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Do dogs know when they're "bad"?

S

StormRider

Diamond Member
I've heard stories where owners come home and know immediately that the dog did something bad by the way it acted.

Is this because the dog knows it did something bad? Or is it because the owner saw the "bad thing" and the dog sensed the owner is upset and that is why the dog acts like it knows it did something "bad".
 
well my gf's dog knows when he's bad. everytime he does something bad he'll run and hide under the bed when she sees it. sometimes though, she'll come home from work and he'll run under the bed immediately and she'll have to look around for what he did. so yeah, he knows.
 
It's conditioning. I kinda doubt if a dog does something "bad" for the first time that they would act guilty. But if you've scolded them for it or something similar in the past, then they'll know they're going to be scolded again. It's all about Pavlov.

Oh, and tone of voice is also an indication. My dog used to start slouching and putting his tail between his legs as soon as I would use a certain tone of voice. Kids do the same thing, even if they don't know what they're gonna be in trouble for yet.
 
My dog knows right away when she has been bad. I'll open the front door and she hides waiting for me to find whatever she did.
 
my dog goes in her crate and starts whining when shes done something bad (usually getting into the garbage)
 
hehe, yeah, my dog knows when he's been bad. He doesn't really hide from me, but he definitely cowers, and is really timid around me until I confront him about it.
 
No, dogs dont have the ability to feel guilty. If they give the impression that they know they have done something wrong, it is most likely in response to a change in yoiur deameanor.
 
Originally posted by: AngryPirate
No, dogs dont have the ability to feel guilty. If they give the impression that they know they have done something wrong, it is most likely in response to a change in yoiur deameanor.
Click to expand...

Are you a dog owner?

My dog certainly knows when he's done something wrong... his change in attitude changes well before I'm aware of what he did.
 
^^my dog hides in her crate before i even know something is wrong, though, she could have just been trained to know that when she tears up the garbage, im going to be mad.
 
Originally posted by: AngryPirate
No, dogs dont have the ability to feel guilty. If they give the impression that they know they have done something wrong, it is most likely in response to a change in yoiur deameanor.
Click to expand...

they know when they've done something they know they're not supposed to do. they might not feel guilty about it, but they know they'll get in trouble for it.
 
Originally posted by: Hammer
Originally posted by: AngryPirate
No, dogs dont have the ability to feel guilty. If they give the impression that they know they have done something wrong, it is most likely in response to a change in yoiur deameanor.
Click to expand...

they know when they've done something they know they're not supposed to do. they might not feel guilty about it, but they know they'll get in trouble for it.
Click to expand...

Exactly. To the same effect, we're the same way. If we weren't told that it's wrong to mug old ladies and steal their hand bags, would you feel guilty about doing?
 
If my dog is sitting in his open cage without me telling him I know something is amiss. They have to know they did something wrong why else would he be in there before I get home?
 
Originally posted by: Hammer
Originally posted by: AngryPirate
No, dogs dont have the ability to feel guilty. If they give the impression that they know they have done something wrong, it is most likely in response to a change in yoiur deameanor.
Click to expand...

they know when they've done something they know they're not supposed to do. they might not feel guilty about it, but they know they'll get in trouble for it.
Click to expand...


Yeah, pretty sure I covered this way up at the top...
 
sure they do. If my dog has done something bad and I haven't discovered it yet she'll act real sheepish around me. She'll usually tuck her tail between her legs, put her head down and give me her paw.
 
Originally posted by: Beau
Originally posted by: AngryPirate
No, dogs dont have the ability to feel guilty. If they give the impression that they know they have done something wrong, it is most likely in response to a change in yoiur deameanor.
Click to expand...

Are you a dog owner?

My dog certainly knows when he's done something wrong... his change in attitude changes well before I'm aware of what he did.
Click to expand...

Yes, I've taken care of and traied 5 dogs in the past 8 years.
 
Originally posted by: Hammer

they know when they've done something they know they're not supposed to do. they might not feel guilty about it, but they know they'll get in trouble for it.
Click to expand...

Normally when I come in the front door, my dog will run over and be excited to see me. But when she has done something wrong, she will just be laying down and looking up at me with her ears back. She definitely looks guilty and knows she is in trouble even if she doesn't actually feel guilt.
 
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