The Humpty Dance - All about humping

It’s embarrassing, one minute your dog is playing the next they’re humping their friends. But why do our dogs hump? Is it because of dominance? Is it because of stress? Well we’re here to tell you all the reasons why your dog humps.

Oh My God Becky Look at her butt….

Humping is a natural behavior in all dogs of all ages. Whether spayed/neutered or not any dog can have the propensity to hump. While people usually think of it as “dominance” that’s just not the truth. Believe it or not your dog is not out to show you “who’s boss” or trying to dominate you. Despite what people may say humping has nothing to do with dominance. The term “dominance” when speaking about dogs refers to access to a resource such as bones, toys, food, or any other thing that can be viewed as a resource.

i mean, her butt, it’s just so big

Dogs hump for a variety of reasons and over-stimulation is one of the most common ones. When a dog gets over-stimulated some may do zoomies, some may bark and others will hump. It just means that they have reached a level of excitement and this is how they handle those types of situations. If your dog is humping in a social situation like our meetup it may just mean that they need a break. It’s okay to exit the meetup to give your dog a second to cool down.

I like big butts and I cannot lie

Some dogs hump because they’re anxious. Anxiety in dogs can often create displacement behaviors. Which means when they get anxious they feel the need to hump something. It’s a way for dogs to relieve that anxious feeling. If you have an anxious dog who humps it’s okay to let them have this time for themself. If you are really uncomfortable with your dog humping then try to find another outlet for stress relief like enrichment. If you’re not sure what enrichment is you can check out our posts on all things enrichment here and here.

Baby got back

Sometimes humping is just a form of play. Dogs play in many different ways. Stalking, chasing, biteyface, wrestling and humping are all forms of playing in dogs. When dogs play they often mimic behaviors that they would do in real life situations. Stalking and chasing are hunting behaviors, biteyface and wrestling are fighting behaviors while humping is a sexual behavior. It is thought that dog play is just practice for when they’re in the real world.

has your girlfriend got the butt?

Sometimes it just feels so darn good. While it definitely isn’t “dominance” sometimes there isn’t always a reason for humping other than it feels good. If you have a dog that humps then there is no reason not to let your pup have a little time alone. So long as it doesn’t create a problem. However, if they’re humping humans then you might want to redirect them to a toy or a chew.

November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month

What age is considered senior?

For Boston Terriers senior age is often considered to start at 9-10 years old.

Why should I adopt a Senior Dog?

You should adopt a senior dog because they’re awesome. Okay we might be a little biased but senior dogs are great. They’re already house trained, they already know all their commands and you know exactly how big/small your dog is going to be. There’s no mystery.

They love to be with their people!

Senior dogs often just want to be with their people. They don’t need a ton of exercise and play time, they’re happy to just relax on the couch with their favorite human.

They’re often overlooked

Seniors are often overlooked at shelters and rescues. A lot of people just want young puppies but adopting a senior means you can give them the best rest of their lives.

They’re great napping partners

Senior dogs need more sleep than younger dogs making them the best napping partner. This is also beneficial for people who work too as senior dogs will often nap while you’re at work all day.

They’re calmer than puppies

While senior dogs often still have tons of energy to burn they’re often calmer than having a puppy. Seniors are more likely to have short bursts of energy while puppies are non-stop.

How to Find a Responsible Breeder

I’m often asked about breeders and people wanting puppies and truth be told I don’t know any breeders.  I only know the ones you guys mention in your Meetup Member of the Month posts. While in a perfect world everyone would chose to rescue I do realize that it’s not for everyone. So here’s some tips for finding a responsible breeder.

home is where the heart is

A responsible breeder will allow you to visit their house and shows you all areas where puppies and breeding dogs spend their time.  The areas are clean, spacious, and well-maintained. Meeting your puppy will let you see first hand that he/she does not have any existing health or behavior problems and that he/she is being raised in a caring environment.

MEET THE PARENTS

Responsible breeders want you to spend time with the puppy’s parents when you visit.  The parents are a glimpse into the kind of the dog your pup will become. Everyone should be healthy and friendly. 

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE GENETICS

A good breeder will know about potential genetic and developmental problems native to the breed and provides documentation that the puppy’s parents and grandparents have been evaluated in an effort to breed those problems out. (This should include genetic testing for diseases where a valid testing protocol is available).

CHECK THEIR REFERENCES

Provides references from other families who have previously purchased one of their puppies.  Has healthy, long-lived adult dogs and contact info for previous buyers. The health and lifespan of a breeder's dogs are a sneak peek into the pups' futures. Find out as much as you can about them. Speak to people who own adult dogs bought from your breeder. Have there been any recurring medical problems like chronic ear infections? Do any of them have high-maintenance health issues like food allergies? Epilepsy? How long do the dogs generally live for?

TALK TO THE BREEDERS AT DOG SHOWS

Good breeders are often actively involved with local, state, and national clubs that specialize in the specific breed; responsible breeders may also compete with the dogs in conformation events, obedience trials, tracking and agility trials, or other performance events.  They love to show off their dogs and will often have pictures of the dogs in competition on their websites.

