A dog belonging to a friend often lies down in a posture I’ve never seen another dog assume (although I don’t have a vast amount of experience with dogs). Rather than the usual “couchant” posture of the hind legs with paws on the ground and legs bent, he lies with his hind legs pointed straight out behind him, with his knees on the ground and the paw pads facing up. Is this something certain dogs do?
It is weird looking. But normal for some dogs. My Lab liked to lay down that way. Maximum belly contact with cool ground? I dunno. This was a dog that would also skim her face through the water while walking. No matter how shallow. She’d speed up too, while doing it. I think the dog really would have preferred being a fish, but a mouthy one. Maybe a shark.
My aunt had a Heeler that would always lay down with one leg kicked out behind him like you say. Weird thing was, he’d switch off legs. But always with one behind him.
Dogs are funny.
We call it “frog legs.” Some dogs just do it and it makes them a little bit extra-cute, kind of like tilting their head when you ask them a question or howling when they hear a siren.
I’ve seen squirrels do that in hot weather.
I have a heeler who does that so hard he looks like a rug! Makes me giggle, it’s so goofy looking.
That’s actually common in dogs, especially in hot weather. Cats sometimes do it too.
My Beagle does it all the time. Sometimes she pulls her self foward with her front paws. Self belly rubbing.
It’s funny looking.
My cocker spaniel is doing it as I type this. She does it a lot.
Our heeler/beagle mix does it a lot. I call her a batfish when I see her doing it.
Term is “frog dog” around our house.
Splooting is a term I have not heard before, but I think it is not in common use.
However, “Heeler” is also I term I have not heard before, but if this thread is any indication, it is in common use?
I assumed Heeler denoted an Australian Cattle Dog.
My cat Merlin does that a lot.