...not much of a question in Simba's mind. :-\ I'm at a bit of a loss with this. I feel it's beginning to be a bt of a problem at the dog park. He doesn't hump every dog, but he usually "tries it on" with at least one dog while he is there. Some dogs put up with it and others get annoyed. Usually he gives up if other dog tells him off, but not always. And lately he's starting to growl while "in the act". What does that mean? It's all a bit embarrassing, I generally prefer to let the dogs sort things out (as long as there's no danger) but tonight he was doing the humping/growling thing and we got him off the dog and put the leash on and took him for a walk. Hubs feels we should keep doing this, so that he knows humping=no more play time. What do you all think? Anyone else have to deal with this? What should I do?
Re: To hump or not to hump.... I discourage all humping because it can become a habit. Mine are girls, but they are both humpers if I let them.
Re: To hump or not to hump.... It's tricky, I think. Ideally, you'd want Simba to be told off robustly by each and every dog he tried it with. But this is very unlikely to happen. So I think you are doing the right thing. I'd get his lead on him asap but then have inaction for a few minutes, not a walk. A sort of time out.
Re: To hump or not to hump.... I agree. He needs to learn it's not ok. Because it's really not, and at some point he may find himself in big trouble with an annoyed dog who turns on him.
Re: To hump or not to hump.... I agree with everyone it's something we stop ASAP, we made a mistake with our first dog and he never learned, caused some problems over the years and eventually we had to accept he couldn't meet other dogs off lead as he caused so many skirmishes.
Re: To hump or not to hump.... Yes, I've been thinking about this more, and I had come to the conclusion that the better thing would be a short time out rather than leaving for a walk. I will try this over the next little while and hopefully it will improve.
Re: To hump or not to hump.... Good luck ! I would also add in light of Julie's comment that if I think the dog will tell Riley off I let him try it as it's better they learn from other dogs but I definitely wouldn't let him try with a dog that will just stand there looking unhappy. Likewise if a dog tries to hump Riley and the owner doesn't do anything I go and get the dog off Riley(with the proviso that I don't think it'll have a pop at me).
Re: To hump or not to hump.... I think that's the right thing to do, yes. I've got the same dilemma with Charlie and bottom sniffing. I stood watching him take far too long over a sniff of a pretty young spaniel yesterday thinking "tell him off, tell him off" and the poor girl just stood there, looking all embarrassed. I called him away in the end. : Back to class for Charlie on Saturday, there is an adult greyhound there who gives him a verbal smack at 1.25 seconds...he needs more time with her... ;D ;D ;D And the funny thing is, Charlie hates it if a dog sniffs his bottom for too long!
Re: To hump or not to hump.... [quote author=JulieT link=topic=7843.msg110063#msg110063 date=1410876976] I think that's the right thing to do, yes. I've got the same dilemma with Charlie and bottom sniffing. I stood watching him take far too long over a sniff of a pretty young spaniel yesterday thinking "tell him off, tell him off" and the poor girl just stood there, looking all embarrassed. I called him away in the end. : Back to class for Charlie on Saturday, there is an adult greyhound there who gives him a verbal smack at 1.25 seconds...he needs more time with her... ;D ;D ;D And the funny thing is, Charlie hates it if a dog sniffs his bottom for too long! [/quote] I think I need to take Riley to the greyhound too :-[
Re: To hump or not to hump.... Yes, confident adult bitches are the best - apparently, so I'm told. They are firm but not aggressive, so give the very best kind of telling offs to rude young boys. It's difficult outside class though, the owner of the greyhound told me people tell her off for having an aggressive dog!
Re: To hump or not to hump.... Simba has been told off in no uncertain terms a time or two, which has been great. He then will not try it again with that dog, but other ones are still fair game. I'm not sure where the growling has come from, but it really is disconcerting to all involved. I hope the time out works. The dog park is virtually the only place Simba can to to interact with other dogs, so I would hate to not be able to go. :-\
Re: To hump or not to hump.... Don't stop taking him! I don't have a dog that humps, I have one that hates it. But I have observed, read, and asked about humping - and see it a lot (but appreciate you might get better advice from someone who has actually solved the problem though :-\ ). My understanding is that it is inept behaviour - seen in a socially awkward dog. I don't mean that in a smug way, my dog can be socially inept too, just in different ways. If so, the worst thing will be to restrict Simba's contact with dogs. I'd say you would be much better off interrupting him again and again and again until he gets the message (notwithstanding that it's better other dogs do this). I know this doesn't sound very positive, but doggy manners are a special case, I think. The next class I go to, I'll ask whether there is a more positive or effective way to do this, and report back....
Re: To hump or not to hump.... Thanks Julie, that would be great! I certainly won't give up on the dog park unless we have to. Other owners are usually quite tolerant, thankfully, and there are definitely some dogs that give as much "lovin's" as Simba does. But I would really like him to cease and desist. He has had some nice playtime of the wrestling variety quite often, so hopefully he will get the message and just do that.
