Thursday, February 25, 2010

Have a Seat


It's a basic command almost every dog knows: "Sit." Dogs do it naturally, you just have to teach them to do it on command. Simple enough, right? Basic obedience 101! Here is the anatomy of a properly executed sit, first from the side:



And now from behind:



Well, leave it to us to come up with a debate on the topic. Brutus being Brutus, he has managed to come up with his own unique take on the position.


In obedience it is called a "sloppy sit" (Oh, to see a scoresheet without the notation "SS" on it...). Brutus sort of reminds me of an old man when he sits like this, all hunched-over looking. Here's a side view so that you can get the full effect. This is the more complicated "Foot-paw-foot-paw" version, where front & hind feet alternate.

I think they get the idea, mom... Will you knock it off with the camera?

Compare that with the even more casual "on one hip" version shown here. No complicated foot placement to worry about in this sit, just let it all hang out to the side:


Brutus isn't alone, this is a characteristic Frenchie position. If you want to get technical about it (and you know I can't pass up the chance), somewhere I read that all Frenchies have some degree of patellar luxation so this is just how sitting works best for them anatomically. Explain it however you want, it's just one more thing to put on the list of why I love my Frenchie :)

22 comments:

Moose said...

sloppy? I think it is cute. I bet half the time the judges who write that are hunched over with bad posture anyway, sheesh! I was thinking it looked like how doggies with knee trouble sit so that is interesting about you Frenchies.

Dexter said...

I never did understand those sloppy site rules. I say if your bottom is on the ground you should get full credit. In fact Brutus should get EXTRA credit for his most artful positions.

Slobbers,
Mango

Frankie Furter and Ernie said...

SLOPPY SITS??? Rediculous!! I see it as... Creative Cushioned Positioning!!!
So your dad has a problem with your relationship with Stella like mine has with Ruby and Penny and I !! I saw that Riley's MOM is also having the same thing. What is with these two leggers. They need to get into some sort of program. I wonder why it is that the girrrls don't seem to be having this with THEIR two leggers??? Something for us guys to think about.

The Adventures of the LLB Gang said...

Dory also does the SS...and has taught it to Bilbo. Bilbo is usually the "at attention sitter" unless he is with Miss SS herself and then it is the on one hip comfy SS for both of them!!


Smileys!
Dory

Anonymous said...

I sits like that, too! And my patellars aren't luxationed at all. In fact, I have stellar patellars. Heehee! But some peoples have guessed that I have Frenchie in me. I always thought they guessed that cuz of my stickie-up ears. But who knows? Maybe we are related! Anyway, I think Brutus' sits are spectacular!

Martine said...

Bailey does that hunched over pose similar to Brutus'... my mom calls it her little buddha pose.

As usual, no matter what Brutus is up to, he's a cutie pie!

xo martine & the kiddlets

Brutus, Ellie, Pippa and Otto said...

Sloppy sit (mom says don't say that wrong - BOL!!). We sit like that quite often too.

Pugs & Kisses,

Yoda & Brutus

Smushie Ranch said...

HA! Must be something the Frenchies and Pugs have in common. Gunther definitely has the sloppy sit down pat. I think Brutus looks cute with his sloppy sit...

Laughing at Yoda and Brutus!!

Shannon and the Gang

The WriggleButts said...

Yup - just like a pug! :) I think they are very cute. According to a very good and serious dog book I have about anatomy and stuff this is caused by frencies and pugs and a few other breeds having a more rounded bottom than most so it's hard to balance and relax at the same time. I think they look extra funny when the floor is slippery and their silky furs just doesn't provide any grip and they keep sliding and sliding..

Ane

Sam said...

I think there's lots of cute about that sit, whether the obedience crowd calls it sloppy or not!

Interesting about Patella Luxation in the Frenchie and it does make sense that it would make it more comfortable to sit like that. Marge has sat that way in the past, too, but I think it's her just being lazy.

Kari in Alaska said...

Mesa also does a lazy sit. Baily and Carl are much better about it

Unknown said...

I believe I just mastered this class. My thanks to the demo dog. BOL
Brutus, ol' man, did you momma spit-shine you for this photo shoot?

The 'splorin' Wolfies said...

i checked out the pic and you are right! the scene is very similar! how did i miss that-- do i not have you added as a friend??? let me go make sure right now

The 'splorin' Wolfies said...

gosh i am sorry Brutus! all those nice comments you were leaving all this time--i was getting you mixed up with some of my other Frencie bloggy buddies! i added you as a buddy--again so sorry for the oversight!

Salinger The Pug said...

Aw man...that's too bad the judges don't recognize this advanced method of sitting...

I do it and mom calls it my "dingus on the carpet" sit! It's VERY comfortable!

Love,
S-Dog

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

This is just hysterically funny and cute too. It looks uncomfortable to MOm but it can't be because Brutus looks so content. The little one here does a sort of sloppy sit too but we do think it is adorable. Thanks for the smiles tonight.

Woos, Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

Sonic said...

Hahaha I like that sloppy sit pose! The Beagle from down the road says that if Brutus was a chubby Italian woman on a couch, a Renee-Sauce artist would pop out and paint him!

Lorenza said...

Brutus you are adorable!
The sloppy sit is my favorite too!
I can sit properly... for about 4 seconds and then... plop... all my butt on the ground!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Scooter said...

Brutus,
Dont worry bout it, a sit is a sit!! These humans can be so picky sometimes. Would they like us taking pics of how they sit?? As long as you sit, thats fine and you look great!!

Oh and BTW, you made a terrific song leader to day, I think you shouls do it every meeting. You help brighten up the whole group!!

wags
Jazzi

Molly the Airedale said...

It definitely must be a Frenchy thing because we've never sat like that in our lives! Those are just the cutest pictures, Brutus!

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

Unknown said...

Cute, cute, cute, but for sure is a pain as far as obedience goes!

I trained a lab with that problem for obedience and we spend at least a month focusing on JUST that before he would sit straight constistently.

Oskar said...

Oh he looks so sweet when he sits like that!