Does your dog resent you?

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We’ve probably all experienced that “guilty dog” look — the one that they give us when we catch them doing something wrong and discipline them for it. Body lowered, ears, head, and tail down, maybe squinty eyes.

But is it really guilt that the dog is demonstrating, or just submission? And what happens in your dog’s mind after the discipline is over?

Understanding dog psychology

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When we humanize dogs, it’s easy to put labels on their behavior that don’t really apply. Your teenager might resent you for a while if you ground them or take away privileges, and they’ll let you know it. Your dog doesn’t think the same way.

Dogs live in the moment, so the emotions of that submissive display last exactly as long as the dog is displaying it.

A good example of this is the typical dog’s reaction when the humans return home after a long day of being gone. The dog may have spent all day moping around, waiting for you to come back, but the second you walk in the door, all of those feelings are gone, replaced by happiness (and sometimes excitement) because, in this moment, you’re there again.

What your dog really needs

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