WEEK 22
Why Dogs Hump (and What They’re Really Saying)
It’s not about dominance. And it’s usually not about sex.
Let’s just bust that myth right out of the gate.
When your dog humps the air, your leg, a guest, or their favorite stuffed toy, it’s easy to feel confused or even embarrassed. But humping is often a signal of something deeper: excitement, anxiety, frustration, or simply a lack of practiced alternatives.
Meet Sabdh
Sabdh is a social, empathetic, joyful pup who developed a habit of humping her mum when she’d stop to chat with people out on walks. She also humped when her favorite human got on the floor to play.
It wasn’t aggressive.
It wasn’t sexual.
It was likely... anxious excitement — a mix of big feelings with nowhere to go.
Her body was saying: "I don’t know what to do with all this energy!"
So, we gave her some new tools.
Why Dogs Hump (and What It Might Mean)
Humping can be a response to:
- Excitement (e.g., guests arriving)
- Frustration (e.g., waiting for attention or play)
- Anxiety (e.g., uncertainty in social settings)
- Lack of impulse control or practiced alternatives)
It’s also a behavior that can become self-reinforcing — the more they do it, the more likely they are to keep doing it.
What We Did Instead: Sabdh’s Plan
Reinforce Four Paws on the Floor
We focused on what to do, not just what not to do. Any time Sabdh kept all four paws on the ground — especially around exciting people — she earned praise, petting, treats, or play (depending on the moment and what she found reinforcing).
Use Food Foraging to Reduce Overall Arousal
Sabdh now works for part of her meals by foraging in the grass or using a snuffle mat. This taps into her natural instincts, helps her settle, and channels mental energy productively.
Play Fetch Before the Hump-Fest Begins
Instead of letting her excitement bubble over, we offered a game — like fetch — to satisfy her need for social engagement in a structured, playful way.
Manage the Environment
When guidance or redirection isn’t possible, Sabdh has access to a calm space with long-lasting chews or puzzle toys. Prevention matters while we build new habits.
Bonus Tip: Add a Relaxation Protocol
Once her foundation skills are strong, we’ll introduce a relaxation protocol to help her calmly observe the world without jumping into overdrive. Calmness gets reinforced, too.
A great place to start (for all dogs) is by capturing 'calm' behaviors when your dog offers them. Here's a fabulous video demonstrating this by Emily Larson of KikoPup: Capturing Calmness- how to train calmness in dogs.
Final Thoughts
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If your dog is humping and it’s becoming a problem, try not to take it personally or label it as misbehavior. Instead, get curious.
Ask:
- What’s happening before the humping starts?
- What smaller, calmer behaviors can I reinforce instead?
- Could my dog benefit from more sniffing and foraging? (Here’s why sniffing matters)
- What need is my dog trying to meet — movement, social interaction, stress relief?
Just like with Sabdh, once we understand the “why,” we can help our dogs make better choices — and feel better, too.
- What’s happening before the humping starts?
Want help with your dog’s big feelings or confusing behaviors?
Schedule a consultation and let’s build a plan that works with your dog, not against them.
👉 Work with me