# Can a dog by "gang raped" by other dogs? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 7, 2013, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544 "2013-08-07T01:10:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Faelyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c77e96/32.png) [@Faelyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faelyn)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544/1 "2013-08-07T01:10:52Z")
A very good friend of mine likes to tell people that her poor sweet dog was traumatized because she was “gang raped” by a bunch of pitbulls a couple years ago. After questioning, she explained it to me, and it just seems to me that the dog was in heat and was mated with by a handful of the neighborings pitbulls over the course of a couple hours. But is that really rape? I mean, something just doesn’t sit right with me about it. Is this just a case of someone humanizing their dearly beloved pet? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544/2 "2013-08-07T01:16:40Z")
Rape is only clearly defined as a legal term, so no, dogs can’t be raped. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544/3 "2013-08-07T01:18:06Z")
Yes, she’s anthropomorphizing, and maybe projecting, in a big way. Is her dog a lot smaller than the other dogs? Were there scuffles? That might cause your friend to worry. But the circle of dogs is a very regular canine thing and the reason that the word bitch is used the way it is. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544/4 "2013-08-07T01:21:06Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Rape is only clearly defined as a legal term, so no, dogs can’t be raped. That’s not true. Dolphins get gang rapped all the time. Sometimes for days. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544/5 "2013-08-07T01:24:20Z")
Bitch was asking for it. What? She was in heat! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544/6 "2013-08-07T01:26:39Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > That’s not true. Dolphins get gang rapped all the time. Sometimes for days. How exactly did you determine that? Were any dolphins convicted of these rapes? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544/7 "2013-08-07T01:32:17Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > How exactly did you determine that? Were any dolphins convicted of these rapes? [This says “dolphin rape” is an unscientific myth.](http://justingregg.com/the-dolphin-rape-myth/) ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544/8 "2013-08-07T01:35:26Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > dogs can’t be raped. Well, what would you call [this?](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-man-charged-with-having-sex-with-pit-bull-at-city-pound-20130601,0,3836644.story) The difference between that story and rape is purely semantic. (Incidentally, a pit bull is the victim in this story). ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544/9 "2013-08-07T01:38:30Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > How exactly did you determine that? Were any dolphins convicted of these rapes? Those dolphins were some lyin’ bitches! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Faelyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c77e96/32.png) [@Faelyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faelyn)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544/10 "2013-08-07T01:39:10Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Well, what would you call [this?](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-man-charged-with-having-sex-with-pit-bull-at-city-pound-20130601,0,3836644.story) The difference between that story and rape is purely semantic. > > (Incidentally, a pit bull is the victim in this story). I am asking if a _dog_ can be raped by other _dogs_. I am in no way asking about humans forcing animals, and would like to keep on subject, please. I fear your post might start an argument that would probably be better suited for another thread. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544/11 "2013-08-07T01:44:54Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Those dolphins were some lyin’ bitches! :mad: good you didn’t call them lyin’ fishes. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544/12 "2013-08-07T02:03:19Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > How exactly did you determine that? Were any dolphins convicted of these rapes? Alright fine, if you really want to be such a stickler for pedantry, we’ll call it _forced copulation._ Never mind the fact that it is blindingly obvious that this is what the OP was talking about. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544/13 "2013-08-07T02:19:47Z")
It’s certainly possible, but doubtful. Can you give more details of her story? If her female dog was a lot smaller, and was hurt by the acts, I guess it could be traumatizing. That isn’t common though. Also, most researchers don’t think dogs have long term memory like we do. Meaning, it’s doubtful the dog would remember the incident for a long time and be bothered by it. Usually in these situations it’s the owner who is upset, and the dog is reacting to their behavior. I will say I’ve known other dog owners who get very upset by the fact that their female dog allowed many males to mate with her indiscriminately. Dog slut shaming, if you will. It’s super dumb, but it happens. ---
**Author:** ![Faelyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c77e96/32.png) [@Faelyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faelyn)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544/14 "2013-08-07T02:29:05Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > It’s certainly possible, but doubtful. Can you give more details of her story? If her female dog was a lot smaller, and was hurt by the acts, I guess it could be traumatizing. That isn’t common though. Also, most researchers don’t think dogs have long term memory like we do. Meaning, it’s doubtful the dog would remember the incident for a long time and be bothered by it. Usually in these situations it’s the owner who is upset, and the dog is reacting to their behavior. > > I will say I’ve known other dog owners who get very upset by the fact that their female dog allowed many males to mate with her indiscriminately. Dog slut shaming, if you will. It’s super dumb, but it happens. Her dog is about the size of a big corgi, so she’s not terribly small, but smaller than an adult male pitbull. From my friend’s story, Kaylee (the dog) was surrounded by male pitbulls and each one “had his way with her”. She did not mention any howling, bloodying of paws in escape attempts, or anything of that nature. From her description, the mental picture I get is a group of males being very excited because Kaylee was in heat, and each one tried their best to impregnate her. She claims that Kaylee is uneasy around pitbulls because of this trauma, and that she is a rape survivor. The whole thing just makes me a little uneasy. To me, its making light of the word and what it means to be raped. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544/15 "2013-08-07T02:32:04Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Alright fine, if you really want to be such a stickler for pedantry, we’ll call it _forced copulation._ > > Never mind the fact that it is blindingly obvious that this is what the OP was talking about. I don’t know if it’s clear. It’s a second hand story, and all of the details left out. On top of that it doesn’t make a lot of sense to attribute human emotional characteristics to dogs in the sense required for something to be rape. Even putting that aside, I have doubts that it was forcible in the sense that the poor sweet dog objected. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544/16 "2013-08-07T02:40:00Z")
Dog mating is not an in-and- out deal. Mating includes “tying”, where the males penis is actually stuck in the female, and they stand butt to butt for a while. It’s painful for either if them to move much, and it can last up to 30 min, though around 10 is usual. Dogs do mount each other without penetration as a dominance display, and that may have been what happened to your friend’s dog. The mount-ee does tend to look worried, that’s a submissive signal to the other dogs indicating that they get the message and they are low dog in the group and they promise not to cause any trouble. The dog may be shy around other bigger dogs, thats not unusual and she may in fact be feeding off her owners stress. Gang rape is HIGHLY unlikely (pack hierarchy wouldn’t allow it, for one thing) and your friend is anthropomorphizing and not doing herself or her dog any good. ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544/17 "2013-08-07T02:45:38Z")
Rape culture and slut shamming for dogs ? LMAO Just when I thought the SD couldn’t get any more loony. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544/18 "2013-08-07T03:01:30Z")
> [@Ibanez](#): > > Rape culture and slut shamming for dogs ? LMAO > > Just when I thought the SD couldn’t get any more loony. Pretty much every post (including the OPs) expressed doubt that dog “gang rape” is the correct context to view this in, and that the OP’s friend is anthropomorphizing. Which post was it that you thought dopers were being “loony” in discussing this? ---
**Author:** ![Sanity\_Challenged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@Sanity\_Challenged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sanity_Challenged)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544/19 "2013-08-07T05:13:51Z")
My dog tries to rape my leg at least once a week. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544/20 "2013-08-07T06:34:35Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > Yes, she’s anthropomorphizing, and maybe projecting, in a big way. Is her dog a lot smaller than the other dogs? Were there scuffles? That might cause your friend to worry. But the circle of dogs is a very regular canine thing and the reason that the word bitch is used the way it is. Yep, agreed. If the bitch was yelping or trying to get away different discussion but that’s not usual behaviour for a bitch on heat. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-dog-by-gang-raped-by-other-dogs/665544.md?page=2)