WHY IS MY DOG ​​LYING ON HIS BACK?

Like the cat, the dog has his own body language. Perhaps you are wondering what these attitudes mean, especially why your dog lies on his back? There are several explanations for this behavior and the situation in which it is observed: indeed, the dog can lie down or roll on his back facing his master, facing a congener, or by play.

A submission posture

In the dog, lying on his back to show his belly indicates a submissive posture where he “confesses” vulnerable to a human or another dog. Thus, this attitude serves to somehow defuse a conflict between dogs, or to address a congenere dominant and / or stronger physically, under the sign of peace.

With the posture lying on your back, your dog wants to show explicitly that he is devoid of protection: that is why he may adopt this behavior when you scold him. He wishes to make you understand that he is aware of his stupidity and peacefully accepts the reprimand. Similarly, in a dog fight, he relies on the dominance of his fellow creature by offering him his belly and throat, which are parts of the body associated with vulnerability: it is said that it is from a posture of passive submission.

A posture expressing well-being

The supine position, whether on the back or on the side, can express a sense of well-being felt by the dog: it is then a sign of appeasement, relaxation, satisfaction, serenity. In short, if you find your pet lying all four long in the air, it means he feels happy and serene. By adopting such a position, which would make him fragile and defenseless in nature, he feels that his environment is secure and reassuring. And if he lies down in front of or next to you, chances are that it reflects a desire for attention and complicity. By caressing her belly, you will express to him the tenderness that he comes to claim with this position.

A posture expressing confidence

Reported once again to the notion of vulnerability, the supine posture in the dog reflects a great confidence in his master. Your animal shows you that he relies on you without fear. To signify that you have understood, caress his stomach without insisting, because the goal is not to strengthen the balance of power. Indeed, some rather submissive dogs tend to adopt this posture frequently, and this may become an exacerbated reflex if you answer each time. Another solution is to congratulate him for the voice without touching him systematically.

A game posture

You will surely see your companion roll on his back during walks, for example on the grass, in the sand, or when he is in the company of other dogs. This attitude reflects a joie de vivre and sometimes a desire to play. Encourage him with the voice and throw him his ball or a stick to start a game!

Be careful though, because a dog rolling on his back in the wild is also potentially hiding his scent, a reflex linked to his hunter instincts. It is therefore very likely that it rolls in excrement or carrion of other animals, especially if the scene takes place in the countryside…

Be careful and teach him the reminder properly to limit the damage. Finally, it happens very often that dogs roll on the floor after bathing: if you let it dry unattended in your garden, it may come back even dirtier than before! Better to keep it in the bathroom by offering towels spread on the floor.