Female dog humping male cat

Hi guys,

I'm new to this NG, so I apologize if this is off topic.

I have a female dog (half chihuahua half fiest), about 7 years old.
She's been an indoor pet since she was just a few weeks old, not
spayed, but a virgin. She was an only child until about a year ago.

About a year ago, I obtained 2 male cats (not exactly by choice). The
cats have been neutered, and have been indoor pets since they were a
few months old.

For the last couple of months, my dog has taken to humping one of the
male cats. This cat happens to be the less aggressive of the two cats,
and tends to be my "scaredy-cat." I understand that this is usually
the dog showing dominance, and not so much a sexual thing, but it's
been going on long enough that I think the cat has gotten the hint.

I don't want to disturb any natural adaptation here, but I don't want
my dog to spend the next several years humping my cat, either! How
long should I let this go on before trying to intervene? For that
matter, just HOW do I intervene??

TIA,

Mike

I had a similar problem but with my male dog (neutered since pup, no
carnal knowledge, but certainly seemed to have the "urge" not necessarily
the dominance). I had the same questions, should I even DO ANYTHING. I
have decided to say "no" to him in my presence. I suppose he'll still have
the urge and to dominate is their culture. I also do this while he decides
to bathe himself in the middle of the living room. He just goes to his
space and continues. We shall see.
Michelle
Italy

"Mike" wrote in message
om...
Hi guys,

I'm new to this NG, so I apologize if this is off topic.

I have a female dog (half chihuahua half fiest), about 7 years old.
She's been an indoor pet since she was just a few weeks old, not
spayed, but a virgin. She was an only child until about a year ago.

About a year ago, I obtained 2 male cats (not exactly by choice). The
cats have been neutered, and have been indoor pets since they were a
few months old.

For the last couple of months, my dog has taken to humping one of the
male cats. This cat happens to be the less aggressive of the two cats,
and tends to be my "scaredy-cat." I understand that this is usually
the dog showing dominance, and not so much a sexual thing, but it's
been going on long enough that I think the cat has gotten the hint.

I don't want to disturb any natural adaptation here, but I don't want
my dog to spend the next several years humping my cat, either! How
long should I let this go on before trying to intervene? For that
matter, just HOW do I intervene??

TIA,

Mike

I had a similar problem but with my male dog (neutered since pup, no
carnal knowledge, but certainly seemed to have the "urge" not necessarily
the dominance). I had the same questions, should I even DO ANYTHING. I
have decided to say "no" to him in my presence. I suppose he'll still have
the urge and to dominate is their culture. I also do this while he decides
to bathe himself in the middle of the living room. He just goes to his
space and continues. We shall see.
Michelle
Italy

"Mike" wrote in message
om...
Hi guys,

I'm new to this NG, so I apologize if this is off topic.

I have a female dog (half chihuahua half fiest), about 7 years old.
She's been an indoor pet since she was just a few weeks old, not
spayed, but a virgin. She was an only child until about a year ago.

About a year ago, I obtained 2 male cats (not exactly by choice). The
cats have been neutered, and have been indoor pets since they were a
few months old.

For the last couple of months, my dog has taken to humping one of the
male cats. This cat happens to be the less aggressive of the two cats,
and tends to be my "scaredy-cat." I understand that this is usually
the dog showing dominance, and not so much a sexual thing, but it's
been going on long enough that I think the cat has gotten the hint.

I don't want to disturb any natural adaptation here, but I don't want
my dog to spend the next several years humping my cat, either! How
long should I let this go on before trying to intervene? For that
matter, just HOW do I intervene??

TIA,

Mike

I had a similar problem but with my male dog (neutered since pup, no
carnal knowledge, but certainly seemed to have the "urge" not necessarily
the dominance). I had the same questions, should I even DO ANYTHING. I
have decided to say "no" to him in my presence. I suppose he'll still have
the urge and to dominate is their culture. I also do this while he decides
to bathe himself in the middle of the living room. He just goes to his
space and continues. We shall see.
Michelle
Italy

"Mike" wrote in message
om...
Hi guys,

I'm new to this NG, so I apologize if this is off topic.

