Can Dogs Hold Grudges? Exploring Their Memory and Retri
When you type "pet revenge" into a search engine, you'll find countless threads asking for help. The most common question revolves around dogs, with debates raging on whether "dogs really hold grudges." Some say, "Dogs do hold grudges; I hit him with a slipper the other day, and the next day, it was torn to shreds." Others argue, "Dogs are humans' most loyal companions; they lack longterm memory, so they shouldn't hold grudges."
But does a dog really hold a grudge? And for how long? Let's delve into this topic.
In the first episode, "Dog's Revenge, Delayed by Ten Years." Ms. Wang, a pet owner for over a decade, has a Shih Tzu named Xianxian who is friendly to everyone except her husband and motherinlaw. "Every time my husband comes home, Xianxian barks and chases him into the bedroom," she explains. Ten years ago, she boarded Xianxian with her未婚男友, who didn't like cats or dogs. Xianxian was treated poorly by her boyfriend and mother, denied soft bedding, fed only white rice, and chased around the house with a stick when she made a mess.
After returning home, Xianxian quickly forgave and forgot. However, every time she saw her boyfriend, she would bark fiercely. To please her, her husband's boyfriend had fed her sausages and bones countless times, but Xianxian mostly walked away with an air of elegance. It's been almost ten years.
There are many others with similar experiences. Jianjian's Shih Tzu, for example, has been ignoring him for three months after being punished for urinating in the house. The dog has even tried to bite him, making him consider giving up on pet ownership. Dogs have relatively short memories, and most lack the ability to extend or associate behaviors. Therefore, rewards or punishments should be immediate during training. Otherwise, they might feel confused. The socalled "grudges" dogs seem to hold might be due to conditioned reflexes to certain words, actions, or even sounds. Seeing or hearing them triggers rejection or fear.
Many people believe that it's okay to discipline a dog with physical punishment when it misbehaves. This is a huge misconception. For instance, if you lift your hand to hit the dog, and then later to pet it, the dog might become tense. This is known as the "fear of the hand" syndrome. Additionally, many people call the dog's name when they punish it, which is also wrong. When the dog's name is associated with punishment, it might develop a negative association with its name. The next time you call it, it might think, "Oh no, I'm going to get punished again!"
In the second episode, "If You Scold Me, I'll Pee on Your Pillow." JX's Golden Retriever, Dou Dou, held a grudge for half a year. JX's mother disliked dogs and often scolded Dou Dou, threatening to hit it. One day, when cleaning the room, she found dog feces on her pillow and hit Dou Dou's bottom with a clothes hanger. Two days later, she saw Dou Dou preparing to urinate on her bed and ran away when she entered the bedroom.
JX said that Dou Dou was usually wellbehaved, knowing to use the dog toilet. However, whenever he saw an opportunity when his mother's bedroom door opened, he would go inside and urinate. The family was baffled: was Dou Dou really taking revenge on his mother?
Pet dogs are highly dependent on their owners. If they suddenly start urinating or defecating indoors, it might be due to anxiety or a form of protest against their owner. Dou Dou might have become anxious and rebellious after being hit by his mother, so he would urinate on places with her scent when she wasn't home.
Dogs tend to prefer soft surfaces like beds and sofas. The first time might be a form of protest, but if the area isn't thoroughly cleaned, the dog might start to urinate there consistently. Animals hold grudges because they do have memories, with primates and large vertebrates having the best memories. Animal memory is linked to their brain's intellectual development, and different animals have varying levels of memory. Particularly, carnivorous animals like tigers, wolves, and leopards will seek revenge if provoked and happen to cross paths again. Cats, too, are carnivorous animals.
If your cat or dog has developed a dislike or fear of you or others, here are three tips to resolve the issue:
1. Keep your companionship and punishment methods separate.
2. Avoid "differential treatment." Many dogs hold onto 'hatred' because, aside from their owners, they can receive better treatment from others. After being punished, they might seek comfort from others, leading to a cold shoulder from their owners.
3. Spend more time with and entice your pet.
If the dog's resentment towards you is due to your own actions, the only way to rebuild the relationship is to spend more time with it and use its favorite treats to win its affection.
