Do animals know they are wrong?

[Raven]

I admitt our dog is rather thick but does he know right from wrong?



My dad puts down biscuits for the cat every night in the hallway. (Even though I keep telling him not too) In the night our cat Salem, nudges the kitchen door open and wanders all through the downstairs part of the house.



This then allows the dog - Bruce, to wander around too.. Last night he was in my room which woke me up so I put him back and closed the door. Salem opened it again obviously :/



Bruce eats anything in sight, he is like a hoover, and my dad knows this, yet he keeps continuing to put food down in a place where the dog can reach!!



Every morning (Or at least every other morning) Dad comes down and tell the dog off... And i dont mean a little telling off. He shouts, points a finger and yells, threatens to kick (may even kick, I have seen him do that a few times in the past.) chases the dog... I mean I am scared so I can't wonder how the dog feels.



I keep telling dad to put the food somewhere else in a place where Bruce can't reach or put Bruce in the conservatory at night. But he won't listen to me!! It's like the same pattern every single morning.



So my question is.. Does Bruce know he shouldn't eat the biscuits? And does excessive shouting/swearing at an animal actually teach it right from wrong?

 

[Jazzy]

Sorry, SAMCRO, but your dad is really making me angry. You should NEVER kick a dog and scream and yell at it. If you feel scared, can you only imagine how Bruce feels?



How would Bruce know NOT to eat the biscuits when they are being left in a spot where he thinks they are for him?



This, I'm sorry, is animal abuse what your dad is doing to Bruce. You need to step up and intervene before something bad happens to poor Bruce. I just shudder thinking that your dad would kick an innocent dog.

 

[Raven]

Yea I know. Whenever I see him doing that I step in the way. I tell the dog off nicely... if that is possible in a calm manner so Bruce doesn't cower under the table and chairs!



When he puts the biscuits down Im going to start and move them.

 

[Jazzy]

Yea I know. Whenever I see him doing that I step in the way. I tell the dog off nicely... if that is possible in a calm manner so Bruce doesn't cower under the table and chairs!



When he puts the biscuits down Im going to start and move them.

It's the times you don't see it that bothers me. Is there no way to keep Bruce in an area that's safe for him at night? I have baby gates to block off certain areas in my house where I don't want the dogs to go. Moving the biscuits is not going to help if Bruce can get to them. What happens when you are away and your dad keeps putting the biscuits where Bruce can get them? Just curious as to how old Bruce is and how long you've had him.

 

[Raven]

I've had him since he was a puppy, he is about 7 now.



I can either put him in my room at night or in the conservatory, which is what I will start having to do.

 

[Jazzy]

I've had him since he was a puppy, he is about 7 now.



I can either put him in my room at night or in the conservatory, which is what I will start having to do.

Will your dad do that too if you're not home? Just remember it takes love, kindness, training and patience to be a pet owner. If any of these are lacking then the person doesn't have the right to own a pet. My goodness, I can't stop thinking about your dad kicking Bruce

 

[Raven]

I think he will, If I tell him to do it. He doesnt seem to be able to use his own brain on this one :/

 

[Raven]

Just had a go at him for doing what he did this morning.



And he says he know not to eat them, and Bruce only eats them when your not looking :/

He says that by grandmother has biscuits down all day with her dogs and they don't eat each others food. WTF?! This he is nuts! Not all dogs are the same.



I just said shouting your head off at an animal doesnt help... He turned around and said 'I did more than shout' ARSEHOLE!!! sorry

So I replied whilst walking off... 'Yea and I will you if you do that again'

 

[Jazzy]

Just had a go at him for doing what he did this morning.



And he says he know not to eat them, and Bruce only eats them when your not looking :/

He says that by grandmother has biscuits down all day with her dogs and they don't eat each others food. WTF?! This he is nuts! Not all dogs are the same.



I just said shouting your head off at an animal doesnt help... He turned around and said 'I did more than shout' ARSEHOLE!!! sorry

So I replied whilst walking off... 'Yea and I will you if you do that again'

You are right that all dogs are not the same. I have three and one of them is what I call affectionately my junk yard dog. He would eat anything that he could if I let him.

Not understanding why there are biscuits down all day to begin with. When my dogs do something good then I give them each a cookie as a reward. They all eat their breakfast and dinner from separate bowls and I make sure that junk yard doesn't try to steal any extra from the others. He's funny and sneaky and will grab one piece of dog food from another bowl and run and hide with it.

The other dogs don't mind as they know he's going to do it.



It's a know fact that if you leave temptation in front of a dog they are going to go for it. It's also a known fact that dogs love cat food and if they have access to it then they are going to take advantage of it. Why? The better question is why not? It's right there for the taking

I have a cat too. I put her food up where the dogs can't reach it but she can easily get. Why does dad insist on putting biscuits where Bruce can get them?



Seems like your dad has other issues with Bruce other than him sneaking cat biscuits.

I do know that kicking any animal is not acceptable and needs to stop immediately.

 

[Raven]

Right mum has come round to drop some stuff off and has gone NUTS at what I told her. I think dad finally gets the message now. thank god.



Bruce stays in my room at night or he stays round at my mums boyfriends house and she tells everyone why.

 

[Jazzy]

Right mum has come round to drop some stuff off and has gone NUTS at what I told her. I think dad finally gets the message now. thank god.



Bruce stays in my room at night or he stays round at my mums boyfriends house and she tells everyone why.

Thank goodness that Bruce will be safe now

Give Bruce a

for me please.

 

[Raven]

^ I will ... A big hug

 

[Kasynlie]

I was told that dogs learn by reward and praise. Reward them and praise them whenever they do the right thing and them when they do the wrong thing, show them the right way.

 

[Jazzy]

I was told that dogs learn by reward and praise. Reward them and praise them whenever they do the right thing and them when they do the wrong thing, show them the right way.

Very true Kas. When my dogs were puppies, I took them to puppy obedience classes. We used the clicker technique where you click and give a command. If the puppy responds, then you gave it a treat. If the puppy didn't respond, then no treat was given. My puppies learned very early that they wanted that treat so they responded very quickly.

 

[Raven]

^ To be honest... Bruce is really dumb hahahaha

 

[Jazzy]

^ To be honest... Bruce is really dumb hahahaha

Aww, poor Bruce. Why do you think he's dumb?

 

[DrLeftover]

Why do people get upset when dogs act like dogs?

 

[Jazzy]

@DrLeftover: The only thing that upset me was SAMCRO'S dad kicking Bruce. I still shudder when I think about him doing that to the dog.