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Many dog behaviors are easy to understand. When you come home from work, your dog greets you at the door with a squiggling, quivery body and a happy tail wag! However, there are other times it’s very challenging to understand your fur baby’s behavior. For instance, why do female dogs try to hump another female dog? That’s very puzzling for many pet parents.
Does your female dog hump other dogs? Are you worried about this behavior? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand this can be a concerning issue.
We’ve put together some common reasons that a female dog may hump another dog and how you can help your dog. Let’s get started!
Why Does My Female Dog Hump Other Female Dogs?
That’s the $10M question! Actually, there are some answers to this question. But first, we must let you know that humping in dogs is completely normal canine behavior. Some people have the mistaken idea that only male dogs hump; however, female dogs may also hump.
While this is normal behavior, even for female dogs, why do they do it?
Here are some of the most common reasons a female dog may hump another female dog.
1. Sign of Dominance
Some female dogs may hump another female dog as a sign of dominance. This is not the most common cause of the behavior, but it is one possible explanation.
2. Self Stimulation
Another reason a female dog may hump another female dog is for sexual self-stimulation (also called masturbation). Pet parents are often disturbed by the idea of their fur baby practicing self-stimulation. But this is common in female and male dogs and this is a natural behavior in canines.
3. Stress or Boredom
Some female dogs may mount another female dog to find relief from stress or boredom. Stress can include excitement, anxiety, hyperactivity, depression, boredom, or other emotional issues.
A female dog may choose to mount another female dog just to release the emotions she’s feeling. She may also not get enough exercise, which can lead to too much pent-up energy.
4. Medical Problems
Finally, a female dog may hump another female dog if she has an underlying medical problem. These can be caused by infections, allergies, hormonal imbalances, autoimmune disorders, and more.
So, if your fur baby all of a sudden starts humping other female dogs when she didn’t before, it’s a good idea to take her to the vet. The vet can examine to see if your dog has a health issue causing this behavior.
Should You Worry About This Behavior?
Yes, if your dog has never behaved like this in the past and suddenly starts humping other female dogs, she needs to see the vet.
And if the other dog is not happy with being humped, it’s important to distract your dog. It’s a good idea to train her to respond to obedience cues such as “sit” or “down.” These may stop the behavior in the moment; however, you’ll need to be consistent and patient. A dog that’s determined to hump is sometimes difficult to stop.
If your fur baby keeps humping and is in good health, you may want to consider a professional dog behaviorist to help curb your dog wanting to hump another female dog.
However, if your dog and the other female dog are just playing around, the behavior is just your dog’s way of goofing around. It’s only a problem if the other dog does not want to be humped!
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
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