'Accidently' Stepping On, Kicking, Grazing a dog

Well I don't have dogs, but cats, and I have to admit I sometimes accidentally step or kick one of them...and of course I don't mean it and feel so guilty,...I do the same thing and say I'm sorry like crazy, but my one cat Pyewacket will be annoyed at me for awhile and won't come near me even though I'm apologizing ...after awhile though all is forgiven and he'll come over to me. Yes, I think animals will know that inwardly we'd never harm them on purpose

I think on some level they definitely understand. I'm the same as you - very over-sympathetic if I step on my dog's foot or his tail, and he seems to forgive me quick enough! But have you noticed that they seem to do the same thing? When my niece was just learning to walk, my dog would get excited to see her and sometimes accidentally knock her over with his tail. He'd go crazy then and sit on the floor trying to lick her hand or her face with a really apologetic look in his eyes - I could swear he was trying to say sorry, just like we do if we hurt them. Dogs are very intuitive animals, have you noticed how they make a fuss over you if you are sad, or you cry - and how they get excited when you are excited? Yes, I definitely think that they understand when we hurt then by accident! :o)

I have a black dog, and she's lately started laying on the black rug in front of the toilet. If I have to get up in the middle of the night to go, I don't turn on the light, and I've stepped on various parts of her a few times now lol. Think she'd learn to move-and I do look out for her, but just can't see. I think they know if it's an accident, especially if you start petting them and talking nice. At least mine do, because they've heard me yell at them enough to know the difference :)

I definitely think they understand. You know you can tell if your dog is mad or glad or just in the mood to cuddle? I firmly believe they can tell the same about us. Especially since you immediately try to make it better, shows them your true intentions. My two dogs are constantly under my feet, and they are small dogs. So occasionally I'll trip on them, or accidentally step on part of a paw. But I'll pick them up, or give them a treat, and I can tell by the way they look at me, or by the way their tale wags, that they know I didn't mean to hurt them.

Heck, I know a kid who doesn't know what an accident is! If you didn't do it hard enough to make them jump up and leave then it probably doesn't matter, they bump into each other too.

According to what studies in animal memory and cognition, it is not likely that your animal can differentiate between purpose and accident. That type of thinking isn't even around in really little human children. What they do know is that immediately after you hurt them, you were also very nice to them. They go from being slightly bothered to very happy for your attention, and they don't remember the overall experience as bad (especially if it doesn't happen often). If you stepped on your dog and did nothing, eventually your dog might become wary of you and afraid, because they are worried that you might do it again, because they have no idea about your intentions.

I sure hope so, cause I have done the same thing. I reckon they must since my dog still loves me and still comes to lay on me all the time. If she didn't understand it was a mistake, I would think she would avoid me, LOL. Man I know at least once a week she gets under my feet and I accidently kick or step on her. Poor thing.

I've actually wondered something similar myself. If nothing else they might just "think" that you are asserting dominance or conditiong. Who knows if they can truly tell our intentions or not.

I have done that soo many times. I always feel bad after I do it. I dont know if they understand what an accident is but they do feel by your voice it is ok. My dog likes to sleep behind closed doors. So everythime I open the door I wack her in the head! Im like oh star im sorry and kiss her.

that happens around the house alot here being i have 5 cats every once in awhile i have to bend down and tell them that i am sorry or they avoid me for a couple of hours i think they might understand especially if it was by accident people can mistreat animals for real and not on good ways but the animal always comes back they love unconditionally no matter who you are or what u are doing even when abused they seem to try again and again to please u it is funny that no matter what u do to them they will always forgive u i dont know if u have a channel on your tv that airs animal planet but they have a show on there called animal police that is the answer to your question i see animals that are on there that have been so abused but when a person is trying to help them they seem to understand and a are greeted with a wagging tail if it can be managed to happen

i believe that dogs have feelings too to the extent of feeling what we feel..i do believe they understand..i done that many times when accidentally would step on his feet while he was laying down..and i do say sorry and cuddle him like a baby and kiss him..that way he would feel i didn't mean it..my dog feel for me according to what type of feeling i have..when i'm sad he is sad..i know because he wont go any far from me and would just sit beside me..when i'm happy he is happy and would wanna play..so there i got the idea they an understand us..

I think they understand. dogs are pretty smart.