Humping Epidemic

I was reading an blog this morning on dogstardaily.com by Dr. Ian Dunbar called "Humping is Normal, Yet Rude and Lewd." Being a frequent visitor to the local dog park and some dog play groups, I have seen my fair share of dogs humping everything. And I have also seen the wide variety of ways that owners choose to address this so-called problem. I with Dunbar for the most part, but I disagree with his solution to the humping epidemic.

I am certainly open to suggestion, but it is my understanding that humping dogs either a) can't help themselves (like a little Jackapoo that I know from the dog park) or b) are trying to assert their dominance. Although neither one of those reasons is valid from a human standpoint, to a dog it is perfectly normal behavior. While the former might get irritating for humans to watch, if the dog being humped doesn't mind and it is a spayed female, then there is no harm being done. In either case, the perpetrator will not learn his/her lesson by a human interfering and saying, "No humping!" This is simply something that dogs must work out between themselves; and, trust me, they will.

I know from experience that it takes a lot of will power to just watch or even turn away if your dog is humping or, even worse, being humped. And I know a lot of fellow small dog owners will disagree with me here, but it's something that must take it's course so that the dogs have a chance to work it out on their own.