"Who done that"

[LEMisdisappointed]

I have had 4 dogs in my adult life, two singletons and two together although one was on his todd for 6 years.

I don't believe in harsh discipline for dogs, either physical or shouting etc.

I find it really funny that all I have to say is "Who done that"? apologies for bad grammar and the guilty party will be all hang dog and ears flat on head demeanour. Come simpering up to me with eyes as big as plates "it was me mum and i'm sorry" This ranges from rotweillers to JRTs. The crime could be anything from chewing up my bed bastard JRT to stealing my cup of tea again bastard JRT

Does anyone else have a key phrase that they use with their dogs?

[HoneyDragon]

I've alway used What did you do?... Immediate guilty face

[idirdog]

It does look like a guilty face but actually it is an appeasement activity. Many people think that they know when their dog has been naughty by the "guilty" look on their face.

Actually the look that can be interpreted as guilt is in fact an appeasement reaction in response to your body language and tone of voice which intimidates the dogs when the owner thinks they are feeling guilty. Dogs do not know how to feel guilt.

Studies have shown that whether a dog could be feeling guilty or not they will still show the appeasement reaction in response to their owners behaviour.

Try saying something different to your dog but in the same so instead of saying "Who done that" say "bananas apple and pears" in the same way your dog will show the same reaction he is trying to calm you down and cheer you up.

[HoneyDragon]

Iredog ..... Oh I know its appeasement. I've never met a Lab that would actually feel bad about or regret having gone bin raiding

[Lilcamper]

What idirdog said

[pigsDOfly]

Oh dear, my dog definitely doesn't do 'guilt' or appeasement. If she has something in her mouth that she know I don't want her to have she'll stand near me, but too far away for me to reach her, and make eye contact with me, I'll say to her 'what have you got in your mouth? She'll then drop the offending thing on the floor. As I go to grab it she'll snatch it back up and run off, obviously hoping I'll run after her. I never do of course and if I ignore her, eventually she'll just get bored and leave it on the floor.

I think/hope she respects me, but I've never known her look 'guilty'.

[ginauk84]

My hubby's gsd will show her guilt when we don't even know she has do something wrong, sometimes I think we do dumb them down. We honestly will walk in normally and not even realise anything is wrong until she starts creeping round and we find whatever she has done! With her it is definitely guilt. My two collies don't.

[BrianCoxandTheTempleofDOOM]

I know my dog has done something naughty (normally spread the contents of the carrier bag/bin bag all over the kitchen floor) before I see the evidence.

I walk in, if she's been good she greets me with a present: ball/teddy/bit of fluff/DD's discarded sock . If she's been naughty she is nowhere to be seen. Little sod.

I also say "what have you done?" cue much shaking and cowering - as if she is regularly beaten. I've never (would never) beat her and the only shouting I do is aimed at DD and under provocation (little sod also!) (but the dog seems to take it personally)

[SillyTilly123]

If i say to my Tilly "aww who's done that?" she goes all squinty eyed and teeth showing (google Denver the guilty dog-she's like that) Sometimes if i shout of her (just normally) and she'd been doing something naughty she will come to me like that. I've been saying it to her more to try to "desensitise" her to it because it makes me feel really bad now :(

(not sure if her previous owner used to say it and smack her?)