Ask any dog owner and they will tell you at least a dozen reasons why these animals are the finest creatures on Earth. However, sometimes even the best have an off day. And when they do, they end up on the subreddit r/DogShaming!
It's a place where people share amusing pictures of their naughty pups after they have eaten all the donuts, covered the patio in pee, or committed some other unforgivable crime.
Continue scrolling to meet the suspects and don't miss the conversation I had about guilt in dogs with Kate Litaker, Dogtown Lifesaving and Care Supervisor for Best Friends Animal Society.
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Hamburglar
The Determined Doggo!
The really impressive part was that he screamed "OH, YEAH!" as he came through.
He Has No Regrets
In some of these pics, it appears that the pups are repenting for their "sins." However, even though dogs can learn what their owners consider appropriate and inappropriate behavior, we still aren't sure if they feel guilt.
"I personally don't think that dogs feel guilt, their reaction is just a response to environmental stimuli and human reactions," Kate Litaker, the staffer at Best Friends, told Bored Panda.
Scientists don't have a concrete answer as well. In a 2009 study, researchers observed dogs and their owners under several sets of circumstances and concluded that dogs tended to display "guilty" body language more frequently when their owners scolded them than when the owners remained neutral – regardless of whether the dogs had actually done anything wrong.
Dog cognition scientist and author Dr. Alexandra Horowitz, who was in charge of the research, said that "a better description of the so-called guilty look is that it is a response to owner cues, rather than that it shows an appreciation of a misdeed."
We’re Pretty Impressed By Our 7 Month Old German Shepherd/Great Pyrenees Mix
Doggo: hey uncle, do you know what my parents did? They left me home alone…. Can you believe this bull pucky? Hey, got any bacon?
Get An Australian Cattle Dog, It'll Be Fun They Said
Yep, I had a blue heeler. As the vet said, she was as tough as a box of broken glass and old pipes. Smart as hell, though. RIP Sherry.
My farmer neighbour had heelers. He sic'd the male on his buddy's truck. It grabbed the radial tire, put a hole in the sidewall, and flattened the tire. These little dogs got sand.
Load More Replies...The thing with these walls 🙄 I'll never get it honestly! In my country if you try to do that you break your arm!
I never understood the expression "punch through a wall" - because you know, that's not possible - until I travelled and realised that the walls are paper 😅.
Load More Replies...Thank good, our walls here in Germany are made of bricks. Yes, the walls separating rooms as well. How can you even live like this?!? I guess you can hear music/TV/talking in the other room? Must be annoying and stressful. :/
When they build new homes in Germany do they actually put bricks in the interior walls? I'm in US and walls in our new homes are made of Sheetrock. You really can't hear things through the walls unless music is really loud.
Load More Replies..."Dear, did you give the dog permission to play with my sledgehammer?"
Hey that looks like someone threw a ball (at speed) at the wall and broke it! Not the doggie at all.............................
And that's why working dog breeds need some sort of work. Surprisingly Australian cattle dog are one of breeds responsible for the most bites and attacks in Australia (along with Rottweilers, German Sheppard's, bull terrier breeds , Staffies, Labradors, Doberman, and kelpies), not because they are bad, but because they aren't bred to be house pets, they are bred to work, and so get easily bored if they don't use their big brains and have consistently reinforced training.
He's trying to tell you that Australian Cattle Dogs don't handle bandanas well.
People should not have working dogs unless they have enough work for those dogs to do. I have more than one friend with a working dog with anxiety issues because they treat them like house dogs. They don't belong in the house except to sleep, if that.
But, there was a fly on the wall 🪰 What else was he supposed to do?
Oh, and you're in luck: this is the longest-living breed of them all. Put up with this for another two decades? He needs four hours of intense exercise daily. Do yourself a favor and find a suitable rancher.
I swear my blue heeler Buckshot has enough energy for 50 people. He never sits still, even asleep!
This breed of dog should NEVER live in an apartment -- it needs mega space to do what it is bred for!
It's a working/herding dog without a job and not getting enough exercise... and an all too common end result.
Load More Replies...My Old Dog...
What about you? What would you do if you came back home after a long day and your four-legged buddy greeted you with shreds of your favorite jacket?
Litaker said an appropriate reaction would be to act excited to see your dog, clean up the mess, and work on preventing it from happening in the future. For example, maybe put all of your clothes inside the wardrobe and toss a nice chew toy on the floor instead.
"One of my office dogs did destroy my window blinds and house plants trying to escape the room because she was left alone in the office," Litaker recalled. "She really preferred the company of another dog or humans, so I didn't leave her alone in the room anymore."
This Classic My Dad Posted To FB Several Years Ago
She's Basically An Addict
Supreme Leader Kylo Solo Ren Got Out While I Was Bringing In The Groceries. Luckily I Found Him Down The Street
According to the American Kennel Club, when we consider a dog looking guilty, we usually mean it displays some or all of the following behaviors or signs:
- Tucked tail;
- Visible whites of the eyes;
- Cowering, hunched posture;
- Yawning;
- Licking;
- Flattened ears;
- Avoiding eye contact.
