Have you ever wondered why your normally assertive dog immediately flops onto her back whenever she feels fearful or threatened? According to board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Karen Sueda, DVM, of the VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital, this is a classic — and normal — sign of submission or appeasement.
Sometimes described as “submissive,” this behavior is often to show other dogs or people that they are not a threat. “That's often [a dog] kind of saying, 'I'm not gonna pounce on you. I'm not gonna do anything. ' And by rolling on their back, they're kind of exposing their most vulnerable parts,” says Ellis.
They Feel Safe and Secure
"Sleeping on their back is a very vulnerable position and shows trust/comfort in their surroundings," McDermott says. Often considered a peaceful appeasement gesture, this posture is a communication signal shared by both wild and domestic dogs to show they're not a threat.
This may not be fun for Pet Parents, but it's totally normal doggie behavior. A roll with ears back and wide eyes means: “Please don't hurt me.” Your pal may roll over in situations where he's feeling uneasy or threatened, like in a dog park with new dogs or with people he hasn't met before.
Back sleeping is a sign that your dog is comfortable in their surroundings, so this sleeping position usually means that your four-legged friend is completely at ease. They feel safe enough to stretch out with their soft belly facing the world.
It has taken the internet by storm, and for good reason! Splooting is the term used to describe when a dog stretches out their hind legs behind them while laying down, resulting in a pose that looks both adorable and hilarious.
Have you ever wondered why your normally assertive dog immediately flops onto her back whenever she feels fearful or threatened? According to board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Karen Sueda, DVM, of the VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital, this is a classic — and normal — sign of submission or appeasement.
If you notice your dog roll on his back and then make direct eye contact with you or stare with their body tense, beware and do not approach them. They are waiting to show their dominance and will most likely growl or snap at you when you approach. They may even bite you.
Playful Rolling With Wiggles
If you see a dog roll on their back and wiggle or kick their legs, and their overall body language looks loose and relaxed, this is a dog that is feeling happy and playful. You may also see dogs do this when they are playing with each other.
So, when a dog feels comfortable enough to roll onto their back in your presence, it's more than likely they trust you enough to voluntarily roll into this exposing position. Often, when dogs roll onto their backs, they do so in the hope of a loving belly rub.
Dogs aren't really wired for face-to-face contact. As you'll notice, most dogs will avoid it — unless they've been well-socialized from a young age. So the idea of facing toward you while they lay with you is a little odd to them. It's a much more comfortable position for them to face away instead.
Even though your dog is safe and sound in your home, dogs nonetheless retained the protective trait from their wolf ancestors. Now, circling before they lay down has simply become habit. In addition to self-protection, circling and nesting help dogs in the wild to make their sleeping space more comfortable.
However, experts have explained why you shouldn't shout at your dog, and that shouting can actually do more harm then good when trying to teach your pup to be well behaved. In fact, not only is it likely to make them naughtier, it can even lead to even stress and depression.
Licking feet may seem disgusting to you, but providing that your feet are healthy, you don't have any open wounds or haven't applied any medications that could be poisonous to your dog, such as psoriasis creams, then there is no harm in letting your dog lick your feet.
Dogs may bury their head under their owner's arms to seek comfort and security. This behavior is often seen in anxious or fearful dogs, and they may do this to feel protected. It can also be a way for dogs to bond with their owners and show affection.
“It's one way a dog shows affection. Think of your dog sitting on your feet as the canine version of a hug or cuddle.” Puppies and adult dogs of any age, size, sex, or breed choose this place to plop because they want to stay close to their new owners.
If your dog follows you everywhere then it's a sign that they trust and love you and that you make them feel safe. Following you very closely can be a sign that they're bored, they want something, they're feeling scared or are just being nosy.
The Root of the Behavior
Because such contact can feel aggressive to a dog, greeting you with her toy is his way of telling you that he wants to play with you rather than attack you. Also, dogs possess the instinct to present their pack leaders with gifts such as food and objects of comfort.
Some dogs respond to their scolding human by flopping onto their back and offering their stomach, usually with a rapidly wagging tail and curved front paws. It might look like a request for a belly rub, but it's yet another submissive pose in which the “guilty” dog attempts to pacify a human who is clearly unhappy.
Your dog is trusting that you won't attack him from behind. When his back is to you, his teeth are farthest from you, which makes it hard for him to protect himself. The great bum rush dogs have when greeting each other is so they can gather information.
Greeting Stretch
When you come home from work or school and your dog greets you with a stretch, that means that he is saying hello to you. Yes, that's right! Contrary to what most people believe, your dog didn't just wake up from a short nap or decide to do some puppy yoga.
In many cases, there may be a simple explanation as to why dogs sploot: it feels good. The position may be comfortable and even beneficial to your pet.
Some dogs, especially certain breeds like Corgis and Bulldogs, have mastered the sploot pose. These breeds use splooting as a cool-down technique as it allows for maximum belly-floor contact.
Known as froglegs, frog doggin', or in the corgi world, the sploot, this belly-down, legs akimbo position says relaxation. Corgi people love it so much, they've been known to put it on their t-shirts, and we can't really blame them.