Every time I look at my dog, just sitting there with his silly ears and big brown eyes, I just have so many questions.
“What are you thinking?”
“What did you even do today?”
“Do you feel guilty about going through my bag and eating my left over lunch?”
“Why do your feet smell like popcorn?”
“Do you…love me back, darling sweetheart?”
This list goes on.
Often, I actually ask him, and demand that he “use his words”.
Note: Thus far I have been unsuccessful but I am certainly not giving up hope.
This is my boyfriend dog Caesar.
I CAN'T. HE'S SO CUTE I WANT TO GO HOME JUST TO BE WITH HIM. Image supplied.
Given that Caesar is yet to answer my burning questions because he would rather bark at nothing/chase his tail/get into my bed when I'm not looking, I decided it was time to do my research.
1. Dogs do not actually feel guilt.
About a year ago I got home and my dog was waiting, head down, eyes avoiding mine, by the back door. He knows that when he does something bad he has to go outside. They are the rules.
So I knew Caesar had done some fu*ked up sh*t.
Lo and behold, he had eaten an entire chicken. And he KNEW that he shouldn't have. His eyes said "Yes, I ate the chicken, which I knew would make you mad. But I'd do it again #noregrets."
But according to the experts, it was not 'guilt' that Caesar was feeling.
The research suggests that although dogs feel a range of emotions, guilt and shame are not among them. Instead, they are likely responding to their owner's body language.