SELLS TO PEOPLE THEY KNOW

Sells puppies only to people he/she has met in person or even in a detailed phone conversation, not to pet stores or to unknown buyers over the Internet.  Reputable breeders don't sell their puppies to strangers! They want to get to know you. They'll ask you about your family, if you rent or own your home, who will be caring for the pup, etc. etc.  Watch out for those who don't ask for much more than your credit card number.  

PROVIDES A HEALTH GUARANTEE

Provides you with a written contract and health guarantee and allows plenty of time for you to read it thoroughly.  Has a veterinarian individually examine and vaccinate each puppy and has verifiable proof of this. Proof of veterinary care is NOT a vaccination schedule with dates written on it by the seller. This is a common way sellers will deceive puppy buyers. True proof is paperwork from a licensed veterinarian. All puppies should have been vaccinated and examined by a licensed vet and you should be provided with paperwork that details the results of the exams.

what kinds of health testing

A lot of breeders will say that they provide health testing but don’t mention what specific tests they perform or sometimes they’ll say that they did health testing through Embark. Unfortunately those are big red flags. The kinds of testing you want to ask your breeder if they do are, Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) which measures the electrical activity as the brain receives the auditory stimulus of sound, Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) which screens dogs for inherited eye problems . Breeders will also test for Juvenile Hereditary Cataracts and check the patellas since Bostons are prone to Luxating Patella.

COLORS

A reputable breeder breeds for the betterment of the breed and to breed standard. According to the AKC website the breed standard colors are Black & White, Black Brindle & White, Brindle & White, Seal & White, Seal Brindle & White. Anyone saying we breed all colors or off colors or even non-standard colors doesn’t actually care about preserving the breed standard. They only care about money. Anyone selling any sort of merle dog is not a reputable breeder so please stay far away from that.

It’s a Waiting Game

Reputable breeders often have waiting lists so anyone who has puppies available right away is very suspect. IF you’ really want to get a well bred puppy then we suggest getting on a few waiting lists. It takes time to find the right fit for your family so don’t rush it. You’ll get there eventually.

STILL UNSURE?

Come to a Meetup and talk with our members about their experiences. They’re happy to talk to you about their breeders and what to look for.

How to Have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Turkey day may seem like an okay day to treat your pup to some extra goodies, but did you know that some of what we make can be deadly to dogs?

Here are some ways that our dogs can celebrate Thanksgiving with us while staying safe at the same time.

Let’s start with the almighty turkey. I’m sure some of you may think “what’s so bad about turkey?” When we cook turkey we usually use seasoning and lots of butter so it’s best to be sparse with the turkey. Breast meat only and no skin.

Cooked bones are a definite no, they can splinter and can puncture your dogs intestines.

Stuffing is also off the list as it often contains alums like garlic and onions.

Sweet potatoes without the butter are okay to share but should also be given in small portions.

We don’t want any dogs to end up in the ER with pancreatitis, which is why we’re sharing this important information. As a matter of fact veterinary staff often call the Friday after Thanksgiving ‘Pancreatitis Friday.’

What is Pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which is an organ integral to the digestive tract. The inflammation disrupts the natural flow of enzymes secreted by the pancreas, resulting in an interruption in the normal digestion of food.

Warning Signs of Pancreatitis:

Hunched back

Repeated vomiting

Pain or distention of the abdomen (dog appears uncomfortable or bloated)

Diarrhea

Loss of appetite

Dehydration

Weakness/lethargy

Fever

How can my dog celebrate Thanksgiving without the risk?

Merrick offers these really great “Thanksgiving Dinner” meals made just for dogs. They actually have ones for several different occasions like Christmas Dinner and Easter Brunch. You can also give your dog a frozen marrow bone. Primal makes them and you can probably get them in most pet stores. The frozen marrow bones are a much better treat than a plate of leftovers and they last a lot longer.

Make your own Thanksgiving Treats with these recipes from the American Kennel Club:

Frozen Pumpkin Dog Treats

Ingredients

• 1 cup plain yogurt

• 1 cup pumpkin puree

Directions

1. Mix pumpkin and yogurt together in a bowl

2. Divide the mixture evenly into an ice tray or molds

3. Freeze for 24 hours

4. Pop the treats out of the mold and put into a freezer bag for storage. You can also leave them in the ice tray if you have space in your freezer

Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Dog Treats

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour

• 1 cup canned pumpkin

• 1/2 cup peanut butter (make sure it is Xylitol-free)

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F

2. In a large bowl, mix together the pumpkin and peanut butter

3. Stir in the flour and combine the mixture into a dough

4. Roll out the dough onto a floured surface

5. Cut the dough into shapes with your favorite cookie cutter

6. Place the treats half an inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet

7. Bake for 12 minutes

Banana Pumpkin Dog Treats

Ingredients

• 3 cups whole wheat flour + extra for dusting counter

• 2 eggs

• 1 cup pumpkin puree

• 1 banana, mashed

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Mix eggs, banana and pumpkin together. Add flour and mix until all the flour is incorporated.

3. Lightly dust the counter and a rolling pin with flour, then roll out dough to approximately 1/8″ and cut out treats.

4. Lay on a baking sheet and bake for approximately 20 minutes. Cool completely before giving to your pup!