10/29/2026
Ever walk into a room, see something chewed up, and look at your dog only to see those classic lowered ears, avoidance, and wide "whale eyes"?
Itโs easy to think, "They know what they did!" But science tells us that the "guilty dog" look isnโt actually a moral admission of wrongdoing. Instead, itโs a submissive appeasement response to your body language, tone, and tension.
Dogs are masters at reading human micro-expressions; they react to the frustration or anger they sense in us long before they ever connect it to the shoe they chewed hours (or even minutes) ago.
When a dog engages in destructive chewing, scolding after the fact doesn't teach them what to do insteadโit just teaches them to be wary of your reaction.
How to set your dog up for success instead:
๐พ Management is your best friend: Keep shoes and tempting items put away out of reach.
๐พ Redirect and reward: Provide appropriate, durable chew toys and praise them when they make the right choice.