In the instances in which the dogs were scolded but did not eat the treats, they actually showed the most “guilt”. This and similar studies suggest that a dog's seemingly guilty behaviour is a response to their owner's anger and the threat of harm, rather than the understanding that they have done something wrong.
The experiment concluded that the dogs looked guilty not because of what they did (after all, they did nothing wrong) but rather as a reaction to what the owners did. Submissive dogs lower their heads, hunch down, and avert their eyes when trying to diffuse a situation or appease their owners.
These submissive behaviors, like a meek expression and a bowed head, look a lot like how humans display guilt. Overall, your dog can't feel guilt and probably doesn't feel bad for chewing your slipper. But they can anticipate your negative emotions and will respond accordingly.
Horowitz concluded that the dogs' behavior was directly tied to their owners' reactions to the situation. In other words, the condition that evoked the guilty response was not a dog's understanding of his wrongdoing but rather the knowledge that he was being scolded or reprimanded by his owner.
Dr. Mary R. Burch, certified applied animal behaviorist, suggests that when a dog looks guilty for an action such as house soiling or chewing, he has most likely done this before and may have experienced a strong reaction from his owner – scolding, yelling, or the cold shoulder.
Unlike humans, dogs do not always understand why they're being punished or the consequence of their actions. So depending on how you punish, it could cause a lot of problems such as fear, aggression and sadness in your dog.
In the study, dogs acted guilty when scolded by their owners, regardless of whether they had actually committed the act for which they were being scolded. Based on this, it seems likely that dogs learn quickly that when pet parents unhappy with them, they can placate their humans by looking sad.
"Dogs forget an event within two minutes," reported National Geographic, citing a 2014 study performed on various animals from rats to bees. Other animals have long-term memories, such as dolphins, but dogs don't seem to have a long-term memory that lasts much beyond those two minutes.
One of the common ways your dog will try to say sorry is by making “puppy eyes” or tucking its tail between its legs. Avoiding eye contact and lowering their ears are also common ways for dogs to apologize. They also watch for your reaction.
While a one-off hit might be forgiven, dogs will find it hard to move on from repeated harsh discipline and it could negatively affect your bond. You should work on positive training techniques and seek the help of a dog behaviorist if you are struggling.
Your dog might be licking you because:
Maybe they're trying to avoid getting in trouble or saying they're sorry after they've done something bad, like when they get into the garbage and want to say sorry.
Dogs Can Understand Body Language and Changes in Routine
“When a normally active owner gets in bed in the middle of the day or takes to the couch and doesn't move, the dog knows something isn't quite right,” she says. “Depending on the illness, the owner may be exhibiting symptoms that are easy for the dog to detect.
Anyone who has ever accidentally stepped on a dog's tail has probably wondered if dogs can understand the difference between doing something by mistake about doing it on purpose. Now a new study suggests that, at least in some circumstances, dogs do seem to know when their humans have just screwed up.
Using hitting or spanking as a method of punishment can severely damage the relationship you have with your dog. If you start using force to discipline them, your dog can develop various behavioral issues.
Don't Ignore It
If your dog's safety is at risk because of their behavior, never ignore it. Ignoring any behavior that isn't motivated by attention won't do anything to change the behavior. For example, a dog barking at passersby while watching out a window.
A dog may be fearful because it has learned that when evidence of their misbehavior is visible and their owner appears, the dog gets scolded. Since dogs have the same level of cognition as a human 2 ½-year-old, it is unlikely that they have higher-level emotions, such as guilt or shame.
When you are petting your dog, and he puts his paw on your arm or leg, it is kind of like petting you back. While most dogs can't do an actual stroking action, laying their paw on you is a sign of affection, closeness and trust This is his way of creating a special bond with you.
Whining can be a submissive behavior — a way of saying “You're the boss.” When you scold your dog for chewing your shoes or tipping over the trash can, they might whine as part of their apology.
Bad Doggy Memories/Training
Do dogs remember bad experiences? They sure do! Although dogs don't have the same kind of memory as we do, they can form negative associations that we may interpret as “bad memories.” Just like the good, they recall the bad.
It is very likely your dog can remember things that have happened in the past and especially events that happened recently, like where they left their ball outside yesterday. So in short, your dog can probably remember certain things from the day before!
In addition, if you suddenly stop paying attention to your dog, this will negatively impact them, and they may experience feelings of depression in addition to the other side effects discussed above.
Dogs are quite adept at moping around and if your pooch feels disappointed, you may find that this is exactly what they decide to do. You may even see your dog sighing as a result of their disappointment – a surefire way of putting you on a guilt trip!
Head Down and Avoiding Eye Contact
However, this isn't a gesture of atonement, it's stress. By looking away, the dog is trying to communicate that he's nervous about the person's reaction, and is responding in dog language to please take it down a notch.
Dogs can also show jealousy toward other animals, humans, and even dog-shaped toys. One 2021 study found dogs can experience jealousy toward toy rivals they can't directly see.