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Mounting or humping behavior occurs in the dog, can
be seen in both males and females. Contrary to
popular belief, this behavior has little to do with
mating.
Instead, it is a form of dominance behavior,
and is exhibited by the dog to establish dominance over
the object being mounted. This behavior can be
seen in puppies prior to puberty, thereby reinforcing
it as not a mating desire.
As long as the dog mounts objects, or other animals,
this is seen as normal behavior in these dogs who need
to establish dominance (so called Alpha trait),
common to wolf packs in the wild. When the dog
begins to mount human family members, this is a different
story. To the dog, the members of the family are
its "pack", and those dogs bearing the alpha
trait have a desire to maintain dominance over the
members of the pack.
This behavior must be discouraged if it is directed
towards you or members of your family if you are to
maintain control over the dog. You as a dog owner,
are and need to be the alpha individual.
Otherwise, the dog will control you or members of your
family, and this usually results in problems.
Through discouraging mounting behavior, followed by
a command to have the dog perform a skill (such as sit,
lay down, stay, etc), will reinforce you as the alpha
individual in the pack, and the dog will learn to respect
you as such.
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