Hello,

My pup is nearly 7 months old and yesterday started the "humping thing"...please be gentle with me as this is my very first male dog.

I really don't want to get him neutered unless his personality becomes aggressive etc, he is a lovely chap, rather boisterous at times obviously, I have an 10 year old female who has always chosen to ignore him, she doesn't and has never played and just likes the quiet life.

My boy has always tried to lick her face and rub himself along her turning and rubbing the other way (ive never understood why he does this) but yesterday he started licking her back, crying, doing a high pitched yap and then sniffing her back end, he would then stand on top of her when she's laying on the settee with his bits on the top of her head and his head facing her backside.

I know he's now a teenager so hormones flying about, but will he just grow out of this behaviour ? If yes, is there a time scale ?

My girl just turns her head when he's in her face as she's incredibly placid only rarely growling at him....should I intervene in this behaviour stopping him or ignore it ?

Any advice would be most welcome.

My girl is spayed by the way.

Thank you

Annee

I would stop the behaviour by diverting his attentions to something else, if left it will become a habit and not something you will want. I wouldn't be telling him off though.
They can go through phases. Just wondered even though your girl is spayed whether this is the time she would be in season if she weren't.
This is not a reason for castration which you've already expressed you don't want to do at this time.

Thank you,

I'm not sure if she would have been in season at this time or not so hard to tell.

I will keep removing him from annoying her, I believe in not telling off my dogs but just using the sound "ah" which he seems to know means no.

Having a boy in the house is certain,y a whole different ball game that's for sure.

Annee

We have our first male dog too! His now 2 years and thankfully not "humpy". He did try to hump things for a few weeks at about 8 months old. We distracted him or used "No" . When he first cocked his leg to wee I was so suprised as never expected him too lol after girls. He has been our most easiest dog to train! Not sure if it's the breed or gender!
My friends dog despite being spayed humps her bed nearly every night so it's not just the boys.

Castration  doesn't necessarily stop humping amyway and neither does it change challenging behaviour as he matures and trained things get better. What you are doing by redirecting him is the right thing and not castrating .sounds like you are doung a great job

Actually although you could try diverting his attention from her (and get him out for more exercise now) the very best answer is for HER to do the telling off, within reason.   I always found that any amount of my telling my amorous boys off was nowhere as effective as one good snap from the object of their attention.  Within reason of course.   If he gets too much for her, you will have to separate him.

ps   Do check your bitch - anal glands sometimes turn on a male!!!

Thank you all,

My female is the most tolerant of ladies and rarely snaps, she does have a grumble now and again and he still tries to push his luck and then she snaps.

I will of course seperate him from her if it looks like he's annoying her too much.

Today he has not really bothered with her but crikey...on his walk he was a nightmare, not coming when called etc....welcome to the adolescent stage I guess.

Hope it doesn't last long.

Annee

> My pup is nearly 7 months old and yesterday started the "humping thing"...please be gentle with me as this is my very first male dog.<br />

I have a puppy BITCH, same age, who does this (not the first to do this).

It's primarily to do with excitement. 

Definitely no need to neuter him until he is fully grown (not before 18 months for most breeds) but unless there is an overriding need (you keep entire bitches with him) then there is no good reason to neuter him at all (assuming you own him responsibly and don't allow him to roam).

There are more negatives with neutering, than positives health wise for males.

http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf

Facebook Replies:

Tracy Louise Davies says: I would tell him off. Stop him doing it as it cant be pleasant for your bitch. Young males often do this and will carry on if allowed. They just need to learn manners and respect.

Jo Cartwright says: I have a 4 month old male and an 11 yr old spayed bitch. I supervise at all times and I wouldn't allow this behaviour. Promptly remove him from the room when he does this because it's unacceptable and as your bitch is placid, you will need to be her advocate.

Lorna Wakefield says: Sometimes they will grow out of it, but certainly let him know it's unacceptable, but sometimes they don't, it's healthier for him to be neutered, and does not affect them in any way character wise.

Tracy Louise Davies says: There are a lot of conflicting views on neutering and I strongly believe entire males are healthier and also once mature are much nicer animals.