Dog’s Humping: Why does my dog hump me and no one else?

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Marissa Prizio attended the University of New Hampshire and earned a bachelor's degree in biomedical Animal Science. Marissa has always enjoyed writing; she was even mixing literature classes into her science major in college. During her writing career, she has edited eBooks, written for a variety of websites, and created audio-visual courses for sustainability.

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Updated on: 03/24/2022

Let’s look at this age-old dog owner dilemma and discover what it means when your dog humps.

Whether you have a male or female, old or young, humping can be an issue. This behavior is often driven by natural impulses, but it can get out of hand and result from more concerning triggers.

If you are looking to prevent dog humping that is inappropriate or obsessive, then it is important to start by understanding why your pet humps. Discovering the reason behind your pet’s behavior is the best way to find a humane and lasting solution to their problem.

Do all dogs hump?

The short answer is yes, all pets can do it. Though all pets can display this behavior, it is not necessarily observed with every pet. Some may hump obsessively while others hardly, or never do it to other animals, furniture, or people. ^[1]

It is based on a multitude of factors, including mental, environmental, and physical triggers. Your pet’s unique behaviors are a result of their experiences and influences, so it is helpful to understand what is making your pet hump.

What could make a dog want to hump?

There are quite a few theories on why humping occurs in dpets. Most people assume that this is always a sexual behavior, but there are also many nonsexual reasons that cause dogs to do it. As you look through this list, make note of triggers that relate to your pet’s behaviors.

Sexual Triggers

Humping is an action that can start young in some dogs, but it tends to become most prominent when they reach sexual maturity. It is a very normal sexual activity, especially for those who have not been spayed or neutered. ^[4]

What makes a male dog hump is sexual arousal caused by specific events, like seeing but not being able to reach a female that is in heat. The same can be true for intact female pets that hump each other or neutered males. While sexual reasons are a more common trigger in intact dogs, they can still cause humping in fixed animals.

A neutered pet may continue to hump even after they have been fixed. Sex hormone production generally decreases after this procedure, but some animals may continue to exhibit some sexual behaviors. They may have already learned that humping feels good, or they may be triggered by non-sexual reasons. ^[2]

General Excitement & Play

Though it is commonly associated with mating, humping is not just a sexual act. You may have noticed that many pets do it when playing, fighting, or after becoming generally excited. ^[2]

Humping is a way for dogs to release energy, especially when experiencing high mental stimulation or have no clear way to direct that energy. When a animal is expressing humping as a result of mental stimulation, they tend to not display an erection or any other flirtatious behaviors.

Some pets may have an increase in humping when a specific person visits or they go to a specific place like the dog park, which can result from extreme emotional excitement. If you keep your pup occupied on other tasks, provide enough exercise, and go for a good walk, you may notice a decline in humping as their excited energy is redirected. ^[2] ^[3]

Itchy Skin

Itching is not as simple for pets as it is for humans. There are some areas where itches can’t be easily scratched and, as a result, our pets have to get creative. Itchy genitals can be the result of skin allergies, irritation, skin infections, and other conditions.

Many pets may do it to create friction in their genital area to relieve any itchiness. If you notice that your pup’s skin is red or irritated in that area, or they are grooming or chewing the area excessively, you should consult a veterinarian.

Photo by Rachel Claire from Pexels

Stress & Compulsive Behavior

Stress can be extremely detrimental to dogs and cause them to exhibit odd or habitual behavior. When dealing with stress, pets tend to engage in actions that make them feel better. These actions can include excessive barking, chewing, licking, humping, and more. ^[2]

Take note of when your pet exhibits excessive humping and see it this is linked with any other stress-related actions. If you are able to determine what is causing your animal’s stress and remove it from their environment, their stress humping should subside.

In situations where you cant remove a stressful factor, you can relieve your pet’s stress by associating positive experiences with the stressful situation. One example would be bringing your dog in for vet visits where they get cookies and pets until they see the vet as a positive place instead of a stressful one.

Medical Issues

Medical issues can manifest in humping in certain cases, and this is especially true for any medical condition associated with the urinary tract or reproductive tract. Some dogs do it when they have urinary tract infections, and prostate issues can be of concern for males. ^[1]

It never hurts to have your pet’s behaviors assessed with the help of a veterinary doctor to rule out medical conditions as a starting point for treating excessive humping.

