Guilty or Not Guilty: what dogs understand

 It is no surprise to find so many dog owners frustrated with attempts to punish a dog for bad behavior. “The guilty look is very similar to the look of fear and too submissive behaviors. The dog clearly knows to anticipate punishment when the owner appears wearing a look of displeasure. What the dog does not know is that he is guilty. He knows to look out for you.”

The white dog, then seven months old, seems to enjoy taking the pillow apart. While the older, more experienced Collie shows discomfort at the excitement when the owner enters the room. Ears slightly back, head low, and turned away from the owner, body turned at a T to the other dog. The Collie’s gaze is slightly shortened.

That’s a LOT of body language, and many people would say he looks guilty. However, he didn’t take the cushion apart; that was the puppy in the foreground, who was busy and perfectly oblivious.

Isn’t that sad?

The dog suffers confusion and may receive unkind treatment, perhaps even painful punishment for something he cannot understand. This causes psychological stress and damages his trust in the owner.

The slow ‘slinking’ away and the ‘shifty’ turn of the head are not signs of guilt or deceit, as they might be in a human with a guilty conscience. The dog is not slinking or being shifty. This Collie dog feels intimidated and is trying to calm the owner. Slowing body movements and turning away the gaze are in dog language appeasement signals.

Punishment is not only unethical, but it also will never help a dog to understand how we wish him to behave. Don’t tell the dog what not to do; instead, offer him an alternative. Then he can understand how we want him to behave.

What is the lesson for those who love dogs?

– We can help our dogs lead happier lives if we learn to understand their body language.

– We can only treat them fairly if we learn to understand what they can comprehend.

– When we react appropriately to dogs’ body language, they will start to tell us whether they feel comfortable in a situation or perhaps totally overwhelmed. That is the beginning of a beautiful relationship based on two-way communication.

-When we react to our dogs’ communication and support, we gain their trust.

– We should also resolve not to (mis-) interpret dogs’ behavior too quickly. Some of their body language may mean something else in their culture than ours.

Watch Alexandra Horowitz talk about her book.

For more on this topic: Try an excellent book by Rosie Lowry, Understanding the Silent Communication of Dogs documents the subtle body language of dogs.

Visit Rosee Riggs Good Dog Practice.

Share these unique insights with other dog lovers.

Rosee Riggs, a team member of a small organization called Friendship for Dogs, is based in Germany and Austria. It exists to educate people about the needs of dogs. Many people visit her Facebook Good Dog Practice page from Ireland through her rescued greyhound. In that country, many dog lovers rescue privately because the situation for animals in Ireland is, frankly, dire. Plus, thousands of greyhounds are dumped annually as collateral damage to the racing industry.