Last Updated: 29/12/2025
Why Do Dogs Hump? 5 Reasons for Mounting Behaviour
It can be embarrassing when your dog mounts a guest or a toy, but humping is a normal canine behaviour. From over-excitement to self-soothing, learn why dogs hump and discover practical training strategies to manage it in our expert guide.
Author: Dr Kim Chainey BVSc
Reading Time: 6 minutes - short read
While it might cause a blush at the local dog park, humping - or "mounting" - is a perfectly natural part of the canine social repertoire. Many pet parents assume this behaviour is always sexual or an attempt to show dominance, but the reality is often much more nuanced. Whether it is a result of high-energy play, a way to cope with stress, or simply a habit picked up in puppyhood, understanding the "why" behind the behaviour is the first step in managing it. By observing the context in which it happens, pet parents can better support their dog’s emotional needs and keep social interactions polite.
Common motivations for humping behaviour
Anxiety, arousal, and over-excitement
The most common reason dogs mount is simply anxiety or over-excitement. In these moments, humping acts as an emotional "pressure valve" to help them release pent-up energy.
In the veterinary world, we call this displacement behaviour - it's essentially an out-of-context action a dog does when they are feeling a bit overwhelmed or conflicted.
This often happens in new or stressful situations, such as:
- Meeting new people: A dog might mount a visitor because they aren't quite sure how to greet them.
- Stressful corrections: Dogs may hump after being scolded (like for raiding the bin) as a way to process their anxiety.
- High-energy play: Getting a new toy or having a wild play session can tip a dog over into "arousal," leading to mounting.
Sometimes, it also becomes a way to get your attention. If a dog mounts a guest and everyone reacts, the dog learns that this "quirky" behaviour gets an immediate response, which encourages them to do it again.
Learn more about How to Calm an Anxious Pet.
Hormonal and sexual drivers
While some humping is driven by sexual hormones like testosterone, it isn't just a "boy dog" thing - this behaviour can be seen in both males and females.
It is also a common myth that desexing will completely stop a dog from mounting. While desexing does lower the hormonal drive, it doesn't remove a dog's motivation or memory of the behaviour entirely. This explains why many neutered dogs continue to hump; once it becomes a habit or a response to excitement, hormones are no longer the primary culprit.
For more information, read our article with Everything You Need to Know about Desexing.
Social hierarchy and dominance
In rare cases, some dogs will mount to demonstrate their social position over another dog. In some cases, two dogs will take it in turns to mount each other while they establish the relationship. Remember, this isn't necessarily a problem if both dogs accept the mounting as normal social behaviour and it doesn't escalate to aggression. If a dog also mounts inanimate objects in addition to other dogs, this doesn't reflect dominance behaviour and another motivation should be sought.
Learn more about How to Read a Dog's Body Language to ensure that your dog is comfortable during play.
Play and social learning
In some cases, humping can be a sign of normal behaviour. Mounting typically starts as play behaviour in young undesexed puppies. Normal play involves stalking, chasing, wrestling and even humping. Dogs that trust each other and get along will often take turns to mount one another. In this situation humping shows that the dogs have a healthy relationship.
Learn more about the Importance of Socialisation.
Self-soothing and habit
Much like a toddler might suck their thumb or twiddle a blanket to wind down, some dogs use mounting as a rhythmic way to self-soothe. It is a calming mechanism that helps them process the day's events and lower their own energy levels before they finally settle.
You might notice this happening at specific times, such as:
- Before bedtime: A quick session with a favourite plush toy or cushion before curling up to sleep.
- After a big walk: Using the behaviour to transition from high outdoor energy to a relaxed indoor state.
In these instances, the dog isn't trying to be naughty or dominant; they are simply using a physical outlet to help their nervous system relax. If the behaviour is gentle and helps them transition to a calm state without causing distress to others, it is often just a harmless part of their personal routine.
How to stop a dog from humping
If a dog only humps occasionally, this is probably normal dog behaviour and doesn't require any intervention. However, if the habit is causing trouble at the dog park or becomes obsessive, it is time to take action. Repetitive mounting can turn into a compulsive habit that affects a dog's quality of life and even cause physical issues like skin irritation.
When to see a vet
If mounting is a brand-new habit, a veterinary check-up is a great first step. It helps rule out medical issues like urinary tract infections or skin allergies.
Vet tip: Try to film a quick video of the behaviour or take notes on when it happens. This helps a vet or animal behaviourist determine exactly what is motivating the dog and find the best solution.
Simple management strategies
Once the motivation is understood, a few practical techniques can help:
- Avoidance: If a dog starts humping, the best response is to calmly turn away and leave the area. This ensures the behaviour isn't accidentally being rewarded with attention. If guests are visiting, keeping the dog on a lead or in another room until they settle can prevent the habit before it starts.
- Counterconditioning: This is about teaching a dog a new, better response. For example, if they start to mount another dog, quickly intervene and ask them to "sit" or "stay" instead. When they follow the command, reward them immediately with a high-value treat or praise.
- Encourage calm: If arousal or anxiety are suspected to be the cause, encourage calmness and offer distraction with a chew toy, long lasting treat and stress-relieving products.
- Desexing: While often recommended, desexing isn't a "magic wand" for humping. It only reduces the behaviour in about 70% of dogs, and often only by half, especially if the habit is already well-established.
FAQs
Humping is often just a normal part of being a dog, usually driven by excitement rather than a desire to cause trouble. If the behaviour is occasional and doesn't bother other pets or people, it is generally considered a normal displacement activity. However, if mounting becomes obsessive or leads to conflict at the park, using redirection and positive reinforcement can help steer your dog toward more appropriate social habits. For sudden changes in behaviour, a check-up with a veterinarian is always the best way to ensure there isn't an underlying medical cause.
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Tue 30 Dec 2025
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Kim Chainey BVSc
Contributing Author, BVSc
Kimberley graduated from James Cook University in 2012 and initially worked in a mixed animal practice on the Atherton Tablelands for two years. Her interest in small animal medicine led her to undertake a rotating internship at Veterinary Specialist Services in Brisbane. Since then, she has worked in small animal clinics throughout south east QLD and NSW! She is passionate about providing the best quality of care to all animals that walk through the door
