Often, during courtship, females in heat mount and hump their male “suitors.” Female dogs also commonly mount and hump other females when one or both are in heat.
Whether you call it humping, mounting or thrusting, the behavior is natural in male and female dogs. For some dogs, it is a response to arousal. For others, it can just be a way to exert dominance and show that they're the top dog in the house.
Female dogs will often hump their pet parents to seek attention. After all, they are very likely to get attention every time they do it. They may also hump you out of excitement, particularly when you first come home and greet them.
Dogs may hump as a form of play, dominance, or as a way to relieve stress or anxiety. However, if your female dog is trying to hump you, it's generally not appropriate behavior and should be discouraged.
Is she in heat? Many would assume that a female dog who has been seen humping is in heat, and Osborne says that may very likely be the case if the dog is not spayed. It's not a definitive sign of heat, though, since dogs not in heat may still display these actions.
The dog estrous cycle is made up of four stages. These are the proestrus, estrus, diestrus, and anestrus. The proestrus is the most obvious stage, while the other stages are more subtle.
Some signs of a female dog going into heat may include lower energy levels, more aggressive behavior, differences in leg-raising while urinating, urinating more often than usual, and even running away from home. This is unlike male dogs, who do not experience heat cycles.
Mounting ("humping") is often a way by which one dog expresses dominance over another. Do not allow your dog to mount another dog, as this behavior is very likely to lead to a fight.
Heat usually lasts between 2-4 weeks. Early in the cycle, a female dog may not be receptive to male dogs, although some are receptive through the entire cycle. It can be shorter or longer and you'll know the cycle is over when all her vulva returns to its normal size and there's no more bleeding or discharge.
It is actually not that unusual for two female dogs in heat to fight. With raging hormones, there is also likely some level of competition going on. It is best to keep females in heat separate until they come out of heat if spaying is not an option due to the dogs being used for breeding.
Make sure they have access to chew toys and other activities that keep them occupied and burn energy. If there's a particular toy or other object that bears the brunt of your dog's humping, take it away until the behavior has eased.
Most dogs come into heat twice per year, although the interval can vary between breeds and from dog to dog. Small breed dogs may cycle three times per year, while giant breed dogs may only cycle once per year. When young dogs first begin to cycle, it is normal for their cycles to be somewhat irregular.
It is widely thought that the behaviour of humping/mounting other dogs, human's legs, toys, pillows, blankets etc. is sexually driven, but in actuality it is normally down to them asserting social dominance and/or practising and honing their social interaction skills.
Proestrus: Proestrus is the start of the heat period where your dog's body is preparing to mate. Signs seen during this phase include a swollen vulva, blood-tinged discharge, excessive licking of the genital area, clingy behavior, and aggression toward male dogs. Your dog may also hold her tail close to her body.
There is no menopause in dogs, so older female dogs continue to have heat cycles, but they will become further apart and her fertility will decrease.
Humping behavior can be directed toward a person when a dog is excited. It is a sign of mental or emotional arousal. The behavior can be a physical outlet for the dog or a way of seeking attention.
Flirtatious Behavior: Once a dog enters the estrus phase of her cycle, she is receptive to the attention of male dogs and might seek it out. She might start to present her rear and flag her tail to one side when around male dogs as an invitation.
Behavior & Pain While In Heat
Much like humans, female dogs experience cramps and hormonal changes when their bodies are preparing to mate. Also, like humans, this can be uncomfortable and can make them feel irritable and emotional. Be sure to consider your dog's feelings and needs during this time.
Changes can range from quite mild to more severe. Sometimes a female dog will become more affectionate and clingy with her owner, other times she may seem a bit grumpy. Appetite changes: It's not unusual for a dog to go off her food a bit during this first week, or she may get hungrier.
Your dog will only bleed for around half of the total cycle, usually 7 to 10 days. Generally, bigger dogs bleed more than smaller dogs, but it varies between dogs. Some dogs bleed very little.
After about 9-10 days, the bleeding will become more watery, or stop. It is at this time your female will, most likely, be at her most fertile. This proestrus stage can last as long as 20 days in some dogs. So the end of bleeding can be a more useful indicator of peak fertility.
The typical heat cycle will last between two and four weeks. Your dog or puppy will be fertile during this entire time but there is a small period, 9-10 days into the cycle, where they are especially fertile.
Female dogs cycle into heat on average every six months. But this can vary, especially in the beginning, so it's a good idea to keep track. It can take some dogs 18-24 months to develop regular cycles. Small dogs will tend to go into heat more frequently, as much as three or four times a year.