Female dog started humping? - Page 1

I know I've asked you all a lot of questions, I tried looking up previous threads but I can't find any addressing exact issue.. My 3 year old female dog has started acting strange tonight, being extra playful and has now been walking up to me, licking me and hunching the air.. She hasn't tried to mount anyone and hump them, she is just following me around licking my leg and humping the air.. I tell her to go lay down, and she does for awhile, then as soon as I get up and move, she follows me, trying to mouth me playing and pushing a toy on me, then starts the humping air thing.. She normally never initiates play and she shouldn't be coming into heat, since her last heat was in July.. I don't get the feeling she is trying to be dominate because she has her ears laid back and has this submissive body posture when she tries it.. So out of character of her normal aloof attitude, she is not the type to seek out attention, she is just happy being in general area of me, normally.. Any ideas? She is kind of creeping me out!! 

You could totally ignore the behaviour, and see if it stops.
It might be a hormonal trigger, even if she is not yet due
in season.

If it continues, I would get her checked out for a urinary
tract infection.  She may seem happy at present but it is
possible she is itchy or painful.

I think Hundmutter has hit the nail on the head. She's trying to tell you that area is bothering her. If her demeanor is otherwise submissive, make a vet appointment! My girl would hump on occassipn, but it was clearly dominant type behaviour! jackie harris

Pyometra typically develops 4 to 6 weeks following a heat cycle. That's another possibility, and one you should certainly get checked out!  I remember when my friend's bitch developed pyo: at first, my friend thought she was coming back into heat again!

I really hope I'm wrong, but if that's what it is, you need to see a vet without delay.

I've taken her temp through out the day and it has stayed around 100.4, and she has no discharge or abnormal smell, nor has she been urinating more frequently.. Still to be on the safe side, she has an appointment in a.m to check her out. She is still humping and acting overly friendly, but now she has added a new twist, tearing up my stuff!!  She has been taking my clothes out of hamper and shredding them, also chewed one of my boots.. Nobody else stuff.. She has been trying to get me to play and has been jumping on couch, trying to sit her big self in my lap tonight  LoL.. She is almost 3, and has never been much of a chewer or tore stuff up, not even as a pup. So we will see in a.m if it's anything physical.. Thank you all for the input :)

Is she licking herself?

How did her cycle go in July, what days?

What other dogs are around her, yours or anyone else's?

I wouldn't freak out just yet, it's not all that uncommon.


 

She started her heat cycle the last few days of June, into the first part of July.. She is a long coat, so it's hard to tell when she is in heat, she doesn't really bleed much and my male tends to not pay her much attention, throughout her cycle. I kept her either inside in her crate or leashed walked her, to make sure she didn't get bred, I didn't even trust to leave her outside in her pen, as I know we have a lot neighborhood dogs :/   She isn't licking herself.. She is in contact with my male, and our spayed Staffie mix, there is my daughter's fixed male Chihuahua, but she isn't allowed to be in physical contact with him, since she is iffy around other dogs and he is like 2lbs, but she does sniff him through the crate or baby gate.. There are a few random neighbors dogs who come visit, but they stay away from her pen, since she lunges at them barking.. She is not acting any friendlier to the dogs, just mostly me, she is typically an aloof dog, but last few days she is acting very playful..
I had a dog who got lost, then showed back up home, and she had a pyrometra infection, it smelt horrible and had greenish discharge, Vega temp been normal with no discharge or smell..
I had been gone on vacation for about a month, just got back few weeks ago, and while I was gone my husband kept her in her pen or crate, and since I've been home I've been spending a lot more time with her, since kids have been in school and more time for the dogs has opened up.. But this just suddenly started..?

Sure it's not a dominance thing?

Maybe she's just pleased to see you, after the gap, and in
showing that has developed some new habits ?  As I suggested
to begin with, might help to not interact with those behaviours.
I realise they aren't necessarily unpleasant & unwanted;   but if
you ignore them totally and just behave with her the same as
before you were away, perhaps she will get back to what is
'normal' for her ?  Otherwise she is teaching herself that her new
behaviours are fine with you, and will go on doing them / may ramp them
up still further.  As long as you have checked the veterinary angle.
You did say you've spent extra time with her since you got back;  and
that she was creeping you out !
I believe Blitzen has a point,  there is probably an element of dominance
behaviour to this.

Ok, her urine ph levels are normal, vet said no signs of infections.. He said maybe her hormones, but believes it probably is me having been  gone, and kids back in school and now she is getting way more alone time with me.. I think the dominance thing threw me off because when she came up and started the air humping, or playing, she did it with kind of a puppy like posture trying to play with a older dog.. Ears laid down, kind of hunched over, bowing down with front legs, spinning away like she wanted me to chase her.. She is a little dominate of a dog, but not so much with people, she has never challenged me, or the kids, we can take toys, food, anything from her without a growl, and she listens pretty well to commands. I'm not really trained to pick up on subtle dominance cues, so I might be wrong.. I really like her being more affectionate and playful, since she was previously an aloof, very serious acting dog. It's just the humping the air that creeps me out.. LoL.. I've been playing with her and giving her attention, but as soon as she starts the humping I send her to her bed.. I also have been keeping her in her crate or pen when she isn't being supervised, so she can not destroy anymore of my stuff..  Thank you all for giving me advice, I really appreciate all of you taking time to help me out :)