And they say dogs don't know when they've been bad.....

9 years ago

Most dog trainers will tell you that you should only correct your dog when you catch them in the act of misbehaving and that you shouldn't chide them after the fact.

This morning when I walked into the kitchen my Lab was no where to be seen. She didn't greet me with her usual wagging tail and happy dance. I discovered her in the corner of the laundry room with her tail tucked beneath her. She only goes into that corner when she's scared - like the time my son burned a loaf of bread under the broiler and the kitchen filled with smoke and frightened her.

DH and I started looking around to see if she had done something and discovered that she had chewed a small plastic plant identification tag. She obviously knew she shouldn't have done it and retreated to her 'corner' leaving the evidence - the remaining half of the plant tag on the kitchen floor. She was so adorably contrite that all I could do was give her a big hug.

I'm sure there are other dog owners here who've seen the same behavior with their pets.

It reminded me of this clip from Funniest Home Videos.

Here is a link that might be useful: 'Which dog is guilty?'

This post was edited by maire_cate on Thu, Jan 8, 15 at 9:57

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Comments (15)

alisande
9 years ago
That's funny, Maire! I've even read that dogs have no emotions. How ridiculous.
lucillle
9 years ago
What was she scared of?
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rob333 (zone 7b)
9 years ago
She looks so ashamed! Cutie pie. Even so, hilarious! Because of the other dogs who turn around and look right at her. No way, wasn't us!
maxmom96
9 years ago
Having had a Lab in the past I know that look of guilt they can get. I think it's to make you feel sorry for them. They're pretty good at that. All they have to do is roll those big brown eyes at you.

I now have a Sheltie and I don't think there's an ounce of guilt in him anywhere. He always seems proud of whatever trouble he gets into.
Sally Brownlee
9 years ago
I have a cat that knows he's been bad. I have never ever raised a hand, and barely my voice to any of them. They are spoiled rotten.
BUT every now and then my King will pee on the dining room chair. I know it follows some interruption in his life that he's not happy about...overnight visitors will do it. Or the first night I return from vacation.
I usually don't spot it first thing, but he will be lurking and all but crawling on his belly watching me get his breakfast ready. When I see his body language I immediately know what he did. I do talk to him sternly but there is never a punishment. He watches me with guilty eyes while I clean it and then hides.
I also remember reading that animals don't know their names. I would adamantly argue that. I have three cats and each will come to me independently when called. I have experimented using different tones and pitches so I can rule out the "way" I say it. Always the right one comes to me - unless of course I have the treat bag in my hand...then they all knock me over!
ellendi
9 years ago
Yes they do. When we come home, our dog might greet us with his ears back. That is our indication that he has done something wrong. Usually it is something minor, like taking a tissue out of the trash, or messing up our bed.
He usually does this when he's left alone for a while, or feels like he should have been taken along.
socks
9 years ago
Maire, labs are such smart dogs. Poor thing was punishing herself for chewing the plant tag. Maybe she needs something appropriate to chew? Glad she didn't ingest it.

The video is very funny. My dog rarely acts guilty, but he doesn't do much wrong either except not come when called and eat dirt.

I've often thought about what emotions dogs have. Shame, joy, sadness, excitement, fear, pleasure and more.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
9 years ago
If you want to see a guilty dog watch the videos of Denver the guilty dog. Omg they are so funny. He got famous for his YouTube videos and has been on some TV shows.
There's no doubt they know, they have long term memory, and they know their name or the sound associated with it.
My little one is very good but if there is a kleenex within reach and we are not in sight then it must be shredded immediately because kleenex are the debbil! They must be destroyed! She usually eats tiny bits too to decorate her poo. Lol
We know what she has done because she always does it under the little table beside my husband's chair and that's where she goes to hide too.
I have never raised a hand to my animals so I don't know what they are afraid of but it's very funny to see it. My Great Danes were terrified of the flyswatter, they of course never had one used on them, but they saw what happened to those bad bad wasps! I swear I knew immediately if there was a wasp in the house, the Danes would all go stampeding into the bedroom and hide. Sure enough I would see the wasp and out comes the dreaded flyswatter!

Here is a link that might be useful: Denver the guilty dog
socks
9 years ago
That's so funny.
sylviatexas1
9 years ago
Dogs will adopt the look that we think means "guilty" when they're scolded or when they're afraid.

It's a submissive look, not a "guilty" look;
they do it to keep their pack leader from punishing them or a bigger dog from hurting them.

Many children, & adults, have been punished because they "look guilty" when they're not;
they're just afraid of punishment & they're trying to deflect a "big dog's" anger.
carabubble
9 years ago
Our cocker spaniel passed away a couple of years ago, but when we came home if she came into the foyer and leaned against the wall rolling her eyes, we knew she'd done something wrong. Usually it was trashing the powder room,emptying the trash and even pulling toilet paper off the roll.
joyfulguy
9 years ago
I don't know about them being "bad" ... but they know that they've done something that makes the Big Dog annoyed ... so they'd better adopt some ingratiating behaviour in order to reduce/(avoid?) the trouble that may ensue.

ole joyful
kfca37
9 years ago
A girlfriend of decades back always knew when her dog had misbehaved while she was work...she found him in her bathtub, hiding behind the shower curtain, on those days.
murraysmom Zone 6a OH
9 years ago
Kfca, that made me laugh out loud.

What a mental picture!!! LOL LOL LOL
socks
9 years ago
I laughed outloud too! Dogs are just the BEST!

Joyful, did you ever have a dog? I wish you had one now. It would be such good company for you.

And they say dogs don't know when they've been bad.....

Comments (15)

alisande

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