Question:
I adopted a 4-year-old mixed-breed named Sophie. She came out of the city pound two years ago bone-thin and had obviously birthed pups recently. As required, I had her spayed once I'd cleaned and fattened her up and we'd gotten well acquainted. She's well mannered, smart and loving -- a perfect companion. While Sophie's quirk isn't a problem, I am curious to know why she frequently humps pillows.This began when she tore into some large sofa pillows, shaking then humping them. After she "killed" one pillow, I gave her a sturdier one to pick on when she gets in the mood. She ignores that pillow all day long, but around early evening she grabs it, shakes it around for a bit, then humps it. She struts around for a while, then goes at the pillow again.This routine has become a family joke, and we've become so accustomed to it that we usually ignore the nightly episodes. Still, I must ask if you can surmise the basis for Sophie's behavior.
C. McK., Waterford, TX May 07, 2006
Answer:
I appreciate your attitude of acceptance with respect to your dog's little pillow fetish. This is not uncommon in dogs (as well as cats) and is clearly a pleasurable activity. Some animals do it more intensely when company arrives, no doubt an indication of increased excitement. Such humping may be relaxing and may also have an addictive component with the release of natural-body opiates, oxytocin and other neurochemicals associated with pleasure.Dogs mount dogs and cats mount cats to assert dominance and also during contact play, the sexual component probably being triggered once the front paws are around the playmate (the pillow, in your dog's case) and the body (pillow) is straddled. I interpret this as a behavioral reflex, an unconscious action that is nonetheless a pleasurable experience to the animal, rather than as a sexually motivated behavior. It is perverse thinking to regard such activity as a perversion.
Subscribe