These expressions are signs of fear and stress in dogs. But determining if they truly feel bad about breaking our rules is tricky. Guilt is a complex concept.
It requires an understanding of cause and effect in relation to time, which is difficult to prove. Plus, dogs can't use words to describe how they feel either, so we are really running out of options here!
There can be a number of reasons why dogs act out. "They can become destructive or have an accident because they are bored, because it's fun, or because they didn't like being alone," Kate Litaker added. "Providing interactive toys and food puzzles when you're not home, and plenty of playtime and exercise when you are home can help prevent these types of behaviors."
For more information on pets and their behavior, visit Best Friends.
My Co-Workers Keep Eating Office Supplies
Dog Shaming Shenanigans
Beatrix, Queen Of Poor Choices!
This One Took Teamwork
I’m Trying To Discipline My 8 Mo. Old Chinese Crested To Not Eat Her Sisters’ And Brother’s Poop. She Turns Into The Speed Of Light When I Tell Her No And Stop
Trust Us, This Looks Way Better
I’m Peanut And I Like To Steal Mom’s Shoes While She’s At Work
Now this is funny! Doggies do this to keep the smell of its owner beside him/her when the owner is out. Adorable gorgeous doggie! Lovely picture xx
Hi I'm Sebastian And I Took Every Box Of Cereal Outside And Destroyed Them
Guess I’m Not Leaving The Country Any Time Soon
Jail Break Then An Early Morning
Captain Snatched A Half Dozen Donuts From The Back Of The Counter
👮♂️ Nothing to see here folks, just training to be a Police Dog 🚔
This Woman Shamed Her Dog From A Distance!
Dog seems pretty smart to me. He orchestrated a hunger strike and had his demands met.
I’m Not Going To Name Names But Someone Didn’t Like Being Left In The Bedroom For A Couple Hours
I’m Not Even Sorry
Maybe It’s His Way Of Bringing Down The Aristocracy
Was Told That This Belongs Here. Briggs Just Loved His New Bed
Two Travel Sized Bars In 3 Days...
Blind Ambition
Sweet little thing needs a Seeing Eye Dog 😿 Some animals actually do this for others on their own, but it can be taught.
She’s Not Sorry
Butter Thief!
She Destroyed The Couch In The Emergency Trailer We Are Living In, Because She Set The House On Fire
I fostered a GSD for a year, he couldn’t stand to be left alone due to anxiety. On the few occasions when he was briefly left alone he managed to destroy a door, get on the work top and start the gas on the hob, ripped all the wiring out of the boiler, chewed plugs off various appliances, unlocked a cabinet and ate all the fat out the deep fat fryer giving himself diarrhoea and ate the face off the teddy bear I’d had since birth. I took him to a PDSA psychologist who said his behaviour was due to terrible anxiety. Worth bearing in mind if your dog is destructive.
These Dummies Ate Their Bed And Then Fell Asleep In The Mess
And He’s Yet To Show Any Remorse!
Untitled (2020) Urine On Concrete By Bad Boi
I Think This Might Fit Here
Congrats On The New Puppy!
She’s Only Sorry She Got Caught
Rip Box
All I Did Was Run Through A Bush, How Was I Supposed To Know It Would Make Mom Itchy
He’s Not Even Ashamed
She’s So Proud Of Herself, Too
Puppies Be Dumb
NOOOOO!!!! Puppies teeth just like human babies and must be PROTECTED from these things. Once is unexpected, twice is a neglectful owner 🙀🤬😤😾 (Please let it only be once 🙏).
This Is Why We Keep Bedroom Doors Closed When We’re Not In Them
I Am Kaiju. I Ate My Mom’s New Carpet. I Am Not Sorry
Don't get a dog, or any pet, without knowing that pets needs. Working dogs need lots of space (preferably outdoors) and attention to run off their high energy. Almost every one of this is the owner's fault!
I don’t get the impression the owners really blame their pets. It is all a learning experience and, sadly, some times the pet pays the higher price.
Load More Replies...My GSD is now 3y and very well behaved but she was a huge rascal as a puppy. I got a dog training book and dumb me left it in the coffee table while i went to get something. She completely destroyed it. I always found it amusing that she destriyed the book that was supposed to teach her to not destroy stuff
I worked in a library system and had to send out bills for damaged books. It was amazing how many dog training books were chewed up! The resistance is real! Ha ha.
Load More Replies...So many dogs with boredom or anxiety/separation anxiety. Do Americans not train that with their dogs? And what's up with all those cages??
There are a lot of posts like this that are funny, sure, but actually highlight very bad behaviour from the dog due to no training by the humans... For example destroying the owners' things - teach the dog not to touch them! From day 1. Every dog is different but every dog will learn.
Load More Replies...When they kept hurting/killing themselves every time we turned our backs. And responsible owners don't lock them up "all the time", only when it's needed for safety. They go in on their own all the time, and love it (if they are taught correctly, not forced).
