Christmas conversation somewhere in deepest Scotland about our new dog Bailey after 48 hours of ownership. While in the bedroom the dog lies on his back while I'm rubbing his belly, my Partner Anne is at the other side of the room. Me- "He is a great dog, a big softie, he even lets you touch his paws, not many dogs let you do that." Anne-(horrified) "what are you doing touching his balls?" Me- "I said paws not baws!" Me- "he wid no doubt be delighted aboot his 'Baws' being rubbed, but I no doin that" Side note. Our 8 month old is due his neutering on the 11th of January and is currently enjoying giving his own bed a good seeing to. As this is the only thing he is humping so I am letting him get on with it. He can be diverted but my thinking is that this behaviour should lessen after his operation and as long as he is not doing this to any other item of furniture or someone's leg I am not that concerned. Should I be more proactive in diverting the humping behaviour now? What is your opinion of the dog humping situation?
I would divert the behaviour as very little humping is of a sexual nature but can become a learned behaviour which is rewarding for the dog. If the dog is repeating the behaviour it is more than likely that the behaviour is self rewarding
I don't like dogs humping so I would divert and he will hopefully grow out of it. Other people here don't mind and have a specific toy for humping. Your choice. Your story made me smile and remember a time when I was unwell and sleeping on the sofa. Shadow, our boy, had laid down next to me, on his back with legs in the air. I was awoken by my husband saying, "Errrr....Fi. You're cupping the dog!". I nearly died laughing
