Why do dogs hump other dogs?

As puppies reach sexual maturity, they start to mount other dogs in sexual contexts. After they're neutered or spayed, many male and female dogs continue to mount and even masturbate because they have learned that the behavior feels good. Often, during courtship, females in heat mount and hump their male “suitors.” read more

Humping, or mounting, is a sexual position for dogs, but veterinarians who specialize in canine behavior say it often is done for other reasons as well. David S. Spiegel, VMD, who has a behavioral veterinary practice near Swarthmore, Pa., says in unneutered and unspayed dogs under a year old, humping is usually sexual in nature. read more

Here are the most common motivations behind humping in dogs: 1. Arousal. Once a dog hits a certain level of excitement, that energy has to go somewhere. Some dogs express their joy by doing “zoomies,” where they tuck their butt and sprint as fast as they can in circles. Some bark. Some hump. 2. Anxiety. Like Duke, most humpers whose owners seek my help are quite anxious. read more

This includes why male and female dogs, long after they are fixed, continue to hump each other, people, toys, blankets, and a vast array of other things. Mounting is a learned behavior that begins when dogs are puppies. read more