Relief For a Sexually Frustrated Dog: 3 Solutions

Frustration can be expressed in many ways and the root cause might very well be related to reproduction.

However, what you should do depends on the cause and nature of the frustration.

Some dog owners are convinced it’s sexual frustration that requires relief in some way, shape, or form.

If that is the case, there are a couple of steps you can take to avoid this from happening.

Please keep in mind that giving in to the dog’s perceived desire to mate is not going to end well in most cases.

Only consider mating if a breeding program was properly set up, both dogs are thoroughly health-tested, and the owners are 110% committed to caring for the puppies.

Many dog owners believe that their dog’s hot-tempered behavior would subside if they would just let nature take its course.

There is no evidence that dogs ponder the long-term implications of not reproducing and no evidence that a one-off mating will calm a male dog down in the long run.

But dogs may feel temporary frustration which can be managed in most cases.

Most of the time, males display these signs but females can seem frustrated too, especially if they’re in heat.

Recommended Reading: Male Dog Behavior Around Female in Heat

Relief For a Sexually Frustrated Dog

To relieve the sexual frustration of your dog, you can remove the trigger or limit exposure, distract your dog with exercise and brain games, or opt for medication or neutering in severe cases.

Separation and limiting exposure can be done in many ways.

If the male shares a household with a female dog in heat, it may be difficult to separate the dogs and even if you find a solution, you’d need something to mask the female’s smell.

Distraction may only work temporarily but can relieve stress in general.

Medication should only be given under veterinary supervision.

Neutering is commonly associated with a reduction in undesired behaviors but comes with risks as well as benefits.

Frustration might manifest in your male dog through the following signs:

• Whining
• Panting
• Excessive marking
• Lack of focus
• Walking in circles
• Restless pacing
• Aggression around males
• Mounting

1. Separation Avoids Frustration

Separating your male dog from a female in heat or generally limiting access to females as well as exposure to enticing odors such as a female’s urine may help calm down your sexually frustrated dog.

What the eye does not see, the heart does not grieve over, right?

While that holds true in many cases, it might not be entirely accurate.

Your male dog may still go berserk even if he’s just smelling that enticing neighborhood female in heat.

What you should do now depends on your circumstances.

Is the female dog in your house? Is it about a dog in the neighborhood? Doggy daycare?

If the female dog is in your house, separate them when left alone and try to mask the scent.

Unfortunately, this problem won’t resolve itself as your female won’t stop going into heat and you’d need to find a long-term solution.

Consider spaying or neutering and discuss with a vet you trust to see what would suit your situation best.

If the female is in the neighborhood but not your house, changing your walking route might help to calm down an agitated male canine.

Keep your furry friend away from spots where the female may have urinated to avoid worsening sexual frustration.

If a female dog has urinated inside your home, consider using a cleaning solution to remove the scent.

Doggy daycare should be avoided if your dog is distressed by a female being in heat there.

Whether your dog is neutered or not, a female in heat can put a lot of stress on our canines.

2. Separation Pairs With Distraction

Distracting your dog with exercise, obedience training, or mental exercises will not only help keep their mind occupied, but it will also help your dog to calm down in general.

Exercise prevents a lot of issues and is one of the first things dog owners should address when it comes to separation anxiety or other destructive behaviors.

The following options could help calm down a sexually frustrated male:

• Exercise outside
• Tug of war
• Obedience training
• Brain games (such as puzzles)
• Treat-dispensing toys (or stuffed frozen Kongs)

3. Neutering

Neutering might help with avoiding sexual frustration but the issue may be related to training instead. It’s not advised to neuter your male dog unless there is a strong medical indication.

If your dog’s distress becomes unbearable for them, you might want to discuss options with your vet.

It doesn’t always have to be “go big or go home” (i.e. giving in to your dog’s urges or neutering).

You might try to address the issue and see if it’s training-related.

Behaviors that surface temporarily around females in heat can be avoided.

On the other hand, signs such as constant mounting, excessive licking, or even aggressive behaviors might point toward an underlying issue.

Either way, the issue needs to be addressed to avoid your dog provoking fights with other males, or even aggression directed toward people.

Poorly socialized dogs may not heed a female dog’s warnings and that can lead to fights too.

Dog fights are not only dangerous for them, but it’s also possible that your dog will snap at you or worse, bite you or other intervening humans.

How Do I Know If My Dog Is Sexually Frustrated?

Your dog may be sexually frustrated if they display symptoms such as excessive whining, panting, licking, pacing, marking, or if they mount females repeatedly. Males around females in heat are more likely to seem frustrated.

Any one of these behaviors alone doesn’t mean your dog is necessarily sexually frustrated.

However, if you notice a combination of these behaviors and perhaps even notice it more around females or you encountered a female in heat, it might be the cause.

Separation can work wonders if used alongside distracting and exercising your dog.

However, for some owners, the signs are just so extreme that they need to discuss options with a veterinary behaviorist.

Sexually Excited Female Dog

A sexually frustrated female dog may show signs such as restlessness, irritability, whining, urine marking, and humping other dogs, humans, or even objects.

Female dogs can display frustration in the same ways males do.

Whereas males tend to display a lot of whining, circling, and marking, females may tend to be more irritable and commonly hump.

Many dog owners still believe humping or mounting to be a sure sign of doggy “dominance”.

Mounting is most commonly rooted in arousal, play, or anxiety.

Some females mount due to overexcitement or stress and may incorporate mounting in play which is not always reciprocated by other dogs and may lead to conflicts.

However, mounting can also be rooted in hormonal changes, especially with intact females.

Lastly, it’s essential to keep medical issues in mind.

• Obsessive behavior
• Urinary incontinence
• Urinary tract infection
• Skin allergies
• Retained ovaries or tumors in spayed females (rare)

Whatever you do, it’s best not to encourage or punish these behaviors, whether they’re rooted in your dog’s sexual excitement or other behavioral or medical issues.

Negative attention is just another form of attention and your dog may learn to seek it out if you constantly react to the humping.

Distracting your dog with a command or other behaviors and then positively reinforcing said command may help.

Other than that, you should regularly exercise your dog and incorporate 1-on-1 time in the form of play and training.

Long-term, it’s essential to figure out the cause and talk to your vet to rule out medical issues.

Just keep in mind that it’s possible even for neutered dogs to continue any behaviors that are currently attributed to sexual excitement or frustration.

These issues may actually need to be addressed in training sessions or by your vet.

Disclaimer: This blog post does not substitute veterinary attention and does not intend to do so. I am not a veterinarian or pet nutritionist. If your dog shows any sign of illness, call your vet.