First-time Corgi owners may notice that they often relax with their bellies touching the ground and their hind legs spread far apart. This is called “splooting.”
Corgis only tend to want to sploot if they’re flexible enough to do so.
A Corgi is not the only dog breed that likes to sploot.
My Golden Retriever / Lab cross used to regularly sploot when relaxing by our sitting-room fire. She did it ever since she was a puppy.
We used to think she was double-jointed!
So, Why Do Corgis Sploot?
To cool down
A lot of dogs sploot on concrete, tile, or the grass on hot sunny days. It’s their way of bringing their body temperatures down.
For a full-body stretch
Just like we humans feel stiff eventually when we haven’t moved or stretched much all day. It’s the same for a Welsh Corgi puppy or adult.
As long as Corgis are still flexible enough, chances are, they find splooting a practical way to stretch and change positions.
It also helps them to extend their spines.
Since they can’t do things like bend backward, they often find splooting to be a practical alternative starting in puppyhood.
It’s also a way to release tension
A dog splooting helps to open their hips, increase movement and flexibility. Some Pembroke Welsh Corgis even prefer to sleep in that position.
To get their owners’ attention
There’s just something about seeing a Pembroke Corgi sploot that makes people want to stop and pet them or give them a scratch.
Various Splooting Positions
1. The Pancake, a.k.a. Full Sploot
The pancake is the classic sploot. This is when the Cardigan Corgi has both of its hind legs completely spread out.
Its front paws point toward the front or the back.
2. The Half Sploot
Just like the name suggests, the “halfie” is when the Corgi has one leg tucked under the body and the other spread out.
3. The Side Sploot
As its name suggests, the side sploot is when the Pembroke Welsh Corgi has its legs leaning either to its right or left side.
Or one leg is tucked in while the other is stretched to the side.
4. The Reverse Sploot, a.k.a. Upside Down Sploot Position
This is the position in which a dog looks like it’s playing dead.
But, in fact, despite it looking like a Corgi butt in the air, it’s just relaxing for the reasons mentioned above.
Is Not Splooting Normal?
Yes. Just like we, as humans, have different sleep position preferences, dogs have specific position preferences.
As a result, it’s never advisable to force a dog into any position that makes it feel uncomfortable.
That could also lead to injury and an expensive veterinarian bill.
Splooting and Social Media
Despite their royal connection to Queen Elizabeth II, Corgi registrations (according to the American Kennel Club) have been plummeting in the U.K. since the turn of the century.
However, since 2015, Corgis’ popularity has been skyrocketing thanks to the social media craze of owners posting pictures of their dogs splooting.
As a result, a Corgi lover can now choose between their own magnets and mugs!
Splooting Due To Health Issues
Rest assured that splooting in itself is not a sign of a health issue and is not known to cause any health issues.
However, when a dog suddenly sploots with specific symptoms, it could be a cause for concern.
Hip Dysplasia
Dysplasia is more common in the larger breeds, but it can affect the smaller ones as well.
It’s often compared to one malfunctioning part of a machine affecting the rest of the device.
Similarly, dysplasia affects the dog’s joint in that the ball and socket grind instead of slide. It’s often excruciatingly painful for the dog, too.
Symptoms include:
- constantly shifting the weight to the front legs
- limping
- limited hip movement
- stiff or lameness in the hips and/or hind legs
- an inability to stand or exercise for long periods
- inability or unwillingness to get up from a lying position
- clicking sound while hips are moving
- larger shoulder muscles
Another Injury?
Torn ligament, dislocated muscle, or a wound in the hips or hind legs
With any dog that hasn’t had a splooting habit before and is not showing signs of dysplasia, it’s always a good idea to rule out injury first.
It is recommended to take the dog to a local veterinarian as soon as possible if it shows:
- bleeding
- swelling
- any other type of visible wound
- a sudden reluctance to jump or run
- snappiness and any other sudden negative mood changes
Arthritis
Arthritis is common in older dogs.
Unfortunately, it’s often quite sneaky, too. Dogs usually don’t show the pain until it’s severe.
Since most dogs have four limbs to work with, they often cope by shifting the weight first. Another way is by changing their posture, which can include splooting.
Some symptoms of arthritis include:
- sudden changes in willingness to exercise or walk much
- difficulty climbing and jumping on and off of high places and stairs
- stiffness
Skin Issues
Mainly if it’s their belly that’s itching, they may sploot and drag it across the grass or other ground surface.
If that’s suspected, the owner should be sure to check his or her dog’s belly area for inflammation, strange bumps, scaling skin, and/or redness.
Lethargy
Sometimes it’s difficult to tell if a dog is genuinely lethargic or just being lazy. One major hint is that lethargy is laziness coupled with a lack of appetite.
Other symptoms include:
- lack of energy and enthusiasm
- lack of interest in regular activities
- lack of response to sensory stimuli.
If a dog demonstrates any of the above, it’s time to take it to a veterinarian. That means that it may be depressed, have a serious disease, and/or not much time left.
Are Corgis The Only Ones That Sploot?
Not by a long shot. Other breeds of dogs and cats are known to do it as well.
However, it seems to look the cutest on Corgis. It’s probably because of the way that splooting defines their body shape the best.
With Corgis, the sploot brings out the natural heart shape of their rear ends. The smallness of their hind legs seems to act as natural guards to that heart shape.
Comparatively speaking, splooting tends to look too large or too flat on most other breeds and animals.
Final Thoughts
The question of, why does a Cardigan Welsh Corgi sploot? Seems to be a pretty easy one to answer.
They seem to do it for a variety of reasons. The main two being to cool down and just relax.
Not all of them sploot, however. It seems to be an individual preference similar to sleep positions for us humans. It is never recommended to force them if they don’t.
Corgis are far from the only animals, and even the only dog breed that sploot.
However, it seems to look the cutest on Corgis because of the way it brings out their lower bodies’ heart shape.
Splooting while probably confusing at first for a Corgi owner, is not known to cause any health issues.
In fact, it helps dogs stay flexible and keeps their hip muscles open.
However, if a dog suddenly starts to sploot and hasn’t before, that could be sign a health issue.
