Splooting
Roxy splooting
Most of our dogs have adopted the hearth rug position, limbs stretched out fore and aft, from
little Jack Russell, Busy Biddy to big Dalmatian, Frodo the Faller. Watching Roxy
relaxing today and demonstrating her hearth rug technique, I dimly recalled hearing
or reading something to the effect that this pose was not good for dogs, could
damage their hips, or some such thinking. I felt this could not be right, as so
many of our dogs have done it with no lasting damage, or, indeed, any damage at
all.
There is potential for damage, if passing humans are not
looking where they’re going. A dog is a trip hazard at the best of times. For
the dog, being mistaken for an actual hearth rug could be perilous!
I looked it up and discovered there is a name for ‘hearth rug
dog’. Apparently, ‘splooting’ has long been associated with Welsh Corgis, but
many other breeds also do it, as do cats, rabbits and other four-legged
animals, like squirrels and lizards.
One explanation suggests that animals sploot to stretch their
joints. Another thought is that they do it to cool down when the weather is
very hot. Dogs can only sweat through their pads and so stretch out to expose
as much as possible of their skin to cool surfaces.
Anyway, splooting is my new word of the day, but there will be limited opportunities to use it.
None of my three terriers have been 'splooters'. Perhaps this supports the cooling mechanism hypothesis, as our Northern Scotland climate almost never results in dogs overheating!
ReplyDeleteI would think heat retention might be more advantageous!
DeleteI can't attest to the pros or cons of splooting, but your doggies sure look content and comfortable. Keep Calm and Sploot On little doggies :).
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm sure they will:-)
DeleteTigger only sploots on his back these days being old (ish) and less flexible than in his former years.
ReplyDeleteHa ha! Our dogs do that, too but I think it's more a case of displaying their wares.
ReplyDeleteThe trouble with such a word is even if you manage to fit it into a conversation, no one will know what you mean.
ReplyDeleteNo-one ever knows what I'm rabbiting on about anyway . . .
DeleteChuckling at both Andrew's comment and your reply!!
DeleteIn reply to your comment, yes, I now often think that some of our maiden lady teachers probably lost potential husbands in the war. Miss Crichton, though... not so sure. But maybe. Also - you're a great-granny? How lucky you are. I fear I shall never be - my oldest is 11 and I'm 72.
ReplyDeleteMy middle daughter was saying only yesterday that she didn't think she'd see grandchildren. Her son's 10 and she's 50
DeleteWell I've learned something new today. Splooting. Is it still splooting when cats lie on their backs with all limbs spread out? Lola does that in front of the heater in winter.
ReplyDeleteReverse splooting, maybe? Sensible Lola, soaking up the warmth.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great word. I've never come across it before either. They both look very comfy! xx
ReplyDeleteYoga for dogs, maybe?
ReplyDeleteHi Janice - splooting - what a great word ... interesting! Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great?
ReplyDeleteI learned the word "splooting" a few years ago and love it! Your photos are wonderful :)
ReplyDeleteGoodness - I'd never heard it before. Amazing!
ReplyDelete