Five Ways to Deal With Young Humping

If you notice your puppy humping things, don’t panic. Although it is a natural behavior, it can lead to a bad habit later on in life. Here are five reasons why your puppy may be humping things:

As a dog grows, his sexual urges can become stronger and more frequent. The exact time it takes to reach puberty will depend on breed. Miniature poodles may reach sexual maturity at six weeks, while a Newfoundland may not reach sexual maturity until 15 months. However, not all puppies hump too early. It is important to address the problem early so that it does not become a habitual. Here are some ways to handle young humping.

Male dogs may hump in inappropriate ways as puppies. In intact animals, this behavior is likely hormonal, but in neutered dogs, the behavior may be learned. The cause of this behavior is unclear, but it can affect your puppy’s well-being. Although humping can cause discomfort in dogs, it is not a sign that they are dominating. It can indicate other health problems such as urinary tract infections.

The best way to stop a puppy humping is to spay or neuter them. This surgery decreases the hormones that cause the behavior. It won’t stop all types of humping. And, as with any surgery, neutering or spaying a dog can cause side effects, such as a serious infection or a heart condition. Before you do anything for a young humper, consult a veterinarian.

A scolding will do little to stop a dog’s humping, and you may only reinforce the behavior if you yell at it. If your dog is humping because it’s fun, you may reinforce it will continue into adulthood. It’s important to know that scolding a young dog’s humping could lead to a more persistent problem.

Humping may also be a way for dogs to assert their dominance, which is common in puppyhood. Experts believe that nondominant puppies use humping to get an intrinsic reward or a “high” for asserting their dominance. Male dogs hump to assert their dominance, as do female dogs. Veterinary experts have discovered that intact female dogs have higher testosterone levels than spayed females and are more likely to engage in sexual behavior.

Once a puppy begins humps, it’s harder to stop. The best way to prevent puppy humping is to eliminate the causes of stress in your dog’s life. To eliminate these stressors, you should consider neutering or spaying your dog. Puppy training can be used to correct this behavior. This is a natural method to teach your puppy to stop humping. But remember, it’s hard to get rid of it without drastic measures.

Five Ways to Deal With Young Humping
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