The Truth Behind Your Dog's Guilty Look

Have you ever had your dog do something they shouldn’t – like chew a shoe or dig through the garbage can – only to follow up with what seems like a distinctly ‘guilty’ expression when you catch them? If this sounds familiar, you may be wondering if your dog actually feels guilty. To answer this, let’s explore the truth behind dogs’ famous guilty look.

Do dogs feel guilt?

Many pet parents believe that our dogs possess a moral compass similar to ours, but research tells a different story. Studies have shown that what we interpret as guilt is actually a learned submissive behavior influenced directly by our reactions.

Dogs display that guilty look in response to their human’s scolding body language and tone – even if they’ve done nothing wrong. This suggests that this guilty expression is connected to your pup being sad that you’re mad at them, more than feeling remorse over their actions.

What is the purpose of the guilty expression?

If they’re not feeling guilty, then why do our dogs give us such a convincing guilty look? That guilty-looking expression and body language are actually your dog’s way of trying to appease you. Dogs dislike conflict, so they will try to defuse a situation they perceive as tense or threatening. Common appeasement behaviors include:

• Ears held back or flattened against the head to signal nervousness or fear
• Lowered head and averted eyes to show deference and avoid confrontation
• Turning the head away while keeping an eye on you, showing the whites of the eye – also known as ‘whale eye’
• Lip licking, yawning, or cowering

It’s important to remember that these behaviors are not admissions of guilt. They are your dog’s way of acknowledging that you’re upset and trying to show they mean no harm.

What emotions do dogs actually feel?

While we can’t know for sure, researchers agree that dogs are not capable of complex, secondary emotions, like guilt, in the same way humans are. Instead, they experience more primary emotions like:

• Fear
• Anxiety
• Excitement
• Contentment

This is because feelings of guilt require a moral framework and an understanding of social norms that dogs simply don't possess.

Why punishment after the fact backfires

Punishing your dog for a misdeed they did hours ago is pointless because they will not make the connection between your anger and their past actions. Here’s what actually happens when you scold your dog after the fact:

• They get confused: Your dog cannot connect your anger to something that happened in the past.
• They become fearful of you: Instead of learning that what they did was wrong, they learn that their human is unpredictable and scary at times.
• The behavior doesn't change: They haven’t learned that their previous behavior should be avoided – they only feel less secure in their bond with you.

The only thing a dog learns from punishment after the fact is to fear and avoid the person delivering it, not that the action that caused the punishment was the problem.

How to respond more effectively

The next time you find out that your dog has done something naughty while you weren’t around, try taking this more positive approach:

• Don't get angry: Your dog is already sensing your stress, so calm behavior on your end can help de-escalate the situation.
• Clean up the mess without drama: Your dog won't interpret this as you letting them "get away with it" – they simply won't connect your cleaning to their earlier activity.
• Manage the environment: Instead of punishing after the fact, be proactive. Crate your dog when they’re home alone, use baby gates, or put tempting items away to prevent problems from happening in the first place.

In general, the most effective way to teach a dog is through positive reinforcement. Whenever possible, reward them for the behaviors that you want to see and ignore the ones that you don’t. And remember, if you catch your pup giving you a guilty look, this isn’t an admission of guilt – it’s a reaction to your own behavior.