5 Reasons Why Puppies Hump Their Toys And How to Stop it

Puppies, just like humans, need outlets to express their feelings and emotions.

While some puppies use barking, others may employ humping as a way to show their affection or release energy.

Even though it can be humorous to watch, there are several reasons why puppies might engage in this behavior.

To understand why puppies hump their toys, it’s important to recognize the potential motivations behind this type of behavior.

Why does your puppy hump its toy?

There are several reasons why your puppy might be humping their toys. Some of the most common explanations include:

Attention and Affection

Puppies may use humping as a way to show affection and seek attention.

As puppies don’t have the verbal skills to express their emotions, they may resort to physical activities such as humping instead.

This type of behavior is common in puppies that are seeking more attention from their owners or want to bond with them.

Stress and Anxiety

Humping can also be a sign of stress and anxiety in puppies.

Puppies may resort to humping if they feel anxious or overwhelmed in an environment such as a new home or the presence of unfamiliar people.

Humping is an instinctive reaction for puppies, as it releases endorphins which help them cope with the stress.

Boredom

Puppies may also hump their toys out of boredom or lack of stimulation.

If your puppy isn’t getting enough mental or physical activity, it may resort to humping as a way to have something to do and release energy.

Dominance or assertiveness

Puppies may also use humping as a way to assert their dominance.

Humping is an instinctive behavior for puppies and it can be used as a way for them to show that they are the “alpha” in the pack.

This type of behavior is common in puppies who are competing with other animals or humans for attention or resources.

Release energy or pent-up emotions

Lastly, puppies may hump their toys as a way to release energy or pent-up emotions.

Puppies have physical and emotional needs that must be met in order for them to be healthy and happy.

Humping is an instinctive behavior that can help puppies satisfy these needs and release built-up energy or emotion.

How to stop a puppy humping its toy?

If your puppy is humping its toys, there are several things you can do to help stop this behavior. These includes:

Understand the behavior and its motivations

The first step to solving any problem is understanding the underlying causes.

Take some time to observe your puppy’s behavior and try to identify what might be causing it to hump its toy.

Is it boredom, stress, or seeking attention?

Once you have identified the cause, you can work on finding solutions to address that particular issue.

Provide plenty of exercise and playtime

Make sure your puppy is getting enough exercise and playtime.

Physical activity helps to release energy and can help reduce humping behavior in puppies.

Take your pup outside for walks, give them toys that stimulate their mind, and make sure they have plenty of time to run around and get some physical exercise.

Redirect their attention

If your puppy starts to hump its toy, try to redirect their attention to a different activity.

Give them something else to do, such as playing with another toy or going for a walk. This can help distract your pup and prevent the humping behavior from occurring.

Be consistent and patient

It’s important to be consistent and patient when trying to stop humping behavior in puppies.

Don’t give in to your puppy’s demands for attention or rewards, as this will only reinforce the behavior. It may take some time before your pup stops humping its toys, so be patient and stick with it.

Provide plenty of exercise and playtime for your pup

Puppies need plenty of exercise and playtime to stay healthy and happy.

Make sure your pup is getting enough physical activity, as this can help reduce humping behavior.

Take them for walks, give them stimulating toys to play with, and make sure they are getting enough mental stimulation.

This will help ensure that your pup has a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

Reward good behavior

When your puppy isn’t humping its toys, make sure to reward them for their good behavior.

Give them treats or extra attention when they aren’t engaging in the behavior.

This will reinforce positive behaviors and help your pup learn that stopping the humping is a desirable outcome.

With patience and consistency, you can help your puppy stop humping its toys.

Conclusion

Humping is a natural behavior for puppies, but it can be annoying and disruptive.

It’s important to understand why your puppy is humping its toys and work on addressing the underlying causes.

Be sure to provide plenty of exercises, playtime, and mental stimulation for your pup.

Redirect their attention when they start humping and reward them for good behavior. With patience and consistency, you can help your puppy stop humping its toys.