My dog humps our cat and my company's legs. Why does he do that?

Today a client shared with me her embarrassment when her female puppy "humps" or mounts the legs of her company.  The owner has also seen the pup mount toys, pillows and even the cat!  The client asked me if when the pup get's spayed (or neutered) will this behavior stop.  I explained that spaying will not necessarily stop the behavior, and that at this age, mounting behavior is not a sexually driven.

So what is mounting all about?  Most owners commonly think that mounting is either a sexually driven or dominance driven behavior.  While these two motivations for mounting may sometimes be a factor, mounting can be attributed to various reasons and without knowing the context of the mounting, sometimes it is impossible to determine the dog's motivation.

5 Basic Reasons for Mounting Behavior

• Anxiety/arousal.  This is often the main reason, especially if the dog is mounting objects or people.  Mounting is a form of displaced behavior, that is, it occurs out of context in response to an internal emotional conflict.  Example:  A visitor enters your home, your dog is extremely excited about their presence and may even make them nervous about the visit; your dog mounts to relieve the tension felt from this visitor.  Dogs will also mount an object out of extreme excitement (such as a new toy).  There can also be an attention-seeking component to the behavior; mounting the visitor becomes an outlet for the dog's excitement and draws immediate attention to the dog too, satisfying two needs at once.

      Sometimes mounting can be an anxiety response to punishment.  Perhaps he was scolded for getting in the trash several hours after the event (he did not understand why you were yelling).  The scolding is a source of anxiety that may need an outlet and a displacement behavior, mounting, is the answer.

• Sexual:  Male and female, spayed and neutered dogs will engage in this behavior.  Male sexual behaviors are not solely driven by testosterone.  
• Dominance:  Sometimes a dog mounts another to establish or remind the other dog of its status.  But this is not necessarily a problem if the other dog defers and allows the mounting.  If your dog is mounting an inanimate object, that is not dominance.  You must determine if the behavior is occurring in an attempt to establish a dominant role over another dog.  
• Play:  In the dog world, playing involves more than just having fun, it is also an important social interaction.  Dogs that play together are able to cooperate and get along in other situations.  Dogs play by using skills they use in the 'real' dog world.  Example: when hunting for food, they stare at the prey, stalk and chase it.  Role reversals are a normal part of play, helping to establish trust between individuals.  A dog that is normally submissive may mount a dog that may defer in order to develop a trusting relationship.
• Self-soothing behavior:  A dog may mount an object (toy, pillow, blanket) before settling to sleep, sort of like an infant sucking their thumb.  

Mounting can be a sign of behavioral problems.  Teaching your dog a more appropriate behavior in the face of anxiety or excitement may be needed.  If the behavior becomes repetitive, it may develop into a compulsive behavior.  

Next blog:  What to do about mounting.  You will have to wait for these tips.  Vacation starts tomorrow.