Splooting: WHY Do Dogs Do It and Should You Be Concerned?
Three Beautiful Poodles Sitting Outside on the Grass (Courtesy: MobilityDog.org)
Splooting is a type of stretch with both front legs stretched out in the front of the body and one or both back legs stretched out behind the body in a full body stretch known as the Full Sploot. (Source: Reader’s Digest.)
Also known as “frogging” or “pancaking,” many dogs (and other animals) love engaging in this unique behavior! The exact origin of this term is unknown, but some speculate it might have come from the word “splat!”
Other terms for splooting include frog-legging, flying squirrel, supermanning, furry turkey, turkey leg, and drumsticks.
But regardless, all these terms refer to an animal lying in a spread-eagled, prone pose!
WHY Do Animals Sploot?
To fully stretch the hips, leg muscles and overall body.
To relieve pain or pressure on the spine or lower back.
To cool themselves on the ground, grass, or tile/stone floors.
To relax and be comfortable.
To communicate playfulness or submission to another dog.
Regardless of why they sploot, there’s usually no need for concern as splooting feels good and is naturally beneficial!
But, if you have an older dog with hip or joint issues (or an injured dog) who suddenly starts splooting, contact your vet to diagnose and address any potential underlying problems.
BREEDS THAT LOVE TO SPLOOT!
While all breeds of dogs can sploot, the Full Sploot is most common among young dogs with shorter legs, such as the:
Corgi
Dachshund
French and English Bulldog
Chihuahua and
Pit Bull.
K9s with longer legs, like the Labrador, may prefer the Classic, Half or Side Sploot. Learn more about each below!
Splooting is also common among cats, squirrels, bears, rabbits and marmots!
THREE OTHER WAYS DOGS SPLOOT!
In addition to the Full Sploot, it’s also seen in three other forms, depending on the dog’s overall flexibility, including:
The Classic Sploot: One leg is kicked back behind the body while the other remains under the body
The Half Sploot: One hind leg is stretched straight back while the other is tucked under the abdomen.
The Side Sploot: One hind leg is stuck out to the side while the other is close to the body.
