[Beachpup]

We picked up our 8 week old spoo yesterday. We had spent about a total of four hours with him while he was at the breeders during visits. There was never any humping behavior with his litter mates or the other adult dogs at the home. Now that he is home he is humping everything and everyone. Why would he never exhibit this behavior at the breeders but it’s non stop here? We don’t have any other animals and its just me and my husband. We are using distraction to discourage. Help!

 

[cowpony]

It feels good and it is comforting. He was probably relaxed around his littermates, and anyone who objected to being humped had already told him off. He knew his place in that world. Now he's in a new, exciting, confusing, anxiety provoking life. He's reacting to the change with socially inappropriate behavior. He doesn't know it's gross, any more than a toddler knows that picking his nose in public is disgusting. He's just a clueless baby. I think you are doing the right thing by distracting him and giving him something more socially acceptable to do.

 

[lily cd re]

Mounting behavior by puppies is not sexually based it is an indication of high excitement. Think about the world from your pup's perspective. In the last 24 hours everything he knew and that gave him comfort disappeared completely. He is a sponge for learning but there is too much to easily take in. You are working super hard to help him settle, but it is all pretty overwhelming. Humping burns up a lot of energy and that is really all he is trying to do, get rid of some energy. Either ignore it so it is not rewarding to do or redirect him to playing with a toy or doing a little bit of bonding type activity.

 

[Brownie_mom]

When I got Ruger at 8 weeks home he also started humping everehting, but it did not last for too long. Now he is home for two weeks and I did not notice him humping at all. He is a mini poodle, but I do not think it makes a big difference.

 

[Spottytoes]

Bobby would hump rather frantically sometimes when he was a little pup. As the others have said, distract him, ignore him, it will definitely get better. The behavior didn’t last very long at all. I think the important thing is to not to make a big deal of it.