Although it might seem sexually driven, female bulldog humping isn’t always just a sign of being in heat or frustration; it can also be a symptom of several medical conditions and behavioural problems.
We’re going to take a deep dive into the reasons behind your female bulldog humping you, why it’s so important to keep an eye on it, and how to stop the behaviour before it becomes a big problem.
So, let’s get right to it, shall we?
Why do female bulldogs hump?
It is actually pretty normal for female bulldogs to hump just as much, if not more, than their male counterparts do – and it’s not always about sexual frustration or pack dominance despite what you might have read on the internet.
Dr. Mary Burch, certified applied animal behaviorist, spoke to American Kennel Club:
“Humping is an attempt at dominance” or “a sign that the dog is stressed, overstimulated, or acting out.”
Some dogs learn their humping behaviour from other dogs. Others will develop it as a result of a trigger. For some bulldogs, the behaviour is a symptom of a much bigger problem, either behavioural or medical, and the same applies to both male and female bulldogs.
Puppies
It is very normal for bulldog puppies of both genders to hump things.
They’re getting used to the world, learning how to use their legs… and learning about other parts of their body plus urges (hormones) they don’t quite yet understand.
David S. Spiegel, VMD spoke with WebMD:
“In unneutered and unspayed dogs under a year old, humping is usually sexual in nature.”
It is important to nip bulldog puppy humping behaviour in the bud at an early age. The best way, according to most experts, is to try and stop the humping before it starts. When you see your female bulldog positioning themselves to get ready for humping, say a firm and clear command, such as no, leave it, off, etc.
As always, when your puppy/bulldog correctly performs a command, such as “leaving it” instead of continuing to hump, they should be rewarded with a treat, toy, yes-affirmations, good boy/girl, and so on.
Intact/unneutered female bulldogs
Reinforcing that some humping behaviour is sexually or hormone driven, female bulldogs (and males) that have not yet been spayed/neutered tend to hump a lot more than their spayed/neutered counterparts.
Neutered/spayed adult bulldogs
It’s important to mention, before we go any further, than spaying or neutering your bulldog doesn’t have an instant effect. Those naturally-occurring hormones are still in the body for weeks or even months after they have been essentially sterilised – some experts say, up to three months or more.
If your bulldog has already been spayed or neutered and they’re still humping excessively, you could have a medical or behavioural problem on your hands. The only way to resolve such a problem, of course, is to first diagnose it.
Behavioural reasons behind female bulldog humping include:
- Attention-seeking
- Play behaviour
- Overstimulation
- High stress
- Depression
- Boredom
- Anxiety
- Change to surroundings
- Under-socialisation
- Excitement
- Resource guarding
- Asserting dominance
- Separation anxiety
- Lack of mental stimulation and enrichment
- Playing
- Dog-type OCD
- Another female in heat around
As previously mentioned, there are several underlying medical causes that might push your bulldog to hump/hump more than normal. These include:
- Stress, anxiety, and/or depression
- Hormonal imbalance
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Urinary incontinence
- Allergies and other skin issues
- Hormone-secreting tumours
Sometimes, your pup can have the above underlying medical conditions for some time before you – the pet parent – notices. That’s why it’s so important to keep an eye on your four-legged friends, both when you’re at home and out of it, using things like innovative pet cams.
If you spot any new, unusual, or unexplained behaviour, always seek advice from your vet.
It’s always better to be safe rather than sorry, and a 15-minute checkup could really mean the difference between a happy dog and… well, the absolute worst outcome imaginable.
Understanding female bulldog humping behaviour
In order to stop behaviour that you, the pet parent, don’t like, you must first try to take steps to understand it. What’s happening within your pampered pooch to make them act like that? Have they always acted like that? Is it a relatively new experience for all involved?
Is your female bulldog coming into her first or subsequent season/heat?
This will usually happen at around six, seven, or eight months of age. Once your bulldog has had her first season, they will typically come around again a couple of times per year, roughly every six months.
Does your female bulldog have enough enrichment and mental stimulation?
