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Dog suddenly humping cushions, could he be stressed

4 replies

Shallysally · 18/07/2026 21:04

We have a three year old Jack Russell. He’s a little whirlwind at times, but also is pretty chill.
He has two walks a day, plenty of toys, the cat, attention.

When we are both out at work he goes to day care which he loves, it’s literally his second home! This averages one to three days a week, sometimes with boarding due to our working hours and their closing time.

His routine is pretty much the same day to day. He knows when it’s day care day as I’m up earlier, and is always excited to go.
He has free run of the house when I’m at home, when I’m in a teams meeting he and the cat are closed in the back room but only for a couple of hours max.
He sleeps in the kitchen, cosy bed, Alexa on low, little light on.

He was neutered as a pup. He has always humped his bed. This last couple of weeks he had started dragging the cushions from the sofa in the back room and humping them, which results in what I presume is wee leaking out.

Wouldn’t be so bad if they were washable covers, but they are velvet and the cushions are feather, so not easily cleanable.
He does this when he has free rein in the house, and also when he is closed in the room if I’m in a work meeting.

He has plenty of attention, he has dry food down all the time and wet food twice a day so he’s not hungry.

Im worried he’s stressed about something but I honestly don’t know what.
Could it be boredom? When I’m working I try and break off every hour or so to play with him but I’ve always done that and this is a new behaviour.

Please help!

OP posts:
Sherararara · 18/07/2026 21:16

Possibly. My DH did the same when he was stressed at work.
Though honestly you’d think he would wait until he came before he humped the cushions.

Shallysally · 18/07/2026 21:20

Sherararara · 18/07/2026 21:16

Possibly. My DH did the same when he was stressed at work.
Though honestly you’d think he would wait until he came before he humped the cushions.

So this is a husband issue too?! 😂

OP posts:
sirensinger · 18/07/2026 21:21

Sherararara · 18/07/2026 21:16

Possibly. My DH did the same when he was stressed at work.
Though honestly you’d think he would wait until he came before he humped the cushions.

😆

humpydog · 18/07/2026 21:39

One of mine does this, but ONLY when he has an audience? If it’s just immediate family at home, he’s fine. When we have guests, he drags his bed into the middle of the floor, clears his throat, looks around to make sure everyone is watching….and goes into full on porn star mode 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️
He is old, was neutered decades ago, and he has no…..happy ending!! I had him checked by the vet and she thinks it’s attention seeking.

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