[lemma]

Not having grown up around animals, I'm constantly amazed by the intelligence behind some of the things my dog does. She has given me a much greater appreciation of nonhuman intelligence, and I've grown to one stories like this.

[scott_s]

In grad school, I lived with a girl, and after some time, her boyfriend and their dog moved in with us. A few days after moving in, I went to go to the office, and the dog bolted out the door. I went running after him and corralled him back inside.

That evening, when I got home, he and I made eye contact as soon as I opened the door. He immediately slunk off out of view. I then informed my roommates about what happened, and they of course scolded the dog.

What is undeniable to me is that the dog felt shame. He knew he had done wrong. I could see it in his body language and behavior - he knew it when he saw me when I got home, and he knew it when my roommates were scolding him (Verbally only.)

When you think about it, though, it shouldn't be a surprise that pack animals would experience shame. That emotion would help maintain the pack hierarchy.

I think that incident, by the way, is what established me as a pack-leader to the dog. I was new, and I don't think he automatically assumed I had authority. I miss that dog, too. He was one of the most openly affectionate dogs I've ever had the pleasure of being around.