I have a female dog (half chihuahua half fiest), about 7 years old.
She's been an indoor pet since she was just a few weeks old, not
spayed, but a virgin. She was an only child until about a year ago.

About a year ago, I obtained 2 male cats (not exactly by choice). The
cats have been neutered, and have been indoor pets since they were a
few months old.

For the last couple of months, my dog has taken to humping one of the
male cats. This cat happens to be the less aggressive of the two cats,
and tends to be my "scaredy-cat." I understand that this is usually
the dog showing dominance, and not so much a sexual thing, but it's
been going on long enough that I think the cat has gotten the hint.

I don't want to disturb any natural adaptation here, but I don't want
my dog to spend the next several years humping my cat, either! How
long should I let this go on before trying to intervene? For that
matter, just HOW do I intervene??

TIA,

Mike

on 2004-05-25 at 20:31 wrote:

I don't want to disturb any natural adaptation here, but I
don't want my dog to spend the next several years humping my
cat, either! How long should I let this go on before trying
to intervene?

as you indicated, it's normal behavior. as for what to do
about it, if you don't want your dog to hump the cat, it's
okay to tell her to knock it off.

For that matter, just HOW do I intervene??

distract her and give her something else to do. you could use
a squeaky toy, then when her attention is drawn away from the
cat, praise her and give her the toy to play with.

you could also try a time-out. when my dogs get overly hyper,
they sometimes hump each other. if they don't stop when i
tell them to, i send them to their crates for just long enough
to thoroughly distract them from what they were doing (15-20
seconds is usually enough).

i don't always intervene, because it *is* a way for them to
work out issues. when i do intervene, i try not to make an
issue of it. i don't want to give them the idea that it's a
big deal. i just matter of factly stop the behavior, then we
move on to something else.

--
shelly (perfectly foul wench) and elliott and harriet
http://home.bluemarble.net/~scouvrette

on 2004-05-25 at 20:31 wrote:

I don't want to disturb any natural adaptation here, but I
don't want my dog to spend the next several years humping my
cat, either! How long should I let this go on before trying
to intervene?

as you indicated, it's normal behavior. as for what to do
about it, if you don't want your dog to hump the cat, it's
okay to tell her to knock it off.

For that matter, just HOW do I intervene??

distract her and give her something else to do. you could use
a squeaky toy, then when her attention is drawn away from the
cat, praise her and give her the toy to play with.

you could also try a time-out. when my dogs get overly hyper,
they sometimes hump each other. if they don't stop when i
tell them to, i send them to their crates for just long enough
to thoroughly distract them from what they were doing (15-20
seconds is usually enough).

i don't always intervene, because it *is* a way for them to
work out issues. when i do intervene, i try not to make an
issue of it. i don't want to give them the idea that it's a
big deal. i just matter of factly stop the behavior, then we
move on to something else.

--
shelly (perfectly foul wench) and elliott and harriet
http://home.bluemarble.net/~scouvrette

on 2004-05-25 at 20:31 wrote:

I don't want to disturb any natural adaptation here, but I
don't want my dog to spend the next several years humping my
cat, either! How long should I let this go on before trying
to intervene?

as you indicated, it's normal behavior. as for what to do
about it, if you don't want your dog to hump the cat, it's
okay to tell her to knock it off.

For that matter, just HOW do I intervene??

distract her and give her something else to do. you could use
a squeaky toy, then when her attention is drawn away from the
cat, praise her and give her the toy to play with.

you could also try a time-out. when my dogs get overly hyper,
they sometimes hump each other. if they don't stop when i
tell them to, i send them to their crates for just long enough
to thoroughly distract them from what they were doing (15-20
seconds is usually enough).

i don't always intervene, because it *is* a way for them to
work out issues. when i do intervene, i try not to make an
issue of it. i don't want to give them the idea that it's a
big deal. i just matter of factly stop the behavior, then we
move on to something else.

--
shelly (perfectly foul wench) and elliott and harriet
http://home.bluemarble.net/~scouvrette