Dog Behavior Problems:

Dog mounting has been successfully treated in many cases by neutering the offender. However, when the behavior is psychologically ingrained, this may be ineffective. If the dog (male or female) is neutered in an attempt at correction, environmental/behavioral alterations are also advisable. It should go without saying that the owners must not allow or encourage further sexual mounting.

Doting or fondling of the dog must be stopped. If the dog pesters for attention, it should be given a command before any reward of spoken praise or petting. Rewards should be friendly and brief, no longer than a few seconds. I say "a few seconds" because in some cases the owner may use the dog's response as an excuse to pet and fondle it for as long as 10 minutes. This, of course, encourages the practice that contributed to the problem in the first place.

When correcting dog mounting, it is best to distract the dog to some other activity before it becomes firmly attached to a leg or other part of the owner's anatomy. The early signs of mounting are usually easy to spot. A rather vacant stare as the animal approaches, pawing at the owner's legs, a "humping" motion, or penile erection signal the onset of some sexual action, and mark the ideal time for distraction.

Distracting agents dog trainers have used include throwing a ball or some other plaything, followed by several minutes of intensive play-exercise; issuance of a command to Sit and Stay, to be maintained until the dog appears settled; and application of a sharp sound as an intervening stimulus, followed by quiet praise when the dog stops the mounting attempts.

Traditional corrections that usually fail include stepping on the hind toes to discourage mounting; sharply raising the knee into the dog's chest area to knock it away from the leg; and picking up the offender and shaking it while saying "No." Less traditional, and equally ineffective, approaches include hitting the dog on the muzzle, holding a lighted cigarette in the target area of the romantic pet, and shouting, screaming and other hysterical behavior.

Severe physical punishment may lead to other behavior problems. Also, with aggressive dogs, the act of sexual mounting is sometimes closely related to general aggressive tendencies, and a strong physical rebuff can produce biting, even in puppies under 6 months old.

If dog mounting is accompanied by penile erection in male dogs, castration combined with correction of the causative factors has been successful. The effects of neutering may not become evident for up to 90 days, though in most cases some lessening of sexual aggression is noted within a day or so. In spayed females with masculine tendencies, progestin hormone therapy has been helpful when carefully supervised by a veterinarian.

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