Dear Mr. Biologist,
Why does my dog hump my leg all the time? It can’t be all that satisfying, if you know what I mean. I had him “fixed’ but it didn’t seem to change his behavior.
–Tired and Sore
Dear Sore,
Many dog owners are not aware of the social function of owner leg humping in the canine world. Leg humping serves as a territorial reminder and a signaling behavior. It establishes your dog’s ownership of you as their property and also signals fellow dogs that you are pliable and foolish enough to allow your leg to be humped in public. A pliable and foolish owner is a high status commodity in the dog world and your dog knows it. He will show off your foolishness whenever he can. Notice the approving smiles on the nearby dogs. If this bothers you, you might try reversing the behavior and establish your ownership of your dog in front of his peers before he has a chance to dominate you. Dogs are all about territory, social status and dominance. Your dog will develop a new respect for you (I didn’t think he had it in him! ) and you will have more a peaceful household.
Are you suggesting that people should hump their dogs? Wouldn’t it just be easier to urinate on them?
Humans lack the scent glands that dogs use to mark their territory. A dog would view this as declasse or perhaps a new game, in which case you should expect surprises.
“Mr. Biologist” — so informative!