While many studies examine the human female’s orgasm, there’s not a lot of scientific research into sexuality as it pertains to female dogs and their orgasms. While it’s true that girl dogs will exhibit sexual behaviors like mounting and masturbating, they don’t necessarily experience orgasms. Read on to learn more.
Do Female Dogs Orgasm?
Neither male nor female dogs can tell us if they have orgasms, so we can’t know for sure what the sexual experience is like for them. Most experts believe that male animals orgasm as there is typically ejaculation involved, though one can happen without the other.
The truth is that scientists are still studying the significance of female orgasms in humans, let alone dogs. At the time of writing, there doesn’t appear to be any proven evolutionary advantage for female dogs to orgasm, so it’s generally agreed upon that they do not.
What Is Sex Like for Female Dogs?
Male dogs have a locking bulbous gland at the base of their penis that becomes engorged with blood when they penetrate the female. When the vagina contracts, the penis then becomes locked inside the female. This is known as “tying.”
Sometimes, when dogs are tied, the male will turn himself around by lifting a leg over the female’s back so they’re in a back-to-back position. Once the mating pair are tied, they’re essentially locked together until the penis’s swelling goes down, which can take anywhere from a few minutes to up to an hour.
While most ties don’t appear to cause discomfort, those that last a prolonged period can become uncomfortable and may cause the female to become restless or anxious. This is definitely not conducive to orgasm production in females.
Do Female Dogs Derive Pleasure from Sex?
There are actually very few animals that have sex for pleasure, and dogs are not one of them. Dolphins and a variety of monkey species, such as macaques and bonobos, engage in sexual behavior and have somewhat similar physiology to that of humans. For example, macaques have elevated heart rates and vaginal spasms while mating and female dolphins have clitorises that offer a pleasurable sensation while they mate.
Female dogs in heat are inundated with hormones and pheromones that can cause behaviors that may make owners think their pups are deriving pleasure from sex. These behaviors can include vocalizations, postural changes, and allowing males to sniff or lick their vulva. The truth is that females want to mate due to their chemistry and arousal, not because they are seeking pleasure.
Why Do Female Dogs Hump?
If females don’t orgasm, you might wonder why they engage in humping behaviors since they’re deriving any pleasure from them. There are several reasons why female (and male) dogs hump, including:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Attention seeking
- Boredom
- Abnormal hormone production
- Hyperarousal
- Hormone increases
- Exerting dominance
- Masturbation
Should I Train My Dog to Stop Humping?
Humping is a pretty normal behavior for both male and female dogs, but if you prefer to discourage the behavior, there are some things you can do.
When she’s humping you, push her off, turn away, and sit in a position that prevents her from mounting you again. If she is persistent, say “no” firmly and take her to a safe and quiet room for a time-out. Don’t leave any fun toys for her to play with in the room; otherwise, she may start humping you to get put in the fun time-out room.
Redirection is also a great approach to preventing humping behaviors. When you find her humping, give her something else to focus on, such as a chew toy or lick mat. Whenever you successfully redirect her to a non-humping behavior, give her a treat or praise.
If nothing seems to be working and your pup’s humping is becoming more problematic, the next best step will involve talking to your veterinarian or a canine behavior expert.
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Final Thoughts
Female dogs do not experience orgasms as there’s likely no evolutionary advantage to it. Additionally, dogs, like many other animals, don’t appear to have sex for pleasure. Some experts believe that because dogs only have sex when females are in heat, they’re only mating to satisfy their instinct to breed.
While females may not derive sexual pleasure from sex, they still may exhibit courtship-like behaviors, especially when they’re in heat. This is entirely normal, though you can address problematic humping behaviors through training.
Featured Image Credit: Sigma_S, Shutterstock
