I never knew the term “dog sploot” until we adopted our pup, Sadie. From almost the first day we got her as a new puppy, she was splooting.
Not familiar with dog splooting? It’s also called “frogging” and is a posture that some dogs take when they lie down. If you’ve ever done yoga, and know the half frog position, you get the idea. Except dogs do that with both legs.
Splooting involves them stretching out their hind legs while their belly is flat against the ground. It’s really adorable. Then again, I’m biased.
What is the Dog Sploot
Splooting describes a dog’s lying position where they stretch their hind legs out behind them. At the same time, their front legs remain tucked under their body. You might call this position a full sploot or a half sploot, depending on how far the hind legs stretch out.
While splooting is most common in smaller dog breeds, larger breeds can also sploot. Some dog breeds that are excellent at splooting include corgis, French bulldogs and dachshunds.
The Different Types of Sploot
There are different types of sploot positions that dogs can assume:
- Full Sploot: This is the most common type of sploot and is where a dog stretches both hind legs out behind them while their front legs remain tucked under their body.
- Half Sploot: In this position, the dog stretches one hind leg out behind them while the other remains tucked under their body.
- Side Sploot: This is where the dog sploots on their side, with one or both hind legs stretched out behind them. After Sadie had knee surgery, she could side sploot only.
- Frogging: In this position, the dog’s hind legs are stretched out behind them, but their knees are bent, resembling a frog’s legs.
- Superman: In this position, the dog stretches both hind legs out behind them and extends their front legs forward, resembling Superman in flight.
The Purpose of Splooting
One of the reasons why dogs may sploot is to cool down. Dogs don’t sweat like humans do, and they regulate their body temperature through panting.
When a dog sploots, it exposes the skin on its belly to the cool air, which can help to lower its body temperature and keep your dog cool. This is especially important for dogs with thick fur coats, as they can overheat more easily.
Other animals sploot, too. You may have seen images of squirrels in full sploot in the hot weather. Cats can sploot, too.
Since Sadie has dark fur, she tends to absorb sunlight and get faster than my other dog Oscar. I think she sploots so much because she’s always warm.
Stretching and Comfort
Another reason why dogs may sploot is to stretch and get comfortable. Dogs are natural stretchers, and splooting allows them to do a full-body stretch.
It can also be a comfortable position for dogs with hip or back problems, as it relieves pressure on those areas. In some cases, dogs may sploot simply because it feels good.
After knee surgery, poor Sadie kept trying to get into a full sploot to stretch. However, for weeks her legs wouldn’t move the way she wanted. We wondered if she would ever be able to sploot again.
Dog Breeds Known for Splooting
As we’ve established, splooting describes the way a dog lies on the floor with its hind legs stretched out behind it. While all dog breeds can sploot, some breeds have an easier time achieving the sploot.
For example, my dog Oscar, a hound/shepherd mix has never splooted.
However, dog breeds with shorter legs are usually good at splooting. This includes breeds like corgis, dachshunds and bulldogs. Overall, they have an easier time moving into the position.
However, other breeds, such as greyhounds and pit bulls, may sploot from time to time. My older daughter has a pittie mix named Walter. He is an excellent splooter.
Corgis
Corgis are well-known for their splooting talents. With their short legs and flexibility, Corgis can easily stretch their hind legs behind their body to achieve the full sploot position.
Bulldogs
Bulldogs are another breed with short legs. Therefore, they’re excellent splooters.
Their flexibility allows them to stretch their hind legs behind their body, making them look relaxed and comfortable. It might also make them look like a dumb dog breed but a cute dog breed.
French Bulldogs
French Bulldogs, or “Frenchies,” are a smaller version of the bulldog breed. They have a similar body type and personality, and they share their splooting abilities. They can easily stretch their hind legs behind their body, although they may not achieve the full sploot position as often as other breeds. Not surprisingly, Frenchies are one of the most popular dog breeds in America.
Do you know which TV show featured a French bulldog?
Dachshunds
Dachshunds, or “wiener dogs,” have a long body and short legs. Despite their body shape, dachshunds are surprisingly flexible and can achieve the full sploot position.
Pugs
Pug sploot is a popular term among dog lovers, and many pug owners often share pictures of their pets splooting on social media.
Many of the dog breeds that sploot are also wiggle butt dogs.
Splooting and Age
Puppies tend to sploot more often than adult dogs because they have less control over their limbs and are still developing their coordination skills.
If an adult dog, who has never splooted before, starts doing it, it could be a sign of hip dysplasia or other joint problems. Definitely bring it up with your veterinarian if you notice any changes or concerns.
Why We Love Splooting Dogs
Splooting is a silly stretch that has taken social media by storm. With its undeniable cuteness factor, it’s no surprise that dog splooting has become a popular subject for Instagram photos and videos.
Dog owners love to capture their furry friends in the act and share their photos. By one count, the hashtag #sploot had over 300,000 posts on Instagram.
I know that my daughter Jane and I exchange dog-splooting pictures regularly. Usually, I’ll see Sadie in full sploot, take a picture on my phone and text it to Jane. Then, she’ll text me a picture of Walter splooting in reply.
One reason I think we dog owners love splooting so much is our dogs that sploot look like they’re having fun and enjoying life. It’s a reminder that our furry friends are more than just pets – they’re members of our family who bring us joy and happiness.