Unspayed female dog humping stuffed animals?

Question

I've read a bit about dominance and humping female dogs. I have two dogs, one is a miniature male poodle and the humper - a female toy poodle. She is not fixed and I won't spay her until after she's two. I'm not disturbed by the humping - it's pretty much a natural thing but I don't understand why she's trying to dominate the stuffed animal. The male is spayed and does not and never has humped as he was spayed very early. However, he is clearly the dominant animal. She isn't aggressive in any way; it's quite the opposite actually - she's very submissive and seems to need to be around a familiar person or she gets whiny and nervous. So again, she's clearly not trying to dominate us or the other dog - just the stuffed animal since there's nothing else around. Or could it be something else? She's not near her heat cycle.

Answer 1

i have a toy Pomeranian, and when she does this shes usually in heat we have one special stuffed animal for her and we call it her "boyfriend" and she has another one, which she chews. If anyone even walks near the stuffed animal she humps she gets so upset and drags him into a different room.

Answer 2

Poodles can be a bit nervous sometimes, and it sounds like it may be a nervous comfort habit, it may just make her feel better.  

Answer 3

I have 2 male toy poodles, and 2 female toy poodles. The females have been fixed. And they still try to hump things. There are times when they are all trying to hump. I figure, maybe it's just a dog's way of dealing with frustrations.

Answer 4

Your male is spayed?

No, No dear.

Males are neutered.

Anyhow, sounds to me like she's trying to be dominant over the stuffed animal.

Answer 5

It is odd that your unspayed female is the submissive dog.

Most times in a male/female combo the female dog is the top dog.

And especially when she is not spayed.

It may be a way for her to comfort herself if she is a nervous whiny type. Stress can make dogs do many different things. And most likely she is trying to dominate something in the house.

By showing she is dominant over the stuffed toy she is showing she rules over something in the home. And that may give her some comfort.

Small dogs tend to hump more often than larger breeds. Not sure why other than with larger breeds it is not cute and most times the owner will correct the behavior and will make it clear that they are not going to tolerate that type of behavior from the dog. With little ones it is not quite as obnoxious.

Answer 6

My aunt has a dog that is not neutered and he hums thing alllll the time! probably dominance i am guessing!