Female Humping my 3 year old

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cmckgirl80
Posts: 1
Joined: 24 Feb 2021, 17:27
First Name: Chelsea
Dog #1: Ruby
is a: B/S Mini Bitch
Born: 03 Aug 2018

Female Humping my 3 year old

Post by cmckgirl80 »

My intact female miniature schnauzer, Ruby (we've had her since October 2018 as a 8 week old puppy from the breeder) has all of a sudden started to hump my 3 year old son since last week. We've caught her starting the act and each time I have pulled her off of him and told her "No, leave it!" and she doesn't try it again until the next day or two. She is not in heat at the moment. She was in heat back around Christmastime. My 3 year old son along with his 6 year old brother play with her and she is really good with them. But what I don't understand is why is she now starting this and only with my 3 year old? We take her on walks, play with her and train with treats (roll over, jump, shake, etc) on a daily basis. We don't plan to spay her because we would like to breed her sometime this year or next year. The only change that I can think of is that I am now pregnant (just found out 2 weeks ago), could that be part of it? Any suggestions as to why she could be doing this, would be really appreciated. Thank you!
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zeta1454
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Joined: 19 May 2011, 16:58
First Name: Leigh
Dog #1: Magic
is a: P/S Mini Bitch
Born: 20 Apr 2010
Dog #2: Trilby
is a: P/S Mini Bitch
Born: 15 Mar 2012
Dog #3: Pip
Born: 21 Feb 2014
is a: P/S Mini Bitch
Location: North Yorkshire
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Re: Female Humping my 3 year old

Post by zeta1454 »

Welcome to the Forum Chelsea :)

Although ‘humping’ looks as though it is sexual/ hormone driven, this is not always the case and is definitely nothing to do with whether or not a bitch or dog has been neutered. It can often be a displacement activity when a dog finds themselves in a situation where they feel insecure or unsure how to behave. I have seen it in three bitches - all spayed - who for different reasons had been affected by something early in their life as very young puppies. It can also be seen in dogs whose early upbringing was affected by poor welfare or a mother that was herself unable to raise her pups in the best environment. The behaviour can be triggered by excitement of any kind or by scenting other bitches ‘in season’. It may well be the case with Ruby that she has been affected by the fact you are pregnant which she has almost certainly known from changes in your scent. It is impossible to know for sure what mental / emotional triggers this has for her but she may be unsure how to react to this and it is setting off the ‘humping’ as a displacement activity.

Why she is choosing to do this with your youngest son only is impossible to say but often a bitch that does hump will have a ‘chosen one’ who may be someone she is attached to emotionally or just one that is more tolerant. Humping as a displacement behaviour is very difficult to stop as it will be a default activity every time a bitch is unsure how to cope with a particular situation or when she scents another in season but you do need to intervene and try to distract her on to something else if you can and try to make sure that the boys do not play games with Ruby that get her excited or hyper as that is more likely to trigger the behaviour.

Although there is no need to have Ruby spayed if you don’t want to and it is unlikely to have any effect at all on ‘humping’ behaviour’, do reconsider breeding from her as the demands, responsibilities and risks of breeding puppies when you have young children are huge. The Kennel Club list the following as things to consider before having a litter of puppies:

Is the bitch fit, healthy and does she have a good temperament?

Can you afford to pay for the recommended health tests for the bitch prior to mating her and, where necessary, for her litter?*

Do you know enough to help the bitch during the whelping, if necessary?

Can you afford to pay for a caesarean should the dam have difficulty whelping the litter?

Could you cope with a very large litter of puppies?

Do you have sufficient knowledge to rear the litter correctly, including worming, vaccinations and socialisation?

Do you have the time to devote to a litter until the puppies are old enough to go to their new homes, which is usually around 8 weeks?


Are you knowledgeable enough to advise new owners about caring for their puppies, including rearing, diet, training and health problems?

Would you be able to find good homes for the puppies?

Are you in a position to take back or rehome any puppies if it becomes necessary?“


*The health tests needed for miniature schnauzers are clear eye certificates from a BVA veterinary ophthalmologist (screening for Hereditary Cataracts and Progressive Retinal Atrophy) and also a DNA test for MAC (Mycobacterium Avian Complex) with a clear result for Ruby and the intended sire. Both Ruby and the intended sire should have been bred from eye screened parents and further back in the pedigree also. These details can be checked on the Kennel Club Health test database under their KC registered names. The litter of puppies will also need to be eye screened before sale for Congenital Hereditary Cataracts, HC and PRA usually at 6-7 weeks of age.

https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/dog-br ... -breeding/

When a bitch is ready to give birth she will need constant care, someone to sleep beside her whelping box and ready at a moments notice day and night to be able to get her to a vet if needed as this can be a matter of life and death of pups and/ or mother if there are any issues with the birth. Following on from the birth, she will require 24/7 attention to ensure all is well with her and the pups - eclampsia which can affect bitches especially with a large litter develops very quickly and is fatal if the symptoms are not recognised immediately.

In the 8 weeks following birth, puppies need constant supervision also - to make sure they are safe, warm and feeding well in the early weeks and to provide staged environmental stimulation as they grow, to accustom them to the sounds and sights of a family home and outside play in the garden. As they approach the time for leaving to new homes, the pups will benefit from starting house training and getting used to spending time away from Mum and siblings and being trained to sleep in a crate. Raising puppies is an enjoyable but physically and emotionally exhausting task and someone needs to be there to carry this out all day every day for at least 2 months, without the distraction of other dependents whose own needs and welfare would compete for those of the pups.

Breeding dogs (or any creature) is a huge responsibility which needs knowledge and understanding of the breed, plenty of time and energy with no other distractions, financial means to support veterinary bills which can be large, knowing how to raise healthy, self confident pups and the ability to advise new puppy families on health, grooming, training etc. There are too many unwanted and abandoned puppies and dogs in this country to embark on breeding unless it is with the confidence that you can breed to the highest standards.
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. ~Roger Caras

Magic - Silversocks Sharade at Darksprite
Trilby - Darksprite Rosa Bud


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