Do dogs show remorse?

Answer 1

i think so my moms dog sure does. especially when he knows hes done something wrong.

Answer 2

I think you may be being a little anthropomorphic. However can I tell you a little story about our dog Bruno.

My mother accidentally left a bag of home-made fairy-cakes (tiny muffins) in her shopping bag behind her chair in the living room. These had been donated by a parent for a cub-scout party later that week. When she remembered next morning, half were missing. The mystery deepened until she noticed that our Alsatian Bruno was acting very guiltily. Examining his bedding she found several screwed up cake cases. He had not only carried the cakes one by one from the bag to his basket in the hall but had removed the papers and then hidden the evidence under his blanket. German Shepherds really are smart. Mother had to bake a replacement batch.

Answer 3

Honestly, no they don't. When they duck their heads in apparent shame or tuck their tails between their legs and hide they are responding from previous times they've been scolded.

They know the look we give them when they've misbehaved. They know the tone of your voice when you say something like "what did you do!" or "bad dog!".

Dogs that potty on the floor in hidden places, like behind the recliner, do so because of the severe reaction they've gotten from pottying on the floor. If you come home and ask your dog in that certain voice, with that certain look, if he's been on the furniture, he will cower because he knows you're unhappy with him though he doesn't know why.

Test this and you will see it's true. When you're pet has been on good behavior and hasn't done anything wrong, give him that look and say the same words to him as you would if he were in trouble. You will find that he cowers and looks remorseful even though he hasn't done anything wrong...

Answer 4

Dogs are not capable of the same emotions that we are. They read our body language or hear the tone of our voice and act submissive to avoid punishment, A direct reaction like this is simply fear, not remorse. If they do something wrong and know they will be scolded, they sometimes act over friendly or submissive to try and avoid scolding.They may not have our emotions but they are not stupid!

Answer 5

What kind of remorse? My dog knows she's a bad girl when she lays on my bed or the couches and cowers away into her bed.
She also cowers away when she is begging and I look at her, she knows that I hate that.
She doesn't cower however when we go hiking and she see a deer and I tell her "No!" She just whines and whines.

Answer 6

Oh yes...........its a tell tale sign that theyve have done wrong even before ive seen the evidence. Some more than others. My lurcher actually shivers if hes messed accidental somewhere, and the greyhound.............well he cant even look me in the eye if hes pinched some food. Ive never hit my dogs.so its not fear of being punished.

Answer 7

HI
I think so after my lab has been naughty she puts her head and her ears down and walks away really slow so I know she feels bad she even does this when I caught her in the act and she doesn't even get in trouble because she looks so pitiful when she mopes.
Lammy

Answer 8

Absolutely. When my mum's dogs have done something naughty and get told off, they go and lie in their baskets for several hours and if you catch their eye they immediately look sheepish and look down. They totally KNOW they have been naughty.

Answer 9

YES i think they defiantly do!! My dog sulks for ages when shes been told off, and looks so sorry for herself.

Answer 10

totally dogs are so cleaver, they no when ur cross, upset, very angry and they no whens it with them or someone else they are so clever people don't understand how clever.