Posted on 09/18/2009 3:06:19 PM PDT by 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.
Here, here!
OMG! What a baby!
Yeah my human students were usually the problem.
Yep! They know when you are going to the bathroom. No movement
They know when you are going out or to the fridge and whamo! Right there with you buddy! Let’s go!
Dont’ be afraid, open those turkey slices! Uhmmm! Good! You know you want to!
Hey! can I have one?(tail wagging so hard their little butt is going moving with it)
I say it all the time.
You want more? Grow some thumbs and get a job. You can’t run around all day looking cute.
Mine love it when I get ice. They always want some. They are just as happy with ice as they are with a dog biscuit!
I have seen you on other posts about this subject. I agree with your methods.
The whole hitting the dog thing always bothered me and it shows in the dog.
Maybe well meet with our dogs one day and have some fun. That’s all they want to do anyway. That and a little work.
They don’t care, just so long as they are there with you.
My dog High 5’s me and I luv it!
I know, you are talking about the other thing. Stress.
That’s not very nice. What’s with the Rottweiler anyway?
It’s cool baby, just cool!
That is too funny!!! When our black lab was a pup he would do the same thing. Now he still thinks that any unattended drink sitting on the coffee table is fair game; soda, beer, wine, mixed drinks...doesn’t matter. When he gets caught he pulls the “OMG, you caught me” guilty look.
LOL, when we have guests over I also have to tell them that if they find “spiddle” on the table around their glass...well, they’ll need a new drink.
That is no duh! Dumbest creatures on the planet. I usually demonstrate their behavior back and ask how they like it?
My first show golden (who died at age 13 about 7 year ago) knew so many tricks. I have not trained another one to do nearly as many behaviors, she was special. I miss her.
I don’t remember why but, the boss put a kibosh on the ice. They loved but there was something she read.
No problem. We do carrots now. To save their eyesight(I know, not really)
Unfortunately you get into trouble if you bite them.
Already polished off the chalupa. Needed something to wash it down. You understand. Don’t you?
I wouldn’t mind sometimes. Dingbats!
Yeah, I have heard that ice is hard on their teeth. Oh well, life is full of risks. My current dog will not eat carrots.
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