Dealing with a horny and sexually aroused dog can be frustrating and stressful for any pet parent. Your precious pooch suddenly starts exhibiting intense sexual behaviors like humping, mounting, and excessive licking.
This surge in their sex drive is driven by hormones and instinctual mating urges. While it’s natural dog behavior, it still needs to be addressed responsibly.
Don’t worry, there are various effective techniques to calm down your amorous canine and curb those hanky-panky hormones. With positive training methods, lifestyle changes, medical intervention, and environmental management, you can control their sexual behavior and help them relax.
This comprehensive guide will explore the root causes of doggy horniness and provide actionable tips to mellow out your frisky Fido.
Understanding the Causes of Horny Behavior in Dogs
Before learning how to manage your dog’s horny behavior, it’s essential to understand what’s driving it. Here are some of the most common culprits behind your dog feeling hot and heavy:
1. Puberty and Sexual Maturation
Like human teenagers, dogs go through a surge in sex hormones as they hit puberty between 6-10 months old. Their bodies start producing more testosterone and estrogen, making them very interested in mating.
Adolescent dogs may suddenly become fixated on humping and mounting or roam in search of potential mates. Early neutering around 6 months can prevent some of this behavior.
2. Going into Heat
An unsprayed female dog will go into heat or estrus every 6-8 months. Their estrogen levels peak, and they release pheromones to attract male suitors.
She’ll flag her tail, urinate more frequently, develop a swollen vulva, and allow mating. This intense sexual arousal lasts around 2-3 weeks.
3. Lack of Neutering/Spaying
Dogs that aren’t sterilized retain all their sex hormones and reproductive organs intact. This means their mating instincts stay strong, driving liberal humping, mounting, and other sexual antics. Neutering males and spaying females is the most foolproof way to eliminate hormone-driven behavior.
4. Genetics and Breeding
Some breeds are more prone to intense sexual behaviors due to their genetics and history of being bred for these traits. Hound dog breeds tend to be more affectionate and mounting-oriented. Terriers also have higher energy and libido. However, all dogs can get horny.
5. Response to Females in Heat
Intact male dogs can detect a female dog in heat from miles away. The pheromones trigger their mating response, sending them into a frenzy of attraction behaviors to reach the female and mate. This includes escape attempts, restless energy, and severe frustration.
6. Lack of Physical/Mental Stimulation
Dogs with inadequate exercise, playtime, training, and enrichment are more likely to act out sexually due to pent-up energy. A bored dog may hump objects or people just to release that frustration and get attention. Ensure your dog gets sufficient daily stimulation.
Effective Techniques to Calm a Frisky, Horny Dog
Once you identify what’s causing your dog’s randy behavior, try these proven methods to mellow them out:
1. Neutering/Spaying
Surgically removing your dog’s sex organs through neutering (males) or spaying (females) eliminates the source of most hormonal behaviors.
It’s best done around 6 months old. Neutered dogs are less likely to roam, hump, or posture for mating. Talk to your veterinarian about the benefits and optimal timing.
2. Physical Exercise and Playtime
Giving your amorous canine productive outlets for their energy is key. Take them on brisk walks, hikes, runs, or swimming to tire them out.
Play fetch, tug-of-war, or chase games in your yard. Maintain a consistent exercise routine every day. A pooped pooch is less likely to pester you for sex later.
3. Mental Stimulation
In addition to physical activity, engage your dog’s brain through training sessions, puzzle toys like Kongs, hide-and-seek games using treats, or obedience work.
These mentally tiring tasks can redirect their focus and reduce sexual frustration. You can even teach them the “Leave it” command to discourage humping.
4. Limit Access to Triggers
If there are particular places, objects, or times of day that seem to kickstart your dog’s humping rituals, limit their access to these triggers.
For instance, keep them out of rooms with stimulating smells or opportunities to mount like the couch. Crate train them or use baby gates to restrict their range.
5. Discourage Unwanted Mounting/Humping
When your dog starts up their saucy business, calmly interrupt the behavior by making a loud noise, saying “Off” firmly, or leading them away.
