The best way to stop a male dog from mounting other male dogs is to get him neutered. This will reduce the confusing hormone highs he may experience and help him control his emotions. Additionally, ensure your dog is getting plenty of exercise throughout the day.
Dogs are our family and we want to see them fit into their doggy friends’ circle and be socially accepted.
Some dogs are naturals at the social scene and some aren’t. The good news is that with proper training, any dog can be taught what he needs to know to fit in with the other dogs.
At a young age, we were taught about the “birds and the bees”. We were taught what is socially acceptable and what isn’t. Unfortunately, dogs were not taught about social acceptability.
They may act on their instincts and many times in places or at times when it is inappropriate. No one wants to bring home a friend for dinner and have their dogs introduce themselves by exhibiting behaviors that should be kept for the bedroom.
But sometimes this behavior can get a little strange. We get it with male and female dogs, it’s necessary for reproduction. But what does a male mounting a male mean in the animal world?
Before we can stop this behavior, it is important to understand why your dog feels the need to mount other male dogs.
What You'll Learn
Why Do Male Dogs Mount Other Male Dogs?
No – It’s Not What You Think
The mounting behavior discussed in this article is different from that of an intact male and female. In fact, it has little to do with sex.
This is an excessive behavior usually exhibited by a dog that is overwhelmed or overstimulated in an environment with other dogs. As a result, he expresses his excitement in untoward ways.
When dogs have trouble regulating their emotions or actions, some use “humping” to self-soothe and relieve stress.
Socialization
When puppies are taken from their littermates at too young of an age, or have spent considerable time in shelters, they may not have had a deep understanding of social rules.
Young puppies will often play with their littermates or parents as they learn the social rules. Older dogs will let puppies play and try annoying behaviors, then put them in their place when they’ve had enough. But the older and stronger a dog becomes, the less other dogs will tolerate “rude” behaviors.
Dominance
When a male dog mounts another male dog, it can be a sign of dominance. Some dogs will be more dominant, and some are more submissive in their pack role. If both dogs are fairly assertive in their personalities, this behavior may go over poorly.
How to Prevent a Male Dog From Mounting Other Male Dogs
Although mounting is a natural behavior in the dog world, even dogs know when it is too much and becomes rude.
As the leader, it is your job to teach your dog how to socialize in ways that won’t make him a social outcast at the dog park.
We have some ideas that may help him know (and keep) his place.
Get Him Neutered
Most dogs that have trouble with excessive mounting are males (although some more assertive females may also exhibit this behavior).
To help him calm down and behave in more appropriate ways, it is highly recommended to neuter your dog.
This reduces some of the confusing hormone highs he may experience and helps a dog take better control of his emotions.
Some studies have shown up to an 80 percent decrease in mounting behavior after getting a dog fixed.
Sooner is always better than later in this situation. After a few days, most of the sex hormones will have already left the dog’s body.
The younger he is, the easier it will be to retrain untoward behaviors.
Learn From Other Dogs
It is a great idea to let your dog learn social behaviors from a dog who is well-socialized and well-mannered. Especially if your dog has spent a good amount of time in a shelter or has had a failed re-homing experience. Some dogs need to be taught “social cues” that other dogs have learned through natural encounters.
In this case, it will be invaluable for him to have a “big brother” to show him the ropes. If you have an understanding friend (with an understanding dog), this will be an excellent way for him to start charm school.
Charm School
Practicing manners with your dog in a controlled and safe environment can help him learn. Letting him go to the dog park to figure it out on his own can lead to disastrous and possibly dangerous results.
Some ways you can help him learn social cues are exercise, proper introductions, and calm down corners. A friend with a socially adjusted dog will be a great help to help your dog learn.
Exercise
Before you want your dog to learn a lesson, you should start with a run, a brisk walk, or a game of fetch. This will relieve him of excess energy and stress—two likely contributors to his mounting behavior.
When you see he has blown off some steam in healthy ways (and before he is dog-tired), you can begin to work on his lessons.
Introductions
As in any charm school, your dog needs to learn how to introduce himself in socially appropriate ways. In the dog world, this usually starts at the nose and goes to the groin and tail area.
It is important to choose a neutral yard to practice, or if that is not possible, your friend’s yard will be better than letting your dominant dog feel top-dog on his own turf.
Keep both dogs on a leash and circle the dogs in opposite directions so they have a series of brief and appropriate encounters broken up by a walk.
Calm-Down Corner
If your dog passed the introductions phase by expressing appropriate non-aggressive behavior, you can let the dogs go (with a short leash still attached).
Let the dogs play and stay close to block behaviors before they have a chance to get off the ground.
If you see your dog mounting the other dog, block quickly. If your dog makes repeated attempts, it is time to take him to a “calm-down corner.”
Your dog should still be able to see the other dog, but the other dog needs to be kept away from yours while he calms down.
When you see that your dog has relaxed and is ready to listen, you can let him play again. Continue this cycle as needed, taking your dog to the “calm-down corner” in the same area each time.
Keep It Short and Sweet
Shorter visits that end with your dog having some social success are better. This can keep him (or you/your friend/your friend’s dog) from becoming overwhelmed or frustrated.
If your dog sees he can be socially successful, this will help him make new connections in his brain for positive behaviors. As he gets the hang of hanging out with friends, you can start to increase the time spent together.
Get an Expert on Board
Keeping some of these tips in your back pocket can help your doggy pal play with his friends without wearing out his welcome.
The younger the dog is, the less his bad habits will have had time to take root, and the easier it will be to retrain.
It is especially helpful if he can be neutered between 2 weeks to 6 months. If your dog is older, habits that work for him (even if they don’t work so well for other dogs) will be harder to break. For this, we recommend getting an expert on board to help him successfully kick his old habits.
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