Does Your Dog have a "Guilty Look?"

It's a cute video but the fact is dogs don't feel guilt.  :)  They react to our reactions.

www.thedogdaily.com/.../index.html

Jackie! I also read an article about this recently. But when I see a video like this, I always wonder! :P

Maybe you haven't seen the many comments made by behaviorists who've watched the video.  Here's a quote from Patricia McConnell, phD.  She's a world renowned professional in the field of animal behavior.  

"Have you seen it, the viral video of a “guilty” dog? A yellow lab sits hunched in a corner while his owner asks if he’s the one who got into the bag of kitty treats. The dog turns his head away, squints his eyes (not in a happy way I would argue) and after considerable prompting (or pressure), looks “guilty.” Except, the “guilty” look is actually a perfect example of what is called a “submissive grin,” used to appease another higher status individual. Most biologists call this an example of “active submission,” in which an animal is attempting to increase the distance between it and another member of its social unit. (Versus “passive submission” which promotes a decrease in distance; for example, lying down and exposing the anal/genital regions.)

I know that “submission” is not a popular term at the moment, but whether you call it appeasement or submission, surely it’s clear that the dog’s expression has nothing to do with guilt. (I first capitalized “nothing” but then changed it because it looked like I was yelling.  But okay, honestly, I was.)

Is it just me? Am I just being finicky, but I can’t even watch this video to the end. Have you seen it? I’m so curious to hear what you think. Here it is:"