I have a 2 1/2 year old female sheltie/beagle mix and have recently gotten another female puppy (beagle/rat terrier mix) who is 20 weeks old. Lately the older dog has been humping the puppy. Then, today, the puppy started humping the older dog. Is this normal, or is it something that I should be worried about?
2006-11-17 15:39:49 · 19 answers · asked by hhsgrad98 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Yes, you should be mildly concerned here. NOT for anything sexual between the dogs, but due to potential fights later.
Humping another dog is common when establishing dominance. Your older girl was telling the pup that she was boss of the pair when she did this. Your younger dog starting to hump the older dog is a signal that the pup is starting to feel dominant.
Watch the pair closely to determine that there is no real hostility between them. It is entirely possible that the younger dog is of a more dominant nature and will assume leadership of the pair. If she is just pushing it, it is also possible the older dog will snap at her when she tries to mount, thus potentially causing a fight.
It is best to let the pair work the issue of who is more dominant out between them...as long as there is no real hostility! If serious growls or snaps start, it is up to you, the TRULY dominant member of your pack, to intervene.
Once the girls have worked out who is 'boss' of the two, you need to follow their established order. Greet the more dominant one first, feed the more dominant one first, pet the more dominant one first, etc. This helps maintain peace in your home!
2006-11-17 15:46:50 · answer #1 · answered by Lori R 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Not sure why "only," but do know from experience that a female dog tries to hump me, a female, -- when I visit her family and spend the night. There are two other dogs, and for a long time she was my favorite. The newest dog is pretty charming, though. Maybe she's also jealous. She jumps up on the bed and pesters my leg. I think it's because I make a big fuss over her when we sit on the sofa together, and she thinks she is literally top dog. Annoying when one would rather be asleep. As with humans, in this case the action is not so much about sex as it is power.
2016-05-22 00:14:06 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a 5yr female old rat terrier, her 10 month old female puppy (a mix) and a 4yr old female chihuahua...all female lol..they hump each other all the time! At times (but very rarely) it is because of dominance majority is their because of their hormones. At first it was funny but now it's annoying because they fight over each other. We do have a male dog but he is fixed. Sometimes they try to hump each other at one time and it looks like they are trying to do the cha cha lol! I thought that maybe it was just my dogs but I noticed that other people's female dogs are the same way,so I guess it's normal. It's just something that someone isn't really going to talk about, you just find out with your own dogs lol
2006-11-17 15:58:14 · answer #3 · answered by ashleyxricky 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dogs often do this, male of female, spayed or neutered or NOT. Some people say it is a part of establishing dominance. Others say it is just excitement. I stopped my dogs from doing it because they can be trained not to and I don't like to see it anymore than I like to see kids in restaurants running around with greasy hands and wiping them on the walls. lol
2006-11-17 15:49:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's not exactly 'normal' but common in the animal world. It is just a way of dominance and determining who is the leader of the pack. Getting them spayed as soon as possible will greatly reduce the chances of this behavior becoming permanent.
2006-11-17 15:47:21 · answer #5 · answered by TotallylovesTodd! 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
all dogs, male and female "hump" each other to show dominance over the other. its normal. most dogs do it. including wolfs
2006-11-17 16:49:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its nothing to be worried about. my dog was humping when he was a puppy you have just got to tell them no. it is something that they will grow out of!
2006-11-17 15:48:36 · answer #7 · answered by You Are My Sunshine<333 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
female dogs still have hormones to,
its normal for dogs humping dogs, even same sex.
they are just exci ted to see another dog in the house.
they will stop doing it.
2006-11-17 15:44:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
this is a dominate thing! doesn't mean your dog likes girls or anything like that! she saying I'm in charge here! they are just trying to sort out who is the alpha!!
2006-11-17 16:12:48 · answer #9 · answered by rblankenship_rblankenship 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a dominance issue. They are establishing rank order. Read more about pack mentality here: http://www.leerburg.com and learn how to become your pets pack leader.
2006-11-17 15:45:09 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