Humping in the dog park - etiquette query.

[dylexicdementor11]

My lovely little 5 month old intact male puppy started humping a female dog today in the dog park.
The owners were horrified. I apologized profusely and put my puppy back on a lead and kept him by my side until they left.
I realize that my puppy could be sexually mature and could impregnate a female dog but the owners acted as if their dog had been violated.

We have not decided when or if we will neuter our puppy when he’s older but in the meantime I wouldn’t want to upset dog owners with my randy puppy.

Any tips on how to play nice in the dog park? Should I keep a male dog on a lead at all times unless he’s neutered? TIA

Oh behave!!!! 😂😂😂

I agree with a pp it’s likely down to overstimulation - a male puppy will hump for many different reasons and not necessarily sexual. Just reinforce “no” or “leave” or “off”, and redirect if you can see the body language in advance (including if he’s humping toys or his bed) do keep him on a lead in public.

Years ago, I took mine to a local socialisation session and the older dogs told off any of that sort of “disrespectful” behaviour as the trainer put it, and it stopped after a week or so.

My dog really doesn't not like being humped but it isn't easy to stop. She moves and growls and they get the message.

if a bitch is on heat it is the owners responsibility to keep her on a lead and away from boy dogs.

let your dog live his life. He'll soon learn when bitches tell him off.

Are you talking humped or do you mean actually penetrated her?

I mean hump as in got in her back. No penetration has ever happened with mine.

This is nothing about your dog being intact. You can't control or recall him instantly, he should be on a lead.

The puppy did not penetrate the other dog. His willy was not out and about. If it had been I’m sure the puppy would have worn a condom. He comes from a respectable home after all. 😊

It's often not sexual behaviour. I think it's a bit silly to impute human motivation or morality on a dog.

My dog is an inveterate humper despite being castrated ages ago. He is also an all opportunity humper. He humps males as well as females, humps my leg sometimes and sometimes the wrong end of the dog! Honestly I don't think it's really sexually motivated or if it is he has no idea how to be effective. Other dogs hump him too and sometimes females. He has one favourite golden retriever girl who he will allow to hump him and will even lower himself down a bit so she can reach! My sisters older neutered bitch will hump puppies too if they are annoying her.

The common denominator for my dog is being over excited. After he's been playing with a friendly dog for a while, of whatever sex, he will do chasing, a bit of wrestling and then he will get over excited and want to hump. I just apologise, grab him and take him away as soon as that happens. Or very often the other dog will tell him off which is more effective and does stop him in his tracks. Sometimes they don't though. Some of them seem happy to go with it. If he ever tries to hump me it's when we've been playing and he's over excited so I just stop the play and get him to calm down.

I wish he didn't do it but I don't think there's much else I can do to stop him. Anytime he does play with another dog it's people we know and only ever with permission so they know what he's like!

If your dog hasn't been neutered then it must be kept on a close lead.
I thought everyone knew that when they got a puppy.
Clearly not.

That's the problem with backyard breeding.

@dylexicdementor11 he really doesn't. You’ve let your off lead dog hump another dog? Nothing respectable about that in the dog world, at all. I can guarantee he (and you!) wouldn’t like it if another dog did it to him. I think you both need to learn some manners, but I will excuse him because he is a baby and it’s up to you to show him the ropes. If you do not sort this, you will be back on here in a few months time, whining because he’s been bitten. And he will be. My lot are extremely well trained and very placid. They MAY accept this behaviour from a puppy (dogs know when other dogs are juvenile) but if an adult dog ran up off lead and humped them? They wouldn’t have it and it would not end well for the humper! Control your dog.

Would you mind clarifying, are you concerned about unwanted pregnancies or (unwanted) humping, or both?

I ask because neutering will not necessarily stop humping. So your response implies that you are concerned about new puppies and not humping puppies.

You do realise what a dog park is?

Is it respectable in the dog world for leashed dogs to hump other dogs?

Sorry, this thread has taken a funny turn and I’m finding it a little too much fun. I hope you don’t mind having your tail pulled. 😂

You're laughing, but it is actually quite dangerous for your dog. Dogs will fight if they smell a female in heat. They run into roads. They leap over fences. They will bite people trying to stop them from getting at the bitch. If you're not planning on neutering your dog you will need to keep him on a lead permanently and stay hyper vigilant about him and any other dogs around.

It just seems as though humping in particular is seen as worse than whatever other behaviour presumably because it is seen as sexual although often it is not

I obviously do not let my dog go up to strangers dogs off lead under any circumstances so he would never end up humping a random persons dog. I keep him on a long line in the park around other dogs because I know he would not recall from them (does in all other circumstances but not reliably from other dogs).

However we have got to know a lot of the regular dogs and walkers in our area over time and in some instances I know from experience that both parties are happy to let the dogs run around and play together. My dog seems to love doing that and I just take any humping as a sign he needs to stop and calm down. He's 2 so maybe he will grow out of it at some point.

You need to teach him recall so that he returns to you if he's showing an interest. I've had male dogs for most of my life including one that wasn't neutered and at no point did he try this with females because he was trained not to.

@dylexicdementor11 hahhahahah, it’s all so funny and such a jolly jape. Until, like I said, your dog gets bitten and you are stuck with a massive vets bill. You won’t find it quite so funny then.

Humping isn’t a sexual behaviour, it’s a really common state for both sexes to go through - it’s just over excitement

just interrupt him every time he tries to do it, they grow out of it, usually.

Im laughing at some of the ‘helpful advice’ I’ve received not at the situation.

Thanks, the humped dog was a known dog .

😅 what a crazy thread.

Yes dogs hump for many reasons.

My spayed female will hump my intact male ...
My male will only go for intact females- but sadly so far he hasn't found the right one to have babies with!

As for all the dog humping and actual insemination. Often females will shove their backside into any possible suitors face to tell them to get on with the job. It's the female who will allow (or not) the male to penetate.
They will then have a tie, again, the female will "hold and release" as she wishes. It's not painful despite the whining some seem to do.
Well the term Bitch does come from somewhere...
But trying to separate a tie is painful, you can actually cause a lot of damage and injury to both male and female.

I hope I have dispersed any myths and speculations. Yes, I come from a family of dog breeders. I don't do it anymore because one litter of 8 puppies nearly broke me!

Why wouldn't you neuter your dog?

@dylexicdementor11 - I call BS. No vet with half a brain would tell you not to neuter your dog because it might change his "lovely temperament".

Humping and penetration are 2 completely different things. The owners were being precious that their bitch had been 'violated' by a little hump. My leg has been violated many times in that case!

A lot of strange replies here...

I think the other owners were a bit ott, it definitely seems on the spectrum of normal dog behaviour. And that you did the right thing removing your puppy. My main worry with humping would be a fight breaking out. My bitch would possibly snap if humped (though she doesn't tend to stand facing away from dogs, she's quite high alert around them, so it hasn't happened yet). Going forward I'd be watchful for signs, say overexcitement, so you can redirect or remove your pup.

Yep, I’m constantly violated by my 8 month old pup 🤷‍♀️.