My 6-month old girl tries to "hump" our male lab

[lara]

Hi everyone

This is my first post and wondered if anyone might be able to offer insight on this... Lara is 6 months old and she lives with our family (2 children ) and a 3 year old male lab Cayo. The pair get along fantastic in and outside the house. Lara has been to obed training and is great with other dogs v friendly/confident. Cayo is likewise and they are both a joy to be with. Occasionaly though Lara will try to "hump" Cayo. I have noted that this happens usually only when they are playing in the back garden. (It happened once in a half hearted way when out on a walk) Also it is not every time they play in the back garden - perhaps say one in every ten - and it does seem to be when they are chasing each other. Lara also seems to be very excited when she does it and makes a low "growling noise". Now, Cayo is a big lab and as soft as a brush so doesn't react to this other than just shrugging her off.
Lara will be neutered soon as we do not have the required experience yet to think about breeding so I don't know whether this may help with the humping. I am not really sure whether this "humping" is something she may just grow out of or could it be something which I should be paying particular attention in terms of dominance etc.
Many thanks for any advice

[groupieindenial]

Its a non-aggressive form of showing dominence. Your lab probably just shruggs it off because she's just an adolescent puppy, and males are pretty tolerant of puppies, and especially females. He probably just adores her, and would let her walk all over him.

I would still discourage it, because it could turn into a bad habit, and she could hump other dogs that wouldnt' tolerate it. Also, could turn into a leg humper.

[brunie's mom]

I would keep the pup in obedience training...at 6 months of age...she has alot more training ahead. She is showing dominance and you really should discourage her from humping. She may try it on some dog that will really lay into her. It's bad "doggy manner"....and most dogs will not tolerate it.

Yes...have her spayed...though more training is what she needs.

Gina

[Ceil]

My 6 year old female (now passed) used to hump my 12 year old female dog. I thought I was supposed to let them work it out, but after 5+ years, it was still happening. In that time they only had fights about 15 - 20 times, no blood drawn but scary. So I decided to stop allowing the humping, but soon after, the 6 year old got sick and didn't last much longer. After reading the dominance post here, I'm thinking my younger dog didn't feel I was 100% the alpha dog. I need to learn more about this.

[lara]

Sorry about late reply but many thanks for advice It will definitely be discouraged in future and Lara was already booked in for further ob training which she started last week I think you are right Cayo has been very tolerant to it and he does adore her, but no doubt other dogs especially strangers will not be so placid.