Do dogs understand the concept of an apology?

Grrrrr · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:07

It might seem like a slightly odd question but i'm sure all you dog owners have accidentally hurt your pet by it kicking/tripping on it before. Straight away after you lavish attention on the dog as a way of kind of saying you didn't mean to...

So as the title, do you think the dog understands this apology?

penski · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:10

No. Its a ****ING DOG!

*n

yhack · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:11

penski said:
No. Its a ****ING DOG!

*n

I hope the dog didn't hear you say that :eek:

Andrew1978 · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:11

I think so, my dogs are always getting under my feet and sometimes i stand on their paws, they always come running over for some attention but if they **** on the floor then they know its time to hide.

romperstomper · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:11

Grrrrr said:
It might seem like a slightly odd question but i'm sure all you dog owners have accidentally hurt your pet by it kicking/tripping on it before. Straight away after you lavish attention on the dog as a way of kind of saying you didn't mean to...

So as the title, do you think the dog understands this apology?

yes of course,they are not stupid !

Azagoth · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:12

penski said:
No. Its a ****ING DOG!

*n

^This^

AtreuS · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:12

I do think they can kinda of understand that you didnt do it on purpose if you immediately show them some affection.

Depends on the sensitivity of the dog i suppose. My dog that got killed last month ( lulu ) was so full of it she wouldnt have cared much if you knocked her by accident, she might have woofed at you!

Ruby however is a very sensitive dog and will slink off and hide if you shout or otherwise make her nervous, stepping on her paw for instance will make her slink off and hide. You have to go over the top "awwww gimme a cuddle" etc to stop her.

Dolph · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:13

my parent's wire fox terrier does. If you tread on him, don't apologise, it's permission to go for your ankles.

Cybermyk · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:13

It'll probably let on that things are OK but when you aren't looking it will bury your TV remote, pee on your car and hump your pillow.

Andrew1978 · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:18

CornfedChicken said:
surely that is your fault because u havent let them out and they were in so much pain that they had to crap on the floor?

No they get walked often enough and the back door is almost always open and if it's not they will make it known. sometimes they just go and do whatever and hide...quite funny really because once you find them you can see the look of disappointment on their faces and they seem to know what they've done.

Vonhelmet · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:23

Of course they don't.

Begbie · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:26

penski said:
No. Its a ****ING DOG!

*n

Ross1234 · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:27

Andrew1978 said:
No they get walked often enough and the back door is almost always open and if it's not they will make it known. sometimes they just go and do whatever and hide...quite funny really because once you find them you can see the look of disappointment on their faces and they seem to know what they've done.

Dogs doing there business inside is a sign they have too much freedom. Try banning them from cartain areas of the house so the bit they are left with feels more homely

Ross1234 · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:28

vonhelmet said:
Of course they don't.

Do you have a dog?

Andrew1978 · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:30

well what does he mean by an apology?

Can a dog understand you didn't mean to hurt it? i think so.

I could step on his paw all day everyday and if i apologised and shown it affection afterwards i doubt it would change its personality at all, if i beat it every day and shown affection afterwards i would expect some difference in its attitude and personality.

as for the poo on the floor, its not frequent enough for me to even care. (but im a filthy northerner

)

Substance · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:38

My dog totally understands, If I accidentally step on his paw he will yelp and come running beside me for some affection, If i give him the affection he is happy,

However if He comes near the table when I am eating and I tell him to go away he will go and sulk

Vonhelmet · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:40

Ross1234 said:
Do you have a dog?

I don't, but I have come across them from time to time.

A dog can not understand the concept of a person regretting their actions. It's an absurd idea.

Andrew1978 · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:41

Do you think dogs are capable of showing emotion?

Vonhelmet · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:41

SuBsTaNcE said:
My dog totally understands, If I accidentally step on his paw he will yelp and come running beside me for some affection, If i give him the affection he is happy,

That doesn't mean the dog understands that you're sorry, it means the dog likes being stroked after you tread on him.

Andrew1978 · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:45

Well personally i can tell when my dogs are happy, sad and bored.

when i play with them if they bite or scratch and i make a noise they back off then come back slowly and lick at wherever they think they've hurt me. I'd say they're more then capable of understanding basic emotions.