Poor Socialization

Not all dogs are social butterflies. Some didn’t receive proper socialization in their developmental years, resulting in a lack of understanding when it comes to interacting with others.

This can be true for interactions with humans and animals. A poorly socialized dog may hump others to display dominance or do so because they feel overwhelmed and excited with the social interaction. ^[1] ^[2] With socialization, they learn to control themselves around others and gain a concept of acceptable actions.

Should I worry if my dog humps me and others?

It may only be presented to specific individuals. This may leave some people wondering, “why does my dog hump me and no one else?”.

These preferences in individuals are likely to result from misdirected excitement rather than sexual excitement. You may notice that your pet displays many other signs of excitement both before and during humping specific individuals or a family member.

Photo by @kkolosov from Freepik

Maybe you have just finished playing with your pup, and you calm down, but they are still worked up and want to continue playing. Or perhaps they always go for a walk with their sitter, but they haven’t set out for their walk just yet. Dogs hump people because of all this undirected energy. ^[2]

Why does my dog hump me and no one else?

While it is sweet to know that our pets love us, such behavior is generally not a preferred display of that affection. This action is often perceived as a sexually motivated behavior, but it can be triggered by many other motives as well.

In unneutered males, humping can result from sexual arousal or frustration, but for most dogs, this behavior is aimed at pet owners as a result of excitement or stress. They may get overstimulated when they see you after being separated for a long time, and all of that happy energy can be displayed as humping. ^[1]

Your pet could also feel stressed and manifest those feelings in the same action. While stress humping tends to be done to inanimate objects, it can also be directed towards a source of security, which maybe you.

Another reason why your pup decides to do it only you is the possibility that they may be trying to dominate you. ^[1] Such a display of dominance is generally the result of pets feeling insecure in their position in a family unit and trying to take charge.

Why do female dogs hump?

You may have noticed that female dog hump cushions, other pets, and people just like males do, so what makes female dogs hump like their male counterparts? When an unaltered female dog begins their heat cycles, it may display mounting. ^[3]

A fixed female dog may continue to mount and hump for all the same reasons a fixed male dog does. Medical issues, stress, excitement, poor social skills, and other factors should be considered as possible triggers. ^[4]

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

Why does my dog only hump a stuffed animal?

Instead of focusing on people or other pets, some of them hump a stuffed animal or a soft toy. This may be driven by sexual arousal for intact dogs, but this can also be displayed by neutered animals.

Humping a specific animal regularly could be an outlet for stress, excess energy, or boredom. ^[3] It has also been found that some animals do this to get their owner’s attention or because it has grown into a habit.

How can I stop my dog from humping?

Unchecked humping can get your pet into some serious trouble and leave you embarrassed, so how can we stop it? To start, you should get your dog neutered and checked by a trusted veterinarian, and this will subdue any sexual motive and rule out any medical concerns that may be contributing to excessive humping ^[4]

Since humping is influenced by more than physical factors, behavioral improvements should also be considered if you want to maintain a healthy relationship with your pet. The training can be directed towards discouraging dogs from it, and this training can be helpful for neutered dogs and intact dogs alike. Often, this training includes redirecting your pet’s attention towards another task and rewarding them for a behavior that is not humping. ^[1] ^[4]

Dogs that mount other dogs may be taught a specific command, like “leave it” that lets them know they have to leave the other dog alone. Some training processes also recommend removing them from social situations when they do it and only allowing them to join in activities or rewarding them when calm behavior is displayed. ^[2]

It is best to consult an experienced trainer to determine how to best train your pet out of its habits.

FAQ

Why does my dog keep humping me and only me?

This is a common dilemma for dog owners. Most pups have a favorite person, someone who feeds, loves and plays with them. It is not uncommon for dogs to get excited when they are with their owner, and such behavior can be an outlet for that excitement. ^[2]

If your pet humps you and only you without expressing any excitement, they may be doing so to express dominance. In the canine world, humping can imply dominance. If this is the case, your pup will need some well-structured training to learn their place and appropriate actions.

Why does my dog only hump one of my friends?

Your dog may hump a specific friend to express excitement or dominance. If they always receive treats or other positive experiences when that friend is around, they may hump that friend because they are overwhelmed with the anticipation of something positive. This behavior could also happen if your dog attempts to display dominance over a specific person, and such behavior would be coupled with more bullying than excitement.

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