Real Reason Why Dogs Expose Their Belly (6 Reasons You Should Know)

While humans primarily use verbal communication, dogs rely on body language to communicate their emotions and intentions. One of the most common body language signals is to roll onto their back and show their tummy. While you may think your dog is asking for belly-rubs, that is not usually the case. In this video, we will explore the six reasons why dogs flop on their backs and expose their bellies. They Trust You Lying on their back and exposing their belly puts dogs in a very vulnerable position. It makes them open to attack from predators and makes it harder to defend themselves. It’s a risky business, and dogs won’t do it in front of just anyone. If your canine friend constantly shows you their belly, they’re telling you that they trust you and feel safe around you. Your dog is not worried that you’ll sink your jaws into their exposed abdomen, and they’re confident you’ll protect them if something jumps out suddenly to attack them. They are being submissive Another reason a dog might roll over to expose their belly is because they’re showing you they’re submissive. A dog may use this submissive display as a way to avoid confrontation. In the wild, our canines wolf ancestors would adopt this submissive posture to diffuse social tension by showing that they re not a threat. When a dog shows their belly to more dominant dogs or even a person, they may be anxious and are offering peace and a request to go easy on them. You often see this appeasing behavior in puppies. Some timid pups may even dribble or squirt urine in an attempt to communicate a submissive status. Remember, petting an unfamiliar dog who s showing submissive or appeasing behaviors can make the dog more nervous, this is because they may be afraid of you and you re touching them in very vulnerable parts of their body. To know if a belly-exposing behavior is out of trust or appeasement, look at a dog s whole body. Dogs who feel safe around you will show loose, wiggly body posture with relaxed, wagging tail. In contrast, a dog who is showing fearful submissive behavior will crouch, freeze, or show tense body language. They want to catch a cool breeze on hot days If your dog sleeps with a belly-up position, it’s often a sign that they are hot. Although dogs attempt to regulate their body temperature by panting, some may sleep on their back with all four legs splayed out in the air to cool off. Since the fur is thinner around the belly and the paws hold the sweat glands, exposing these areas is a great way to beat the heat. Puppies overheat faster than adult dogs, so that may explain why you often find your puppy sleeping on their back. They want to garner love and attention from you. Dogs are socially intelligent. They quickly learn that certain behaviors get them the attention they want from their favorite humans. Therefore, some dogs show their belly to grab attention and love from their favorite person. Likewise, when dogs are excited, they may flop on their back to invite us or another animal to play with them. In this situation, your dog is showing you, or another animal, how relaxed, trusting, and vulnerable they are and that they trust you with their whole body. In a similar manner, happy dogs who go belly up at your feet when you return home may be doing their best to let you know that they adore you and want to play with you. They are scratching an Itch One of the most common reasons for dogs rolling on their backs is not as complex as you may think. They may be trying to scratch an itch. Dogs can’t reach every part of their body to scratch, so sometimes they roll on their back to get rid of an irritant. This can be a normal behavior, but remember, if your dog does this a little more than usual, it could be a sign that they are struggling with allergies, fleas or bacterial skin infection. Make sure to take them to a vet for a checkup. They’re Giving You Better Access Of course, showing their belly can also be a dog’s way to ask for belly rubs. This occurs especially when the dog associates pets on the belly with something pleasant and positive. To some dogs, belly rubs simply feel good, and without words, your dog may show you its belly to tell you exactly what he wants. Why dogs roll around in the dirt or grass. Dogs often will roll on their backs in new areas to put either their scent on that area or, to get that smelly item from that area onto them to disguise their own scent. For example, many dogs roll on grass or the stinkiest thing they can find after being bathed, and this may be an attempt to rid themselves of their clean, freshly shampooed scent. Likewise, your dog may roll around in an area to deposit their scent and mark their territory.