One of my dogs won't stop humping the other. They're both boys. Help?

Question

One is a poodle mixed with no one knows what and the other one is a full breed Irish Setter that my uncle bought online and we picked him up yesterday at the airport. The small one is really scared of the irish setter. The Irish setter runs at him, I think playing, and the small one runs for his life but the Irish Setter opens his mouth when he gets close, although I don't think he wants to eat him. Cause they're not ALWAYS running. But the irish setter also would not stop humping. He won't stop humping the small one. And he humps the air and people and pretty much everything. He's 3 months old and the poodle mix is 4 months old. Is there anyway I can get Da Vinci [Irish setter] to stop humping Mozart [poodle mix]?

Answer 1

Hello,
Humping behavior is only related to sex in dogs when a female dog is in heat. Otherwise, it serves the purpose of establishing dominance over others. We have a brother and sister team, both spayed and neutered, but Thelma Lou frequently tries to hump Barney because she wants to be the boss. She also humps my sister's dogs when they come to visit (one male, one female). Same reason.
If your dog tries to hump YOU, he's challenging your authority as the Alpha "pack" member, and you need to nip this in the bud quickly or he will challenge you more often. Talk with your vet or read some animal training guides (or visit such websites) to learn how YOU can appropriately (without resorting to physical punishment) establish YOU as the dominant one in the "pack", and how you can ged Da Vinci to behave more appropriately with Mozart and with guests. There are physical training methods you can do to help him learn his place in the heirarchy, such as putting your hand on his lower back, gently pushing down and telling him to "sit", while keeping his head supported up with your other hand. When he is sitting, make sure you stand taller than he is and lean over so your head is above his, put your arms around him and just hold him, all the time praising him and telling him he's a good boy. Repeat this exercise frequently, and he'll get the idea you're the boss and that submitting to you gets rewards. You can take it a step further if needed, and once you get him sitting down, help him lie down, which puts him in an even more submissive position, and repeat the same dominance stances and holding and praise. The next step could be getting him onto his back with his belly up in the air. Most dogs love belly rubs anyway, but if he doesn't, it's because he doesn't want to be in such a vulnerable and submissive posture. Putting him into such a position, with gentle pats and rubs along with praise and physical dominance will eventually get him to understand you are not to be trifled with (and that submitting to you will NOT result in him being harmed). Good luck, and I hope your critters can become friends, and that Mozart doesn't have to become an Olympic sprinter!

David

Answer 2

this is normal behavior when dogs first meet, the excited running around and the humping

however- irish setters are extremely active dogs that lend to anxious and over stimulated very easily

when they calm down with eachother- and they will it might take a week or so, you will still need to manage the setters need for pretty much constant motion over the next 18 months

i would start now, in training classes and a routine of excersize so he knows there will always be another opertunity for outlet of hsi energy

make sure the poodle has his down time and privacy because he is not going to always appreciate the setters bouncing off the walls