Dogs have a unique way of expressing remorse, which often leaves pet owners wondering how dogs say sorry. Unlike humans, dogs don’t use words to apologize. Instead, they communicate their apologies through body language and behavior.
When a dog feels sorry, you might notice certain signs, such as avoiding eye contact, wagging their tail low, licking, and showing submissive postures. Understanding these cues is crucial in recognizing how a dog says sorry. It’s fascinating to observe these behaviors, which reflect the depth of dogs’ emotional world and their way of seeking forgiveness.
One of the most commonly seen ways a dog may try to say sorry is by making “puppy eyes” or tucking its tail between its legs when standing. Some dogs may also avoid eye contact and lower their ears in an attempt to say sorry.
However, you may have formed a deeper relationship with your furry friend such that he’s come to learn how to behave in certain situations. So far, be it from us to be the ones to begrudge you the relationship you’ve formed with your canine buddy. After all, didn’t the classical conditioning experiment reveal that dogs can learn by association?
So, it’s possible that after those great moments of playful time, discipline, cuddling, and snuggling in the same blanket, your dog has come to understand some of your body language and facial expressions and knows when to put on the “I’m frightened, please don’t hurt me” act before you scare the bejesus out of him for messing up. In any case, dogs can convey a wide range of “feelings” to their owners through their emotive faces and subtle body language.
How Do Dogs Say Sorry to Humans
Apologizing to humans serves more than just moral remorse. Dogs may use it to make you feel better to prevent you from getting angry at them.
One of the most commonly seen ways a dog may try to say sorry is by making “puppy eyes” or tucking its tail between its legs. Some dogs may also avoid eye contact and lower their ears in an attempt to say sorry to humans.
Many dogs will also commonly look at your reaction to see if you have accepted their apology or not.
A Dog’s Body Language Says a Lot
A pup’s body language can divulge a lot about it. Dogs communicate their intentions and feelings through a wide range of peculiar body language clues. It may be very distinct from human communication. They interact with one another using body language, including posture and facial expressions.
Because barks, whines, and growls make up a large portion of canine communication, most people understand what dogs mean by these. However, sometimes dogs use nonverbal cues too.
Dogs typically learn by association. They act in particular ways after observing your response. This can result in many human-dog misconceptions, such as when you mistake your dog’s response for intellect when you are just projecting your emotions onto the poor thing. Practicing self-awareness while interacting with your dog is an important part of forming a good relationship with your canine.
Fear or Guilt
Typically, when people say a pup looks “remorseful,” they imply that he displays any or all of the below-listed actions or signs.
● Tucked tail
● Wide eyes
● Dropped/flattened ears,
● Cowering posture
● Yawning
● Licking
● Not making eye contact
● Reduced panting
● Rubbing face against paw
These are all evidence of fear and anxiety in dogs. Even if it is likely that these behaviors also convey other feelings, including shame, it does pose a dilemma for researchers. Do pups truly recognize that they’ve offended and feel repentant as a result, or are they simply assuming a passive posture to appease us in response to our reaction? Man believes this is their dog’s way of trying to apologize.
Your Dog May Just be Trying to Appease
According to Dr. Mary R. Burch, a trusted applied animal behaviorist, when a canine displays guilt for a misdeed, such as nibbling on shoes or soiling the couch, he’s probably already committed the offense before and received a “bad dog” response, such as a cold shoulder, reprimand, or yelling. The dog may now presume you’ll respond and use submissive body cues to placate you.
It’s one thing to make fun of a “guilty” canine in a picture, but mistaking guilty can cause issues. Animal behaviorists agree that using punishment to correct dogs’ behavior after a misdeed might backfire.
Yelling, pointing, or concentrating all of your attention on your furry friend’s misadventures in a harsh way when you discover he’s urinated on the couch when you get home expresses your disapproval. He may relieve himself in the basement or another secret location the next time you’re out since he has realized that it hurts you to discover his mess whenever you return.
What do Dog Parents Say
Most dog parents, who spend most of their time bonding with their canine companions, think that dogs have feelings and can recognize when they have offended. When asked how they could tell whether their dogs felt shameful, some dog owners responded as follows:
My pup knows when he has messed up and will display his remorse by lowering his head, widening his eyes, and often avoiding eye contact. Seeing it is hilarious. “Dogs are able to express remorse, and they do so by acting apologetic and all shifty.”
“So first, our Poodle apologizes with puppy dog eyes. If that fails, he’ll come right up and invade our personal space by pressing his head between us. It’s clear that he’s apologizing, especially in light of his recent misbehavior, getting our rag all messed up. “
“For me, I see him licking, and I know he’s feeling all remorseful, alright. I’ve witnessed it many times with my own pups over the years, who’ll apologize by biting into my neck, kissing me, and otherwise lavishing me with extra attention until I crumble and forgive them. “
A Few of Them Had the Opposite View
“I don’t believe that dogs feel regret at all. I mean, they may appear submissive and all cute, but my guess is they’re just acting because they know you are furious over something, so they try to calm you down because perhaps the trick has worked before. “
Therefore, it is still unclear whether canines or your pup can feel shame. While you may believe that your dog understands how to apologize by flattening his ears, putting his tail between his legs, and staring at you all cute, it is also possible to argue that he would do the same if you scolded him even if he hadn’t messed up. Therefore, it could just be conditioned behavior and not a guilty feeling.
However, there’s also no definitive proof to invalidate your conclusion as a dog parent. You could be right that your dog actually feels guilty and knows how to apologize.
Responding to Your Dog’s Expression of Regret
Understanding how your dog shows regret is crucial, and equally important is your response to their remorseful behavior. By forgiving your dog, you alleviate their feelings of insecurity and self-doubt. Additionally, your forgiveness helps prevent your dog from becoming isolated and anxious.
It’s key to communicate to your dog that their behavior was unacceptable, but do so without displaying anger or aggression. This approach ensures your dog understands their apology has been acknowledged and accepted.
Understanding Canine Apologies
The field of canine psychology delves into the social dynamics and cognitive processes of dogs, including how they form connections with other dogs and humans. This branch of psychology links various theories to canine behaviors, especially in how they express regret.
Research indicates that dogs exhibit signs of apology largely due to the responses they receive from their human companions. For example, if you scold your dog, they recognize they have misbehaved. They then recall previous occasions when similar reactions occurred and adapt their behavior accordingly.
However, no studies have conclusively proven that dogs fully grasp the specifics of their misdeeds. Their actions are often a reflection of your response to what they have done. Consequently, their body language in response to your reactions can be interpreted as an apology.
Expressing Apologies to Your Dog
Mistreating your dog or leaving it alone for extended periods can lead to feelings of neglect and loneliness. In such situations, it’s vital to convey your regret.
Dogs are perceptive creatures and can sense the genuineness of your apology. Therefore, if you find yourself in a position where you need to apologize to your dog, there are several appropriate ways to do so.
Wrap-Up: How do Dogs Say Sorry
The question of whether dogs experience regret or comprehend apologies is complex. On the one hand, you might have developed a deeper relationship with your furry friend if he or she seriously feels sorry when he or she sees you all frustrated because of something he or she did.
On the other hand, experts advise against projecting your feelings onto your dog and then thinking he’s actually emotionally intelligent. Practicing self-awareness around pets is important to fostering a great relationship.
At Cozzzy Together, we love dogs. If you are a dog lover, we would encourage you to shop our collection of dog bandanas, accessories, as well as products to treat yourself.
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