Praise and reward them once they disengage. Be patient, as it may take consistency before they catch on. Never punish them, as this can worsen arousal.
6. Distract and Redirect
When you see signs your dog is getting revved up and ready to mount or hump, quickly redirect their attention. Initiate a fun game of fetch or hand them a puzzle toy stuffed with treats. Creating positive associations takes their mind off mating.
7. Desensitization Training
If your male dog obsesses over a female in heat nearby, work on gradually desensitizing them to these triggers. Start with a mild version of the stimulus like soiled female bedding. Reward calm responses and very slowly increase intensity as they remain composed. This can dampen their frenzied reactions.
8. Pheromone Products
Synthetic pheromones mimicking nursing, peace and comfort can help create a soothing environment for an antsy, excited dog. Try an Adaptil collar, plug-in, or spray. Or use Comfort Zone or Pet Remedy calming diffusers. Talk to your vet about suitable pheromone options for your dog.
9. Herbal and Natural Supplements
Several veterinarian-approved supplements can help take the edge off a revved up dog when used alongside other training. Zylkene and Anxitane mimic calming brain chemicals. Valerian root, chamomile, and passionflower have mild sedating effects. Consult your vet before trying.
10. Prescription Medication
For severe cases of over-the-top sexual behavior not responding to other methods, your veterinarian may prescribe oral medications.
Fluoxetine and other anti-anxiety meds can reduce obsessive sexual habits and compulsive behaviors. But medications come with risks, so see your vet.
11. Secure Yard/Leash Walks
Intact males will go to great lengths to escape and find females in heat. Make sure your yard is securely fenced off with buried fencing and padlocked gates. When walking, use secure harnesses and double leashes to prevent elopement. Close supervision is a must.
12. Create a Calm Home Environment
Does your home have chaotic energy that might be amping your dog up? Make sure their daily routine is relaxing with mellow handling, soothing music, slow introductions to guests, limited loud noises, and soft lighting at night. Try calming essential oils like lavender or chamomile.
Answers to Common Questions on Dealing with Frisky Dogs
Still have some lingering questions about curbing that bothersome sexual behavior in dogs? Here are helpful answers to some frequently asked questions:
1. Is my dog’s humping problematic or just normal?
Most puppies and adolescent dogs will engage in some sexual exploration and pleasure-driven humping. As long as it’s not excessive, rude, or upsetting, it can be normal. But if the habit is frequent, intense, or directed at humans, furniture or toys, it may need addressing.
2. Will neutering completely stop my male dog from humping/mounting?
Neutering removes the testosterone fueling your dog’s sexual behaviors. While it won’t fully eliminate humping habits overnight, it does typically reduce, minimize or resolve them in 90% of cases after the hormones leave their system.
3. How can I stop my female dog from flagging her tail and peeing everywhere?
When in heat, females will urinate more frequently and flag their tails to attract males. Get her spayed to stop this, or confine her to an easily cleaned room lined with potty pads. Take her out on a leash for bathroom breaks to monitor her closely. Keep male dogs away.
4. Why does my neutered dog still get erections and tie with toys?
Even after neutering, male dogs may still retain some sexual behaviors like erections, pelvic thrusting, and tying with toys during pleasure. As long as it’s not problematic humping, it’s likely just a habit. Redirecting them can help discourage it.
5. How do I stop my dog from humping guests and furniture?
Use baby gates to keep them separated from off-limit areas. Train a solid “Off!” cue when humping starts. Praise them for stopping. If an excited greeting triggers it, have guests ignore your dog until they are calm. Keep their routine stimulating to prevent boredom.
In Summary
While a frisky, fired up dog can be disruptive, with a multifaceted approach focused on exercise, stimulation, training, environmental management and medical intervention as needed, you can control unwanted sexual behaviors. Have patience, be consistent with interrupts and redirection, and offer plentiful outdoor playtime. Most importantly, get your dogs spayed or neutered to prevent hormonal havoc. With time and smart strategies, you’ll have a calmer, less sexually charged canine companion.
Featured Image: istockphoto.com
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