Jackie's a little humper

[marc]

ok. So Jackie has like 4 doggie friends that come over to play supervised in our yard.
With 3 of them, she's tried to hump them at one time or the other. Never happens on the initial meet and greet or in the beginning of play. Usually happens hours after they have played, relaxed, and played again.

I've read that this could either be nervousness or an attempt to show dominance over another dog for a dog that is unsure or doesn't know "how" to play/interact.

Jackie's play style is typically energetic, she likes to chase, body slam, play bitey face, etc. never once growled or barked at her playmates.

I do notice that with dogs that will play rougher with her, she'll roll over and let them mouth her heck. or when they chase her, she'll sometimes stop and rollover..and then get right back up and entice the other dog to play.

Any thoughts?

[marc]

oh, and btw...when her last friend Dexter, a male golden retriever didn't like it after 15 secs, he turned around and barked at her and snapped in the air, and she hadnt tried to do it to him again..

[emilys]

humping CAN be a bad thing. or not.
It depends on what the humpee feels. It sounds like only Dexter objected, and it's very very good that Jackie stopped doing it when he objected appropriately.
Same with all the different forms of rough play. It's fine as long as all the dogs are ok with it, and if they respond appropriately to appropriate corrections. That's why you have to supervise play all the time... so you can intervene if things are escalating beyond what one or more of the dogs is ok with.

[adoptapitbull]

Jackie might be a "let's get this party started" humper. She might think that humping signals the beginning of play. Mine are this way in that when one dog wants to play with another, they hump. They've each learned that it means "Let's play!" and it has never started a fight here. But i the humpee doesn't appreciate the humper's actions, it could start something.

I'm so glad this isn't the way people begin conversations.

[marc]

Jun 10, 2011 17:11:54 GMT -5 adoptapitbull said:

Jackie might be a "let's get this party started" humper. She might think that humping signals the beginning of play. Mine are this way in that when one dog wants to play with another, they hump. They've each learned that it means "Let's play!" and it has never started a fight here. But i the humpee doesn't appreciate the humper's actions, it could start something.

I'm so glad this isn't the way people begin conversations.

I did notice at times before the hump...she'd start by putting her paws on their backs...they didnt play... then she tried it again..they didn't play...then she humped...