Female dog acting like a male would

patdavoll,

I have seen this in females -- but not with humans. The humping is done when they have the other dog down. Because of this, I would suspect this is a mildly aggressive act. At her age, she may be trying to take over leadership. If it is aggressive, and similar to what they do in a dog fight, it won't lead to biting.

OTOH, she may have a physical problem. You might want to have her checked out by her vet. If the spaying was done recently, it may be the result of a decrease in female hormones.

I lean toward the physical ailment, whether it is a tumor or a lack of female hormones. But that is based on my never having seen females humping humans either.

Having your dog hump another human has got to be one of the more embarrassing moments of life! Have you tried just turning your back to her and ignoring her? (I am assuming she does it just like the male dog -- to your leg.)

This is a quick reply and I leave a more definitive answer to those who may have experienced this.

Good luck -- I hope whatever is causing this behavior is minor and easily taken care of. Let us know,
kjd

Crazycrayonmom,

Glad to hear you've had experience of being humped by a female dog. Patdavoll said "she tries to hump you." That's a human!

I laughed a bit too, but I got a much bigger chuckle out of a psychologist who told her neighbors, when she saw their male dog humping their son, "You must have taught your dog to hump! There are classes for that because people want to teach their dog to do that." I cannot imagine where she got such an idea, but she doesn't understand why none of her neighbors are eager to have her over to visit.

Thanks for the word. I used aggressiveness when I meant dominance. I worried about a physical problem because 1) I've mostly had females and none thought to hump me and 2) it just started. However, just starting when you've had a dog for such a short time could just mean the dog is beginning to feel at home.

So, patdavoll, as you can see, it isn't a serious behavior (albeit very embarrassing, especially when it is your minister or his wife she is doing it to). You can control it and she isn't abnormal.

Enjoy her. Some day, this will be a funny story to tell in the nursing home when you are old and grey!
kjd

my bearded collie unspayed bitch does this to me, I then firmly push her away, and the dog trainer who trained her says its because she feels sha is the alpha, I must admit that I tend to say orders to her and not order her, and the trainer says that thats the problem that she doesn't readily obey orders, but with 70 years I don't intend changing and she is lovable in all ways, only her ways aren't always mine. And the humping is only on me or other dogs who are her buddies, because friendly is her nickname, she loves all living creatures, and loves playing be it a yorkshire or a great dane, and I dont need to extend myself saying that sometimes the other owners seeing her so full of energy are afraid that she might hurt their "babies" . But summarizing she is a doll who sometimes plays too rugh and others humps me.