When you come home and find your dog looking guilty, it may not actually be shame they are feeling. While the scientific consensus is that dogs do not feel shame, there are conflicting viewpoints on this. Dogs may show signs of shame or guilt as a form of submission to your scolding or negative energy, rather than actually understanding they did something wrong. Signs of “shame” can include avoiding eye contact, lowering their ears, hiding, and giving you puppy eyes. However, some dogs may not show any signs of shame and may even act proud.
Body Language
Signs that your dog may be showing shame include cowering, pacing, dropped ears, averting eyes, tail tucking, and ears back. Other signs can include bowing or lowering their heads, tail between their hind legs, showing puppy eyes, and hiding or laying on the floor in front of you.
History of Dogs Feeling “Shame”
While the scientific community has long believed that dogs cannot feel complex secondary emotions like shame, many dog owners have stories of their dogs showing signs of shame before they even get mad at them. This is a complex and subjective topic, and it may take a long time to come to a definitive conclusion on what emotions dogs can feel.
Science Behind Dogs Feeling “Shame”
Studies on the guilty look dogs give when they do something wrong have suggested that dogs do not feel guilt or shame. However, these conclusions are speculative and not conclusive. One study found that dogs showed a guilty look most often after being scolded by their owner, but it did not definitively prove that dogs do not feel shame. The researcher behind the study has also stated that the study did not conclude that dogs don’t feel guilt or shame and that further research is needed.
Training Dogs to Feel or Not Feel Shame
You cannot train your dog to feel or not feel shame. Whether they truly feel shame or are just responding to your negative energy, your dog’s emotions and actions of guilt will remain. If your dog is constantly getting into trouble when you’re away, you may want to consider crating them or keeping them in a secure room to prevent any accidents or mischief. This will ensure their safety and save you from headaches when you come home.
Dogs may display signs of “shame” or guilt, but the scientific consensus is that they do not actually feel shame. These behaviors are more likely a response to their owners’ negative energy and body language. While the debate on dogs’ emotional capacity continues, it is important to understand and interpret their behavior based on their individual personalities and experiences.
Tips & Things to Know
1️⃣ Dogs do not feel shame in the same way that humans do. While they may exhibit behaviors that appear to be shame or guilt, they are actually responding to their owner’s negative energy and body language.
2️⃣ Signs of “shame” in dogs include avoiding eye contact, lowering their ears, bowing their heads, hiding, and displaying submissive body language such as tucking their tail between their hind legs.
3️⃣ The scientific community is divided on whether dogs can experience complex emotions like shame. While some studies suggest dogs do not feel guilt or shame, it is important to note that the evidence is not conclusive and further research is needed.
Frequently Asked Questions, Answered ✅
1. Can dogs feel shame?
The general consensus in the scientific community is that dogs do not feel shame, although there are conflicting viewpoints on this matter.
2. What are the signs that a dog is showing “shame”?
Signs of “shame” in dogs can include avoiding eye contact, lowering their ears, bowing their heads, hiding, putting their tail between their legs, and giving puppy eyes.
3. Do all dogs show signs of shame when they have done something wrong?
No, some dogs may not show signs of shame and may act as if they are proud of what they have done.
4. Is there scientific evidence to support the claim that dogs feel guilt or shame?
While there have been studies on the guilty look dogs give, the evidence is not conclusive and there is ongoing debate in the scientific community.
5. Can dogs be trained to feel or not feel shame?
No, it is not possible to train dogs to feel shame or to not show signs of submission after doing something wrong. Their emotions and actions of guilt will remain, whether they truly feel shame or not.
