do dogs get embarrassed

Dogs do not experience embarrassment in the same way humans do, as embarrassment is a complex emotion tied to social norms and self-awareness that dogs likely lack. However, dogs do exhibit behaviors that humans often interpret as embarrassment, such as lowered heads, avoiding eye contact, tucked tails, and slinking away. These behaviors are generally signs of appeasement or calming signals that dogs use to communicate discomfort or unease in a situation, rather than an actual feeling of embarrassment. Dogs can notice when their actions lead to unusual reactions from people or other dogs, which might cause them to display these appeasement behaviors, but this is not equivalent to the emotionally complex human experience of embarrassment. Instead, these responses are often related to fear, anxiety, or a desire to avoid conflict or displeasure from their owners. Punishing a dog for such behavior can reinforce their stress rather than help them understand social mistakes. Therefore, while dogs show signs that look like embarrassment, what they are actually displaying is more likely to be calming or appeasement behaviors, and they do not "feel embarrassed" as humans do.