Can dogs take offence?

Dogs are very highly developed animals, but they are hardly able to feel the same as people.

Let us imagine a situation: you come home and see that it is in a mess. You think that the natural reaction is to punish your puppy for its misbehaviour. You are mistaken.

To reduce the intensity of punishment or completely avoid it, the dog takes the submissive attitude. Why does it do so? Because it is written in its genes: if to take a submissive attitude, it will be left alone.

You think that the dog has already understood everything, and stop the punishment, the dog thinks that it is because it has taken the submissive attitude.

Though you remain irritated for some time your irritation is not eternal. Eventually one of the puppy's attempts to establish friendly relationship ends with a scene of love and forgiveness.

If it is repeated two or three times, submissive attitude becomes a typical behaviour for the puppy in case of your irritation. Thus it avoids dressing-down.

In the future, when you pronounce the same keywords, which precede to punishment, or a spank, as it starts to take offence at you: takes the submissive attitude and it lasts for some time.