Sploot is slang for the pose an animal, especially dogs, cats, and other four-legged pets, makes when it lies on its stomach with its hind legs stretched out back and flat.
Most likely a sploot is a sign of relaxation, as it seems to be a very comfortable position for dogs. Going off the “it's a dog's way of stretching” theory, they're using sploot to stretch their back legs. There is some controversy as to whether or not splooting is a healthy or normal form of movement.
Dog Splooting Explained
Depending on their level of flexibility, some animals may engage in variations of the pose. The full sploot: The most common dog sploot, this position involves the dog stretching both hind legs behind his body. It's especially common with corgis, Chihuahuas, and other short-legged breeds.
Splooting is a great stretch for the animals' hips. Splooting also allows the animal to cool themselves by pressing their belly into the ground or against tile floors. Owners may notice that their pets sploot more often when they are younger.
When your dog is splooting, however, it means he's pushed either one or both of his back legs out behind him, so his hips and belly are touching the ground. The result is suuuuper cute, but you might be wondering if this is good for your dog's joints.
Is It Bad if Your Dog Sploots? As already mentioned, it is perfectly normal for a dog to sploot. It is a relaxing position that helps them stretch or cool.
If your pup sploots a lot, it could actually mean that their hips are healthy. Young puppies often enjoy lying in the sploot position, likely due to the greater flexibility in their hips. “It does not indicate a problem,” assures Dr. Vogel.
"Dogs generally sleep on their back to cool down," McDermott says. "Dogs exchange heat through their paws, and this [position] allows them to cool off." Canines have fewer sweat glands than humans, but those they do have are mostly concentrated in their paws.
Aussies can be very clingy. They crave human companionship and love being included in pretty much everything you do, including being involved in all family activity. Since they require an active lifestyle, they will want to join in everything and anything that is going on around them.
Hopefully this helps you understand the mystifying question “why does my dog sit on me.” If your Australian Shepherd likes to plop down on you, you should be flattered. This is a sign they love you and are loyal to you. They found their spot.
“Dogs that 'sploot' must have great hips!”
If your dog frequently lies this way, and his breed (or mix of breeds) is predisposed to hip dysplasia, visit the vet to rule out the condition, along with any associated secondary arthritis.
Why do dogs like to sleep with you? If your pup likes to sleep with you, it means they feel secure and comfortable with you. When your dog was a puppy, they cuddled up with their littermates for warmth and comfort, so now they want to do the same with their people.
Side Sit: Also called lazy sit, slouch or frog sit. When the dog sits, its legs are not positioned bent and close to the body. They can be loose and off to one side, or one or both legs may be straight out in front.
While the exact origins of sploot are unclear, lexicographer Grant Barrett of the A Way with Words radio show has suggested that the term sploot may riff on the word splat to characterize the splat-like (flat, spread-out) appearance of a sploot pose.
Just as humans stare into the eyes of someone they adore, dogs will stare at their owners to express affection. In fact, mutual staring between humans and dogs releases oxytocin, known as the love hormone. This chemical plays an important role in bonding and boosts feelings of love and trust.
To relieve pressure from the spinal cord
They need to give their muscles a good stretch after having them contracted for a while. Well, the same happens when they're lying in bed with their heads hanging off. It helps them relieve tension and weight from their spinal cord, letting it rest properly.
Your Aussie may require time to adjust to a new life and learn to trust you before he feels comfortable enough to cuddle with you. To cuddle means to be vulnerable, and your dog may just need patience and time to understand that his vulnerability won't put him in a position to be hurt.
Aussies are active, protective, friendly dogs that love to please and be loyal to their owners. They also have territorial instincts that can make them naturally possessive of their owners and home.
They are often nicknamed 'velcro dogs' because of their tendency to stick beside their favored person. They desire lots of attention and dislike being left alone for long periods. The diligent Aussie likes to problem-solve and will find jobs to do around the home—often herding children or other pets.
Dogs, like humans, also release endorphins and oxytocin through methods of touch, so rubbing a dog's belly can help with bonding and affection. Ultimately, dogs like belly rubs because they feel good!
“VERB (intransitive): (of an animal) to lie flat on the stomach with the hind legs stretched out behind the body." The entry adds, helpfully, that the word's origin is probably 21st-century slang “perhaps altered from splat.” A dog in Brayton, England, takes the sploot position. ( Clare Jackson/EyeEm/Getty Images)
The side sleeper is the most popular sleeping position in dogs. In this position, Dogs lie on the side with their legs extended. Dogs feel very safe and comfortable in this position as their vital organs are exposed. This position means that the dogs are safe, relaxed, and easygoing.
#9 Bunny hopping:
Pet owners often notice their dog using their hind legs together as one while running. This is commonly referred to as “bunny hopping” because the dog looks like a rabbit in its hind end. This is often a telltale sign in young dogs that they might have had hip joint issues.