Why Do Female Chihuahuas Hump

You know your best pal, Sadie, like the back of your hand. Yet, recently Sadie has been acting a bit different. Although she seems completely normal when you both are out and about, she has begun to act a bit sneaky at home. In fact, you have noticed that Sadie has adopted a new habit of humping, which she actively practices when your friends come over to spend time with you. Although this seems comical to your friends, it has become quite frustrating and an issue with your dog, Sadie. Now, you are determined to understand why female Chihuahuas like Sadie have a strong desire to hump those that surround them.

You would have never thought that your sweet and gentle dog, Sadie, would embarrass you around your friends. Yet, here she is, using her body to hump others in an inappropriate way. To Sadie, the act of humping is a completely normal part of her canine nature because it is all she knows. In fact, it does not matter whether your dog is a small puppy or at the age of sexual maturity. The act of humping will usually be used in a playful manner, so your dog can learn about their own body's sexual drive and usually, dogs will continue this behavior throughout their life because they learn to enjoy it. Yet, beyond pure enjoyment, why else would your female Chihuahua, Sadie, take part in this activity? Well, female dogs like Sadie will use the humping behavior for a few reasons. 

First off, if your dog is stressed out or bored, the act of humping may give them something to do, especially if they regularly like to take part in this activity. If you're at work all day, your dog may just take on this new found habit to fill up her time until she gets her daily walk. Secondly, dogs may take part in this activity because it creates attention. If this is the case with your dog, you may want to pay more attention to your dog and provide them with daily exercise. More importantly, this behavior may come about when your dog interacts with others in a playful way, which is completely normal. Although females use their learned mounting behavior in a social way, it can also be extremely instinctual. During the female heat cycle, females will commonly participate in the humping behavior because their bodies are processing hormones in a different way. They have a stronger sexual desire, especially when they are around male animals. You can watch how your dog behaves when they participate in the act of humping to determine the exact reason for their behavior, whether it be boredom, attention, hormonal behavior dominance, or social play. 

Although humping is a normal behavior, it can also be a detrimental one. To Sadie, she may just be playing with her fellow friends, but if she is not careful, her playful humping could actually be dangerous. You don't want to let your dog hump anyone or anything, especially if the opposing person or animal does not welcome the behavior. Due to this, it is important to be aware of Sadie's behavior, so you may properly train your dog. It may even be beneficial if you get your dog spayed so their desire to act in a sexual way decreases. 

If you can train your dog to stop humping something when they begin, it can make a world of differences. Yet, before you decide to train your dog, you will want to decipher why your dog humps others. Once you decide why your dog is humping, you can act accordingly. If your dog is bored, stressed, or has large amounts of energy, you can adjust their daily routine and take them on more walks. If they are trying to get attention, you can adjust the way you interact with your dog each day. The way you train and handle your dog will alter the way they behave on a regular basis. 

It is important to watch over your dog when they participate in humping behavior. Once you understand why your dog humps, the training you provide will make a world of difference. Specifically, it is important to socialize your dog in a monitored area and provide them with playtime on a daily basis, so they can understand play boundaries. If your dog is acting or feeling flirtatious with others, they may act upon the humping behavior. Yet, if they are commonly using their high energy to exercise and play in a formatted way, they may not quickly act in a sexual way when they are playing with another. If you find that your dog acts aggressively, you will want to put a halt on their behavior and possibly hire a behavioralist.

Although Sadie is small, she is still quick and sneaky in her desired ways. Due to this, it is important to train Sadie and give her the proper boundaries that she needs. If you find that Sadie is having trouble controlling her humping habits, you may want to contact your veterinarian for additional assistance.