# Do you apologise to your dog? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 16, 2023, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650 "2023-06-16T20:53:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650/21 "2023-06-17T00:13:52Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Even when they’re at fault. Cats are always at fault. Little bastards. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650/22 "2023-06-17T02:59:39Z")
Of course. And they’d apologize to me in their own way when necessary as well. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650/23 "2023-06-17T11:20:09Z")
Oh I absolutely apologize to my dogs, cats, horse, goats, fish, wildlife, spiders, bugs, plants; anything I have inadvertently upset (or sometimes irritated out of necessity, like flea dope for the cats or relocating a spider). I even occasionally apologize to my customers, coworkers and husband 😛 ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650/24 "2023-06-17T12:54:27Z")
Sure I apologize. Just like I would to a person. Our dogs are part of our team. Myself, my Wife, Jackson and Lani. I work from home now, so I talk to them more than before. Scritches when ever I walk by. Good for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650/25 "2023-06-17T13:02:09Z")
Sort of on subject, my cousin (and best friend) apologizes too much. I think I do to. We where talking about this. A nurse that is helping take care of her at home hospice sister told my cousin that there is no need to apologize for anything, that my cousin is doing a great job. The standard answer came “I’m sorry for saying I’m sorry so much”. It’s now a running gag between us. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650/26 "2023-06-17T13:02:21Z")
I get the idea that dogs are better able to understand intention than cats are. That is, apologies to dogs work better than to cats. I think cats are more likely to understand being hurt as a troubling new shift in the relationship, without imagining that we didn’t want to hurt them. But I don’t know where I get this idea. I don’t actually think dogs have a theory of mind and cats don’t. I haven’t lived with a dog in years, but I live with six cats currently. And I do apologize to them, even if I doubt it works. I “sing the I’m sorry song”. Maybe all it does is follow that troubling new shift with a more extended positive new shift. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650/27 "2023-06-17T13:33:23Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > And I do apologize to them, even if I doubt it works. For myself, it works for me. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650/28 "2023-06-17T13:53:02Z")
In the course of an average day I talk to our dogs and bird more than I talk to any human. And the bird replies. Simi likes when I put the Jeep’s top down. It was too chilly for me yesterday, but he kept looking at me so I put it down and suffered. He rejoiced. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650/29 "2023-06-17T15:08:18Z")
I apologized to Bayliss this morning for giving him a stale cracker. He ate it looking at me with sad eyes. I wasn’t sure if he wanted another or was looking down on me for tryin’ to feed him a stale cracker. I gave him another. He ate it. 🫡 ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650/30 "2023-06-17T15:39:52Z")
Of course. I also thank them for getting off the couch when asked and coming inside when called. They’re only human. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650/31 "2023-06-17T19:40:47Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > I get the idea that dogs are better able to understand intention than cats are. That is, apologies to dogs work better than to cats. I think cats are more likely to understand being hurt as a troubling new shift in the relationship, without imagining that we didn’t want to hurt them. > > But I don’t know where I get this idea. I don’t know where you got it either. I have lived with a whole lot of cats and they’ve all seemed to understand the difference between being stepped on or kicked by accident and being kicked on purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650/32 "2023-06-17T20:14:45Z")
Sure. I talk to my cars, too. > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I gave him another. He ate it. Big Surprise My Crew are The Texas Stale Food Repository. I’m in constant worry someone will try to assassinate The President from atop them. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650/33 "2023-06-17T20:16:49Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Sure. I talk to my cars, too. I just swear at mine. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650/34 "2023-06-17T20:19:54Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > I just swear at mine. We’re okay. It’s when they reply we need to start worrying. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650/35 "2023-06-17T20:23:08Z")
That’s next year’s model, mark my words! ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650/36 "2023-06-17T20:26:37Z")
My NEWEST car is old enough to drink. My ‘driver’ could almost be it’s Mother! Is this getting weird? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650/37 "2023-06-17T20:30:55Z")
Only if you somehow are involved in that family tree. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650/38 "2023-06-17T20:31:41Z")
Weird? Nah! De-railed? Possibly. Slightly. A bit, a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650/39 "2023-06-17T22:15:17Z")
I apologize to my dogs, of course! I also sing to them, God-bless them when they sneeze, explain things to them, tell them jokes, and whisper “it’s okay, it’s okay” when it’s thundering. They seem pleased with the arrangement. They never answer my questions though. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2023, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650/40 "2023-06-18T11:47:54Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > whisper “it’s okay, it’s okay” when it’s thundering. When Rocco first joined our household, there was a settling in period during which he was constantly experiencing new things. I used the calming phrase, “this is your house, this is where you live” as I walked him from room to room. It really helped calm him. Every so often the parakeets have a night terror, flying around squawking. My gf wakes up, turns a light on in the sunroom, and they settle down. One time she was halfway to the sunroom and heard Rocco saying his calming phrase, “this is your house, this is where you live”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-apologise-to-your-dog/985650.md?page=3)