Do dogs understand apologies?

[Lola B Marie]

We all apologize to Lola if she has been accidently brushed in the face by a bag, an arm ,a coat etc. Same goes for an accidental paw stepping or just backing into her. Lola is very sensitive and gets insulted easily. I can't even raise my voice to her. If she is accidently stepped on, she flashes such a hurtful look and waits to see if you are going to say something about it. Once I say, Oh baby, I'm so sorry, she comes over for a petting and the nub goes wild. If nothing is said, she just stands there and looks at you , thinking she did something wrong.
Now, there is an exception to every rule. The time I fell over her and broke 4 bones in my foot, I did not apologize. In fact, she learned all the curse words I knew. Great question!

[Kev]

Originally Posted by Anne

Strangely they don't look at all apologetic when they step on my feet, as they do...often

Nor do mine Anne lol and they also do it often.

[bdragonladyt]

yup...count me in. i talk to them, step over,ect. and also no apologies for stepping on our feet. and THAT hurts!!! lol

[Anne]

I never step over a dog. I learned very early on that if you attempt a step over, a dog will choose the precise second your foot is in the air and about to hit the floor...to move themselves.

In my early days of dog ownership I used to think a step over was necessary when they were lying in a doorway. Experience taught me after a few tumbles with dog and I ending up in a heap on the floor, to tell them to move out of the way.

[Nishasmom]

When I step on a paw or accidentally hurt my dog I apologize. I also say thank you to her lol.

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by Carol Burke

If I accidently step on a paw or bump into a dog I appoligize, I also thank them when I ask something and they do it. Maybe they undertand, maybe they don't but I can't see that any harm is done. I also carry on conversations with my guys.

Ditto here.

That being said, if my dog is in my way, like jazzking, I simply move them out of the space I wish to take up.

[Billy's Joey]

For what it is worth I do the same thing !!!! I say I am sorry or I even been known to thank Joey for doing what is asked . If nothing else it makes me feel better ! Out on a walk and he picks something up he shouldn't I tell him " OUT! " I take it away from him and say " Thank You Sir !" fallowed by a something I know he understands " Good Boy " I find it also common to " hold conversation " with him . Even if he don't understand the head turning he dose is funny . "go for a walk ?" and he really seems to do a 180 with his head I think at some level they understand somethings

[Shane]

I apologize, thank him, tell him Good Morning, and everything else.

[Roscoe's dad]

No I don't. She doesn't speak or understand english. She understands comands from repitition and praise and rewards. When she can hold a coversation with me then I will apologize.

[eragons mom]

Yes, I apologize. It's just something I automatically do. And, yes, I also hold conversations with my dog. I do believe they understand/communicate with us on some level. For instance Eragon taps me or brings his toy to me when he wants to play and he comes up to me with this cute face thing he does when he wants to be petted. I also love the head to the side motion Eragon makes when I am talking to him as if to say "really?" or "huh?". LOL!!! .

[Debbie Ervin]

I also apologize to my dogs if I do something I would apologize to anyone else for. After all they are family members and I guess it is just courtesy to do so or respect the same as they give us!

[chicatropical]

When i clean the floor and am about to clean the spot she is lying on, i go " i'm sorry but you will have
To.." Not even finish the sentence and she already gets up and moves to another spot. It seems like
They do understand...sometimes more than we might think :-)

[SABELLESMOM]

Some of the best dog training advice I was ever given included: Preceding the dog through doors, up or down stairs, etc. It teaches them to wait and goes a long way to establishing you as the one in charge.

Right now I have a demandingly pushy, I have the right to do/go wherever I want, when I want foster pup. (Judy's met him) He came with no house manners, no dog manners and would mow you down in a second!. He's a horse! Apparently people got out of his way instead of the right way around. If he walks in my way I plow on through as if I didn't see him. Or I remind him with an "Excuse me!" He is supposed to get out of my way, and that's that.

Now I'm sure your husband is a gentleman. He is most likely kind, understanding and polite. But apologizing to a dog who doesn't have the presence of mind to move, is not required.

Yes, if I stumbled or fell on them and they were injured, or frightened by what happened, I might, say, "Oh goodness! Are you all right?" out of concern for my dog. But I would not make a routine of apologizing, when they shouldn't be in the way in the first place.

[Shane]

Chica,

I definitely agree with you that they understand more than many people think. It becomes a type of accidental training. When my last dog was nearly 11 years old, I spent some time observing just how many of my comments to him led to a reaction and it was incredible. After living with him for so many years and talking to him constantly, he'd picked up on so many of the routine things I said. The phrase "let's go" followed by anything caught his interest and he knew the difference between let's go to bed, let's go for a ride, let's go get the mail, and others. My husband didn't come home from work at the same time every day, but "Daddy's coming home" had him watching out the front window. "Thank you" had turned into a reward.

However, he never did understand "Can't I go to the bathroom by myself?"

[observer]

Originally Posted by Anne

Yes I apologise if I step on a paw. Strangely they don't look at all apologetic when they step on my feet, as they do...often

Isn't that the truth. I do apologize when I step on a paw, because I don't want them to think I hurt them because they did something wrong. I know they don't understand the word or the actual sentiment, but I think they take it as reassurance.

I WOULD like to get the same in return when they step (and often then twist) on my toes. I don't expect it when those hard sitting bones land on my instep, as the sitting on me is entirely INTENTIONAL.