Load More Replies...I have a dog, i love my dog. But how can someone (a human person) call herself “mum” or “mommy” of a dog? Mommy of that dog is another dog. I never understood how can be somebody so dog fanatic. Its still a dog, not a human 🤷🏼♂️
I gotta tell you, it's really refreshing to see someone say this.
Load More Replies...I once adopted a 9 month old Aussie Shepherd puppy named Duke. The 1st day at home with his brother Super he ate half of the new linoleum tile in the washroom where they stayed during the day. That night I called the ASPCA. They said to buy him toys and large bone. Day 2 he ate the remainder of the linoleum floor, ate half the wall and ate into closet door where the water heater was just barely missing electrical wires.. BTW- the bone was nawed down to a nub and the toys were destroyed. I realized the dog needed WAY MORE attention then we expected and sadly had to turn him in back to the ASPCA so someone with time, room and patience could give him the love he needed. Definitely did research on the next dog I adopted because being cute isn't the only requirement for adoption. They have to match your life so you can give them the love they need and require.
GOOD FOR YOU 😻 Realizing you needed to give them back for their own sake. It's hard for people to give up a "new toy" 👏😺👏 You did the right thing, be proud of yourself 👏😺👏
Load More Replies...Scientists have figured out that dogs can't feel guilt. They sure make good faces to make you think som
No guilt, just a dog being a dog. It's called "Anthropomorphism of Animals" and it's dangerous, (even deadly)... for them and us.
Load More Replies...And didn't even move the bag. Sneaky wee Boi Tonk-6115d...c69a8d.jpg
why do so many dog owners not train their dogs? How can they stand these bad behaviors? Yes, puppies will do some crazy s**t, but if you train them, it stops. hell, I'm a cat and even I know this!
They have their moments too! (leather sofa...cough.cough.)
Load More Replies...Don't get a dog, or any pet, without knowing that pets needs. Working dogs need lots of space (preferably outdoors) and attention to run off their high energy. Almost every one of this is the owner's fault!
I don’t get the impression the owners really blame their pets. It is all a learning experience and, sadly, some times the pet pays the higher price.
Load More Replies...My GSD is now 3y and very well behaved but she was a huge rascal as a puppy. I got a dog training book and dumb me left it in the coffee table while i went to get something. She completely destroyed it. I always found it amusing that she destriyed the book that was supposed to teach her to not destroy stuff
I worked in a library system and had to send out bills for damaged books. It was amazing how many dog training books were chewed up! The resistance is real! Ha ha.
Load More Replies...So many dogs with boredom or anxiety/separation anxiety. Do Americans not train that with their dogs? And what's up with all those cages??
There are a lot of posts like this that are funny, sure, but actually highlight very bad behaviour from the dog due to no training by the humans... For example destroying the owners' things - teach the dog not to touch them! From day 1. Every dog is different but every dog will learn.
Load More Replies...When they kept hurting/killing themselves every time we turned our backs. And responsible owners don't lock them up "all the time", only when it's needed for safety. They go in on their own all the time, and love it (if they are taught correctly, not forced).
Load More Replies...I have a dog, i love my dog. But how can someone (a human person) call herself “mum” or “mommy” of a dog? Mommy of that dog is another dog. I never understood how can be somebody so dog fanatic. Its still a dog, not a human 🤷🏼♂️
I gotta tell you, it's really refreshing to see someone say this.
Load More Replies...I once adopted a 9 month old Aussie Shepherd puppy named Duke. The 1st day at home with his brother Super he ate half of the new linoleum tile in the washroom where they stayed during the day. That night I called the ASPCA. They said to buy him toys and large bone. Day 2 he ate the remainder of the linoleum floor, ate half the wall and ate into closet door where the water heater was just barely missing electrical wires.. BTW- the bone was nawed down to a nub and the toys were destroyed. I realized the dog needed WAY MORE attention then we expected and sadly had to turn him in back to the ASPCA so someone with time, room and patience could give him the love he needed. Definitely did research on the next dog I adopted because being cute isn't the only requirement for adoption. They have to match your life so you can give them the love they need and require.
GOOD FOR YOU 😻 Realizing you needed to give them back for their own sake. It's hard for people to give up a "new toy" 👏😺👏 You did the right thing, be proud of yourself 👏😺👏
Load More Replies...Scientists have figured out that dogs can't feel guilt. They sure make good faces to make you think som
No guilt, just a dog being a dog. It's called "Anthropomorphism of Animals" and it's dangerous, (even deadly)... for them and us.
Load More Replies...And didn't even move the bag. Sneaky wee Boi Tonk-6115d...c69a8d.jpg
why do so many dog owners not train their dogs? How can they stand these bad behaviors? Yes, puppies will do some crazy s**t, but if you train them, it stops. hell, I'm a cat and even I know this!
They have their moments too! (leather sofa...cough.cough.)
Load More Replies...