Sloppy Sit!

[SoapySophie]

Soooo I've seen Sophie do it (almost every time) and others on here...is it a lab thing to sit with the hips all sloppy, or is it something that can be trained out? Is it a really bad thing that we shouldn't allow ever or nothing to worry about?

Thank you,
Jen

[Labradorks]

Are you doing any competition obedience or rally with her? If not don't worry about it. If you are then when you are working with her or anytime you ask for a sit don't allow it.

[doubledip1]

Soooo I've seen Sophie do it (almost every time) and others on here...is it a lab thing to sit with the hips all sloppy, or is it something that can be trained out? Is it a really bad thing that we shouldn't allow ever or nothing to worry about?

Thank you,
Jen

This post comes up almost once a month. It's totally fine. If I'm training, I will only reward for the proper sit, but other than that, she can sit how she's comfortable. Some new puppy owners freak out and think it's hip dysplasia, but if I had a dollar for every puppy in the world whose sloppy sit actually was hip dysplasia, I would have $10, out of all the puppies in the world.

[Jax's Mom]

It's a lab thing. Jax doesn't do it as much now that he's older. If he is sloppy sitting I know he's planning on staying for a bit.

[Halcyon]

It's a Lab thing. Bobby did it often as a puppy but not so much anymore. I don't worry about it since we're not going to compete in obedience. Like Jax's Mom mentioned, if he does the sloppy sit, I know he'll be sticking around.

[Berna]

My 8 1/2 year-old still does the sloppy-sit sometimes. And his hips were x-rayed, and they are excellent.

If you are worried, you can take x-rays of her hips once she turns 12 months old.

[SoapySophie]

Thank you all for entertaining my question instead of telling me to search the board! Some other boards I frequent (not dog-related) have brutal members that will yell at you for posting a commonly-asked question.

I have much to read through on this site - it's a huge wealth of information and I apologize for not searching first. Sometimes it slips the mind and I will try to remember next time.

However, YES! When she sits sloppy it usually means a down is close behind. It's great to know that it's nothing to worry about health-wise, and it's pretty cute to see her slouch just like her hoomins do. lol When we go to our weekly obedience classes, though, I know the trainer won't allow the slop, so we'll still need to work on it some.

Cheers.

[Labradorks]

However, YES! When she sits sloppy it usually means a down is close behind. It's great to know that it's nothing to worry about health-wise, and it's pretty cute to see her slouch just like her hoomins do. lol When we go to our weekly obedience classes, though, I know the trainer won't allow the slop, so we'll still need to work on it some.

Definitely if you even thing you'll be competing, you'll want to watch it. It's super hard to untrain! I'm still working on Sam. With Linus I never allowed it, so we don't have any issues.

[Meeps83]

Maverick sloppy sits too. He also still does the thing where he lays down and stretches his back legs out behind him like a frog. He's 9 months old. Can we say flexible???

[POPTOP]

Never, every worry about asking a question here. Yes, it may have been asked in the past, and sometimes a link will be posted to an especially good answer.

Mardi rarely sits properly but it's because of a bum knee. However she sits that she is comfortable is OK with me. I too think the sloppy sit is a lab thing, all of my seniors have done it. On the other hand, I don't think I've ever seen Archie do a sloppy sit. Maybe difference in breed?