Why Does My Dog Hump Me When I’m On My Period? (6 Reasons & How To Stop It)

When you are on your period, you may notice your dog is all up in your private life and starts to hump you all of a sudden. Some dog parents may perceive this as annoying, embarrassing, or challenging mainly because they are not used to excessive attention.

However, others still put up really well with such a rambunctious attitude. In the world of canine behavior, many mysteries remain, some of which can cause confusion and even discomfort among dog owners.

A dog’s inclination to hump their owner during their menstrual period, which is often misconstrued as sexual or dominance-related, can take owners by surprise and leave them feeling puzzled and a bit uneasy.

However, understanding the underlying factors can shed light on this unusual behavior, offer reassurance, and provide guidance on how to handle it. Read on as we delve into the possible reasons why your dog may exhibit this behavior and how to navigate through it.

Why Does My Dog Hump Me When I Have My Period?

Well, it’s not uncommon for dogs to hump or mount their female owners during their period. Humping is one of the ways dogs react to these pheromones (odors) and hormones produced by women during their periods. Dogs are able to sense these chemical signals due to their high olfactory abilities.

If you are concerned about this behavior, it’s best to simply set boundaries for your dog. These fluffy companions can also exhibit other behaviors like crotch-sniffing, cuddling, or laying on you. There’s no doubt that they are attracted to the smell of your period blood. Just let your dog know when to stop or better nip such behavior in the bud.

Deciphering what exactly is going on in your dog’s mind is not so straightforward but their body language and certain behaviors of theirs like humping can give you a good idea. To this effect, l have done extensive research on this subject to provide you with a clear-cut answer.

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Fun Facts About Dogs & Human Period.

You may not be able to detect the pleasant scent you give off during your period but sure, your dog sure does. The ability of your dog to detect your period before any reaction in response all comes down to their amazing sense of smell. Unlike in humans where sight is perhaps the most predominant sense, smell dominates every other sense in the canine world.

Thanks to their 400 million smell receptors as well as the Jacobson’s organ in their nasal cavity, dogs have an incredibly strong sense of smell that is 10,000 to 100,000 times more acute than that of humans.

Sensing a woman’s period is just a fraction of what is feasible with the olfactory abilities of canines. They are also capable of detecting medical problems like cancer, migraines, diabetes, and UTIs. On top of that, dogs can be trained to sniff illegal materials like drugs, bombs, blood, and contraband electronics, and also to track down criminals.

That said, the pheromones released by a woman during her period cause a behavioral and physiological shift in dogs. Whether your dog becomes more affectionate or aggressive depends on factors like the chemical signals in the pheromones, the dog breed, and gender, or even the individual dog.

There’s also a school of thought that dogs are drawn to the scent of blood regardless of whether it’s from menses or not. This is arguably true considering their wolf ancestry.

Also Read: Why Does My Dog Lay On Me When I’m On My Period?

Reasons Why Your Dog Humps You When You’re On Your Period

So, now we have explained the science behind dogs and period blood, and how the pheromones trigger different behavioral changes, we are going to delve deeper into the possible reasons why your dog may choose to hump you during your period.

Sexual Stimulation

Dogs can hump you for different reasons but you know they are attracted to your menses if they suddenly become more interested in you at your time of the month.

The desire to hump can stem from sexual arousal which is usually heightened when they sense your period. This can happen even in neutered dogs though more common in their intact counterparts. It’s just a form of masturbation they engage in to relieve stress and for pleasure.

Dominance & Territorial Instincts

Humping is one of the various ways your canine friend can express their dominance. When dogs sense your menstrual cycle, they tend to mark their territory around you and exhibit possessive or protective behavior.

If your dog tries to assert ownership over you, then it’s time you corrected him. Show him that you’re the leader of the pack, not him. Obedience training is an effective way to manage such behavior.

Stress & Anxiety

Just like humans, dogs experience stress and anxiety at the slightest discomfort.

This can result from boredom, exposure to adverse conditions, or rehoming. Sometimes, instead of being calm and tired when stressed dogs become overexcited and in this case, can resort to humping their female owners on their period.

This actually shows that they like the smell of your pheromones and get relief from it.

Play Behavior

If you have a sparky pooch with extra playful energy, chances are that he may take delight in randomly humping you when you have your menses.

Whether it’s a natural or learned behavior, dogs would always want to play with those they love and certainly, the hormones and odor you produce can make your freaky pup more affectionate and close to you.

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Attention-seeking & Boredom

As dogs become more affectionate toward their female owners during their period, they may also desire to be the center of attention engaging in constant interaction with their owners in order to escape boredom.

Hence, sometimes humping can be nothing more than an attention-seeking behavior in dogs.

Medical Issues

Well, you can never be too sure that your pooch is free of any health issue until proven otherwise.

Dogs can hump their owners to scratch certain parts of their bodies when they have itchy skin. Itchiness in dogs is usually caused by infections, fleas, allergic reactions, or skin irritation.

Make it a routine to always examine your dog at home and talk to your vet if you have any questions or complaints.

Should I Be Worried If My Dog Humps Me When I’m On My Period?

Most times, dog humping female owners during their period isn’t really a major cause for concern as it’s a natural behavior displayed by dogs to express their affection, interest, or excitement at this time. It could also be a response to sexual stimulation or just a way to assert dominance and show that they are the leader of the pack.

However, if your dog is obsessed with humping such that he does it very frequently or aggressively bringing you inconvenience or embarrassment in public, you simply have to let him know his limitations. Also, you should not rule out the possibility of health concerns such as itchiness, stress, or anxiety.

The truth is that humping isn’t as weird as people find it when you truly understand what your pooch is trying to communicate. If he’s trying to play with you just play along. If he’s stressed or having mood swings, give him an affectionate cuddle and you’ll be rewarded with a heart-warming bundle of delight.

Also Read: Can Dogs Sense When You Are On Your Period? (Explained!)

How To Stop Your Dog From Humping You On My Period

Though it’s natural for dogs to hump or mount their female owners, knowing the reason for this behavior may help bring it to a stop.

But the general rule of thumb is to provide them with effective and consistent training. Set boundaries for your canine friend. If he does something inappropriate, discipline him right away before this behavior turns into a difficult-to-break habit.

In the case of humping, gently push him away from you, tell him “stop” or move to a place that he can’t get to for a short while. Ensure you don’t shout at him or use physical force when correcting him. It’s also important to reward desired behaviors in your pooch with praises or treats.

As we now know that pheromones produced by women during their periods can be a stimulus for humping in dogs, we can rather channel your dog’s sense of smell to other scents like lavender oil or fish oil and engage him in fun scent games. All these coupled with regular exercise will help to get rid of stress or boredom in your dog, reducing their tendency to hump you.

Final Thoughts

While there is no scientific evidence confirming that dogs can sense menstrual cycles, changes in your behavior, smell, or body language might trigger some responses from your dog.

Humping is a multifaceted behavior, which can be indicative of dominance, play, arousal, or stress. It’s important to maintain a calm demeanor and gently discourage unwanted behavior.

If your dog’s humping becomes excessive or problematic, don’t hesitate to seek professional advice from a vet or a canine behaviorist.

Thanks for reading!