On Fri, 14 May 2010 20:26:55 -0700, "Phyrie"
wrote:



"Char" wrote in message
om...
On 5/14/2010 9:49 PM, sighthounds & siberians wrote:
On Fri, 14 May 2010 20:36:37 -0500,
wrote:

Here's my question: Should you stop your dog from humping other dogs?

I would not allow my dog to hump other dogs, whether they are dogs in
our household or otherwise. When neutered dogs hump more or less
indiscriminately, it's usually dominance-related.

No, it's not.

It's a side effect of over-vaccination and kibble poisoning, doncha know!

It probably is.

Maroon. Unhelpful maroon, at that...

Most people realize that debate/discussion is more than "yeah-huh" and
"nuh-uh" when they're about four...

On Fri, 14 May 2010 23:54:20 -0400, "Paul E. Schoen"
wrote:


I have never seen Muttley hump another dog, person, or anything. I think he
attempted it when he first met Lucky, but she immediately "corrected" him.
She was intact, while he had been snipped more than a year prior to their
meeting, and he had it done at about 1.5 years of age. My own opinion is
that it can be dominant behavior, but it also could be just learned behavior
(especially in late-neutered dogs). Maybe it just feels good?

All the male dogs except one that I've ever owned have been somewhat
late-neutered, and I don't think humping is learned behavior. I don't
know how it feels to dogs, but I know that other dogs don't like being
humped, and that alone is a pretty good reason not to allow your dogs
to do it.

"sighthounds & siberians" wrote in message:

All the male dogs except one that I've ever owned have been somewhat
late-neutered, and I don't think humping is learned behavior. I don't
know how it feels to dogs, but I know that other dogs don't like being
humped, and that alone is a pretty good reason not to allow your dogs
to do it.


What you're saying reinforces my gut feeling that it's annoying to the
humpee, and it should be corrected. It's been a difficult behavior to
correct with Remy, but we have made progress. I can tell when he's thinking
about doing it and verbally correct him then. About eight times out of ten,
he responds, but it's those other two times when I have to take him by the
collar. I'll keep at it and not let him do it. Whether it's a dominance
thing, bullying, pushy, or whatever doesn't really matter - it's just bad
doggy manners. The potential of a dog fight is definitely a real concern,
and the last thing I would ever want would be for Remy to get hurt or for
him to ever hurt another dog.

I'll ignore the "just let the dogs work it out" people and continue to not
allow it.

On Sat, 15 May 2010 08:17:00 -0500, "starcat"
wrote:

What you're saying reinforces my gut feeling that it's annoying to the
humpee, and it should be corrected. It's been a difficult behavior to
correct with Remy, but we have made progress. I can tell when he's thinking
about doing it and verbally correct him then. About eight times out of ten,
he responds, but it's those other two times when I have to take him by the
collar. I'll keep at it and not let him do it. Whether it's a dominance
thing, bullying, pushy, or whatever doesn't really matter - it's just bad
doggy manners. The potential of a dog fight is definitely a real concern,
and the last thing I would ever want would be for Remy to get hurt or for
him to ever hurt another dog.

How about using a squirt bottle? The down side of that is that you'd
have to have one with you when he interacts with other dogs, but it's
so effective with my barky IG that all I have to do is pick it up.
And yes, you're right, humping is just bad dog manners regardless of
the motivation. Other dogs don't like it, which means it could result
in a fight, so it shouldn't be allowed.

I'll ignore the "just let the dogs work it out" people and continue to not
allow it.

I'm sure you wouldn't have allowed your son to run up and grab the
crotch or climb on the back of a playmate or acquaintance. Some
things should be left to dogs to work out and some shouldn't.

"sighthounds & siberians" wrote:

How about using a squirt bottle? The down side of that is that you'd
have to have one with you when he interacts with other dogs, but it's
so effective with my barky IG that all I have to do is pick it up.
And yes, you're right, humping is just bad dog manners regardless of
the motivation. Other dogs don't like it, which means it could result
in a fight, so it shouldn't be allowed.

That's a good idea! Or maybe a squirt gun. The squirt bottle works really
well with Shar-Pei, who are like cats when it comes to water.


I'll ignore the "just let the dogs work it out" people and continue to not
allow it.

I'm sure you wouldn't have allowed your son to run up and grab the
crotch or climb on the back of a playmate or acquaintance. Some
things should be left to dogs to work out and some shouldn't.


