How Did Dogs Acquire a "Guilty Look?"

Self | September 18, 2009 | PJ-Comix

[PJ-Comix]

A little while ago I made my wife laugh by doing an impression of a dog acting guilty. After the laughter subsided I started thinking: How does a dog even know how to act guilty? Guilt is not an emotion in any part of the rest animal kingdom except perhaps to a much lesser extent in cats and maybe chimpanzees although I am not sure about the latter due to little contact with chimps. Cats have such a superiority complex that they really don't show much guilt about anything.

But dogs go completely overboard in the guilt department. You come home and if your dog did something it shouldn't have done, such as leave a "deposit" on the floor, you can often tell right away. The head is down, you might hear some whimpering, and the eyes give away a great deal of guilt. Not only can dogs act guilty, it is much more exaggerated than in humans since people often tried to hide their guilt.

We take this feeling of guilt for granted in dogs because we are so used to it. However, guilt is a very complicated emotion. How did dogs pick up feelings of guilt? It's really amazing when you think about it.

[PJ-Comix]

I'm sure most of you have seen dogs acting guilty. You can't miss it. Of course, it came from contact with people and only exists in dogs that are domesticated.

[aruanan]

I'm sure most of you have seen dogs acting guilty. You can't miss it. Of course, it came from contact with people and only exists in dogs that are domesticated.

A dog is, by definition, a domesticated animal.

[antivenom]

Good observation...however I have seen less then domesticated dogs act “sneaky”.

So how did dogs learn “sneaky”?

[cripplecreek]

Cats will crap on your dinner and look disinterested while they do it.

[PJ-Comix]

What about wild dogs?

[Dumpster Baby]

[Domandred]

That is one guilty puppy lol

[SonOfDarkSkies]

Guilt is not an emotion in any part of the rest animal kingdom

In all due respect, that is pure supposition on your part!

[1rudeboy]

Say, for example, throughout your formative years you were punished for going poo on the floor. Then, at age 40, you go poo on the floor. Would you remember being punished for it?

[PJ-Comix]

Guilty dog.

[La Lydia]

Not only does my dog act guilty when, for instance, I catch her sleeping on my pillow, but after we have had words she tries to guilt-trip me.

[Billthedrill]

OMG! Whatever he did...uh...he did it. ROFL!

[SonOfDarkSkies]

Cats will crap on your dinner and look disinterested while they do it.

LOL...and dogs will eat it and pretend to feel guilty afterward.

[McLynnan]

I want that naughty baby!

[PJ-Comix]

In all due respect, that is pure supposition on your part!

You ever see a guilty goldfish, a guilty canary, a guilty gerbil?

[Joe 6-pack]

"So how did dogs learn “sneaky”?"

Even wolf pups will display wile and cunning in leveraging extra food within the pack. They are punished when caught, but it's a behavior that also proves beneficial to the pack when it's later employed in hunting larger game.

[cripplecreek]

LOL...and dogs will eat it and pretend to feel guilty afterward.

And then come lick your face in gratitude.

[aruanan]

What about wild dogs?

Those are the domesticated animals that are living in a feral state. The dog, though, is one of the oldest of the domesticated animals. Even feral, it's inherently a step above a house cat.

[Yorlik803]

Dogs are more intune with peoples emotions than you would think. The tone of your voice, the look in your eyes, even the scent of when you are mad causes responses.
Dogs are the perfect companion for people. They dont care what kind of day you had, or how much money you make. They are always happy when you walk in the front door.
A better question is why they put up with us?

[SonOfDarkSkies]

You ever see a guilty goldfish, a guilty canary, a guilty gerbil?

I don't speak goldfish, canary or gerbil and have not studied their behavior enough to say I am qualified to identify their emotions or how they might be displayed.

You?