Dogs Don't Feel Guilt?

[Rocky157]

You guys heard about the study that says dogs are't capable of feeling guilty when they misbehave? I first read about it on the NRA's gundogs blog: http://www.americanhunter.org/BlogList. ... =19&cid=46. I don't care what the scientists say, anyone who says dogs don't feel guilt has never owned a good bird dog.

[Sharon]

Welcome to the forum.


I don't think they feel guilt, and I've owned many a good bird dog. I do believe they are capable of reading our body language much more than we realize. I come home and there is pee on the floor. The dog cowers and goes submissive before I even say anything. He's reading my body language. Putting human characteristics on dogs lead leads to many a slippery slope.

My dad had setter who would turn and look at him every time my Dad missed the bird. Gave us a big laugh. You could say the dog was showing the human characterictic - DISGUST. I'd say the dog was looking at my Dad for new direction now that that bird was gone.

[ezzy333]

I don't think they feel guilt, and I've owned many a good bird dog. I do believe they are capable of reading our body language much more than we realize. I come home and there is pee on the floor. The dog cowers and goes submissive before I even say anything. He's reading my body language. Putting human characteristics on dogs lead leads to many a slippery slope.

My dad had setter who would turn and look at him every time my Dad missed the bird. Gave us a big laugh. You could say the dog was showing the human characterictic - DISGUST. I'd say the dog was looking at my Dad for new direction now that that bird was gone.

I agree with this. The dog does not show anything till you teach it to. In the case of wetting on the floor, if you have punished the dog in the past you have taught it to know it is about to get punished but that is not guilt.

Ezzy

[kerplunk105]

As others have said, I do not think dogs feel guilt. They are just reactive to our body language and past experiences.

[Ron R]

My dad had setter who would turn and look at him every time my Dad missed the bird. Gave us a big laugh. You could say the dog was showing the human characterictic - DISGUST. I'd say the dog was looking at my Dad for new direction now that that bird was gone

Now that is some darn funny stuff. I'm glad my dogs don't do that everytime I miss.

I also agree 100% that dogs don't feel guilt. knowing that your getting in trouble is one thing but feeling guilty about it is another IMO. A person may feel guilty about cheeting on a spouse and they may carry it around for the rest of there life but I don't think a dog is capable of harboring such emotions as guilt and regret. I also don't understand why a group would even do a study on it. To each his own.

[ezzy333]

My dad had setter who would turn and look at him every time my Dad missed the bird. Gave us a big laugh. You could say the dog was showing the human characterictic - DISGUST. I'd say the dog was looking at my Dad for new direction now that that bird was gone

Now that is some darn funny stuff. I'm glad my dogs don't do that everytime I miss.

I also agree 100% that dogs don't feel guilt. knowing that your getting in trouble is one thing but feeling guilty about it is another IMO. A person may feel guilty about cheeting on a spouse and they may carry it around for the rest of there life but I don't think a dog is capable of harboring such emotions as guilt and regret. I also don't understand why a group would even do a study on it. To each his own.

Think this is just another example of there being more money than common sense. People who can spend other peoples money seldom make very good choices.

Ezzy

[megschristina]

My dog I think is able to know when something might upset me. So if I come in and he looks "guilty" I look around, and sure enough, something has been knocked down, or a toy has had the stuffies pulled out. Obviously, If I'm not there when it happnes, he isn't reading my body language. And he really doesn't even get in trouble for these things. I just curse a bit to myself and pick it up. Hes a dog, not a rocket scientist.