Hi

Kayler was at the vet last week as she had sore feet, a mucky ear and blood crusted around some of her nipples. She ended up having a general anesthetic to get her ear cleaned out and has come home with a long acting steroid injection antibiotics and ear drops.... She went back for a check this morning and has more meds and we are waiting for the results of blood tests to come back to see if she is allergic to anything. That is all good, she has bounced back literally Jumping all over the place on her return visit. I have notice tonight that she is 'humping' (sorry can't think of another word) the sofa and trying to get to Tigs too Do you think this is to do with the GA and vets visit as up until now she has been fine. Was in season for the first time in May. Mot sure what I should do now??? Do I ignore her, tell her no or what? could it be the meds or would this have happened anyway?

Any advice appreciated.

Poor girl - all that itching must be driving her distracted! Daisy's sister Raggle has allergies that get her biting her paws and scratching. This year she has been having a course of immunotherapy and it does seem to be helping!

Humping is usually one of two things - either a sexual thing, or a social thing. As she is humping objects it doesn't sound social - I wonder if it is a result of her recent season

Beamish is now 16 months - he has never humped objects, but he does hump dogs he has never met before - once he knows them he stops - very embarassing on walks I think he is trying to say that he is not a pushover (but he is! ).

My mum's lurcher bitch has a habit of humping items or will get a little too erm engrossed when cleaning her genitals. They brought it up on a session with a behaviourist who told them that sometimes it occurs due to anxiety and self soothing, or alternatively simply self satisfaction. The dog did have anxiety problems for years but it was sorted out. She has continued to exhibit the behaviour to the age of twelve, be it through habit or no. It's not a harful habit allbeit not a particularly pleasant one to witness. My parents discourage her from it but do not tell her off for it. We have a cat which is also inclined to such acts, and i can assure you it has nothing to do with anxiety. Like many boys, he's just a bit too fond of playing with himself!

Darcy and Willow (brother and sister) take it in turns to hump eachother!! Normally if one gets more attention than the other. Darcy(neutered) always humps Willow when people first come over (embarassing!!!) to say 'hey, stroke me first'. Willow humps Darcy if the she feels that I am playing too much with Darcy. With mine it is a social/dominance/play thing that is more lighthearted than anything. Darcy and Willow has only ever humped eachother and nothing/nobody else and no other dog. Our new puppy Louis - 11 weeks ,however humps everything!!! May need some advice here!! I use get off spray on my leg, clothing, duvets and sofas which seems to work great and it also stops him from mouthing. I just have to hold up the bottle now and he immediately backs away or just a quick tiny spray in an area where he shouldn't be does the trick!!

It obviously does the trick, but personally I would be very wary of using any sort of adversive on a puppy as young as that. Imo puppies need to learn that good things come from people, especially those they live with, and not encouraged to have any reason to feel apprehensive about people, their hands etc.

I agree with Bid, adversive/negative reinforcement should rarely be used on a puppy. The only exception to the rule would be where pups are biting or jumping up at very young children or frail/elderly persons when distraction techniques fail.