Indeed I wouldn't - and didn't. Where I made my mistake was allowing it at
times when the "let the dogs work it out" people would have my ear, so it
put us back to square one. When we made progress was when my son and I
agreed to never allow it - no exceptions. Remy is finally catching on, but
it would have been much easier if we nipped it in the bud in the beginning
and never allowed it.

Funny thing, though, he seems to prefer Labs. I have never seen him try it
with, say, a Rottie, Dobie, or German Shepherd - it's always a Lab.

"Dogman"
wrote:

I'll second what Sally said. And your intuition is right on the
button, Star. One day he'll pick on the wrong dog to hump, and a fight
will break out.

That's a very real and valid concern. One night my son was walking him
late, on leash, and an off-leash dog came barreling across the street and
attacked. Remy fought back, which told us he would never back down from a
fight. Remy did get bitten, but thankfully the loose dog's owner got
control of her dog before my son got bitten trying to break them up. Remy's
bites were puncture wounds, requiring a trip to the vet, and it was enough
to show us both how quickly such things can happen.


So just don't let your dog hump other dogs, people, etc.

It's never been a problem with people, thank goodness. It goes without
saying that should never be allowed, especially with children.


And other dog owners will thank you for it too.

I know I would if Remy was the humpee. Oddly enough, I've never seen
another dog do that to him, so he must send out a doggy vibe that he won't
allow it. I wish I could read dog body language as well as I can feline.

"Matt" wrote:


Dogs correcting each other and dogs working it out amongst
themselves is not in my rule book. Sometimes it's tempting,
especially when the attacker is inveterate and the attackee is
capable of taking care of itself, but what kind of message are
you giving the dogs?

Forget the attacker - you're teaching the attackee that it's
OK to fight other dogs which get into its space. Apparently,
the people giving this advice have never broken up a full out
dog fight.


I never thought about teaching the attackee that it's acceptable to fight
other dogs who get into its space, and that's a very valid point. A
full-out dog fight is a terrible thing. (I was bitten badly once trying to
break one up, which tought me the obvious - don't stick your hands in there,
duh.) I've always thought of it as protecting the attackee, but you've
reinforced that there's much more to it than that.

On Sat, 15 May 2010 08:42:03 -0500, "starcat"
wrote:

Indeed I wouldn't - and didn't. Where I made my mistake was allowing it at
times when the "let the dogs work it out" people would have my ear, so it
put us back to square one. When we made progress was when my son and I
agreed to never allow it - no exceptions. Remy is finally catching on, but
it would have been much easier if we nipped it in the bud in the beginning
and never allowed it.

True, but he'll get there. You seem to have done a really good job
with his training.

Funny thing, though, he seems to prefer Labs. I have never seen him try it
with, say, a Rottie, Dobie, or German Shepherd - it's always a Lab.

Heh. He's smart enough to know what dogs are likely to let him get
away with being obnoxious.

starcat wrote:

Here's my question: Should you stop your dog from humping other dogs? Let
the dogs work it out among themselves? Remy has been known to be quite the
little humper when playing with his dog buddies, and I get conflicting
opinions on what to do, depending on who I ask. He was neutered at 6
months, but I realize now it has nothing to do with this behavior, since
I've seen female dogs do it too, albeit not as often. What I have been
doing with sir-humps-a-lot is leashing him, having him sit, and if he goes
right back to it, leash him again and move him away from the humpee.
However, some people are telling me it's okay to let him go and the other
dog will correct him.

Any thoughts?

While humping does not always represent dominance, puppies and
adolescnts seem to do it for oother reasons, adult dogs not in heat
generally don't like it. With puppies they will usually be restrained in
expressing their displeasure, but with adolescents and adult dogs that
behavior can too easily lead to fights. That behavior should be
discouraged ASAP. Water bottles are a good means of interrupting that
behavior. Better is keeping a close eye ant calling your dog to you when
he approaches a dog or breed of dog likely to excite that behavior.

--
Bill Clodius
los the lost and net the pet to email

"Phyrie" wrote in message
...


I would not allow my dog to hump other dogs, whether they are dogs in
our household or otherwise. When neutered dogs hump more or less
indiscriminately, it's usually dominance-related.

No, it's not.

It's a side effect of over-vaccination and kibble poisoning, doncha know!

Maroon. Unhelpful maroon, at that...

It's not actually always to do with dominance. Dominance is an over used
word.
Al