Mounting, humping, and other overtly sexual behaviors are a normal part of canine reproduction. But it can be a bit shocking and off-putting when a neutered male or spayed female dog carries on this way.

In fact it is a fairly normal part of canine social behavior. Young puppies often mount each other as a rough-and-tumble way of soliciting play. For adult dogs, male or female, it may be a way of communicating control or dominance. Thus a pushy dog like Flora or an alpha dog like Obi-Wan might mount a subordinate to literally say "I'm top dog." There is often a hidden attention-seeking component to the behavior as well. Dog mounts. Owner freaks out. Dog just discovered a great new way to get owner's attention!

Dogs like Chang that self-pleasure do so not through dominance, but more likely as an outlet for stress, conflict or boredom. It is not unheard-of for neutered males to get erections, ejaculate, and even mate with a female dog in heat. From the dog’s standpoint these behaviors are a completely natural form of self-expression. It would be a non–issue, except from the embarrassment and consternation it causes us humans.

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