Bored bulldogs are bad bulldogs. They’ll chew, hump, scratch, dig, bark, whine, cry, snort, bash, bulldoze, and otherwise destroy everything within reach. There are so, so many ways to offer enrichment and mental stimulation to your bully without spending a small fortune.
I recommend checking these out for more useful information on adding enrichment to your bulldog’s life:
- Top 10 Snuffle Mats for Your English Bulldog
- 21 Ways to Turn Feeding Time into Enrichment for Bulldogs
Are there stressful changes going on?
This includes things like new housemates, moving home, being home more or less than usual, arguments or disagreements within the household, a new pet, a new couch, new anything…
Frank the Bulldog doesn’t like it when we move things in the house. If one dining room chair isn’t exactly where it should be, he’ll bark, whine, and make a right ol’ racket until things are put right again.
The smallest changes can have the biggest effects on your pets. Sometimes we forget that.
Does your humping female bulldog have other symptoms?
If they’re peeing more or less than usual, eating or drinking more or less than usual, limping, or have any other type of new symptom, it’s time to take a trip to the vet.
You can’t diagnose the problem without the vet – and you probably won’t be able to treat the problem without them, either.
Is the humping an actual problem?
A little humping or mounting between dogs, even female dogs, is actually perfectly normal and common. It’s a form of play as well sexually motivated, and it can’t do any harm… in moderation.
As one Reddit user states:
“It’s definitely a little quirky but I don’t think it’s anything to be concerned about.”
Training your dog not to hump people is, of course, good manners, and it will save you a world of drama at home, too. Frank’s currently going through a humping phase, and we’re struggling to put a stop to it – but he’s not yet been spayed, so we do still have that option.
How to stop female bulldog humpingBefore your female bulldog humps something you’ll probably notice a few signs, such as:
- Increased whining (especially around the object/leg/etc.)
- Excessive licking of the object
- Rubbing their bodies over/across the object
- Circling the object
- Raising the front half of their body
You should act immediately when you spot the signs. If you wait too long, your bulldog won’t know what act – specifically – you’re telling them off for.
Several experts recommend adopting the “drop it” or “leave it” command early on, and it’ll definitely come in handy here.
Say your command – whatever you have taught your doggo.
If your bully does as expected and doesn’t hump the object, your leg, or whatever other object of desire, you should reward them with treats, praise, affirming tone and language, and lots of strokes and scratches.
This is known as positive reinforcement – rewarding the positive behaviour.
If your bulldog doesn’t do as you’ve commanded, the absolute last thing you should do is raise your voice, physically hit, or otherwise abuse them. This won’t train your pet, but it will create an atmosphere of utter fear, leaving them even more unlikely to do as you ask in the future.
Distractions are a great tool when trying to teach your bulldog, too – whether they’re an adult or just a young pup. Giving your bully a chew toy or similar will give them something else to do and think about, potentially stopping them from continuing to hump.
FAQ
When should I worry about my female bulldog humping?
If the humping behaviour is new or comes on suddenly, you should keep an eye on it. The same goes for problematic, excessive humping; humping with accompanying symptoms, such as changes to urination, drinking, or eating; and humping that’s behavioural based.
Why does a female bulldog hump after being spayed?
Spaying and neutering don’t always work to completely curb mounting or female bulldog humping behaviour – and that’s because the behaviour is normal, somewhat biological, and a form of communication and play alongside sexual deviance. Humping after spaying could also point to medical and/or behavioural roots.
Do female bulldogs hump when coming into season?
Yes, female bulldogs can and do hump when they’re coming into season. This tends to be every six months, approximately, starting at six-to-eight months of age.
Conclusion: Why is my female bulldog humping me?
It’s not always convenient or pleasant, but female bulldog humping is just as natural as male humping, and it’s a relatively normal and common part of… well, being a dog!
You can and should teach your doggo basic manners, such as not humping the legs of people who come into your house – or anyone, anywhere, for that matter.
As always, if you have any concerns about the health or wellbeing of your beautiful bulldog, seek veterinary advice. It’ll put your mind at ease and make sure that your doggo is in tip-top condition.