Puppies don’t reach puberty until they’re six to eight months old, so humping is non-sexual play behaviour. It’s one of the first ways a puppy discovers its own strength and social standing. Because of this, it can continue into adulthood, even if your dog is female and has been desexed. At around 6 months, once your puppy reaches their sexual maturity, their humping will grow more sexually charged. Humping is most often a normal part of all puppies’ lives, male or female. Although we may interpret it as taboo through our eyes, it’s important to remember it is often nonsexual and habitual for puppies to hump. If your adult dog has begun humping recently, it could be a symptom of a medical-related issue. Humping in female dogs can still just be the result of them attempting to assert social dominance and honing their social interaction skills.
It is not uncommon for female dogs to hump often if they have not been spayed or desexed.
Spaying or neutering your puppy early can stop them developing sexually motivated humping behaviour.