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Why is my intact dog suddenly humping and sniffing obsessively?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Miller, terrier (un-neuthered) has been docile re sex for a year. Suddenly he is frisky, humping and sniffing certain spots unable to move on? Never humped legs etc for a year.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on December 15th, 2016

It could be that he may have caught the scent of an intact female that is now setting off his sexual behaviors. Some dogs don't show the hormonal behaviors unless a particular scent catches their interest. I acquired one of my dogs (a former show dog) who was entire, and he never showed any hormone driven behaviors while he was still intact (he was intact for about a month) despite being out in public. Every dog varies in how they display hormonally driven behaviors, and I would suspect this recent interest has been trigger by a specific scent.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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