- Wanna play, Dad?
- You call me “Sir” and approach from down when addressing me, son!
- Ahhh, I forgot!
- I’m down, I’m down
- Don’t forget your place in this family
- I’m down, I’m down!
- That’s bettter!
- Got it!
- I’m outta here!
The pup has received a strict and heavy-handed (and probably not-expected) retort and rejection to his enthusiastic, happy invitation to play. He responds, expressing his feelings through tucked chin, ears swiveled back, squinting eyes, tight jaw — not so different from our own painful grimacing to such a retort. The flopping over is rather melodramatic, but I know human kids who might have done that! :)) I’ve seen coyote pups react this way many times — usually when they are conflicted: it’s as though all synapses fired at once without a clear outcome!