Can a Dog Feel Ashamed or Guilty?
Anyone who has a dog knows the situation: Your four-legged friend has raided the trash can, chewed your shoes, or been disobedient on a walk. He stares at you with his head down, ears pinned back, tail tucked, and eyes wide open. As a dog owner, you immediately think, "He knows exactly what he did wrong!" But is that really the case? Is the dog truly capable of being aware of his guilt, of feeling ashamed?
What is shame?
A dog who is ashamed. Shame is a fundamental human emotion. It requires understanding how others perceive you when you have violated certain expectations. In humans, shame is closely linked to self-reflection and moral awareness. Although social primates, such as chimpanzees, exhibit complex emotions and social behaviors, there is no clear scientific evidence that they experience shame in the same way humans do. Accordingly, it is not possible for dogs to feel shame.
Why does the dog make a mess?
Dogs are curious and playful creatures, but sometimes they cause chaos by destroying things or raiding the trash. There are various reasons, usually related to their needs, emotions, or developmental stages:
- Boredom or excess energy: When dogs don't have enough mental or physical stimulation, they'll find something to do on their own. Unfortunately, this can lead to them chewing on furniture or rummaging through trash.
- Attention seeking: Some dogs notice that they get a lot of attention when they do something forbidden, even if it is negative attention.
- Instinct or sense of smell: The trash can can smell like a treasure chest to a dog! Leftover food or interesting smells awaken their natural hunting and gathering instincts.
- Separation anxiety: When left alone, dogs can become stressed or anxious. Destroying objects can be a way to release these feelings.
- Lack of training: When dogs don't learn what is allowed and what isn't, they tend to follow their instincts.
Breaking things or rummaging through the trash can be a sign that the dog is lacking something, such as physical activity, exercise, affection, or a sense of security. It's essential to identify the cause and provide the dog with suitable alternatives, sufficient exercise, and clear rules.
If dogs are constantly destroying things or exhibiting destructive behavior, a dog trainer can be a valuable resource. They will analyze the causes of the behavior, such as boredom, lack of stimulation, poor impulse control, separation anxiety, or frustration, and develop a training plan to address and change the behavior specifically. If fear or insecurity plays a role, professional support is definitely beneficial to find solutions to improve the dog's well-being.
Does the dog understand that he's done something wrong?
A dog's 'guilty' behavior is usually not caused by genuine guilt, but rather by their owner's body language and tone of voice. Studies have shown that dogs read these signals and instinctively respond with appeasing behaviors. These include:
- Tail tucked: A sign of insecurity and the desire to make oneself smaller.
- Ears laid back: also a sign of submission and fear.
- Avoidant gaze: The dog tries to avoid eye contact to avoid confrontations.
- Yawning or tongue licking: stress signals that show that the dog is feeling unwell.
- To make oneself small or to crawl away: An attempt to escape the situation.
Dogs are excellent observers and learn by association. They link specific actions with consequences and quickly learn to read human body language and mood. They understand that their counterpart is upset, but not that they have made a mistake themselves. The dog adapts, and its 'guilt behavior' is an attempt to avoid conflict and appease humans—a relic of the social behavior of its ancestors, the wolves.
Even if it's challenging to let go of the idea of a 'guilty' dog, humans tend to humanize their dog's emotions (anthropomorphism) and project their own feelings and interpretations onto their behavior. According to current scientific knowledge, dogs are unable to experience shame or guilt in the same way humans do. Their behavior is a reaction to the human's mood and body language, a form of conflict avoidance and communication with the other person. It is essential to accurately interpret a dog's behavior to establish a fair and understanding relationship. Instead of assuming a guilty conscience, one should focus on clear communication and positive reinforcement to encourage desired behavior and directly interrupt undesirable behavior.