You may be walking around your home on a good day, and suddenly you accidentally step on your dog. Yes, it happens, and while you may feel guilty about it, it doesn’t make you a terrible person or dog owner.
Stepping on your dog could be painful, and you may wonder if your dog understands it was an accident. Dogs may comprehend human intentions based on past actions and body language. However, does this apply to pain?
This article will help to explore how dogs feel and communicate pain and ways to prevent future accidents with your dog.
Do dogs feel pain?
The myth that dogs do not feel pain or do not feel as much pain as humans has been propagated for a while. This myth even led to veterinarians sending dogs homes without pain medications after surgical procedures in the past. However, several recent studies have shown dogs feel pain like humans do.
The proof that dogs do feel pain is in their reactions to painful experiences—they yelp, whine, or jump when subjected to painful situations. The medical records of some dogs that underwent surgical procedures without medications also show increased aggression post-surgery due to the pain.
Pain Receptors
Dogs react to pain because they possess sensory receptors that help to send signals to the brain to alert it of such situations. These receptors have similar properties and functions to human sensory receptors. Humans have various kinds of receptors throughout the body to receive stimuli. Some of these receptors are mechanoreceptors, sweat glands, free nerve endings, and hair receptors.
These receptors are also found in dog paws and perform similar functions as they do in humans. For example, the mechanoreceptors respond to mechanical stimuli like pressure; hence, they help dogs feel touch and gauge the firmness of surfaces. This is the type of receptor that would help your dog respond to pain caused by stepping on them.
Nerve endings are also a type of receptor that helps dogs respond to stimuli such as a change in the temperature of their surroundings. They help dogs recognize cold or hot surfaces.
Do dogs understand cause and effect?
In the study of dog and dog behaviors, one of the things scientists have considered is whether dogs can relate actions to consequences. The simple answer to whether a dog understands cause and effect is no. Dogs are incapable of thinking of complex situations and predicting future actions.
Scientists claim that wolves have a better understanding of cause and effect than dogs do. And the evolution of wolves that led to the domestication of dogs is responsible for the inability of dogs to connect cause and effect.
For example, you may have a dog leave his home and wander; he does not consider the possibility of getting lost and being unable to return home. It’s a typical dog thing.
However, while dogs do not connect cause and effect naturally, they can learn from human interactions and their environment.
Repeated Behaviors
If you act repeatedly, dogs may be able to attribute the cause of such action to the effect they produce. Hence, they can learn and avoid repetition in the long run.
For example, if a dog jumps off a high surface and gets injured in the process, the next time they are in the same position, they may learn to associate their previous action with the pain they experienced. They can modify their behavior based on their experience.
Trainers and dog owners use this concept of learning through experiences to teach dogs to sit, fetch, or stay. This concept means that dogs can learn based on the behaviors and actions of their owners. It also applies to accidental behaviors like stepping on your dog; this concept allows the dog to associate the cause (stepping on them) with the effect (the pain that results).
They then modify their behaviors by avoiding getting stepped on if a similar scenario presents itself.
While dogs may yet be unable to process the complexity behind the intention of your action, they can respond by modifying their behavior to avoid a future occurrence.
How do dogs communicate pain?
Dogs respond to injuries or discomfort in different ways, depending on how severe the pain is. Although they cannot verbally communicate how they feel like humans do, dogs can use their body language, vocals, and behavior to communicate pain.
Changes in Body Language
Your dog’s body language and facial expressions can suddenly change when in pain. A dog that normally jumps to welcome you each time you return home may decide to sit in a corner even when you have been absent for a long time.
Some of the changes you should look out for are weird posturing, irritation, and excessive scratching. Your dog may also change their facial expressions by furrowing their brows, placing ears backward, or squinting their eyes.
Changes in Behavior
Another sign that may indicate your dog is in pain is a change in their behavioral patterns. Some common changes are the following:
- Frequent changes in posture
- Increased irritation or aggressiveness
- Changes in sleeping pattern and regularity
- Hiding and staying in dark areas
- Changes in eating habits and frequency
If you notice any of these changes in your dog, it could indicate they are nursing an injury.
Vocalization
Vocalization is another common way by which dogs can inform their owners of painful experiences. If you step on your dog by accident, you can expect your dog to whimper. The severity or cause of the pain also influences how your dog expresses their discomfort.
Your dog may whine, yelp, bark, or howl to communicate they have been hurt. Vocalization is also a way of seeking assistance when they are in distress.
Can dogs forgive accidents?
When you accidentally step on your dog, and they make a painful sound, your dog may not blame you for the accident. Since dogs need an action to be done often before it is registered as a deliberate action, your dog can easily forgive your one-time offense.
Also, dogs do not live in the past or future—they deal in the present moment; hence, they cannot hold complex emotions such as resentment or unforgiveness. If you accidentally hurt your dog, they can easily let go of the hurt and keep their bond or maintain their relationship with you.
However, due to their ability to learn cause and effect, your dog can modify his behavior to be more careful around you to avoid getting hurt next time. You can make the process of forgiveness smoother by cuddling or comforting your dog immediately after the accident. These actions will help your dog to understand the accident was not intentional and that you feel remorseful about it. Some other actions you can take are
- Offering treats or praises
- Comfort them with a soothing voice to reassure them that everything is fine
- Offer them their favorite toys or activities, like a walk in the park
How to prevent accidents with your dog
Your furry animals are always all over you for your attention, which is understandable. However, it increases the risks of accidents, especially when you are occupied while they are seeking your attention.
However, you can help to reduce the risk of accidents by creating a safe environment and being mindful when they are around you. Here are some practical tips to help keep you and your furry animal safe:
- Remove all harmful and dangerous materials from your surroundings. This includes toxic substances like chemicals and drugs.
- Provide adequate training for your dog. Training helps to keep them under control while you are busy with other things. Commands like “sit” or “stay” can help do the trick.
- Set up boundaries or barriers that prevent your dogs from entering dangerous areas. You can set up these barriers both indoors and outdoors.
- Be mindful of your environment; watch where you go. Being careful will help you avoid stepping on or tripping over your dog.
- Provide adequate supervision when your dog is outside and in a new environment. Watch them closely when they are around other dogs or animals.
- Use a leash on your dog when you are outdoors; this will help to keep their activities controlled.
Final Thoughts
When you accidentally step on your dog, they may whimper or yelp to show that they feel pain like humans do. You may wonder if your dog understands it was an accident and if they can forgive you. The truth is dogs are incapable of holding grudges, especially not against their close buddies. Hence, when you step on your dog, they forgive you immediately.
However, you can help make them feel special by offering them apology treats. You should also take practical steps like watching where you are walking to prevent future accidents with your dog.