Few dog behaviors elicit the variety of responses from humans than that of mounting. We’ve seen owners nearly break out into fistfights over it in dog parks, while others pay it no mind at all and still others are deeply embarrassed and slink away with their dog.

First of all, although mounting is associated with sexual activity and procreation, the vast majority of the mounting we see in the city is simply a test of social status between dogs. Females can mount males or other females, males can mount females or other males and both males and females can mount humans! In addition, many dog owners think that mounting will stop when a dog is neutered, but that is not the case, further supporting the understanding that this is not sexual activity at all.

In many ways, a dog that regularly mounts other dogs can be considered a little on the insecure side, always needing to affirm his or her place in the pack. And the response from the mounted dog indicates the extent to which he or she is willing to defer control to the mounter. Some dogs will accept it placidly, while others will turn and snap. Occasionally this exchange can escalate into a fight.

What should you do about it?
Many people believe you shouldn’t do anything about it; that the dogs will “work it out.” And to a great extent this is true.

But city dogs and owners live in close proximity to other dogs and owners, and while another owner’s perception that your dog is “aggressive” because of mounting may be misguided, but the fact is that the perception can be there and can lead to unpleasantness between humans.

We recommend that you work on your dog’s recall response to the point where you can call him or her out of mounting from a distance. It never hurts to have that tight of a recall response, and each hour in the dog run will give you plenty of opportunities to practice it, complete with lavish praise and rewards for each correct response. Your dog will have the best recalls on the block (perhaps saving her life at another time) and your fellow owners will be grateful and impressed.