2006-06-27 08:48:28 · 9 answers · asked by Jersey 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
It is an easy thing to anthropomorphize your pet, however, no, they cannot be vindictive, nor do they have the intelligence to get even. However, if you are abusive to them, they are quite capable of protecting themselves against threat, overwhelming any sense of loyalty they may have toward you.
I have two dogs - a Chocolate Lab and a Shelty-Shepherd mix, and I would swear they are doing things purposely to annoy me. However, this is more of a sign that they are not getting enough attention, and not enough of the right attention. Dogs need to have a minimum of two hours exercise a day, and they need to have an owner who they see as the "Alpha Dog." Arm yourself with dog treats and spend a good portion of every day getting them to do simple tasks for you, like sitting, lying down, staying, etc. Even if these are tasks they can do in their sleep, the act of doing these exercises consistently is reaffirming your status and reinforcing your bond. Then, when they are misbehaving, you can disrupt the behaviors by shaking a coffee can filled with rocks or some other material. Dogs are sensitive to loud noises, and the coffee can trick will spare your vocal cords. Then, when they have stopped (however momentarily) redirect their focus from the misbehaviors by commanding them to do a task. Be generous with the treats. If you can do this consistently and frequently, you will find those behaviors atrophying before you know it. Good Luck~
2006-06-27 09:03:34 · answer #1 · answered by Finnegan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dogs are very intelligent.
They do not however "think" like we do.
Their whole world is the pack.
Each member of the pack has it's place.
If there is not a definite pack order your dog may be trying
to bring up his/her position in the pack.
So when you do something the dog may counter it - in an attempt to become alpha.
Be firm, be constant.
If they get away with it sometimes, but not others - when is it okay and when isn't it?
The only way to know is to keep testing the boundaries.
We as humans do it all the time.
Is it vindictive behavior in a dog?
No - it is trying to establish a black and white answer - who is alpha?
Good luck.
Remember - discipline (not beatings) equals what we call love, what is security to a dog.
2006-06-27 08:58:19 · answer #2 · answered by Freeadviceisworthwhatyoupayfor 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have seen cats do "get even" stuff, and dogs are as smart as cats, so they're smart enough.
On the other hand, dogs are programmed differently for social interactions, so they may not be wired for that kind of thing. They're such pack animals that they might just accept things from other pack members without thinking about payback.
2006-06-27 08:53:51 · answer #3 · answered by Mick 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES, but to their caregivers, provided the care is loving and positive, they're forgiving - I don't care what the dog "experts" say. I've had the experience of one particular dog getting even with me for putting her in my bedroom when company was over - only for about 15 minutes; she peed in one of my shoes. Nothing on the floor, just in my shoe. This dog also chewed up ONE of my pumps, and she would also somehow find my bras, take them outside, trample them in mud, then bring them back inside and leave 'em in the middle of the living room floor. Dogs can also be ashamed!
2006-06-27 09:01:30 · answer #4 · answered by secyatlaw 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is possible, but only some dogs, when treated very badly, would perform anything similar to a long term vengeance. However, if you were to step on a dogs tail, then it might snap at you in retaliation. If treated very badly, dogs may dislike you through it's life, and make minor upset gestures.
2006-06-27 09:31:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My dogs and cats can get very "pissy" when things don't seem to go their way. It has more to do with when we go on vacation, if we board them, the dogs will have nothing to do with us for just about the same amount of time we were away - don't ask me how they figure that out. The cats, one get's so indignate if she doesn't get her way, that it's fun to push her buttons and watch her pout.
2006-06-27 08:51:24 · answer #6 · answered by buggsnme2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I think they can. My pitbull LuLu (also known as sexy *****) would go into the garbage when left alone and take out the messiest stuff she could find and put it on my pillow. She opened up all the christmas presents last year and took a beautiful white sweater out of the box and took the candy canes off the tree and licked them on top of the sweater so that it had all red stains on it.
2006-06-27 08:54:27 · answer #7 · answered by New York Mama 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh, yes. That doesn't really take much intelligence!
2006-06-27 08:56:20 · answer #8 · answered by Oghma Gem 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DEFINATELY.
THEY HAVE A VERY GOOD MEMORY JUST LIKE ALL ANIMALS.
WHEN YOU TREAT THEM WELL,THEY OBVIOUSLEY REMEMBER THAT BECAUSE THEY KEEP COMING TO YOU.
BUT WHEN YOU TREAT THEM BAD THEY MAY NOT RESPOND IMMEDIATELY(WITH AN ATTACK)BUT THEY WILL SOONER OR LATER.
2006-06-27 08:54:14 · answer #9 · answered by PG 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