Your tone should be assertive, but you need to keep anger out of it since anger can heighten a dog’s energy instead of lowering it. Try using another source of noise, like a whistle or air horn. Make sure that these noise makers are far enough away from your dog to prevent damage to the ears. Make the noise when the dog is starting or in the middle of doing the behavior, not afterward.
To push the dog away, gently take the dog by its front legs and set those paws back on the ground. Move yourself. Turning away from the dog or walking a few paces in another direction can work well as long as you remain calm.
When you take your dog to a “time out” area, make sure that there are no toys to play with. Leave the dog for 30 seconds to three minutes. Make sure that your dog is calm before releasing them, and when you release them, stay calm and act as though nothing happened.
You could either use a tab or a drag-line. A tab is a short piece of leash measuring 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15. 25 cm). A drag-line is a 4 to 6 foot (1. 2 to 1. 8 m) nylon cord.
Aside from toys, you could also distract and redirect your dog by giving him or her an interactive toy that dispenses treats or by asking your dog to perform a previously learned trick. You may also be able to train your dog to hump a pillow instead of people or other dogs.
Dominant behavior may include growling or aggression, nudging, pawing, standing over another dog, or taking things away from the other dog. [4] X Research source Stay calm as you step in front of your dog. If possible, consider leaning forward or gently knocking your dog with your hip or knee to send a message. Remember that the purpose is not to hurt your dog, but to snap it out of its fixation and let it know that you are taking command of the situation.
Walking your dog is crucial. You can drain a lot of energy by letting your dog run around in a backyard on their own, but walking forces your dog to exercise physically and mentally.
Walking your dog is crucial. You can drain a lot of energy by letting your dog run around in a backyard on their own, but walking forces your dog to exercise physically and mentally.
You may end up encouraging the behavior without even realizing it. For example, if you laugh or show signs of happiness whenever your dog mounts their favorite plush toy, you are indirectly praising your dog for the behavior.
Common signs that your dog may start humping include panting, licking, whining, pawing, or rubbing against something.
When you see your dog about to hump another dog, you can use one of your commands to interrupt the behavior. Make sure to give your dog a treat for the correct behavior.
If the trick receives positive attention while the mounting receives negative attention, your dog is more likely to want to perform the trick. Consider rewarding your dog with a treat or toy after it performs the trick to reinforce the positive behavior.
For example, petting and grooming can be a trigger for some dogs, in which case, you should limit the time spent doing these activities to a degree your dog can tolerate. If visitors are your dog’s trigger, keep the dog in a room until the initial energy and excitement of the visit calms down. Let the dog out once it and all of your visitors are calm.
Obedience training can also help dogs focus and release their energy on something more productive and welcome than mounting. Standard obedience training includes basic commands like “heel,” “sit,” “down,” and “stay. ” The overall goal of an obedience training program is to train your dog to listen to you no matter what the command might be.
Getting your dog fixed may decrease mounting problems, especially in males. However, this may not eliminate the problem completely. With older dogs, the habit is often ingrained. That’s one reason why getting your dog spayed or neutered as a puppy is so important. [13] X Research source
Possible medical conditions that could be contributing to your dog’s behavior include urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, persistent erections, and skin allergies.
If you cannot find a certified behaviorist in your area, look for a certified professional dog trainer. Just make sure that the dog trainer has experience dealing with aggression and mounting. If your dog sinks their claws into the skin of a human it mounts, or growls when you try to remove it, this is a more serious problem and should be addressed by a certified applied animal behaviorist.
Medication should only be used as a last resort, and even then, only in extreme conditions. For instance, if a dog is displaying other signs of anxiety, like obsessive licking or destructive behavior, he or she might have a serious anxiety issue that needs to be addressed.
