My male puppy sniffs and humps our new male dog. Is this normal?

Humping is a common play behavior in both puppies and older dogs, not abnormal at all :) Many dogs don't appreciate being on the receiving end of this behavior, so I would try to redirect Kuro to something else if he gets excited and begins humping your other dog during play. Over time, as he develops better canine social skills, this behavior should become less frequent. Your other dog may also growl or snap at him when he does this, which is okay as long as he doesn't hurt Kuro - this is how puppies learn what's acceptable and what isn't.

This definitely can be happening because Buddy is feeling uncomfortable. I would continue to have monitored meet and greet sessions, and if someone becomes too nervous or starts to try humping behavior, separate and let both dogs relax. Sometimes, dogs do well with mutual activities such as a walk or running around a backyard as this can help them focus on something else (the walk) instead of focusing entirely on the other dog. This may also help nervous dogs calm down a little by changing their focus. It does take time for dogs to get used to each other, so keeping up with the meet and greets, adding in a mutual activity, and providing places for both dogs to go and relax on their own without the other bothering them is best. I would not discipline the behavior, especially if your dogs are trying to communicate their needs to each other, and instead just calmly separate, allow them to calm down, and then reintroduce.

Humping can be a behavioral issue or hormonal, but is quite common. If your little guy isn't neutered that would be on the top of my "to-do" list, which likely will rectify this problem. Otherwise, if the behavior bothers you, correct it with a firm "No" when he does it, then reward him when he stops.

This is not a sexual behavior, but likely a response to stress, anxiety or to assert his dominance. Correct the behavior immediately when you see it. Remove him from the dog with a stern "No" and offer a toy or task to distract him. Praise and reward him when he complies. If he persists, separate him until he settles down. Be firm and be consistent.

I see that Bailey is still very young, about three months old :) This is very normal behavior for a puppy this age - they want to put their mouth on everything and would rather bite than be held or petted. This is how they explore the world, and how they instinctively want to play. Humping is also a common attention-seeking behavior in young puppies, or can be a sign of over-excitement or frustration. The good news is, these issues will improve on their own as he gets older; it's a normal developmental stage for puppies, just like toddlers who grab everything with their hands and may not always want to be hugged or held. At this age, you may only be able to pet him or cuddle with him when he's sleepy - this is okay. If he bites your hands, just stop petting and ignore him until he calms down, or grab one of his toys and use that to engage him in play. Most dogs are no longer mouthing nearly as much by the time they are 8-12 months old, so hang in there - just be patient and consistent, and he will get calmer and easier to pet as he gets older.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Humping can be a sign of anxiety or to show dominance. It can also be sexual in nature. I would have Max on a leash when people come over and he should know basic obedience and respond to standard commands like come, stay, sit, leave it. When he starts to show signs of humping you should ask him to come to you and sit, then give him a treat. You should ask your guests to ignore him, not get him worked up, until he has calmed down. You can also consider getting him neutered, it may or may not help. I hope this helps and I wish Max the very best!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! No, that much humping is not normal and Shadow acting aggressive when stopped is not normal. I recommend aggressive training. Start practicing: sit, stay, come, etc. He should have plenty of exercise: doggy daycare, walks, parks, one on one play. Keep a leash on him and use a gentle leader for the muzzle. When he start to hump, gently use the leash/gentle leader to make him stop as soon as he starts. Make him sit, give him a treat and play with him. Do not grab him or touch him where he can bite you. Humping is not always sexual in nature, but I would neuter him due this behavior and the aggression he is showing. Humping can also be due to anxiety or to show dominance. https://www.petco.com/shop/SearchDisplay?categoryId=&storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&sType=SimpleSearch&resultCatEntryType=2&showResultsPage=true&searchSource=Q&pageView=&beginIndex=0&pageSize=24&fromPageValue=search&searchTerm=gentle+leader&omnitureEnabled=false&cm_sp=SearchSuggest-_-gentle+leader-_-Location&searchsuggestion_keyword=gentle+leader I hope this helps!