of chase.

[Orangebird69]

Is the dog neutered?

[ChestnutsRoastingOnAnOpenFire]

You got some good advice from the vet upthread. Get dog checked over and if all ok physically they will tell you how to discourage.

I could have done with this thread when my old budgie used to hump me. Impossible to get the bugger off (sharp claws) used to have to stand there until he finished. I felt violated.

[LanaKanesLeftNippleTassle]

Haven't RTFT yet, and will go back and do so, just needed to add this first!

1. Dominance theory has been widely discredited, and can be dangerous to practice....it is grossly irresponsible to put it out about as fact. (Friends with many v good behaviourists and one of them is specialist in rehabilition of aggressive/ reactive dogs)
   
   
2. Many years ago I went to a friends house, whose housemate had a beautiful female husky. I had never met housemate or the dog before.
   She took a mad and instant "love" of me, it was really weird!
   As soon as I walked in the door she was all over me, licking me, trying to sit on my lap, humping me, etc etc. It was like having a pervy groper in a club, she was so enthusiastic!
   I have never had this from a dog before, and I have owned a lot of dogs since childhood!
   
   I was assured she had never done it before, to anyone.
   
   I stll haven't worked that one out, various theories put to me when I talk about it have included pheromones, hormones, my perfume/other scent, and on one memorable occasion "rays" from some sort of device!!
   
   I'm constantly fascinated by dog behaviour, just when you think you've got them sussed, the suddenly start humping people or stealing your car keys!

[LanaKanesLeftNippleTassle]

@BeastofCraggyIsland has the best advice op.

Please don't use aversion tactics that add to the stress of the dog.

[LilCamper]

This is a great article on the subject:Why Do Dogs Hump

[MidnightAura]

I have a puppy who humps her blanket. Never people. She did try and hump DH once when she was about 15 weeks. She has never done it since.

She humps if she is excited. The vet says it's not dominance. She used to do it a lot more than she does now it it is calming down.

As pp have said, your son needs to get up and walk away every time the dog tries it. She will soon learn that every time she does she loses out on playing with your son and she gets zero attention.

[Sample1936]

Put the dog to sleep?

[DJBaggySmalls]

Some of the advice given here is likely to get your son bitten. Dont startle the dog while she is doing it, or near your child.

Get your son to ignore her, turn his back and walk away every time she does it; lower her arousal levels, don't excite her more.
Try to keep her in another room when he is playing on the floor, or very excited.
Change the way he interacts with her, under your strict supervision. Have him feed and groom her. No exciting games.
Have her checked by the vet just in case its a health issue.
See a qualified behaviorist if you can afford it. Ask your vet for a referral or contact the APBC directly.