When the researcher accidentally drops the treat
When the human researcher “accidentally” drops the second of the treats shes been feeding the dog, the dog hesitates only a second before rushing around the glass partition to retrieve the dropped food.
Other times, however, the experimenter showed the dog the treats through the gap in the glass partition and then deliberately withdrew them, intentionally placing the food on the floor next to her seat.
Every single time the dog failed to get food, no matter why the treat was withheld, the dog could simply walk around the side of the partition and gobble up the easily seen treats. But whether they did this, and how quickly, seemed to depend on whether the person appeared to have denied the dog the treats either “accidentally” or on purpose.
Dogs approached the food on the floor quickly when the experimenter failed to give it to them “by accident.” But when the experimenter had deliberately withheld the treats, the dogs seemed more hesitant. They waited longer before going around the partition to try to eat it.
Some dogs didnt even try to get food that was intentionally withheld. Instead, they simply sat down. That was an unexpected behavior, says Bräuer, who imagines that the dogs were maybe thinking something along the lines of: “I am being a good dog, and maybe then she will give me the food that she obviously doesnt want to give me at the moment.”
And what’s the best way to say you’re sorry?!
You’re just walking around at home when, suddenly, it happens — your dog yelps because you just accidentally stepped on his paw.
It’s so easy to feel guilty about it because you’d obviously never want to hurt your pup, but does he know it wasn’t intentional?
We spoke with Jamie Fischer, a licensed veterinary nurse with DodoVet, to find out.
Do dogs get hurt feelings?Your dogs may not be capable of feeling the same way as humans would, but dogs can still feel happy, sad, or hurt.
When You Accidentally Hurt Your Dog
Sometimes they all stop and sniff one another. So, when you step on or bump into your dog, saying sorry and petting them is similar to the dogs stopping and sniffing. But, if you have a pattern of kicking or hitting your dog, the dog may think it is just more of the same.