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 Pet Central
Q&A
Q: My spayed female
basset hound is confused, and so am I. Why is she mounting my neutered
male beagle? Is she confused about her sexuality? Should I worry? -- M.D.,
Cyberspace
A: Don’t worry, your
dog is being happy as the top dog. Dr. Wayne Hunthausen, a veterinary
behaviorist from Westwood, Ka., explains that your basset is likely exhibiting
dominance. In canine language, she’s saying, "I’m king of the hill."
If your basset’s
mounting is at specific, predictable times and under consistent circumstances,
it may be what Hunthausen calls a displacement behavior. For example,
let’s say the doorbell rings. Some dogs get so incredibly excited they
need an outlet; it’s as if they don’t know what to do. Some may bite at
their owners’ shoes, others may run off to fetch a favorite toy, and yours
could be hopping on top of the beagle.
Being a basset hound
isn’t always easy; it’s possible your girl is seeking to get attention
from her beagle buddy — albeit in a strange manner.
Take a breath, regardless
of which explanation matches with your basset’s behavior, because the
mounting isn’t sexual. And as long as the beagle doesn’t begin to snap
back, there’s no real cause for concern.
Still, it’s a challenge
to explain that to dinner guests. If you want to eliminate the behavior,
your best bet is to catch it just before it occurs. When your basset goes
to make her move, call both dogs to you and tell them "sit."
When they comply, offer a treat. Be sure your timing is right, and you’re
not actually rewarding the basset for mounting. If you’re too late, pull
the basset off the beagle, walk into another room and call the dogs to
you. Again, offer a goodie. If the basset is set to return to the beagle’s
backside, distract the dogs with a game. Whatever you do, don’t physically
reprimand or scream at the basset. This will create a more serious hang-up
than the one she now has.
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