How can I encourage our shelter dog Jack to stop

[phylny]

trying to "hump" one of my brother's dogs? Jack came to us when he was a little over one. He was not neutered until after we got him. He never tries to hump Abby, our other dog who is smaller and older than he is and is spayed, and really doesn't try to hump any other dog but one of my brother's dogs, Audrey (spayed), who is a bit larger than he is, visually impaired and a little skittish. Jack loves going to visit their house - Timmy, their other dog, is interested in him and Audrey must smell delicious, because Jack spends his time harassing her and trying to hump her constantly at their house or here.

I have tried correcting him, crating him, and letting them sort it out. Nothing seems to stop it. We had another dog visit and stay with us this past weekend, a spayed female dog that he knows from the neighborhood just a bit bigger than him, and Jack was playful with her and didn't growl or try to hump her once.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated!

[Auntie Bush]

1. My female dog has a humping pillow.

It's a child's pillow for sitting up in bed. Stands up and is a perfect shape for humping. She wears herself out going at it! I keep it in the bedroom most the time or when we have company.
It works so well I think someone should design a humping pillow. Maybe if your dog got some more "exercise" he wouldn't be so interested in your brother's dog. Maybe he just likes the way she smells. Men are more interested in some women than others...why can't dogs? lol

[Texasgal]

2. "humping" is an issue

with dominance in dogs.

I would start by routinely saying "NO" and holding your hand above the pet to let them know who is in control.

I have a 2 year old boston that has a habit of "humping" our arms and legs. When I say NO and hold my hand above her head she seems to follow. It has been better over the last year. I am still training however.

[phylny]

3. Thanks, I'll keep trying.

He's very obedient in general, but he's just got a "thing" for Audrey

[IrishAyes]

4. Sorry I have no helpful suggestions

Only the observation that the later dogs are spayed or neutered, the more likely such behavior will manifest.

[avebury]

8. I had 2 small dogs who were spayed/neutered as

puppies and both would do the dominance humping on my older larger dog. Lucky for both of them Sandy was a pretty laid back dog and just ignored them. When the little girl dog would do it, she would get on top of her big sister like a bear rug and do the most hysterical dominance dance thing. I would get on both of the smaller dogs. Fortunately they didn't do it a lot.

[IrishAyes]

9. Well, dogs are different just as humans... and maybe almost as complex.

What works for one dog doesn't always work for the next. I was merely going by averages. Partly because that's what vets usually recommend for more reasons than population control, and maybe a little from my own past years in horse breeding. If you're involved with the latter, you really don't want to wait until full maturity before deciding whether to geld a colt or you're likely to wind up with needless behavior problems. And yes, I've heard the true stories of stallions who were meek as a lamb. Exceptions to a general rule.

[TorchTheWitch]

5. this is a dominance issue

Jack is doing this to show his dominance. A dominant streak can lead to aggression. Jack seems comfortable with his place within your own household but among other dogs he doesn't consider part of his pack he's demonstrating dominance over.

Humping other dogs or people needs to be discouraged. For now Jack should be leashed when around any dog he harasses or tries to hump, and whenever he tries to do it give him a leash correction and tell him "NO" firmly. If he still keeps trying, then the correction has to be stronger. Only when he can be trusted to be around Audrey without harassing her or trying to hump her should he be off leash.

Your brother should also be protecting his dog Audrey from being harassed by Jack or she isn't going to trust him to be her leader and either try taking that position herself or become much to fearful which can also lead to fear aggression. He also needs to protect Audrey from this harassment by your dog by getting in front of her when Jack approaches with intent to harass and tell him "NO" as well. It's both you and your brother's responsibility when it comes to how these dogs are interacting: you need to control Jack, and he needs to protect Audrey.

I suggest getting with your brother and working out how both of you will address the problem so that Jack doesn't become harassing of other dogs and curb his dominant streak and Audrey doesn't become overly fearful or develop fear aggression by your brother not asserting himself in protecting her from the harassment of Jack. You'll probably both feel much better in getting the issue out in the open and working out a plan to fix the problem with you working on correcting Jack's behavior and your brother working on protecting Audrey from it. Jack and Audrey may never become friends (sometimes dogs just decide they won't like or trust a certain other dog no matter what), but at least they'll learn they have to tolerate each other... Jack won't be harassing Audrey anymore once he realizes you won't let him, and Audrey will feel more safe with Jack around knowing her master will protect her. And when that happens then everyone's happy.

[Tien1985]

6. This.

It will be "constant vigilance" for a little while, but it's something that has to be corrected. That sounds really frustrating, especially since you've tried so many things to curb the behavior.

Leash training until it stops--plus having your brother step in front of Audrey will also help Jack figure out that she is "protected".

Good luck!

[phylny]

7. Good idea on the leash training and "Daddy's little girl" protection!

The other thing I haven't done is the "mother dog neck scruff take down" which may work.

I know it's a dominance thing, and I know he was late being neutered, but unfortunately, we didn't have him early enough to do that

Poor Audrey. Our Abby, who is half Audrey's size, would give him a good, sound growl and snap, and it'd be done in an instant! I don't even know if he ever tried it on her, but he must have - once - because it's a non-issue here. He even learned enough from us to stay away from her bowl. Jack, who never met a morsel of food he didn't love, walks past her full bowl without even a glance. He ain't dumb