Most dogs have a signature guilty face when they do something wrong. Even before you spot the mess, you may notice your dog did something bad simply by looking at their expression. They may avoid eye contact, lower their head, or even walk funny.
A Golden Retriever named Maui is a perfect example of a guilty dog. When he does something wrong, he has a “guilty walk” that his humans notice right away. Since his actions are so adorable, his family posted him looking guilty on TikTok.
Maui’s Famous Guilty Walk
The video shows Maui with the words “all the guilty dogs walk like this.” Then, the adorable Golden Retriever proceeds to walk low to the ground with his eyes squinted. He seems to think that if he gets low enough, his humans won’t see him. And his eyes are closed because if he can’t see them, then they must not be able to see him either!
Maui’s human included the caption, “I honestly could never get mad at Maui.” Anyone who has an adorable guilty dog at home can probably relate. Staying mad at a dog is so hard when you love them so much.
Even though Maui’s humans never said what he’s guilty of, everyone in the comments is insisting that he hasn’t done anything wrong. After all, he has the face of an angel! Many TikTok users said that they’d be his lawyer so they could prove he’s innocent. No matter what he did, it seems like his cuteness got him out of it again. What a smart pup!
Can Dogs Really Be Guilty?
There are lots of guilty dogs on the internet like Maui. Some pup parents even post their dog’s guilty faces next to signs exposing what they did. However, research shows that dogs don’t actually feel guilt the way humans do. Instead, they look guilty because they can tell that their actions upset their human.
“Dogs can exhibit behaviors that might look like guilt, but they don’t actually feel guilt in the way that humans do. It is now believed by researchers that a dog’s emotional development stops at a point that is somewhat similar to that of a two-and-a-half-year-old child,” said former veterinary technician Zack Keithy. “When a dog acts guilty, they are really showing an awareness that [their] actions have upset [their] owner. They are discerning at reading human body language and can tell when we’re angry or upset, even if they don’t understand why.”
So, even though dogs might not feel bad for what they did, they can understand when their humans are disappointed in them. Regardless of what their “guilty faces” mean, they’re still adorable. Although it’s hard to compete with Maui’s endearing guilty walk.
Watch Maui Looking Guilty:
@maui_thegoldenpup I honestly could never get mad at Maui 🫣#guilty #guiltydog #goldenretriever #funnyvideos ♬ Pretty Girls Walk – Big Boss Vette
Featured Image: TikTok
Toledo, United States.
