I've been taking my puppy to "puppy playtime" and he keeps trying to hump the other puppies. He's just now 12 weeks old. What gives? I know it's a dominance thing, but he's a baby? Thoughts? The supervisizing dog trainer always breaks him away, but it's embarrassing.
It's not a dominance thing, it's a excited puppy thing The ideas about "dominance" in dog behaviour have been changing over the several years, it's not a theory many are subscribing to any more. The humping behaviour is generally a result of excitement. Allowing your puppy a bit of a time out when you see this is a good idea, it will give him a chance to calm down and learn some self-control. This would be separating him from the group for a minute or two - not too long. Some people aren't too bothered by this but I tend to think that if I don't want my adult dog doing this to other dogs (or people ) it's best to nip it in the bud when my dog is a puppy. This article on coping with an overexcited puppy might b helpful http://www.thelabradorsite.com/how-to-cope-with-an-overexcited-labrador-puppy/
How strange just logged on to post similar post my 15 week year old has just started this week with my leg only ! Wasn't sure if it was normal or not?!
Yes, normal Pups/dogs target different favourite objects though. My dog devotes his attention to a long-suffering cushion. He invariably does it when bored or overtired and wired up. Just go with Lisa's advice - remove and distract/brief timeout as soon as he humps. Also reward him if he approaches people and does NOT start humping
Couldn't agree more. A good book to read to help dispel the "Dominance" theory is Dominance in Dogs: Fact or Fiction by Barry Eaton. If you think your dog is dominant, or your trainer is suggesting that your dog is becoming dominant please have a read. it's a fairly short book, and very easy to read.
Sam was very much in love with his bed when he was little , they do mostly grow out of it if distracted , nothing to worry over and definitely not dominant behaviour , as the others have said, the dominance theory is very outdated, thank goodness
My boy only humped towels and laundry left on the floor but he started at 9 weeks. I bought him his own humpee toy, a big teddy bear, bigger than him, Poppa Bear, and encouraged him on it. He is 8.5 years now, still intact, and he has never once humped anything else, not other dogs, people legs or furniture. Poppa is washable and can be hidden away when company comes. Worked for us but since your pup has already started on other pups it might be harder to re-direct him. If you are successful at the redirect to a toy then you can try to fade the toy. We didn't bother; humping seems to be something many do for fun and we didn't mind. Poppa tends to get a good workout after a meal or a good walk, we call it sharing the joy.
Dexter humps his 'place' which is Vetbed. When younger it was his teddy. He only does this when overtired, usually after his dinner around 5.30 to 6pm.
Thank you so much! I appreciate all the responses. All the humpy toys made me laugh! I'll have to see if there's something else besides fellow puppies he likes.
Nugget started doing this from around 13 weeks. My 12 year old daughter looked at him in horror and said "He's only a baby and he's thinking of THAT already?"
