And the gender roles are equally flexible between same-sex couples. They may even wander about the park, canoodling with one dog after another, with no regard to sex.įemales sometimes assume the dominant role when exhibiting courtship behaviors or engaging in breeding-like activity with other females, and males may assume submissive roles when engaging in such activities with other males. One day they may be attracted to dogs of the opposite sex, before feeling attracted to dogs of the same sex the next day. It’s quite possible – some would say likely – that dogs simply do what seems appealing at the time. Dogs experience a completely different reality than we do, and we’re wise to draw conclusions about motivations carefully. For example, “the stop sign is angry.” This is an understandable tendency, but one researchers try to avoid. Speculating about the motivations of dogs usually involves anthropomorphic thinking, a term used to describe the attribution of human emotions to a non-human entity. Given the many varied reasons that dogs hump one another, the fundamental differences between the brains of humans and those of dogs, and the different ways we view pair bonding, it is important to avoid drawing conclusions about their motivations – particularly when it involves such nebulous concepts as sexual identity.
This can usually be alleviated by neutering your pooch, but if it is not done at a young age the behavior can become harder get rid of. Intact Dogs: Male dogs that have not been neutered are more likely to display dominant humping behavior.This behavior can usually be lessened by proper training, especially if begun at an early age!
If it occurs frequently or in response to many different stimuli, it can be a sign that your dog does not know how to properly socialize. Dominance: While mounting can just be a playful act, it can also be a show of dominance over another dog.It is even a common occurrence with dogs that have been spayed or neutered! This behavior is especially common amongst energetic puppies, but is seen in some older dogs as well – male or female. Dogs are never taught that certain actions are inappropriate, so it’s common to see a back and forth of playful mounting. Casual Play: With people, we’re taught at a young age what actions are acceptable in public and which aren’t.Here are several reasons your dog may be humping other dogs: While it can be sexual, dogs have their own social norms that are different than those of their human friends! Through different types of play and body language, dogs use non-verbal actions to communicate. So when our dogs start mounting each other in public, it can cause us to feel embarrassed and confused about why our beloved fur babies are engaging in such uncouth behavior.įor dogs, mounting can be done for a variety of reasons. To humans, humping in public is considered a big no-no. Some dogs hump things as a form of play, while others do so when they are anxious. It’s important to note that while these advances – which may not even involve actual intercourse – often provide sexual or physical gratification, dogs also engage in humping behaviors for a variety of other reasons. Sometimes their sexual advances even extend to other species, as countless cats, stuffed animals and human legs can attest.
However, dogs can certainly exhibit gay sexual behavior for a variety of reasons, which we’ll explain below! Homosexuality in Dogs and Animal Sexualityĭogs do what they want, when they want, and are presumably unconstrained by the internal conflicts that often plague humans. In short, dogs can’t really be gay, simply because dogs don’t have a sexual orientation or consistent sexual preference the way some humans do. Plenty of dogs engage in sexual behavior (or sex-like behavior) with members of the same sex.īut are these same-sex scenarios nothing more than hormones run wild, or do they actually represent homosexual behavior and imply that such dogs are gay? We attribute a lot of human qualities to our canine friends, causing people to wonder – can my dog be gay? Can Dogs Be Gay?ĭogs live unconstrained by internal (or external, for that matter) conflicts about their sexuality. Knowing why your pooch is doing this can help alleviate awkward situations, help you understand your dog better, and even be a conversation starter! We’ve all been there – you’re at the park, or having a dinner party, and your dog starts humping someone else’s pup or one of your guests’ legs.