Shih Tzu Humping: Why It Happens and How to Fix It

Shih Tzus are known for their affectionate nature, but sometimes this can manifest in unwanted ways, like humping.

Shih Tzu humping is a common behavior in the breed, and it's often a sign of excitement or playfulness.

In fact, research suggests that Shih Tzus are more likely to exhibit humping behavior due to their high energy levels and strong prey drive.

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Shih Tzus, like any other breed, can exhibit humping behavior for a variety of reasons. Humping is a natural and normal dog behavior that happens for a variety of reasons, and dogs of any age may initiate it.

Dogs hump due to sexual, play, excitement, stress, or medical problems. Sexual humping is common in unneutered dogs due to their hormones, but it's not the only reason why dogs hump. Some hump other dogs, some hump people, and others hump their toys and blankets.

Humping can be triggered by excitement, and if a dog is over excited, mounting and humping can help get rid of excess energy. In fact, mounting is common when a dog gets over excited during play.

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Some Shih Tzus may hump due to stress and anxiety, and mounting can sometimes be associated with bladder and urine problems. However, this is very rare.

Here are some common triggers for Shih Tzu humping:

Preventing Unwanted Behavior is key to stopping Shih Tzu humping. Exercise your dog thoroughly each day to drain their energy, which can otherwise be directed towards unwanted behaviors like humping.

A tired dog is a happy dog, and a happy dog is less likely to engage in humping. Structured exercise can help prevent your Shih Tzu from using their energy on this behavior.

To stop the behavior in all forms, avoid encouraging it, even if it seems cute. If your Shih Tzu humps a stuffed animal, it's essential to stop this behavior to prevent it from becoming a habit that's hard to break.

Here are some ways to prevent unwanted behavior in your Shih Tzu:

By following these steps, you can help prevent your Shih Tzu from engaging in unwanted humping behavior. Remember, consistency is key when it comes to training your dog.

Limiting the trigger is a crucial step in preventing unwanted behavior in your dog. By identifying and reducing the situations that trigger humping, you can help your dog learn more acceptable behaviors.

If your dog only humps when at the dog park, limit the visits until you can address the behavior. Overstimulation at a busy park or dog park will inspire a dog to act out in ways we find unappealing, like sniffing and humping.

The fewer the dogs around, the less likely your pet's unseemly behavior will be triggered. In fact, if your dog humps their toys or a favored pillow, removing the item and redirecting their attention to a game of chase or fetch can be an effective way to stop the behavior.

Here are some specific situations to limit to prevent humping:

By limiting the situations that trigger humping, you can help your dog learn more acceptable behaviors and reduce unwanted behavior.

Exercise is key to preventing unwanted behavior like humping. When a dog has too much energy, they can direct that energy toward an unwanted behavior, like humping. If you can thoroughly drain the dog's energy each day with structured exercise, you can help prevent your dog from using their energy on that behavior.

Avoid encouraging the behavior in any context. Some pet owners think it's cute when their dog humps something like a stuffed animal, but if you want your dog to stop humping other dogs or people, you need to stop the behavior in all forms.

Distract your dog before it starts. Watch your dog and observe how they act immediately before starting the mounting behavior. When you start to notice these signs, immediately distract your dog with a toy or game before it can engage in the behavior itself.

Humping can also be a response to stress. If you notice that your dog displays this behavior when faced with a source of anxiety, avoid putting your dog in that stressful situation. If the situation is unavoidable, look for ways to make the experience less stressful.

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Limit the trigger. If your pet only humps when at the dog park, then naturally, limit the visits until you can address the behavior. Overstimulation at a busy park or dog park will inspire a dog to act out in ways we find unappealing, like sniffing and humping.

A table of common triggers and prevention strategies is below:

Training your Shih Tzu to respond to commands is a crucial step in addressing humping behavior. It's a natural behavior, but one that can be a problem for you and your pet.

To start, you'll want to ensure your Shih Tzu responds to basic commands like "sit" and "come." This will help you interrupt their humping behavior and redirect their attention to something else.

According to Example 2, "Humping can be just a normal playtime activity with dogs, much like roughhousing. It is a show of dominance." So, it's essential to establish yourself as the pack leader and teach your Shih Tzu to respect your commands.

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If your Shih Tzu starts to hump, use a strong command to interrupt the behavior and get them to come to you. Give them a treat and praise them when they respond correctly.

Here are some commands to consider teaching your Shih Tzu:

Remember, training your Shih Tzu to respond to commands takes time and patience. Be consistent and reward good behavior with treats and praise.