Hi everyone,

Ok... I kinda feel slightly embarrassed and silly asking this question. But if I don't ask then I'll never know!

A few weeks ago I noticed Foxy started to "hump" her bed cushion, it was only the one time and it only lasted a few seconds then I stopped her. It didn't happen again until just now.

I took her out to her play pen in the garden. I put in there her water, food bowl, plastic bed with her cushion inside and her favourite safe toys.

I sat down on a chair to watch her for a little while. She got in her bed and did her usual thing, growling at her toys and me in her silly little way as if to start a little game and then started pulling her cushion up with her front paws towards her stomach and started "humping" it. She did this a few more times... I laughed, but wasn't sure if I was to just let her get on with it or stop her when she did it?

Is this normal for female dogs to do? Especially only at 13 weeks old?
If so, why do they do it? and should I just let her get on with it, or stop her when she does it?

I hope I haven't made myself look silly asking this

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my 8 year old chi x tia humps daddys work boots with a vengeance,perfectly normal dont worry

No your not stupid, I could tell you something that really was stupid that I rang the vet about once!!!! thats a long story and one that would have me laughed of the forum for sure!!

No, female dogs do this, but 13 weeks seems a bit young, I would have expected it to begin in the adolesent stage, but sure someone will come along and say theere's no age limit.
regards
DT

what did you ring the vet about you cant say that and not tell!

Being a dim newbie I wasn’t going to say so early on, but you seem a friendly lot and I’ve got a broad back – so here goes!

Right from being a tot we had always kept dogs, my parents initially, then when I was first married my husband had a couple of working dogs, so it’s not as though I don’t know how things work.

When I had my first dog after my doggy break I took on a 15th month that had already been castrated, as they do he still used to hump, not a lot but occasionally. One day he was outside in the garden stood rigid in an awkward position, his penis was out of its sheath and it sure looked like it would never go back. basically he was stood there thrusting midair with a daft vacant look on his face.

I proceeded to telephone my friend, one may I add who only has female standard poodles. She proceeded to tell me how dangerous this was, and what awful things could happen to him and that I should call the vet right away.

My vet’s at the time did not know me as well as they do now.

Telephone conversation to vets

Vets: Hello vets surgery how can I help.
Me: sorry to bother you I’m a bit worried about my dog are there a vet available that I could speak to please.
Vets. No sorry they are both in surgery, would you like to tell me the problem.
Me: My dog has an erection
Vets’ Pardon,
Me: My dog has an erection and I don’t know what to do
Vets. Why do you want to do anything?
Me: because it’s dangerous
Vets: And why do you think it’s dangerous,
Me: Because my friend told me.



I cannot remember the outcome of the conversation but remember every time I go in that vets I go red in the face when I think about it.

It's perfectly normal behaviour, especially for young puppies of either sex.

Our 5 month old girl still does it occasionally, although no longer ot her bed, after being asked not to. Instead she'll now occasionally hump our older bitch! Older girl doesn't seemt omind at all, and the behavioru itself is harmless. They normallly grow out of it when their hormones even out, but it can occasionally become a learned behaviour. (less often a learned behaviour in girls than boys)

I prefer her not to do it though, so I usually just tell her no whenever I see it, which stops it. I assume once she gets older, the older girl will tell her off herself for doing it to her!

Sure the older bitch will put he is her place sooner rather then later, maybe it's an alpha issue!
regards
Sue

Please tell me that's a joke???

It has nothing to do with Alpha status. Simply that puppy is just a puppy, so behaviours that wouldn't be acceptable in an adult dog are allowed by other dogs in a puppy. Same as biting her ears like mad!

When we got our boy he was humping his toys at bed at 8 weeks old, when I took him for his injections I asked the vet if this was normal in such a young pup. I was told that yes it is normal for boy dogs and bitches to hump from young pups and was nothing to worry about but obviously not a preferred behaviour so to train them out of it by stopping it when you see them doing it.



I'm at work and shouldn't really be on here but think I've been rumbled because I couldn't help laughing out loud at your post. Sooo sound like the sort of conversation I'd have with my vet

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Gill & my beautiful boy Logan & gorgeous girl Piper

humping is perfectly natural at any age and some dogs will grow out of it. its a self rewarding behaviour just as masturbation is in humans. They may not get an orgasm but they do have "happy" chemicals released to the brain. Otherwise they would never reproduce if they didnt get something out of it.